Motorpsycho
Encyclopedia
Motorpsycho is a band from Trondheim
Trondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...

, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...

. Their music can generally be defined as psychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that is inspired or influenced by psychedelic culture and attempts to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues rock bands in United States and the United Kingdom...

, but they also mix in elements from metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...

, jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...

, rock
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...

, pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...

 and many other musical styles. The members of the band are Bent Sæther (b. February 18, 1969, bass
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...

/vocals), Hans Magnus "Snah" Ryan (b. December 31, 1969, guitar
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...

/vocals) and Kenneth Kapstad (b. April 20, 1979 drums
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...

). Until March 2005, Håkon Gebhardt (b. June 21, 1969, drums
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...

) was also an integral part of the band. A press release concerning his departure is published at the unofficial homepage. In December 2007 it was announced that former Gåte
Gåte
Gåte was a band from Trøndelag, Norway playing Norwegian folk music bred with metal and electronica. Their style has been referred to as progressive folk-rock...

 drummer Kenneth Kapstad was the new drummer in the band as well as an official band member.

Formed in the late eighties as an alternative metal band (They picked their name after seeing the Russ Meyer film of the same name
Motorpsycho (film)
Motorpsycho or Motor Psycho is a 1965 film by Russ Meyer. Made just before the better-known Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! , the film explores similar themes of sex and violence...

 as part of a Russ Meyer triple bill
Double feature
The double feature, also known as a double bill, was a motion picture industry phenomenon in which theatre managers would exhibit two films for the price of one, supplanting an earlier format in which one feature film and various short subject reels would be shown.The double feature, also known as...

 - there was already a band named after Mudhoney
Mudhoney
Mudhoney is an American alternative rock band. Formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1988 following the demise of Green River, Mudhoney's members are vocalist and rhythm guitarist Mark Arm, lead guitarist Steve Turner, bassist Guy Maddison, and drummer Dan Peters. Original bassist Matt Lukin left the...

 and a band named after Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!
Faster Pussycat
Faster Pussycat is an American hard rock band from Los Angeles, California formed in 1986. The group was most successful during the late 1980s with their self-titled debut album, their 1989 gold album Wake Me When It's Over and the 80,000 selling Whipped! in 1992.-The roots of Faster Pussycat...

 - the other two films on the bill), Motorpsycho soon developed a unique blend of grunge
Grunge
Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...

, heavy metal and indierock, as well as incorporating the sonic noise experiments of associated member Deathprod
Deathprod
Deathprod is a musical pseudonym used by Norwegian artist Helge Sten for his ambient-influenced music.-Biography:Sten began creating music under this name starting in 1991, culminating with a box set of most of his recorded work being released in 2004...

. The hugely ambitious, progressive double album "Demon Box
Demon Box (album)
Demon Box is the third full-length studio album by Norwegian rock-band Motorpsycho. Released in 1993, it saw the band earn their name as one of the most important bands in Norway.-LP track listing:Side A:# "Waiting For The One" - 2:50...

" (1993) followed a series of low-profile EPs and albums, earning the band a nomination for a Norwegian Grammy, and secured a loyal following in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...

, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...

, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...

 and the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...

 as well as in Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...

.

The nineties was an extremely productive era for the band, releasing new material almost every year, and enjoying critical acclaim for each album—if not the massive sales the music press kept predicting.

With the 2000 album "Let Them Eat Cake
Let Them Eat Cake (album)
Let Them Eat Cake is the eighth full-length studio album by the Norwegian rock-band Motorpsycho. Released early in 2000, the album showed the band taking steps in a new direction, leaning more towards jazz and psychedelia than the heavy indie rock guitars the band was famous for.The EP "The Other...

", Motorpsycho suddenly took huge steps away from their noisy hard rock roots, opting instead for a smoother, jazz-tinged approach to the songwriting and recording process. They kept this technique for the subsequent releases, Phanerothyme
Phanerothyme
Phanerothyme is the ninth full length studio album by the Norwegian band Motorpsycho. It was released through Stickman Records and Sony...

 and It's A Love Cult
It's a Love Cult
It's a Love Cult is the tenth full length studio album by the Norwegian band Motorpsycho. The album was preceded by the EP release of "Serpentine", for which also a video was made...

.

