DEUS
Encyclopedia
Deus is a rock
band
based in Antwerp, Belgium
, whose only continuous members up to the present day are Tom Barman
(vocals, guitars) and Klaas Janzoons (keyboards, violin). The rest of the band's line-up currently consists of drummer Stéphane Misseghers, bassist Alan Gevaert and guitarist/backing vocalist Mauro Pawlowski
.
and punk
to jazz
and prog rock
. They first came to attention in Humo's Rock Rally
of 1992 and after the release of the four-track EP "Zea
", Deus was offered a recording contract
with Island Records
. They became the first Belgian indie act ever to sign to a major international label.
drew influences from Frank Zappa
, Tom Waits
and Captain Beefheart
and was released on September 16, 1994 to critical acclaim. Shortly after followed the release of a highly experimental mail order only album entitled My Sister=My Clock, consisting of thirteen songs contained on one physical track. Their next effort In a Bar, Under the Sea
followed two years later. The Ideal Crash
(1999) saw the manic eccentricity channeled into a slightly more accessible package. Altogether, the band's first three albums (discounting My Sister=My Clock) sold over 750.000 copies worldwide and gathered them a cult following.
Meanwhile, Deus had been subject to various line-up changes. After touring for Worst Case Scenario, guitarist Rudy Trouvé
went on to Kiss My Jazz
, Dead Man Ray
and The Love Substitutes
. By the time In a Bar, Under the Sea came out, bassist Stef Kamil Carlens
had left the band to focus on Zita Swoon
. They were replaced by Craig Ward and Danny Mommens, respectively. Eventually, the line-up was completed by touring guitarist Tim Vanhamel
(Evil Superstars
, Millionaire
, Eagles of Death Metal
).
record producer
CJ Bolland to form Magnus
in 2004. In June 2002, Deus did however play 6 concerts in Portugal
, the Netherlands
and Belgium
, supporting the CD
and DVD
release of their singles collection, No More Loud Music
.
was released. The release of the new album was supported by a world tour of over 130 concerts. The final concert of the 2005/2006 Pocket Revolution tour took place on October 1 in Deus's hometown of Antwerp, Belgium. Deus performed that day as part of the 0110 Festival for Tolerance. This free entrance festival, an initiative of leadsinger Tom Barman, saw possibly the largest number of Belgian artists ever assembled perform that day in Antwerp, Ghent
, Brussels
and Charleroi
in support of Tolerance and to oppose racism, extremism and violence. After finishing their Pocket Revolution tour, the band began rehearsals for the writing and recording process of their next album. In 2007 Deus built their own studio, to continue work on their next album, Vantage Point
, which was released in April 2008. Keep You Close
was released in September 2011, featuring Greg Dulli
. The title track of the album was premiered on 16 June 2011 on "C'est Lenoir", a show on radio France Inter, presented by Bernard Lenoir. On 19 July 2011, dEUS announced their first single, Constant Now, taken of the new record, which will be released 19 September 2011. Keep You Close
has been received with raving reviews, Q
rewarded the record with 4-out-of-5 stars, saying that "The Belgian Elbow hit new heights on sixth effort". Sputnikmusic
gave the album 5-out-of-5, describing the record as "a real grower album" and "Keep you Close may not be the best dEUS album ever, but it's still certainly one of the finest albums to have come out this year and one of the finest albums in the band's entire career." In October 2011, the band won the "Best Belgian Act" award at the MTV Europe Music Awards
.
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
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
based in Antwerp, 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...
, whose only continuous members up to the present day are Tom Barman
Tom Barman
Tom Barman is a Belgian musician and film director.Barman studied at the film school of St.-Lucas in Brussels, but didn't finish his studies because of he wished to pursue a career in music. He began by forming the rock band, Deus in Antwerp, in 1989...
(vocals, guitars) and Klaas Janzoons (keyboards, violin). The rest of the band's line-up currently consists of drummer Stéphane Misseghers, bassist Alan Gevaert and guitarist/backing vocalist Mauro Pawlowski
Mauro Pawlowski
Mauro Antonio Pawlowski is one of the key figures in the Belgian contemporary music scene. He was born in Koersel and is of Italian and Polish descent....
.
