Roine Stolt
Encyclopedia
Roine Stolt is a Swedish
guitarist
, vocalist and composer
.
A major figure in Sweden's rock history, guitarist/singer/composer Roine Stolt led two of his country's most successful progressive rock bands: Kaipa in the 1970s and The Flower Kings
in the 1990s onward. His distinctive guitar style combined David Gilmour's debonair mid-tempo, Steve Howe's sharp edges, and Frank Zappa's virtuosity. His vision of a positive world governed by beauty (akin to Yes singer Jon Anderson) gives his music an aura that appeals to many progressive rock fans.
in local rock bands.
He switched to guitar in 1973 and in the brief sojourn with Allman Brothers-influenced "Orexis".
In 1974 he became the guitarist in Kaipa
, a professional progressive rock
band, he was 17 years old at that time, the group made three successful albums and toured more than 100 gigs a year, including national TV and radio performances in Scandinavia. These Kaipa albums are now reissued worldwide and are often regarded as the premier Scandinavian symphonic rock albums of the seventies.
In 1979 he left Kaipa to form his own group Fantasia and made two albums. The group split up in 1983 and Roine started working as a solo and session musician, arranger and producer.
In the late 80's he started his own publishing and recording label called Foxtrot Music and was also involved in various projects including live performances and recording sessions with other artists going from symphonic rock towards more traditional rock, funk , pop, folk, blues and jazz. Under the "Stolt" project he release "The Lonely Heartbeat" in 1989, the sound is a mix of pop and complex rock.
Witnessing the progressive rock revival of the 1990s, a movement that partly originated from Sweden with bands like Landberk
and Anglagard
, Roine Stolt was quick to come back to his ancient love. Recruiting ex-Jonas Hellborg
drummer Jaime Salazar
and ex-Samla Mammas Manna
percussionist Hasse Bruniusson, he released The Flower King
in mid-August 1994. Stimulated by the warm response, he enlisted brother Michael Stolt (bass, vocals) and longtime friend Tomas Bodin (keyboards) and formed the Flower Kings, which would remain his principal musical project for years to come.
In 1998 he released his second solo album Hydrophonia
which reveals major influences by early progressive musicians such as Frank Zappa
and Steve Howe
among others.
In the year 2000 Roine worked in two different projects, the supergroup
Transatlantic
, and the re-launch of Kaipa in which he was involved in three albums from 2002-2005. He re-entered the studio with Transatlantic in 2009, for an album release later in the year.
With The Tangent
With Transatlantic
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....
guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
, vocalist and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
.
A major figure in Sweden's rock history, guitarist/singer/composer Roine Stolt led two of his country's most successful progressive rock bands: Kaipa in the 1970s and The Flower Kings
The Flower Kings
The Flower Kings are a Swedish progressive rock group. Formed in August 1994 by veteran guitarist Roine Stolt as a touring band to support his solo album The Flower King, the band stayed together after the tour and have gone on to become one of the most prolific studio recording units in rock music...
in the 1990s onward. His distinctive guitar style combined David Gilmour's debonair mid-tempo, Steve Howe's sharp edges, and Frank Zappa's virtuosity. His vision of a positive world governed by beauty (akin to Yes singer Jon Anderson) gives his music an aura that appeals to many progressive rock fans.
Biography
Stolt started his career in the late 1960s playing bass guitarBass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
in local rock bands.
He switched to guitar in 1973 and in the brief sojourn with Allman Brothers-influenced "Orexis".
In 1974 he became the guitarist in Kaipa
Kaipa (band)
- History :The band was originally formed under the name Ura Kaipa by Hans Lundin and Tomas Eriksson . Roine Stolt joined Kaipa as their guitarist when he was 17. In 1974 also, shortly after they had cut the "Ura" from the name of the band, their self-titled debut released. Stolt went on to form...
, a professional progressive 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...
band, he was 17 years old at that time, the group made three successful albums and toured more than 100 gigs a year, including national TV and radio performances in Scandinavia. These Kaipa albums are now reissued worldwide and are often regarded as the premier Scandinavian symphonic rock albums of the seventies.
In 1979 he left Kaipa to form his own group Fantasia and made two albums. The group split up in 1983 and Roine started working as a solo and session musician, arranger and producer.