The long awaited double album Black Hole/Blank Canvas
Black Hole/Blank Canvas
Black Hole/Blank Canvas is the eleventh full length studio album by the Norwegian band Motorpsycho. It is the first after long-time drummer Håkon Gebhardt left the band in spring 2005. The other two members, Hans Magnus Ryan and Bent Sæther decided to carry on as a duo...

 was released 17/20 March 2006 in Europe, but it was leaked on the internet before this date. The album has received great reviews, and it is considered one of their best albums ever, proving the skill of the arguably most innovative Norwegian band during the last decade. Today, their cult status and extremely loyal fans remains unmatched by any Norwegian band.

On March 28, 2008, Motorpsycho released an album entitled "Little Lucid Moments
Little Lucid Moments
Little Lucid Moments is the twelfth full length studio album by the Norwegian band Motorpsycho that was released on March 31, 2008, by Rune Grammofon Records in Scandinavia, the UK, the USA and France and on March 28, 2008, by Stickman Records in Germany and the rest of Europe. It is available on...

" and on March 16, 2008, a DVD containing music videos, live footage and documentaries entitled "Haircuts".

To celebrate their 20th anniversary, the band released a vinyl-only album, "Child of the Future
Child of the Future
Child of the Future is the name of the thirteenth full length studio album by the Norwegian band Motorpsycho that was released on August 7, 2009, via Rune Grammofon and Stickman Records...

", recorded by Steve Albini
Steve Albini
Steven Frank Albini is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, audio engineer and music journalist. He was a member of Big Black, Rapeman, and Flour, and is currently a member of Shellac...

 at the beginning of August 2009. http://www.stickman-records.dehttp://www.platekompaniet.no/Musikk.aspx/LP/Motorpsycho/Child_Of_The_Future_VINYL/?id=RLP2088

In January 2010, Motorpsycho released a new album entitled "Heavy Metal Fruit
Heavy Metal Fruit
Heavy Metal Fruit is the name of the fourteenth full-length studio album by the Norwegian band Motorpsycho, released on January 18, 2010, via Rune Grammofon and Stickman Records. It was released on CD and vinyl and is their third album over the course of the last two years.-Tracklisting:#...

", their first album featuring an external producer, Kåre Vestrheim, and also their third album in under two years.

In October 2011, the Dutch venue Effenaar
Effenaar
The Effenaar is a pop music venue in Eindhoven, The Netherlands. It was founded in 1971 and has grown into one of the larger pop venues in the country....

 released a limited edition live album exclusively on vinyl entitled "Strings Of Stroop - Motorpsycho Live At Effenaar". The album features four Motorpsycho tracks recorded during various Motorpsycho shows at Effenaar between 1999 and 2010. Only 500 copies were pressed and sold at the band's 14th show in the venue.

Current line-up

  • Bent Sæther — lead vocals, bass
    Bass guitar
    The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....

    , guitar
    Guitar
    The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...

    s, keyboards
    Keyboard instrument
    A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...

    , drums
    Drum kit
    A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....

     (since 1989)
  • Hans Magnus "Snah" Ryan — lead guitars, vocals, keyboards, mandolin
    Mandolin
    A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...

    , violin
    Violin
    The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....

    , bass (since 1989)
  • Kenneth Kapstad — drums, keyboards, vocals (since 2007)

Previous members

  • Kjell Runar "Killer" Jenssen — drums (1989–1991)
  • Håkon Gebhardt — drums, vocals, banjo
    Banjo
    In the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...

    , guitar (1991–2005)
  • Helge "Deathprod" Sten
    Deathprod
    Deathprod is a musical pseudonym used by Norwegian artist Helge Sten for his ambient-influenced music.-Biography:Sten began creating music under this name starting in 1991, culminating with a box set of most of his recorded work being released in 2004...

     — theremin
    Theremin
    The theremin , originally known as the aetherphone/etherophone, thereminophone or termenvox/thereminvox is an early electronic musical instrument controlled without discernible physical contact from the player. It is named after its Russian inventor, Professor Léon Theremin, who patented the device...

    , various electronics, audio virus (1992–1994; frequent guest and producer 1994–2002, 2007)
  • Lars Lien — keyboards, vocals (1994)
  • Morten "Lolly" Fagervik — rhythm guitar, keyboards (1994–1996)

Major collaborators

  • Ole Henrik "Ohm" Moe — violin, saw
    Musical saw
    A musical saw, also called a singing saw, is the application of a hand saw as a musical instrument. The sound creates an ethereal tone, very similar to the theremin...

    , piano
    Piano
    The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...

