Brats (band)
Encyclopedia
Brats was a Danish band formed in 1977 as a punk
band. Original line-up featured Hank Shermann (real name Rene Krolmark, at that time known as Hank de Wank) on guitar, vocalist Franz De Zaster, drummer Eddie Haircut and bassist Mickey Rat. After recording songs for Danish Pære Punk compilation, the band split up in 1979, not much later reforming as a heavy metal
band with new members. Hank Shermann
was the only original member left, and he recruited bass guitarist and vocalist Yenz Leonhardt
(Jens Arnsted, later of Iron Savior
), drummer Lars Monroe and later second guitarist Michael Denner. This line-up signed a contract with CBS.
After one full-length album, 1980
(1980) (re-released on CD by Diamond Records
in 1999), Denner left and was replaced by Carsten van Der Volsing. Yenz was replaced with King Diamond on vocals (but remained as bass guitarist). Up to that point, the band was a hybrid of punk and metal, but King didn't want to sing punk rock, so the band started to write heavier songs than before (some of them would later become Mercyful Fate
songs, although with different titles and lyrics). It was also at this time, that Krolmark became Shermann. CBS didn't like the new material, so the band quit the contract. Yenz and Monroe left the band, and the rest of the band became Mercyful Fate
with new drummer Jan Musen. In 2008, the band released The Lost Tapes: Copenhagen 1979
, which was actually their first album, but was never released before.
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band. Original line-up featured Hank Shermann (real name Rene Krolmark, at that time known as Hank de Wank) on guitar, vocalist Franz De Zaster, drummer Eddie Haircut and bassist Mickey Rat. After recording songs for Danish Pære Punk compilation, the band split up in 1979, not much later reforming as a heavy 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...
band with new members. Hank Shermann
Hank Shermann
Hank Shermann is a Danish heavy metal guitarist. He began playing guitar in 1977.Shermann is best known for his work with Mercyful Fate, a band influential on Metallica. He has also played with the groups Brats, Fate, Zoser Mez, Gutrix, Virus 7, and his last main focus, Force Of Evil...
was the only original member left, and he recruited bass guitarist and vocalist Yenz Leonhardt
Yenz Leonhardt
Jens Arnsted is a heavy metal musician born 4 July in Vordingborg, Denmark...
(Jens Arnsted, later of Iron Savior
Iron Savior
Iron Savior is a German power metal band that formed in Hamburg, Germany in 1996. Following a period of several years working behind the scenes in music production, multi-instrumentalist and producer/engineer Piet Sielck joined with former Helloween bandmate Kai Hansen and then-drummer for Blind...
), drummer Lars Monroe and later second guitarist Michael Denner. This line-up signed a contract with CBS.
After one full-length album, 1980
1980 (album)
1980 is title of the debut album by Danish punk/metal band Brats.- Track listing :- Personnel :* Jens Arnsted – bass, vocals, acoustic guitar* Hank Shermann – guitars* Michael Denner – guitars, vocals on Ogcah Ghaszlihr...
(1980) (re-released on CD by Diamond Records
Diamond Records
Diamond Records was a record label, based in New York City, which was founded in 1961 by former Roulette Records executive Joe Kolsky. Another Roulette exec Phil Kahl joined Kolsky in the venture the following year....
in 1999), Denner left and was replaced by Carsten van Der Volsing. Yenz was replaced with King Diamond on vocals (but remained as bass guitarist). Up to that point, the band was a hybrid of punk and metal, but King didn't want to sing punk rock, so the band started to write heavier songs than before (some of them would later become Mercyful Fate
Mercyful Fate
Mercyful Fate was a Danish heavy metal band from Copenhagen. Initially active from 1981 to 1985, they reunited in 1992. The band went on hiatus again in 2000, when frontman King Diamond decided to continue his solo career...
songs, although with different titles and lyrics). It was also at this time, that Krolmark became Shermann. CBS didn't like the new material, so the band quit the contract. Yenz and Monroe left the band, and the rest of the band became Mercyful Fate
Mercyful Fate
Mercyful Fate was a Danish heavy metal band from Copenhagen. Initially active from 1981 to 1985, they reunited in 1992. The band went on hiatus again in 2000, when frontman King Diamond decided to continue his solo career...
with new drummer Jan Musen. In 2008, the band released The Lost Tapes: Copenhagen 1979
The Lost Tapes: Copenhagen 1979
The Lost Tapes: Copenhagen 1979 is an album by Danish punk/metal band Brats. It was recorded in 1979, but wasn't released until 2008.- Track listing :All music by Hank Shermann and lyrics by Yenz Arnsted, except, where noted.# "On Dope" 1:15...
, which was actually their first album, but was never released before.
Past members
- Hank ShermannHank ShermannHank Shermann is a Danish heavy metal guitarist. He began playing guitar in 1977.Shermann is best known for his work with Mercyful Fate, a band influential on Metallica. He has also played with the groups Brats, Fate, Zoser Mez, Gutrix, Virus 7, and his last main focus, Force Of Evil...
(Rene Krolmark, Hank de Wank) - 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...
(1977–1981) - King DiamondKing DiamondKim Bendix Petersen , better known by his stage name King Diamond, is a Grammy Award nominated Danish heavy metal musician. As a vocalist, he is known for his extensive vocal range, in particular his usage of falsetto. He is the lead vocalist for both Mercyful Fate and the eponymous King Diamond...
(Kim Bendix Petersen) - vocals (1980–1981) - Carsten Van Der Volsing - guitar (1980–1981)
- Jens Arnsted (Yenz Leonhardt) - bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, vocals (1979–1981) - Lars "Monroe" Nybo - drums (1979–1981)
- Michael DennerMichael DennerMichael Denner is a Danish heavy metal guitarist.Denner is a fourth generation musician. Denner is known for playing a Gibson Flying V guitar. He lists his inspirations as Uli Jon Roth, Michael Schenker and Ollie Halsall. He was a member of Mercyful Fate and King Diamond amongst others...
- guitar (1979–1980) - Franz De Zaster (Michael Gorm) - Vocals (1977–1979)
- Mickey Rat (Michael Hillerup) - Bass (1977–1979)
- Eddie Haircut (Milan Balsgaard) - Drums (1977–1979)
Discography
- 19801980 (album)1980 is title of the debut album by Danish punk/metal band Brats.- Track listing :- Personnel :* Jens Arnsted – bass, vocals, acoustic guitar* Hank Shermann – guitars* Michael Denner – guitars, vocals on Ogcah Ghaszlihr...
(1980) - Demo (1981)
- The Lost Tapes: Copenhagen 1979The Lost Tapes: Copenhagen 1979The Lost Tapes: Copenhagen 1979 is an album by Danish punk/metal band Brats. It was recorded in 1979, but wasn't released until 2008.- Track listing :All music by Hank Shermann and lyrics by Yenz Arnsted, except, where noted.# "On Dope" 1:15...
(2008)