-Roine Stolt on The Flower KingsThe Flower KingsThe Flower Kings are a Swedish progressive rock group. Formed in August 1994 by veteran guitarist Roine Stolt as a touring band to support his solo album The Flower King, the band stayed together after the tour and have gone on to become one of the most prolific studio recording units in rock music...
websiteWebsiteA website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...
.
In the late 80's he started his own publishing and recording label called Foxtrot Music and was also involved in various projects including live performances and recording sessions with other artists going from symphonic rock towards more traditional rock, funk , pop, folk, blues and jazz. Under the "Stolt" project he release "The Lonely Heartbeat" in 1989, the sound is a mix of pop and complex rock.
Witnessing the progressive rock revival of the 1990s, a movement that partly originated from Sweden with bands like Landberk
Landberk
Landberk was a Swedish prog/art rock band, characterized by the dark, sombre tone of their music. They were notable for their utilisation of the mellotron, which was equally as important as the guitar in their melodies...
and Anglagard
Änglagård
Änglagård is a Swedish progressive rock band, with influences including Cathedral, King Crimson, Genesis, Trettioåriga Kriget, Schicke Führs Fröhling, and Van der Graaf Generator. The band was established in 1991 by Tord Lindman and Johan Högberg , and broke up in 1994...
, Roine Stolt was quick to come back to his ancient love. Recruiting ex-Jonas Hellborg
Jonas Hellborg
Jonas Hellborg is a Swedish bass guitarist. He has collaborated with John McLaughlin, Ustad Sultan Khan, Fazal Qureshi, Bill Laswell, Shawn Lane, Jens Johansson, Michael Shrieve, V. Selvaganesh, Mattias IA Eklundh and Buckethead....
drummer Jaime Salazar
Jaime Salazar
Jaime Salazar is a Mexican football midfielder who played for Mexico in the 1958 FIFA World Cup. He also played for Club Necaxa.-External links:*...
and ex-Samla Mammas Manna
Samla Mammas Manna
Samla Mammas Manna was a Swedish progressive rock band, often characterized by its virtuoso musicianship, circus references and silly humour, similar in many ways to the song-writing styles of Frank Zappa. They were one of the founding members of the Rock in Opposition movement in the late 1970s....
percussionist Hasse Bruniusson, he released The Flower King
The Flower King
-Personnel:*Roine Stolt - lead vocals , guitars, , bass , keyboards , percussion *Hasse Fröberg - vocals *Ulf Wallander - Soprano saxophone *Hasse Brunisson - drums , percussion...
in mid-August 1994. Stimulated by the warm response, he enlisted brother Michael Stolt (bass, vocals) and longtime friend Tomas Bodin (keyboards) and formed the Flower Kings, which would remain his principal musical project for years to come.
-Roine Stolt on The Flower King, from The Flower KingsThe Flower KingsThe Flower Kings are a Swedish progressive rock group. Formed in August 1994 by veteran guitarist Roine Stolt as a touring band to support his solo album The Flower King, the band stayed together after the tour and have gone on to become one of the most prolific studio recording units in rock music...
websiteWebsiteA website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...
.
In 1998 he released his second solo album Hydrophonia
Hydrophonia
Hydrophonia is an album by Swedish progressive rock guitarist Roine Stolt.-Track listing:# "Cosmic Lodge" – 7:13# "Shipbuilding" – 5:51# "Little Cottage By The Sea" – 4:55# "Wreck of HMS Nemesis" – 11:55# "Bizarre Seahorse Sex Attack" – 6:00...
which reveals major influences by early progressive musicians such as 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...
and Steve Howe
Steve Howe (guitarist)
Stephen James "Steve" Howe is an English guitarist, known for his work with the progressive rock group Yes...
among others.
In the year 2000 Roine worked in two different projects, the supergroup
Supergroup (music)
In the late 1960s, the term supergroup was coined to describe "a rock music group whose performers are already famous from having performed individually or in other groups"....
Transatlantic
Transatlantic (band)
Transatlantic is a progressive rock supergroup consisting of Roine Stolt of The Flower Kings, Pete Trewavas of Marillion, Mike Portnoy formerly of Dream Theater and Neal Morse formerly of Spock's Beard. They formed in 1999 as a side project to their full time bands until 2002...
, and the re-launch of Kaipa in which he was involved in three albums from 2002-2005. He re-entered the studio with Transatlantic in 2009, for an album release later in the year.