     (1996–1998)
  • Baard Slagsvold — keyboards, vocals (1999–2003)
  • Jacco van Rooij — drums (live, 2006)
  • Øyvind Brandtsegg
    Øyvind Brandtsegg
    Øyvind Brandtsegg is a Norwegian musician and programmer, known for his music recordings.Brandtsegg studied music at the Sund Folkehøgskole in Inderøy...

     — Marimba Lumina
    Marimba Lumina
    Don Buchla's Marimba Lumina is one of many in the family of MIDI controllers consisting of specialized control surfaces which are manipulated by specialized controllers. More than one version exists, with similar characteristics....

     and ImproSculpt programming (live, 2006)
  • Pekka Stokke — visuals (live, 2006–)

Albums

Lobotomizer
Lobotomizer
Lobotomizer is the debut album of the Norwegian band Motorpsycho, released in 1991. The album has a raw sound and style . However, it has been called the band's weakest record. The album includes the live-performance crowd-favourite "Hogwash"...

(1991)
released as LP and CD
8 Soothing Songs For Rut
8 Soothing Songs for Rut
-LP "Soothe":-Personnel:*Bent Sæther: vocals, bass, guitars, piano, percussion*Hans Magnus Ryan: guitars, taurus, piano, back. vocals*Håkon Gebhardt: drums, percussionwith:*Lars Lien: back. vocals on "California Dreamin'"...

(1992)
released as mini-LP (then called "Soothe") and CD (adding two tracks from the "3 Songs for Rut" single)
Demon Box
Demon Box (album)
Demon Box is the third full-length studio album by Norwegian rock-band Motorpsycho. Released in 1993, it saw the band earn their name as one of the most important bands in Norway.-LP track listing:Side A:# "Waiting For The One" - 2:50...

(1993)
released as double LP and CD (omitting three songs due to space limitations)
Timothy's Monster
Timothy's Monster
Timothy's Monster is the fourth full-length studio album by Motorpsycho, and their first on a major label . Released as a double-CD or triple-LP...

(1994)
released as triple LP box and double CD, re-released in 2010 as 4CD-box
Blissard
Blissard
Blissard is the fifth full length studio album by the Norwegian band Motorpsycho. It was the first where the band tried to bring some more focused and pre-written songs to tape, as opposed to their earlier working technique of doing lot of experimenation and brainstorming in the studio...

(1996)
released as double LP and CD
Angels and Daemons at Play
Angels and Daemons at Play
Angels and Daemons at Play is the sixth full-length studio album by the Norwegian rock-band Motorpsycho.The album was originally released as three EP's; "Babyscooter" , "Have Spacesuit Will Travel" and "Lovelight"...

(1997)
released as double LP, CD (omitting two songs) and three separate CD-EPs ("Babyscooter", "Have Spacesuit Will Travel" and "Lovelight")
Trust Us
Trust Us
Trust Us is the seventh full-length studio album by the Norwegian rock-band Motorpsycho.The tracks "Ozone" and "Hey, Jane" were also released as EPs...

(1998)
released as double LP and double CD
Let Them Eat Cake
Let Them Eat Cake (album)
Let Them Eat Cake is the eighth full-length studio album by the Norwegian rock-band Motorpsycho. Released early in 2000, the album showed the band taking steps in a new direction, leaning more towards jazz and psychedelia than the heavy indie rock guitars the band was famous for.The EP "The Other...

(2000)
released as LP and CD
Phanerothyme
Phanerothyme
Phanerothyme is the ninth full length studio album by the Norwegian band Motorpsycho. It was released through Stickman Records and Sony...

(2001)
released as LP and CD
It's A Love Cult
It's a Love Cult
It's a Love Cult is the tenth full length studio album by the Norwegian band Motorpsycho. The album was preceded by the EP release of "Serpentine", for which also a video was made...

(2002)
released as double LP and CD
Black Hole/Blank Canvas
Black Hole/Blank Canvas
Black Hole/Blank Canvas is the eleventh full length studio album by the Norwegian band Motorpsycho. It is the first after long-time drummer Håkon Gebhardt left the band in spring 2005. The other two members, Hans Magnus Ryan and Bent Sæther decided to carry on as a duo...