Formation
Formed in 1991, Deus began its career as a cover band, but soon began writing its own material. Their musical influences range from folkFolk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
and punk
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...
to 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...
and prog rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
. They first came to attention in Humo's Rock Rally
Humo's Rock Rally
Humo's Rock Rally is a Belgian contest for rock bands, organized every second year since 1978. It is organized by the Belgian magazine HUMO.Every band that has not yet released an official recording, may enter the Rock Rally, by submitting a demo to HUMO. Humo then selects 100 bands to compete in...
of 1992 and after the release of the four-track EP "Zea
Zea (EP)
Zea is an EP release from the Belgian rock group Deus. The EP was first released in June 1993. This EP was released prior to the bands contract with Island Records.-Track listing:# "Intro Zea Replica" – 0:37# "Zea" – 5:00...
", Deus was offered a recording contract
Recording contract
A recording contract is a legal agreement between a record label and a recording artist , where the artist makes a record for the label to sell and promote...
with Island Records
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
. They became the first Belgian indie act ever to sign to a major international label.
First era (1994 - 2000)
Deus' debut album Worst Case ScenarioWorst Case Scenario (album)
Worst Case Scenario is the first album by Belgian alternative rock band Deus released in 1994. The cover art was designed by guitarist Rudy Trouvé...
drew influences from Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
, Tom Waits
Tom Waits
Thomas Alan "Tom" Waits is an American singer-songwriter, composer, and actor. Waits has a distinctive voice, described by critic Daniel Durchholz as sounding "like it was soaked in a vat of bourbon, left hanging in the smokehouse for a few months, and then taken outside and run over with a car."...
and Captain Beefheart
Captain Beefheart
Don Van Vliet January 15, 1941 December 17, 2010) was an American musician, singer-songwriter and artist best known by the stage name Captain Beefheart. His musical work was conducted with a rotating ensemble of musicians called The Magic Band, active between 1965 and 1982, with whom he recorded 12...
and was released on September 16, 1994 to critical acclaim. Shortly after followed the release of a highly experimental mail order only album entitled My Sister=My Clock, consisting of thirteen songs contained on one physical track. Their next effort In a Bar, Under the Sea
In a Bar, Under the Sea
In a Bar, Under the Sea is a 1996 album by Belgian band Deus. The cover art was designed by guitarist Rudy Trouvé. The original Belgian release was by Bang!, with the only difference that track 14 is simply named "Roses", like the single....
followed two years later. The Ideal Crash
The Ideal Crash
The Ideal Crash is the third studio album by the Belgian rock band Deus, released in March 1999. The album was recorded in Spain and it includes the single Instant Street, which became an underground hit in Europe...
(1999) saw the manic eccentricity channeled into a slightly more accessible package. Altogether, the band's first three albums (discounting My Sister=My Clock) sold over 750.000 copies worldwide and gathered them a cult following.
Meanwhile, Deus had been subject to various line-up changes. After touring for Worst Case Scenario, guitarist Rudy Trouvé
Rudy Trouvé
Rudy Trouvé is a Belgian musician from Antwerp.In the early nineties he founded the Heavenhotel record label and released dozens of records since...
went on to Kiss My Jazz
Kiss My Jazz
Kiss My Jazz is a group of musicians based in Antwerp, Belgium. Their music is a lo-fi mix of jazz, rock and experimental music. Members of the group include former member of dEUS Rudy Trouvé:-Albums:* In Docs Place Friday Evening, 1996, Knitting Factory...
, Dead Man Ray
Dead Man Ray
Dead Man Ray is a Belgian cult rock band, originating from Berchem near Antwerp. Among its members are Daan Stuyven, Rudy Trouvé , Elko Blijweerdt, Wouter Van Belle and Herman Houbrechts, who was later replaced by drummer Karel De Backer. Their debut Berchem was released in 1998 including the...
and The Love Substitutes
The Love Substitutes
The Love Substitutes are a Belgian band composed of dEUS guitarists past and present; Mauro Pawlowski on drums, Rudy Trouvé and Craig Ward on guitar, and completed by Bert Lenaerts on bass. They were formed midway 2004....
. By the time In a Bar, Under the Sea came out, bassist Stef Kamil Carlens
Stef Kamil Carlens
Stef Kamil Carlens is a Belgian musician and leader of Belgian rock band Zita Swoon. Carlens studied at the "Hoger Kunstonderwijs, Rijksinstituut, Antwerpen". Together with Tom Barman he co-founded Belgian Alt Rock band Deus...
had left the band to focus on Zita Swoon
Zita Swoon
Zita Swoon is a Belgian indie rock group. They entered the music scene of Antwerp in 1993, still under the name A Beatband with the EP "Jintro Travels The Word In A Skirt". The group is typical of the music scene in Antwerp, with members playing in numerous other groups. Best known member is singer...
