OhGr
Encyclopedia
ohGr is a band formed by Nivek Ogre
, of Skinny Puppy
, and musician/engineer Mark Walk
. Although the pedigree of the group's members might suggest otherwise, early ohGr releases differed in sound to its related industrial
bands, drawing more on hip-hop and electro-pop influences, incorporating more conventional structures and a lighter tone. However, from Devils In My Details onwards, ohGr has taken to a more abrasive, non-linear flavour of electro-industrial.
was actually originally the title of the group (an acronym of "When Everyone Learns Truth"), until it was discovered that in the interval it had been taken by a Californian punk band. Al Jourgensen
was also originally involved (who had the then band's name tattooed in anticipation of the project), and only one track he collaborated on has been leaked to the public, titled "Noreen". The music of that song later became industrial metal
group Ministry
's "The Fall", on their 1996 album Filth Pig
.
; the live band consisted of Nivek Ogre
, Tim Skold
(bass), cEvin Key
(drums and keyboards), Loki der Quaeler
(keyboards), and William Morrison
(guitar). 2003 saw the release of a follow up, SunnyPsyOp
(a play on the phrase "sunny side up" and military PsyOps). There were initially plans to tour for SunnyPsyOp, with Ministry in a festival type arrangement. These plans fell through, although much of the material from the second album had already been played live on the Welt tour.
In late 2011 OhGr announced a December 2011 West Coast USA and Canada tour consisting of 9 dates with direct support by fellow Metropolis Records artist Left Spine Down
.
. "Cracker" and "MaJiK" have both been played occasionally on MTV2
and Fuse. All three have been available through ohGr's website, and "MaJiK" appeared on the audio CD for SunnyPsyOp, albeit with some serious technical glitches.
will be contributing to the new ohGr album, as a result of them becoming friends through Repo! The Genetic Opera
. It was tentatively revealed in a chat with the band that an album of B-sides from Devils in my Details (entitled "D-Sides") and an album of unreleased material from the 1990s (entitled "Dfault") was due to be released. In October 2009 a link to www.wdihtf.com appeared on Skinny Puppy's website. When users sign up to the mailing list they receive a link to the song COLLIDOSKOPE which starts with many different voices saying "Welcome to Collidoskope".
As of May 10, ohGr has released a new studio album, unDeveloped. The album was a collaboration with Mark Walk, with whom the previous album was created. Also on the album is the actual audio from the 911 call reporting Michael Jackson's death (Track titled crash).
Singles
Nivek Ogre
Nivek Ogre is a Canadian musician, performance artist and actor best known as a founding member of the industrial band Skinny Puppy. Since that band featured another Kevin and was produced by another Ogilvie Nivek Ogre (born Kevin Graham Ogilvie December 5, 1962) is a Canadian musician,...
, of Skinny Puppy
Skinny Puppy
Skinny Puppy is a Canadian industrial musical group, formed in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada in 1982. The group is widely considered to be the founders of the electro-industrial genre....
, and musician/engineer Mark Walk
Mark Walk
Mark Walk is an American composer, producer, multi-instrumentalist and current member of the bands Skinny Puppy and ohGr. He also composes material for film and television under his name or as a ghostwriter. One such piece was for the "Kitchen Confidential" opener, which was a Fox TV show that...
. Although the pedigree of the group's members might suggest otherwise, early ohGr releases differed in sound to its related industrial
Industrial music
Industrial music is a style of experimental music that draws on transgressive and provocative themes. The term was coined in the mid-1970s with the founding of Industrial Records by the band Throbbing Gristle, and the creation of the slogan "industrial music for industrial people". In general, the...
bands, drawing more on hip-hop and electro-pop influences, incorporating more conventional structures and a lighter tone. However, from Devils In My Details onwards, ohGr has taken to a more abrasive, non-linear flavour of electro-industrial.
History
The band was officially formed in 2001, although the material for the first album, Welt dates back to the mid-nineties, having been held up due to legal trouble with American Recordings. W.E.L.T.W.E.L.T.
