Mike Tramp
Encyclopedia
Mike Tramp is a Danish
singer and songwriter who is best known for his work with the hard rock bands White Lion
and Freak of Nature
. He has released 15 albums, including six solo albums.
, and grew up in Vesterbro with his mother, Doris, who died April 2010 at the age of 80, and two brothers, Dennis and Kim. Mike started his musical career singing in a youth group club in Copenhagen
called Vesterbro Ungdomsgård, and appears on their first album: Vi lever på Vesterbro (1974). Later, he joined the pop band Mabel, as the lead singer. They recorded four albums and were very popular in Denmark and Spain, with Mike receiving "teen idol" status. In 1978 Mabel won the Danish Song Contest with the song Boom Boom and represented Denmark in the Eurovision Song Contest
that year. Mabel moved to New York City in the late 1970s, but soon broke up. After the demise of Mabel, Tramp met Vito Bratta
and formed White Lion
in 1983, the band became very successful in the mid 80's to early 90's.
After the demise of White Lion in 1992, Mike formed the rock band Freak of Nature
, with whom he released three albums betwween 1992 and 1998. Freak of Nature had played a few gigs with Helloween
and Dio
in Europe in 1993. Following Freak of Nature Tramp released four studio albums and one live album as a solo artist: Capricorn, Recovering the Wasted Years, More To Life Than This, and Songs I Left Behind as studio efforts, with Rock n' Roll Alive as a live album. Tramp also reformed White Lion with a new line up under the name "Tramp's White Lion" (aka White Lion II) due to legal issues with former members. The band played and re-recorded White Lion songs. TWL toured during 2005 and released a double-live CD entitled Rocking the USA
.
In 2006 Tramp's White Lion toured Europe in November and December with British band Crimes of Passion. In 2007 a White Lion compilation The Definitive Rock Collection
was released and the band was set for a summer tour with Poison
and Ratt only to be dropped by the tour promoter after ex-White Lion guitarist Vito Bratta threatened to take legal action over the band name. Eventually Tramp was able to use the band name again.
White Lion recorded a new studio album called Return of the Pride
, which was released on March 14, 2008. The band was now once again simply known as White Lion.
In October 2009, Mike Tramp released a new solo studio album called Mike Tramp and the Rock'n'Roll Circuz and hit the IFPI, Denmark's official top 40 hitlist albums' at number 16.
On November 13, 2010, Mike Tramp and the Rock'n'Roll Circuz released a new song called "Hymn To Ronnie," a tribute song to former Heaven & Hell and Black Sabbath
vocalist Ronnie James Dio
, who died on May 16, 2010 after a six-month long battle with stomach cancer. It will not be released on any studio album, but is available for free download at Eddie Trunk
's website. Freak of Nature had played a few gigs with Dio in Europe in 1993.
The latest album Mike Tramp and the Rock'n'Roll Circuz - Stand Your Ground was released in April 2011.
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
singer and songwriter who is best known for his work with the hard rock bands White Lion
White Lion
White Lion is an American/Danish hard rock/heavy metal band that was formed in New York City in 1983 by Danish vocalist Mike Tramp and American guitarist Vito Bratta. Mainly active in the 1980s and early 1990s, the band achieved double platinum status with their #8 hit "Wait" and #3 hit "When the...
and Freak of Nature
Freak of Nature (band)
Freak of Nature was an American Heavy Metal band, formed in 1992 by former White Lion lead singer Mike Tramp. The band was formed after White Lion broke up and was significantly darker and harder than White Lion. The band released three albums and then disbanded in 1995...
. He has released 15 albums, including six solo albums.
Biography
Michael Trempenau was born in DenmarkDenmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, and grew up in Vesterbro with his mother, Doris, who died April 2010 at the age of 80, and two brothers, Dennis and Kim. Mike started his musical career singing in a youth group club in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
called Vesterbro Ungdomsgård, and appears on their first album: Vi lever på Vesterbro (1974). Later, he joined the pop band Mabel, as the lead singer. They recorded four albums and were very popular in Denmark and Spain, with Mike receiving "teen idol" status. In 1978 Mabel won the Danish Song Contest with the song Boom Boom and represented Denmark in the Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
that year. Mabel moved to New York City in the late 1970s, but soon broke up. After the demise of Mabel, Tramp met Vito Bratta
Vito Bratta
Vito Bratta is the former lead guitarist and lead songwriter for the 1980s rock band White Lion from 1983 to 1992....
and formed White Lion
White Lion
White Lion is an American/Danish hard rock/heavy metal band that was formed in New York City in 1983 by Danish vocalist Mike Tramp and American guitarist Vito Bratta. Mainly active in the 1980s and early 1990s, the band achieved double platinum status with their #8 hit "Wait" and #3 hit "When the...
in 1983, the band became very successful in the mid 80's to early 90's.
