Backstreet Girls
Encyclopedia
Backstreet Girls are a Norwegian
rock
band
. Formed in 1984, they have released 14 records.
In 1985 Tom Kristensen left the band, to be replaced by Arne Aarnes. Later that year they started writing and recording their first album, and also contributed to the Norwegian film X.
In 1986 they released their debut album Mental Shakedown on the small independent label Medicine Records. The album was released on a very limited press at first, but was re-released three years later on Polygram Records. Later that year Arne Aarnes left the band, and was replaced by Bjørn Müller of the band Z-off.
The line-up of Petter Baarli, Pål Kristensen, Bjørn Terje Baarli and Bjørn Müller remained for the subsequent three albums, Boogie Till' You Puke, Party On Elmstreet and Coming Down Hard.
In May 1991 Bjørn Müller left the band, and was replaced by the band's fourth vocalist, Ole Hillborg, formerly of Glorius Bankrobbers. The album Let's Have It was released in October 1992 on Warner Music.
In 1993 the band released a live album Live - Get Yer Yo-Yo's Out, and Ole Hillborg left the band shortly thereafter.
After this The Backstreet Girls went to England to hold auditions for another lead singer. They chose Irishman Pat Diamond, and returned to Norway to perform some concerts and record an album. The album Don't Fake It Too Long was not released until 2008 . However, Diamond was soon deported from Norway, and by 1995 Bjørn Müller had rejoined the band as lead vocalist.
In 1997 the 7" single "Monster In My Caddillac" was released on Hit!Me Records, but another album was not to appear until 1999, six years after the previous one, when the album Hellway To High was released on FaceFront Records.
In October 1999 bassist Pål Kristensen left the band to be replaced by Morten Lunde, of The Mormones.
In November 2000 Universal Records
released a greatest hits compilation entitled Boogie Till' You Bleed.
In March 2001 the band released their eight studio album, Tuff Tuff Tuff, on FaceFront Records, and that summer went on a tour of Europe with Australian band Rose Tattoo
, a long-time influence on the Backstreet Girls. Live recordings of these concerts were released in September 2002 on the album Black Boogie Death Rock N' Roll featuring six live recordings from the tour and six new songs.
At the end of 2002 Morten Lunde left the band to concentrate on his other band, The Mormones, and Dan Thunderbird was recruited on bass.
In 2003 the band recorded another album in between touring. The album was released in June on Facefront Records, entitled Sick My Duck. The band embarked on a Norwegian tour of over 20 dates called "Boogie My Life Away Tour".
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...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
. Formed in 1984, they have released 14 records.
History
The band was formed in 1984 by brothers Pål Kristensen on bass and Tom Kristensen on vocals. They were joined by guitarist Petter Baarli, formerly of the band Riff/Raff, and his brother, drummer Bjørn Terje Baarli.In 1985 Tom Kristensen left the band, to be replaced by Arne Aarnes. Later that year they started writing and recording their first album, and also contributed to the Norwegian film X.
In 1986 they released their debut album Mental Shakedown on the small independent label Medicine Records. The album was released on a very limited press at first, but was re-released three years later on Polygram Records. Later that year Arne Aarnes left the band, and was replaced by Bjørn Müller of the band Z-off.
The line-up of Petter Baarli, Pål Kristensen, Bjørn Terje Baarli and Bjørn Müller remained for the subsequent three albums, Boogie Till' You Puke, Party On Elmstreet and Coming Down Hard.
In May 1991 Bjørn Müller left the band, and was replaced by the band's fourth vocalist, Ole Hillborg, formerly of Glorius Bankrobbers. The album Let's Have It was released in October 1992 on Warner Music.
In 1993 the band released a live album Live - Get Yer Yo-Yo's Out, and Ole Hillborg left the band shortly thereafter.
After this The Backstreet Girls went to England to hold auditions for another lead singer. They chose Irishman Pat Diamond, and returned to Norway to perform some concerts and record an album. The album Don't Fake It Too Long was not released until 2008 . However, Diamond was soon deported from Norway, and by 1995 Bjørn Müller had rejoined the band as lead vocalist.
In 1997 the 7" single "Monster In My Caddillac" was released on Hit!Me Records, but another album was not to appear until 1999, six years after the previous one, when the album Hellway To High was released on FaceFront Records.
In October 1999 bassist Pål Kristensen left the band to be replaced by Morten Lunde, of The Mormones.
In November 2000 Universal Records
Universal Records
Universal Records was a record label owned by Universal Music Group, and it is now owned by Manny Patino and Michael Jackson, and operated as part of the Universal Motown Republic Group.-History:...
released a greatest hits compilation entitled Boogie Till' You Bleed.
In March 2001 the band released their eight studio album, Tuff Tuff Tuff, on FaceFront Records, and that summer went on a tour of Europe with Australian band Rose Tattoo
Rose Tattoo
Rose Tattoo is an Australian rock and roll band, now led by Angry Anderson, that was formed in Sydney in 1976. Their sound is hard rock mixed with blues rock influences, with songs including "Bad Boy for Love", "Rock 'n' Roll Outlaw", "Nice Boys", "We Can't Be Beaten" and "Scarred for Life"...
, a long-time influence on the Backstreet Girls. Live recordings of these concerts were released in September 2002 on the album Black Boogie Death Rock N' Roll featuring six live recordings from the tour and six new songs.
At the end of 2002 Morten Lunde left the band to concentrate on his other band, The Mormones, and Dan Thunderbird was recruited on bass.
In 2003 the band recorded another album in between touring. The album was released in June on Facefront Records, entitled Sick My Duck. The band embarked on a Norwegian tour of over 20 dates called "Boogie My Life Away Tour".
Current members
- Martin H-Son (drumsDrum kitA 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 ....
) - Petter Baarli (GuitarGuitarThe 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...
) - Bjørn Müller (vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
) 1987 - 1991, 1996 - Present - Dan Thunderbird (Bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
) 2002 - Present
Past members
- Tom Kristensen (vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
) 1984 - 1985 - Pål Kristensen (Bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
) 1984 - 1999 - Arne Aarnes (vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
) 1985 - 1987 - Olle Hillborg (vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
) 1992 - 1993 - Pat Diamond (vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
) 1994 - Morten Lunde (Bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
) 1999 - 2002 - Stein Ramberg (GuitarGuitarThe 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...
) - Jon Berg (GuitarGuitarThe 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...
) - Anders Kronberg (vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
) - Bjørn Terje Baarli (drumsDrum kitA 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 ....
) 1984 - 2000
Discography
- Mental Shakedown (1986)
- Boogie Till You Puke (1988)
- Party on Elm Street (1989)
- Coming Down Hard (1990)
- Let's Have It (1992)
- Live - Get Yer Yo-Yo's Out (1993)
- Hellway to High (1999)
- Boogie Till' You Bleed (2000) - Compilation
- Tuff Tuff Tuff (2001)
- Black Boogie Death Rock n' Roll (2002)
- Sick My Duck (2003)
- Shake Your Stimulator (2007)
- Don't Fake It Too Long (2008) - Vinyl only. Recorded in 1994.
- Just When You Thought Things Couldn't Get Any Worse... Here's the Backstreet Girls (2009)