W.E.L.T. was a briefly extant side-project between members of industrial bands Skinny Puppy and Ministry . The project was active for a short while in 1989."Noreen" is the only W.E.L.T. song to have ever surfaced...
was actually originally the title of the group (an acronym of "When Everyone Learns Truth"), until it was discovered that in the interval it had been taken by a Californian punk band. Al Jourgensen
Al Jourgensen
Alain David Jourgensen , is a Cuban-American musician best known as the founder and frontman of the industrial metal band Ministry. He is sometimes credited as Alain Jourgensen, Alien Jourgensen, Hypo Luxa , Dog, Alien Dog Star and Buck Satan...
was also originally involved (who had the then band's name tattooed in anticipation of the project), and only one track he collaborated on has been leaked to the public, titled "Noreen". The music of that song later became industrial metal
Industrial metal
Industrial metal is a musical genre that draws from industrial music and many different types of heavy metal, using repeating metal guitar riffs, sampling, synthesizer or sequencer lines, and distorted vocals. Founding industrial metal acts include Ministry, Godflesh, and KMFDM.Industrial metal's...
group Ministry
Ministry (band)
Ministry is an American industrial metal band founded by lead singer Al Jourgensen in 1981. Originally a synthpop outfit, Ministry changed its style to industrial metal in the late 1980s. Ministry found mainstream success in the early 1990s with its most successful album Psalm 69: The Way to...
's "The Fall", on their 1996 album Filth Pig
Filth Pig
Filth Pig is the sixth studio album by industrial metal band Ministry, released in 1996 on Warner Bros. Records. The title was allegedly derived from a statement made in the British Houses of Parliament, where bandleader Jourgensen was described as a filthy pig by MP Teddy Taylor...
.
Touring
The band toured in 2001 to support the release of their debut album WeltWelt (album)
Welt is the first album by the band ohGr, formed by Nivek Ogre of Skinny Puppy, and musician/engineer Mark Walk.-Track listing:All songs written by Nivek Ogre and Mark Walk.- Personnel :* Nivek Ogre* Mark Walk...
; the live band consisted of Nivek Ogre
Nivek Ogre
Nivek Ogre is a Canadian musician, performance artist and actor best known as a founding member of the industrial band Skinny Puppy. Since that band featured another Kevin and was produced by another Ogilvie Nivek Ogre (born Kevin Graham Ogilvie December 5, 1962) is a Canadian musician,...
, Tim Skold
Tim Skold
Tim Sköld is a multi-instrumentalist who, in addition to producing solo work, has also collaborated with multiple musical groups including Shotgun Messiah, KMFDM and Marilyn Manson.-Early life:...
(bass), cEvin Key
CEvin Key
cEvin Key is the pseudonym of Kevin William Crompton , who was a founding member of the industrial music band Skinny Puppy, along with Nivek Ogre. In addition to his work with Skinny Puppy, cEvin Key has had several side projects, including Doubting Thomas, Cyberaktif, and Hilt...
(drums and keyboards), Loki der Quaeler
Loki der Quaeler
Loki der Quaeler is a research mathematician and musician; born Matthew Demsey in December, 1970, his name was legally changed in the early 1990s...
(keyboards), and William Morrison
William Morrison (director)
William Morrison , is a Canadian born Juno Award-nominated music video director, documentary film director, and musician...
(guitar). 2003 saw the release of a follow up, SunnyPsyOp
SunnyPsyOp
SunnyPsyOp is the second album by industrial band ohGr.-Track listing:All songs written by Ogre and Mark Walk.Note: "PawSee" is a hidden track that begins 23 seconds into track 13....
(a play on the phrase "sunny side up" and military PsyOps). There were initially plans to tour for SunnyPsyOp, with Ministry in a festival type arrangement. These plans fell through, although much of the material from the second album had already been played live on the Welt tour.
In late 2011 OhGr announced a December 2011 West Coast USA and Canada tour consisting of 9 dates with direct support by fellow Metropolis Records artist Left Spine Down
Left Spine Down
Based in Vancouver, BC, Canada, Left Spine Down is a band that plays what they call "cyberpunk," a mixture of electronica, metal, punk, and drum & bass....
.