After the demise of White Lion in 1992, Mike formed the rock band Freak of Nature
Freak of Nature (band)
Freak of Nature was an American Heavy Metal band, formed in 1992 by former White Lion lead singer Mike Tramp. The band was formed after White Lion broke up and was significantly darker and harder than White Lion. The band released three albums and then disbanded in 1995...
, with whom he released three albums betwween 1992 and 1998. Freak of Nature had played a few gigs with Helloween
Helloween
Helloween is a German power metal band founded in the mid 1980s by members of Iron Fist and Powerfool. The band was a pioneering force in the European Power Metal movement and their second and third studio albums, Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt...
and Dio
Dio (band)
Dio was an American heavy metal band from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Formed in 1982 and led by vocalist Ronnie James Dio, after he left Black Sabbath with intentions to form a new band with fellow former Black Sabbath member, drummer Vinny Appice. Naming the band Dio made sense from a commercial...
in Europe in 1993. Following Freak of Nature Tramp released four studio albums and one live album as a solo artist: Capricorn, Recovering the Wasted Years, More To Life Than This, and Songs I Left Behind as studio efforts, with Rock n' Roll Alive as a live album. Tramp also reformed White Lion with a new line up under the name "Tramp's White Lion" (aka White Lion II) due to legal issues with former members. The band played and re-recorded White Lion songs. TWL toured during 2005 and released a double-live CD entitled Rocking the USA
Rocking the USA
Rocking the USA is the first White Lion live compilation album released in 2005, now better known as Tramp's White Lion or White Lion 2, with all new band members again but still features original lead singer Mike Tramp....
.
In 2006 Tramp's White Lion toured Europe in November and December with British band Crimes of Passion. In 2007 a White Lion compilation The Definitive Rock Collection
The Definitive Rock Collection (White Lion album)
The Definitive Rock Collection is the latest compilation album by White Lion, released in 2007 by Atlantic Records. The ultimate collection of studio and live 'White Lion' tracks. The compilation features all of White Lion's charted singles...
was released and the band was set for a summer tour with Poison
Poison (band)
Poison is an American glam metal band that achieved great success in the mid-1980s to mid-1990s. To date, Poison has sold over 30 million records worldwide and have sold 15 million records in the United States alone. The band has also charted ten singles to the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100,...
and Ratt only to be dropped by the tour promoter after ex-White Lion guitarist Vito Bratta threatened to take legal action over the band name. Eventually Tramp was able to use the band name again.
White Lion recorded a new studio album called Return of the Pride
Return of the Pride
Return of the Pride is the fifth studio album by White Lion. The album was released in 2008 on March 14 , April 9 , April 29...
, which was released on March 14, 2008. The band was now once again simply known as White Lion.
In October 2009, Mike Tramp released a new solo studio album called Mike Tramp and the Rock'n'Roll Circuz and hit the IFPI, Denmark's official top 40 hitlist albums' at number 16.
On November 13, 2010, Mike Tramp and the Rock'n'Roll Circuz released a new song called "Hymn To Ronnie," a tribute song to former Heaven & Hell and Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
vocalist Ronnie James Dio
Ronnie James Dio
Ronald James Padavona , better known as Ronnie James Dio, was an American heavy metal vocalist and songwriter. He performed with, amongst others, Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Heaven & Hell, and his own band Dio, which means God in Italian. Other musical projects include the collective fundraiser...
, who died on May 16, 2010 after a six-month long battle with stomach cancer. It will not be released on any studio album, but is available for free download at Eddie Trunk
Eddie Trunk
Eddie Trunk is an American music historian, radio personality, talk show host, and author best known as the host of several hard rock and heavy metal themed radio and television shows.- Current work :...
's website. Freak of Nature had played a few gigs with Dio in Europe in 1993.
The latest album Mike Tramp and the Rock'n'Roll Circuz - Stand Your Ground was released in April 2011.
Personal life
Tramp is married to Indonesian actress Ayu Azhari, with whom he has two children: Isabelle and Lennon. Tramp also has a third child, his son Dylan, from a previous relationship with Fleur Thiemeyer. Dylan resides in Australia with his mother.With White Lion
- Fight to SurviveFight to SurviveFight to Survive was the first album by the American/Danish hard rock band White Lion, released by Victor Records in Japan in 1985. The band was signed to Elektra Records, which shelved the album with no intention of publishing it in the USA. Philadelphia-based Grand Slamm Records bought the album...
