Dirk Ivens
Encyclopedia
Dirk Ivens is a Belgian musician and performer in the industrial music
genre. In 1978 he started as singer and guitar player in the punk band Slaughterhouse but left the group after one year to form the new band The Few. In 1980 he formed the electronic band Absolute Body Control
, influenced by Suicide
, DAF
, and British artists like Fad Gadget
. After going through various members, Absolute Body Control soon settled as a duo with Ivens and Eric van Wonterghem.
In 1985, Absolute Body Control joined forces with Marc Verhaeghen's band The Klinik and Sandy Nys' The Maniacs to form the "supergroup" Absolute Controlled Clinical Maniacs. The name was soon shortened to The Klinik; Nys left in 1986 and van Wonterghem in 1987 to work on their own bands, while Ivens remained a member until 1991, when he left to concentrate on his solo project Dive.
In 1996, Dirk started Sonar
together with Patrick Stevens
, who left in 1998 to be replaced by long-time collaborator (and brother-in-law) Eric van Wonterghem. In 2003-2005 he rejoined Marc Verhaeghen in The Klinik for a few festival concerts, without releasing any new material.
Ivens has also guest starred as a vocalist on songs by Monolith, Suicide Commando
, and Nebula H (among others), remixed other artists, and runs the record labels Body Records and Daft Records.
Dirk Ivens considered to be one of the founders of the power noise
genre.
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...
genre. In 1978 he started as singer and guitar player in the punk band Slaughterhouse but left the group after one year to form the new band The Few. In 1980 he formed the electronic band Absolute Body Control
Absolute Body Control
Absolute Body Control is an electronic music project from Belgium. It is notable as the first significant project of musicians Dirk Ivens and Eric Van Wonterghem.-History:...
, influenced by Suicide
Suicide (band)
Suicide is an American electronic protopunk musical duo, intermittently active since 1970 and composed of vocalist Alan Vega and Martin Rev on synthesizers and drum machines. They are an early synthesizer/vocal musical duo....
, DAF
Deutsch-Amerikanische Freundschaft
Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft or D.A.F. is an influential German electropunk/NDW band from Düsseldorf, formed in 1978 featuring Gabriel "Gabi" Delgado-López , Robert Görl , Kurt "Pyrolator" Dahlke , Michael Kemner and Wolfgang Spelmans...
, and British artists like Fad Gadget
Fad Gadget
Fad Gadget is the stage name of Francis John Tovey , a British avant-garde electronic musician and vocalist. He was a proponent of both New Wave and early Industrial music....
. After going through various members, Absolute Body Control soon settled as a duo with Ivens and Eric van Wonterghem.
In 1985, Absolute Body Control joined forces with Marc Verhaeghen's band The Klinik and Sandy Nys' The Maniacs to form the "supergroup" Absolute Controlled Clinical Maniacs. The name was soon shortened to The Klinik; Nys left in 1986 and van Wonterghem in 1987 to work on their own bands, while Ivens remained a member until 1991, when he left to concentrate on his solo project Dive.
In 1996, Dirk started Sonar
Sonar (band)
Sonar is the name of a Belgian musical group, combining rhythmic noise, soundscapes, and industrial music. It was formed as a side-project of noise artists Dirk Ivens and Patrick Stevens.- Members / History :...
together with Patrick Stevens
Hypnoskull
Hypnoskull is the name of Belgian musical group whose style borrows elements of noise, industrial music, jungle, breakbeat, lo-fi, and techno. Hypnoskull currently releases music through Germany’s Ant-Zen record label.-Members / History:...
, who left in 1998 to be replaced by long-time collaborator (and brother-in-law) Eric van Wonterghem. In 2003-2005 he rejoined Marc Verhaeghen in The Klinik for a few festival concerts, without releasing any new material.
Ivens has also guest starred as a vocalist on songs by Monolith, Suicide Commando
Suicide Commando
Suicide Commando is a Belgian electro-industrial act created by Johan van Roy in 1986.- History :Johan van Roy, Suicide Commando's only member, began experimenting with electronic music in 1986. Three years later he released his first tape under the moniker Suicide Commando, and made an appearance...
, and Nebula H (among others), remixed other artists, and runs the record labels Body Records and Daft Records.
Dirk Ivens considered to be one of the founders of the power noise
Power noise
Power noise is a fusion genre among noise music and various styles of electronic dance music. It should not be confused with "power electronics", which lacks rhythmic elements and is closer to harsh noise...
genre.