(2006)
released as double LP, double CD and double CD with 2 track bonus single
Little Lucid Moments
Little Lucid Moments
Little Lucid Moments is the twelfth full length studio album by the Norwegian band Motorpsycho that was released on March 31, 2008, by Rune Grammofon Records in Scandinavia, the UK, the USA and France and on March 28, 2008, by Stickman Records in Germany and the rest of Europe. It is available on...

(2008)
released as double LP and CD
Child of the Future
Child of the Future
Child of the Future is the name of the thirteenth full length studio album by the Norwegian band Motorpsycho that was released on August 7, 2009, via Rune Grammofon and Stickman Records...

(2009)
released as LP
Heavy Metal Fruit
Heavy Metal Fruit
Heavy Metal Fruit is the name of the fourteenth full-length studio album by the Norwegian band Motorpsycho, released on January 18, 2010, via Rune Grammofon and Stickman Records. It was released on CD and vinyl and is their third album over the course of the last two years.-Tracklisting:#...

(2010)
released as double LP and CD

as Motorpsycho & Friends

The Tussler - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
The Tussler - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
The Tussler – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is the first album by Motorpsycho & Friends, released in 1994. The album was the soundtrack to a fictional Spaghetti Western by non-existent director Theo Buhara...

(1994)
released as CD (1994), double 10" (1996) and remastered CD/double LP (2003)

as The International Tussler Society

Motorpsycho presents The International Tussler Society
Motorpsycho presents The International Tussler Society
Motorpsycho presents The International Tussler Society is an album by The International Tussler Society. It was released on CD and double vinyl, both editions came with a bonus DVD featuring a documentary about the recording process of the album, made by local director Frode Dreier. Also featured...

(2004)
released as double LP and CD, both came with bonus DVD
  • Satans Favourite Son (Promo-single, 2004)
  • Laila Lou (Promo-single, 2004)

Live albums (Roadworks)

  • Roadwork Vol. 1 – Heavy metal iz a poze, hardt rock iz a leifschteil: live in Europe 1998 (1999)
  • Roadwork Vol. 2 – The MotorSourceMassacre: Motorpsycho, The Source and Deathprod live at Kongsberg Jazzfestival 1995 (2001)
  • Roadwork Vol. 3 – The Four Norsemen of the Apocalypse (included in the double DVD release "Haircuts", 2008)
  • Roadwork Vol. 4 – Intrepid Skronk (2011)
  • Strings Of Stroop - Motorpsycho Live At Effenaar (limited edition vinyl, 2011)

Collaborations

  • Into The Sun (Split 7"/CD-single with Hedge Hog, 1993)
  • In the Fishtank 10
    In The Fishtank 10
    In the Fishtank 10 is an 2003 EP by Motorpsycho and Jaga Jazzist Horns, recorded in 2002 during their European tour and released via the Konkurrent label in 2003...

     (Mini-album with Jaga Jazzist Horns
    Jaga Jazzist
    Jaga Jazzist is an experimental jazz band from Norway that rose to prominence when the BBC named their first album, A Livingroom Hush , the best jazz album of 2002. The core of the band are brothers and main songwriters Lars and Martin Horntveth...

    , 2003)
  • Go To California (Split-EP with The Soundtrack of Our Lives
    The Soundtrack of Our Lives
    The Soundtrack of Our Lives, alternatively known as T.S.O.O.L. or Soundtrack, is a Swedish rock band that formed in 1995 after the dissolution of the punk band Union Carbide Productions....

    , 2001)

EPs, Singles

  • Maiden Voyage (Demo, 1990)
  • Soothe (EP, 1992)
  • 3 Songs for Rut (Single, 1992)
  • Mountain (EP, 1993)
  • Another Ugly EP (1993)
  • Wearing Yr Smell EP (1994)
  • Nerve Tattoo (EP, 1996)
  • Manmower (EP, 1996)
  • Sinful, Windborne (Single, 1996)
  • Babyscooter (EP, 1997)
  • Have Spacesuit, Will Travel (EP, 1997)
  • Lovelight (EP, 1997)
  • Starmelt (EP, 1997)
  • Ozone (EP, 1998)
  • Hey Jane (EP, 1998)
  • The Other Fool (EP, 2000)
  • Walkin' with J (EP, 2000)
  • Barracuda EP (EP, 2001)
  • The Slow Phaseout (Promo-single, 2001)
  • Go To California (Promo-single, 2001)
  • Serpentine (EP, 2002)
  • Hyena (Promo-single, 2006)
  • X-3 (Single, 2010)
  • The Visitant (Single, 2010)

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
x
OK