Lucien (band)
Encyclopedia
Lucien were a "Hellrock" band from Stockholm
, Sweden
with one member from Clevedon
, UK.
novels by Neil Gaiman
, the band was formed in 2004 after vocalist/guitarist Greg Hell (Greg C.Pearson) left the punk band Mr.zippy (on UK's Golf Records
) and moved to Stockholm
, Sweden
. He met guitarist Vic Hemgren (formerly of such bands as Construcdead, Maze Of Torment, Sorg and Månegarm
). Later to join the band was Drummer "S.S" and bassist Ekwe Nordin. The band quickly established a sound based in the veins of punk bands such as Black Flag
and The Misfits but employing a lot of the current Scandinavian rock sounds of bands such as The Hellacopters
and Gluecifer
. Combined with an anti-commercial and anti-authoritative attitude based in underground punk and death metal and a dark edge which was inspired by the love of such bands as Danzig
and The Doors
.
The band released 2 demo CD recordings, "Unholy Lords Of Rock" and "Blood Red Diary" (also released on cassette for the sake of old school). A four-track EP "D.I.Y Eller Dö" (D.I.Y Or Die) was released on a number of small underground labels worldwide in such places as Finland, Sweden, Austria, Portugal, Spain, Australia, USA and more mostly on CDR and cassette.
The band played a number of shows around Sweden and supported such bands as The Robots and Fabulous Disaster (band)
.
In 2006, bassist Ewke Nodin left the band and was replaced for a short time by Cloffe Caspersson, also from Maze Of Torment but better known as a DJ for Stockholm's 106.7 FM Rockklassiker
.
In the summer of 2006 the band toured the UK.
Cloffe, although a good band friend didn't fit quite in and exited the band. He is listed as the band's bassist on their album and pictured although he did not play on the album and was technically only in the band for just over a week. He was replaced by the 22-year old Johan "Täz" Lagercrantz on bass who was spotted fronting his own band Ohwebe.
Although based very much in the ethics of punk and death metal the band's music bordered on almost commercial rock at times. This has led to many confused reviews.
The band are were vocal about their love of music and the rock scene wishing to help it thrive by speaking out against its commercialism and "faceless monsters" such as unfair gigs (flyer deals, ticket deals, vote-for-me etc.) and spreading the word to "not immitiate the old masters but seek what they sought".
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
with one member from Clevedon
Clevedon
Clevedon is a town and civil parish in the unitary authority of North Somerset, which covers part of the ceremonial county of Somerset, England...
, UK.
History 2004–2006
Taking the name from a character in the SandmanSandman
The Sandman is a figure in folklore who brings good sleep and dreams.Sandman may also refer to:-People:*Mark Sandman, singer and co-founder of the band Morphine*Charles W...
novels by Neil Gaiman
Neil Gaiman
Neil Richard Gaiman born 10 November 1960)is an English author of short fiction, novels, comic books, graphic novels, audio theatre and films. His notable works include the comic book series The Sandman and novels Stardust, American Gods, Coraline, and The Graveyard Book...
, the band was formed in 2004 after vocalist/guitarist Greg Hell (Greg C.Pearson) left the punk band Mr.zippy (on UK's Golf Records
Golf Records
Golf Records is an independent record label based in the UK.-Artists:*4ft Fingers*Amulet*A New Way Trust*Black Flame Dispute*The Blueprint*Boy Hits Car*Carpathian*The Chariot*Dead Poetic*The Devil Wears Prada*District*Dopamine...
) and moved to Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. He met guitarist Vic Hemgren (formerly of such bands as Construcdead, Maze Of Torment, Sorg and Månegarm
Månegarm
Månegarm is a Swedish Viking/black metal band from Norrtälje. The band's name comes from Mánagarmr, a wolf in Norse mythology.-History:The band started from the ideas of Svenne Rosendal, Jonas Almquist, and Pierre Wilhelmsson in 1995. After securing another guitarist in Mårten Matsson and a drummer...
). Later to join the band was Drummer "S.S" and bassist Ekwe Nordin. The band quickly established a sound based in the veins of punk bands such as Black Flag
Black Flag (band)
Black Flag was an American punk rock band formed in 1976 in Hermosa Beach, California. The band was established by Greg Ginn, the guitarist, primary songwriter and sole continuous member through multiple personnel changes in the band...
and The Misfits but employing a lot of the current Scandinavian rock sounds of bands such as The Hellacopters
The Hellacopters
The Hellacopters were a Swedish garage rock band that was formed in 1994 by Nicke Andersson , Dregen , Kenny Håkansson and Robert Eriksson . Andersson had been the drummer for death metal band Entombed and Dregen was taking a break from his full-time band Backyard Babies...
and Gluecifer
Gluecifer
Gluecifer was a hard rock band based in Oslo, Norway. Formed in 1994, they produced several underground releases during their first years of existence and soon claimed to be "kings of rock"....