Videos
ohGr has released three promotional videos, all directed by William Morrison. The first was a stop-motion creation for the track "Cracker". The second was a live performance of "Minus", filmed by Michael Condo at several venues from the 2001 tour. The third was for "MaJiK", from the second album; this also employed stop-motion, and was a collaboration with artist Thomas KuntzThomas Kuntz
Thomas Kuntz is an American multi-media artist notable for his contemporary automata. He has devoted a lifetime to acquiring the skills of a designer, sculptor, mechanic, automatist, animator, model-maker, painter and conceptualist.-Early life:...
. "Cracker" and "MaJiK" have both been played occasionally on MTV2
MTV2
MTV2 is a cable network that is widely available in the United States on digital cable and satellite television, and is progressively being added to analogue cable lineups across the nation...
and Fuse. All three have been available through ohGr's website, and "MaJiK" appeared on the audio CD for SunnyPsyOp, albeit with some serious technical glitches.
Present
ohGr's third album titled Devils in my Details was released on October 17, 2008 in Germany, October 20 in the United Kingdom, and October 21 in the United States. ohGr toured in support of the album release during the autumn of 2008. At Comic-Con 2008, Ogre announced that Bill MoseleyBill Moseley
William "Bill" Moseley is an American film actor and musician who has starred in a number of cult classic horror films, including House of 1000 Corpses, Repo! The Genetic Opera and The Devil's Rejects. His first big role was in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 as Chop Top...
will be contributing to the new ohGr album, as a result of them becoming friends through Repo! The Genetic Opera
Repo! The Genetic Opera
Repo! The Genetic Opera is a 2008 horror-rock opera musical film directed by Darren Lynn Bousman. The film is based on a play written and composed by Darren Smith and Terrance Zdunich....
. It was tentatively revealed in a chat with the band that an album of B-sides from Devils in my Details (entitled "D-Sides") and an album of unreleased material from the 1990s (entitled "Dfault") was due to be released. In October 2009 a link to www.wdihtf.com appeared on Skinny Puppy's website. When users sign up to the mailing list they receive a link to the song COLLIDOSKOPE which starts with many different voices saying "Welcome to Collidoskope".
As of May 10, ohGr has released a new studio album, unDeveloped. The album was a collaboration with Mark Walk, with whom the previous album was created. Also on the album is the actual audio from the 911 call reporting Michael Jackson's death (Track titled crash).
Discography
Studio albums- WeltWelt (album)Welt is the first album by the band ohGr, formed by Nivek Ogre of Skinny Puppy, and musician/engineer Mark Walk.-Track listing:All songs written by Nivek Ogre and Mark Walk.- Personnel :* Nivek Ogre* Mark Walk...
(March 20, 2001) - SunnyPsyOpSunnyPsyOpSunnyPsyOp is the second album by industrial band ohGr.-Track listing:All songs written by Ogre and Mark Walk.Note: "PawSee" is a hidden track that begins 23 seconds into track 13....
(July 1, 2003) - Devils in my DetailsDevils in my Details-Personnel:*Nivek Ogre*Mark Walk*Bill Moseley - poetry/spoken word on tracks 4, 7, 9, 10, & 11-Notes:*The original album title was purportedly Blurry Dotted I's after Ogre's dog....
(November 4–5, 2008) - unDeveloped (May 10, 2011)
Singles
- Cracker (CD single, includes Quicktime video for Cracker, 2001)
- Cracker/PoreCracker/Pore"Cracker/Pore" is a limited edition 12-inch promotional vinyl single by ohGr, whose songs originally appear on the album Welt.-Guests:...
(limited release clear vinyl single, May 2001)
External links
- ohGr.org Official Site (redirects to WDIHTF.com)
- WDIHTF & tRAGEk Official ohGr on FacebookFacebookFacebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
- WDIHTF Official ohGr on YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
- ohGr page at Full Worm Garden: The Nivek Ogre Fan Site
- "maJiK" music video on the Spitfire Records website (link now inactive)
- December 2008 Interview with ohGr by UnRatedMagazine.com
- Interview with ohGr (Part 1 of 3), (Part 2 of 3), (Part 3 of 3) by COMA Music Magazine, December 2008; on YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....