With Kaipa
- KaipaKaipa (album)-Personnel:*Ingemar Bergman: Drums, Percussion & Vocal*Tomas Eriksson: Bass & Vocal*Hans Lundin: Hammond Organ, Fender Rhodes Electric Piano, Grand Piano, Yamaha SY1 Synthesizer, Harpsichord, Logan String-Machine, Glockenspiel & Lead Vocal...
(1975) - Inget Nytt Under SolenInget Nytt Under SolenInget Nytt Under Solen is the second album by Swedish Progressive rock band Kaipa, released in 1976. The album title translates to Nothing New Under the Sun.-Track listing:#"Skenet Bedrar " – 21:41...
(1976) - SoloSolo (Kaipa album)-Personnel:*Ingemar Bergman: Drums, Percussion & Laughing*Mats Lindberg: Bass, Moog Taurus Pedals & Percussion*Hans Lundin: Hammond Organ, Fender Rhodes Electric Piano, Grand Piano, Mellotron, Mini and Polymoog Synths, Korg String 2000, Hohner Clavinet & Vocal...
(1978) - Notes From The PastNotes From The PastNotes From The Past is the seventh studio album by Swedish progressive rock band Kaipa. It is also the band's first release in almost ten years, this time with a renewed lineup and with the return of guitarist Roine Stolt.-Track listing:...
(2002) - KeyholderKeyholderKeyholder is the eighth studio album by Swedish progressive rock band Kaipa. It is the second album of the reformed Kaipa line-up.-Track listing:All songs by Hans Lundin and Roine Stolt except where noted.#"Lifetime Of A Journey" – 8:14...
(2003) - MindrevolutionsMindrevolutionsMindrevolutions is the ninth studio album by Swedish progressive rock band Kaipa. It is the band's last album to feature Roine Stolt on guitar...
(2005)
Studio albums
- Back in the World of AdventuresBack in the World of Adventures-Personnel:*Hans Fröberg - Lead & backing vocals*Roine Stolt - vocals, guitars, keyboards, bass*Tomas Bodin - keyboards*Michael Stolt - bass*Jaime Salazar - drums*Hans Bruniusson - percussion, drums*Ulf Wallander: soprano saxophone-Production:...
(1995) - RetropolisRetropolisRetropolis, released in 1996, is the second studio album by Swedish progressive rock band The Flower Kings...
(1996) - Stardust We AreStardust We Are-Credits:*Roine Stolt - vocals, guitars, keyboards & bass*Tomas Bodin - keyboards*Michael Stolt - bass*Jaime Salazar - drums*Hans Bruniusson - percussion*Hans Fröberg - vocals*Ulf Wallander - soprano sax...
(1997) - Flower PowerFlower Power (album)-Disc Two:-Credits:*Roine Stolt - vocals, guitars, keyboards & bass*Tomas Bodin - keyboards*Michael Stolt - bass*Jaime Salazar - drums*Hans Bruniusson - percussion*Hans Fröberg - vocals*Ulf Wallander - soprano sax...
(1999) - Space RevolverSpace Revolver-Japanese version:The Japanese release contains an additional disc:-Personnel:*Roine Stolt - vocals, guitar, bass guitar*Tomas Bodin - piano, organ, synthesizer, Mellotron*Hans Fröberg - vocals, acoustic guitar*Jonas Reingold - bass guitar...
(2000) - The RainmakerThe Rainmaker (album)-Limited Edition Bonus Disc:-Personnel:*Roine Stolt - vocals, guitars, additional keyboards*Tomas Bodin - keyboards*Hans Fröberg - vocals*Jonas Reingold - bass guitar*Jaime Salazar - drumswith*Hans Bruniusson - percussion*Ulf Wallander - soprano sax...
(2001) - Unfold the FutureUnfold the Future-Disc Two:-Main Band:Tomas Bodin - keyboardsHasse Bruniusson - marimba, glockenspiel, dulcimer, other percussionZoltan Csörsz - drumsHasse Fröberg - vocals, guitarsJonas Reingold - bass guitarRoine Stolt - vocals, guitars, keyboards-Guest Musicians:...