. They were replaced by Craig Ward and Danny Mommens, respectively. Eventually, the line-up was completed by touring guitarist Tim Vanhamel
Tim Vanhamel
Tim Wessel Vanhamel is a Belgian rock musician who has been a member of and performed with a number of bands including Evil Superstars, Deus and Eagles of Death Metal. He is also the frontman of his own bands Millionaire and Eat Lions.-Career:Vanhamel played in his first band, Sister Poopoo, when...
(Evil Superstars
Evil Superstars
Evil Superstars was a Belgian indie rock band led by Mauro Pawlowski. Among its members was Millionaire and Eagles of Death Metal guitarist Tim Vanhamel.-History:Evil Superstars was formed in 1992 in Heusden-Zolder, Belgium.The original members were:...
, Millionaire
Millionaire (band)
Millionaire is a Belgian indie rock band led by Tim Vanhamel, drawing on influences from stoner rock, indie and industrial rock music.-History:Millionaire was formed in 1999 by former Evil Superstars and dEUS guitarist Tim Vanhamel...
, Eagles of Death Metal
Eagles of Death Metal
Eagles of Death Metal is an American rock band from Palm Desert, California, formed in 1998 by Jesse Hughes and Josh Homme. Despite their band name, Eagles of Death Metal are not a death metal band. Hughes stated that a friend was introducing Josh Homme to the death metal genre...
).
Hiatus
After the tour in support of The Ideal Crash, the band took an extended hiatus that allowed the individual members to pursue different interests. Barman directed a film, Any Way the Wind Blows in 2003, and teamed up with technoTechno
Techno is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in Detroit, Michigan in the United States during the mid to late 1980s. The first recorded use of the word techno, in reference to a genre of music, was in 1988...
record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
CJ Bolland to form Magnus
Magnus (band)
Magnus is a Belgian joint dance project of Tom Barman and CJ Bolland. Magnus' debut album, The Body Gave You Everything, was released on March 29, 2004...
in 2004. In June 2002, Deus did however play 6 concerts in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, 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...
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...
, supporting the CD
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
and DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
release of their singles collection, No More Loud Music
No More Loud Music
No More Loud Music is a singles collection of the Belgian rock band Deus, released in 2001. In contains, in chronological order, the singles from the albums Worst Case Scenario, In a Bar, Under the Sea and The Ideal Crash, and one new single, "Nothing Really Ends".-Track listing:# "Suds & Soda" No...
.
Second era (2004 - present)
In mid 2004 they began recording new material and playing live across Europe, and in August the download-only single "If You Don't Get What You Want" was released. On September 12, 2005 the album Pocket RevolutionPocket Revolution
Pocket Revolution is the fourth album by Deus, released in 2005. The cover art is based on The Von Neumann-Machine, a story from Don Lawrence's Storm series of graphic novels....
was released. The release of the new album was supported by a world tour of over 130 concerts. The final concert of the 2005/2006 Pocket Revolution tour took place on October 1 in Deus's hometown of Antwerp, Belgium. Deus performed that day as part of the 0110 Festival for Tolerance. This free entrance festival, an initiative of leadsinger Tom Barman, saw possibly the largest number of Belgian artists ever assembled perform that day in Antwerp, Ghent
Ghent
Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...
, Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
and Charleroi
Charleroi
Charleroi is a city and a municipality of Wallonia, located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium. , the total population of Charleroi was 201,593. The metropolitan area, including the outer commuter zone, covers an area of and had a total population of 522,522 as of 1 January 2008, ranking it as...
in support of Tolerance and to oppose racism, extremism and violence. After finishing their Pocket Revolution tour, the band began rehearsals for the writing and recording process of their next album. In 2007 Deus built their own studio, to continue work on their next album, Vantage Point
Vantage Point (album)
Vantage Point is the fifth album from the Belgian band Deus, released on April 18, 2008. This is the first Deus album which features the same line-up as the previous album....