. Combined with an anti-commercial and anti-authoritative attitude based in underground punk and death metal and a dark edge which was inspired by the love of such bands as Danzig
Danzig (band)
Danzig is an American heavy metal band, formed in 1987 in Lodi, New Jersey. The band serves as a musical outlet for the singer/songwriter Glenn Danzig. Danzig can be seen as the third stage in Glenn Danzig's musical career, preceded by the horror punk bands The Misfits and Samhain...
and The Doors
The Doors
The Doors were an American rock band formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore, and guitarist Robby Krieger...
.
The band released 2 demo CD recordings, "Unholy Lords Of Rock" and "Blood Red Diary" (also released on cassette for the sake of old school). A four-track EP "D.I.Y Eller Dö" (D.I.Y Or Die) was released on a number of small underground labels worldwide in such places as Finland, Sweden, Austria, Portugal, Spain, Australia, USA and more mostly on CDR and cassette.
The band played a number of shows around Sweden and supported such bands as The Robots and Fabulous Disaster (band)
Fabulous Disaster (band)
Fabulous Disaster was an riot grrl band founded in 1998 out of San Francisco, California.- History :Fabulous Disaster formed in San Francisco in 1998 and released their debut album, Pretty Killers, in 1998 on Evil Eye Records. In 2000, they signed to Fat Wreck Chords', Pink and Black imprint...
.
In 2006, bassist Ewke Nodin left the band and was replaced for a short time by Cloffe Caspersson, also from Maze Of Torment but better known as a DJ for Stockholm's 106.7 FM Rockklassiker
106.7 FM Rockklassiker
106.7 FM Rockklassiker is a Swedish rock radio station.Rockklassiker started out as a local radio station in Stockholm in 1994, and is today the second largest rock station in Sweden in terms of audience share. Its closest rival is Bandit Rock 106.3, another radio station based in Stockholm that...
.
In the summer of 2006 the band toured the UK.
2007–2009
In 2007 the band was picked up by Irish label Deadlamb Records to release their self-titled debut album, this was later picked up by Sweden's Plugged Records.Cloffe, although a good band friend didn't fit quite in and exited the band. He is listed as the band's bassist on their album and pictured although he did not play on the album and was technically only in the band for just over a week. He was replaced by the 22-year old Johan "Täz" Lagercrantz on bass who was spotted fronting his own band Ohwebe.
The Split
In August 2009 Lucien played their last few shows in Stockholm and one festival in Södertälje. Although all members were and still are good friends they decided to call it a day instead of keeping on trying to make it "big" when it was obvious that was never the goal of the band in the first place.Band overview
Lucien played what has been described as "crusty, goth tinged punk-metal (Gravyzine)" or "Dirty garage rock with enough flair to make any stadium cock-rockers cower in embarrassment (Siczine)" and were hailed as one of the burning torches of Sweden's hardrock scene amongst what they called "a rising invasion of sleazerock imitators and radio friendly trash".Although based very much in the ethics of punk and death metal the band's music bordered on almost commercial rock at times. This has led to many confused reviews.
The band are were vocal about their love of music and the rock scene wishing to help it thrive by speaking out against its commercialism and "faceless monsters" such as unfair gigs (flyer deals, ticket deals, vote-for-me etc.) and spreading the word to "not immitiate the old masters but seek what they sought".
Demos/EPs/Albums/DVDs
| Year | Album | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Unholy Lords Of Rock | Empire In Ruins (Demo) |
| 2006 | Blood Red Diary | Empire In Ruins (Demo) |
| 2006 | D.I.Y Eller Dö EP | Various Worldwide |
| 2006 | Split EP with Scarecrow | Shitsuck Tapes |
| 2007 | Lucien | Deadlamb Records |
| 2008 | Lucien (re-release) | Plugged Records |
External links
- http://www.myspace.com/lucien Official Myspace
- http://cdon.eu/music/lucien/lucien-910467 Lucien at CDON
- http://www.gravyzine.com/Lucien.html Interview at Gravyzine
- http://www.glitzine.net/intervjuer/lucien_interview.htm interview at Glitzine