(1985) - Pride (1987)
- Big GameBig Game (album)Big Game is the third studio album by the hard rock band White Lion. It was released on August 10, 1989 by Atlantic Records, reaching #19 on The Billboard 200 album chart.- Overview :...
(1989) - Mane AttractionMane AttractionMane Attraction was the fourth studio album by the hard rock band White Lion. It was released in 1991 by Atlantic Records, and reached #61 on The Billboard 200.- Overview :...
(1991) - The Best of White LionThe Best of White LionThe Best of White Lion is the first greatest hits compilation album from the Hard rock band White Lion, released in September of 1992...
(1992) - Remembering White LionRemembering White LionRemembering White Lion is a White Lion studio album featuring new versions of songs from White Lion's previous 4 studio albums, including the band's biggest three hits: "When the Children Cry", "Wait", and "Little Fighter".Following three albums as the lead singer of the Hard rock band Freak of...
(New versions) (1999) - Anthology 83-89Anthology 83-89Anthology 83–89 is a White Lion album which features never before released songs and demo versions of songs from previous albums, including demo's of all of White Lion's charted singles.- Disc 1 :# "Hungry" - 3:44...
(Demos) (2004) - Rocking The USARocking the USARocking the USA is the first White Lion live compilation album released in 2005, now better known as Tramp's White Lion or White Lion 2, with all new band members again but still features original lead singer Mike Tramp....
(live double album) (2005) - The Definitive Rock CollectionThe Definitive Rock Collection (White Lion album)The Definitive Rock Collection is the latest compilation album by White Lion, released in 2007 by Atlantic Records. The ultimate collection of studio and live 'White Lion' tracks. The compilation features all of White Lion's charted singles...
(2007) - Return of the PrideReturn of the PrideReturn of the Pride is the fifth studio album by White Lion. The album was released in 2008 on March 14 , April 9 , April 29...
(2008)
With Freak of Nature
- Freak of NatureFreak of Nature (album)Freak of Nature is the self titled debut album from the hard rock band Freak of Nature, released on March 29, 1993. The band features former White Lion vocalist Mike Tramp who formed Freak of Nature following White Lion's last album release The Best of White Lion in 1992...
(1993) - Gathering of FreaksGathering of FreaksGathering of Freaks is the second album from the Heavy Metal band Freak of Nature, fronted by former White Lion lead singer Mike Tramp. The album was released in 1994 and spent one week at #66 on the UK Albums Chart in October 1994. It was the band's only UK chart presence. The album was recorded...
(1994) - OutcastsOutcasts (Freak of Nature album)Outcasts is the third and final album from the Hard rock band Freak of Nature, released in 1998. The album is a compilation of B-sides, demos and outtakes released through Ulftone Records....
(1998)
Solo
- Capricorn (1998m)
- Recovering the Wasted Years (2002)
- More to Life than This (2003)
- Rock 'n' Roll Alive (live double album) (2003)
- Songs I Left Behind (2004)
With Mike Tramp & The Rock 'N' Roll Circuz
- Mike Tramp & The Rock 'N' Roll Circuz (2009)
- Stand Your Ground (2011)
Singles
| Year | Title | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 1997 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1997.-January:*January 9 – David Bowie performs his 50th Birthday Bash concert at Madison Square Garden, New York City, USA with guests Frank Black, The Foo Fighters, Sonic Youth, Robert Smith of The Cure, Lou Reed, and Billy... |
"Better Off" | Capricorn |
| "Already Gone" | ||
| 1998 1998 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1998.-Events:*January 28 – "Weird Al" Yankovic gets LASIK surgery to cure his myopia... |
"If I Live Tommorow" | |
| 2002 2002 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2002.-Events:*February 3 – U2 perform during the halftime show for Super Bowl XXXVI... |
"Living a Lie" | Recovering the Wasted Years |
| 2003 2003 in music -January:* January – following an investigation by The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry and London detectives, police raids in England and the Netherlands recover nearly 500 original Beatles studio tapes, recorded during the Let It Be sessions. Five people are arrested... |
"More to Life Than This" | More to Life Than This |
| 2009 2009 in music The following is a list of notable events and releases in 2009 in music. Susan Boyle's album I Dreamed a Dream became the biggest selling album in the world for 2009, selling 8.3 million copies in five weeks; more than any other artist's in the whole year... |
"All of My Life" | The Rock 'n' Roll Circuz |
| 2011 | "Distance" | Stand Your Ground |
| "Hymn To Ronnie" | ||