(2002) - Adam & EveAdam & Eve (album)Adam & Eve is the eighth studio album by progressive rock band The Flower Kings. A Japanese edition contained an extra disc which includes the bonus tracks from The Rainmaker bonus disc , as well as three songs recorded during the Space Revolver sessions.The album also marks the first and only...
(2004) - Paradox HotelParadox Hotel-Disc Two - "Room 222":-Personnel:*Tomas Bodin - keyboards, vocals*Hasse Bruniusson - marimba, percussion*Hasse Fröberg - vocals, guitars*Marcus Liliequist - drums, percussion, vocals*Jonas Reingold - bass guitar*Roine Stolt - vocals, guitars...
(2006) - The Sum Of No EvilThe Sum of No Evil-Personnel:* Roine Stolt - Vocals, guitars, additional keyboards* Tomas Bodin - Piano, organ, synthesizers, mellotron* Hasse Fröberg - Vocals, guitars* Jonas Reingold - Bass* Zoltan Csörsz - Drumswith* Hasse Bruniusson - Percussion, marimba, glockenspiel...
(2007)
Live albums
- Alive on Planet EarthAlive on Planet EarthAlive on Planet Earth is the first live album by progressive rock artists The Flower Kings. It was released in double-CD format in 2000.-Disc One:# "There Is More To This World" – 11:31# "Church Of Your Heart" – 9:41...
(2000) - Meet the Flower KingsMeet the Flower KingsMeet the Flower Kings is the second live album by progressive rock artists The Flower Kings. It was released in 2003 as a double-CD, and also as a two-disc DVD concert video...
(2003) - Instant DeliveryInstant DeliveryInstant Delivery is the third live album by progressive rock artists The Flower Kings. Recorded in Tilburg, Netherlands on April 19, 2006, this album features live music on their tour promoting Paradox Hotel...
(2006)
Limited Edition Official Bootlegs
- Édition Limitée Québec (1998)
- The Rainmaker Tour (2001)
- Live In New York - Official Bootleg (2002)
- BetchaWannaDanceStoopid!!! (2004)
- Carpe Diem - Live In USA 2006Carpe Diem - The Flower Kings Live in USACarpe Diem — Live in USA 2006 is an official bootleg by Swedish progressive rock band The Flower Kings. It features The Flower Kings performance at Whittier California on October 16th, 2006, plus a bonus track from their show at Quebec City....
(2008)
Fan Club Albums
- Fan Club 2000 (2000)
- Fan Club 2002 (2002)
- Fan Club 2004 (2004)
- Fan Club 2005 / Harvest (2005)
With The TangentThe Tangent-Formation:Originally formed by keyboardists Andy Tillison and Sam Baine of Parallel or 90 Degrees and The Flower Kings guitarist Roine Stolt, bassist Jonas Reingold, and drummer Zoltan Csörsz. The septet was completed by renowned saxophonist David Jackson of Van der Graaf Generator and...
- The Music That Died AloneThe Music That Died AloneThe Music That Died Alone is the debut studio album released by the progressive rock group The Tangent.-Track listing:#"In Darkest Dreams" – 20:06##"Prelude - Time for You" – 2:26##"Night Terrors" – 3:26##"The Midnight Watershed" – 3:03...
(2003) - The World That We Drive ThroughThe World That We Drive ThroughThe World That We Drive Through is the second studio album released by the progressive rock group The Tangent. This album also marks the first appearance of Theo Travis in the band's lineup....
(2004) - Pyramids and StarsPyramids and StarsPyramids and Stars is the third album, and first live recording, released by the progressive rock group The Tangent.-Track listing:#"The World We Drive Through" – 14:46#"The Canterbury Sequence" – 9:15#"The Winning Game" – 12:15...
(2005 - live album)
With TransatlanticTransatlantic (band)Transatlantic is a progressive rock supergroup consisting of Roine Stolt of The Flower Kings, Pete Trewavas of Marillion, Mike Portnoy formerly of Dream Theater and Neal Morse formerly of Spock's Beard. They formed in 1999 as a side project to their full time bands until 2002...
- SMPT:eSMPT:e-Limited edition bonus disc:-Personnel:Transatlantic*Neal Morse — Vocals, keyboards, Acoustic Guitar, Additional Electric Guitar*Mike Portnoy — Drums, Backing Vocals...