, which was released in April 2008. Keep You Close
Keep You Close
Keep You Close is the sixth album from the Belgian band dEUS. It was released on September 17th in Belgium and 19th in mainland Europe. Its UK release is set for October 3rd...
was released in September 2011, featuring Greg Dulli
Greg Dulli
-Biography:Greg Dulli was born and brought up in the working-class city of Hamilton, Ohio. Although he was raised a Catholic, he is now agnostic. Dulli first came to public attention in the late 1980s with The Afghan Whigs when he joined D.C. transplant bassist John Curley and Louisville, Kentucky,...
. The title track of the album was premiered on 16 June 2011 on "C'est Lenoir", a show on radio France Inter, presented by Bernard Lenoir. On 19 July 2011, dEUS announced their first single, Constant Now, taken of the new record, which will be released 19 September 2011. Keep You Close
Keep You Close
Keep You Close is the sixth album from the Belgian band dEUS. It was released on September 17th in Belgium and 19th in mainland Europe. Its UK release is set for October 3rd...
has been received with raving reviews, Q
Q (magazine)
Q is a popular music magazine published monthly in the United Kingdom.Founders Mark Ellen and David Hepworth were dismayed by the music press of the time, which they felt was ignoring a generation of older music buyers who were buying CDs — then still a new technology...
rewarded the record with 4-out-of-5 stars, saying that "The Belgian Elbow hit new heights on sixth effort". Sputnikmusic
Sputnikmusic
Sputnikmusic, or simply Sputnik, is a music website offering music criticism and music news alongside features commonly associated with wiki-style websites...
gave the album 5-out-of-5, describing the record as "a real grower album" and "Keep you Close may not be the best dEUS album ever, but it's still certainly one of the finest albums to have come out this year and one of the finest albums in the band's entire career." In October 2011, the band won the "Best Belgian Act" award at the MTV Europe Music Awards
2011 MTV Europe Music Awards
The 2011 MTV EMAs were held in Northern Ireland's capital Belfast, on Sunday, November 6, 2011, at the Odyssey Arena in the Titanic Quarter area of the city and were hosted by Selena Gomez...
.
Studio albums
- Worst Case ScenarioWorst Case Scenario (album)Worst Case Scenario is the first album by Belgian alternative rock band Deus released in 1994. The cover art was designed by guitarist Rudy Trouvé...
(1994) - In a Bar, Under the SeaIn a Bar, Under the SeaIn a Bar, Under the Sea is a 1996 album by Belgian band Deus. The cover art was designed by guitarist Rudy Trouvé. The original Belgian release was by Bang!, with the only difference that track 14 is simply named "Roses", like the single....
(1996) - The Ideal CrashThe Ideal CrashThe Ideal Crash is the third studio album by the Belgian rock band Deus, released in March 1999. The album was recorded in Spain and it includes the single Instant Street, which became an underground hit in Europe...
(1999) - Pocket RevolutionPocket RevolutionPocket Revolution is the fourth album by Deus, released in 2005. The cover art is based on The Von Neumann-Machine, a story from Don Lawrence's Storm series of graphic novels....
(2005) - Vantage PointVantage Point (album)Vantage Point is the fifth album from the Belgian band Deus, released on April 18, 2008. This is the first Deus album which features the same line-up as the previous album....
(2008) - Keep You CloseKeep You CloseKeep You Close is the sixth album from the Belgian band dEUS. It was released on September 17th in Belgium and 19th in mainland Europe. Its UK release is set for October 3rd...
(2011)
EPs, DVDs and compilation albums
- ZeaZea (EP)Zea is an EP release from the Belgian rock group Deus. The EP was first released in June 1993. This EP was released prior to the bands contract with Island Records.-Track listing:# "Intro Zea Replica" – 0:37# "Zea" – 5:00...
(1994) - My Sister = My ClockMy Sister = My ClockMy Sister = My Clock is an EP released by the Belgian band Deus in 1995 with the songs that didn't make the 1994 LP Worst Case Scenario. It was recorded and mixed at Caraibes in Brussels on August 1994, and edited at the Pingstudio in Ghent. It was produced by the duo Vermeersch/Vervloesem who also...
(1995) - No More Loud MusicNo More Loud MusicNo More Loud Music is a singles collection of the Belgian rock band Deus, released in 2001. In contains, in chronological order, the singles from the albums Worst Case Scenario, In a Bar, Under the Sea and The Ideal Crash, and one new single, "Nothing Really Ends".-Track listing:# "Suds & Soda" No...
(2001) - No More Video (2002)