(2000) - Live in America (2001)
- Bridge Across ForeverBridge Across Forever-Limited edition bonus disc:-Personnel:Transatlantic*Pete Trewavas — Warwick Bass, Taurus Bass Pedals and Vocals*Mike Portnoy — Drums and Vocals*Roine Stolt — Electric and Acoustic Guitars, Vocals, Mellotron, Additional Keyboards and Percussion...
(2001) - SMPTe: The Roine Stolt MixesSMPTe: The Roine Stolt MixesThis album consists of the original mixes for Transatlantic's first album SMPT:e . This version of the album was never available for retail distribution...
(2003) - The Transatlantic DemosTransatlantic DemosThe Transatlantic Demos is an album of demo tracks by Neal Morse. Released in 2003, at the suggestion of Mike Portnoy, Neal put together a disc of demos and a few clips from his hand held cassette recorder from as far back as 1992 and up into 2000...
(2003 - by Neal Morse) - Live in EuropeLive in Europe (Transatlantic album)Live in Europe is the second live album by the progressive rock supergroup Transatlantic. Released in 2003, it documents the November 12, 2001 show by the band at the 013 Club, Tilburg, Netherlands. The show was also filmed and released on DVD with a bonus disc featuring additional performances...
(2003) - The WhirlwindThe Whirlwind-Special edition bonus disc:*Note - "Soul Sacrifice" ends at 8:38, followed by silence and a hidden track.-Personnel:Transatlantic*Neal Morse — keyboards, acoustic guitars, percussion, and vocals*Mike Portnoy — drums and vocals...
(2009)
With Agents of Mercy
- The Fading Ghosts of Twilight (2009)
- Dramarama (2010)
- The Black Forest (2011)
Solo discography
- Fantasia (1979)
- Behind The Walls (1985)
- The Lonely Heartbeat (1989)
- The Flower KingThe Flower King-Personnel:*Roine Stolt - lead vocals , guitars, , bass , keyboards , percussion *Hasse Fröberg - vocals *Ulf Wallander - Soprano saxophone *Hasse Brunisson - drums , percussion...
(1994) - HydrophoniaHydrophoniaHydrophonia is an album by Swedish progressive rock guitarist Roine Stolt.-Track listing:# "Cosmic Lodge" – 7:13# "Shipbuilding" – 5:51# "Little Cottage By The Sea" – 4:55# "Wreck of HMS Nemesis" – 11:55# "Bizarre Seahorse Sex Attack" – 6:00...
(1998) - Wallstreet VoodooWallstreet VoodooWallstreet Voodoo is a blues album made by Roine Stolt .The album was released November 11, 2005.-Disc one:# "The Observer" – 11:05# "Head Above Water" – 5:25# "Dirt" – 8:15...
(2005)
Appears On
- Hasse Bruniusson - Flying Food Circus (2002)
- The Bollenberg Experience - If Only Stones Could Speak (2002)
- KarmakanicKarmakanicKarmakanic are a progressive rock / metal group founded in Malmö, Sweden in 2002 by bassist and keyboardist Jonas Reingold. Their music is marked by sharp dynamic contrasts, sudden full stops, complex timing and metre changes, abstract lyrics, and long periods of instrumentation...
- Entering The Spectra (2003) - Tomas Bodin - Sonic Boulevard (2003)
- KarmakanicKarmakanicKarmakanic are a progressive rock / metal group founded in Malmö, Sweden in 2002 by bassist and keyboardist Jonas Reingold. Their music is marked by sharp dynamic contrasts, sudden full stops, complex timing and metre changes, abstract lyrics, and long periods of instrumentation...
- Wheel Of Life (2004) - Tim Donahue - Madmen & Sinners (2004)
- Neal MorseNeal MorseNeal Morse is an American multi-instrumentalist and progressive rock composer based in Nashville, Tennessee.-Background:...
- ? (2005) - KarmakanicKarmakanicKarmakanic are a progressive rock / metal group founded in Malmö, Sweden in 2002 by bassist and keyboardist Jonas Reingold. Their music is marked by sharp dynamic contrasts, sudden full stops, complex timing and metre changes, abstract lyrics, and long periods of instrumentation...
- Who%27s the Boss in the Factory (2008) - Parallel or 90 Degrees - Can of Worms: The Best of Po90 1996-2001 (2009)
- Supernal Endgame - Touch the Sky - Volume 1 (2009)