Bigbang
Encyclopedia
Bigbang is a Norwegian
rock
band led by frontman Øystein Greni
. Over several years the band lineup has altered several times while remaining a trio
, with Greni remaining the one constant member. Though the band name spelling is inconsistent, it is usually styled BigBang.
BigBang has been described as "Norway's best live band", with the recording Radio Radio TV Sleep
holding the distinction of being the best selling live album ever to be released in Norway. The song lyrics are all in English.
, but also by other 1960s and 70s artists such as Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix
and Curtis Mayfield
. As a skateboarder he was influenced by punk rock
music such as The Jam
, Dinosaur Jr. and Hüsker Dü
.
BigBang was formed in 1992 by Greni, Erik Tresselt and Christer Engen. The group went on a month-long tour of the U.S. in 1993, and released their first album Waxed
in 1995 on the own independent record label, Grand Sport.
Drummer Christer Engen left the band to join Turbonegro
in 1997, and was replaced by Martin Horntveth, previously with Jaga Jazzist
. They released the single "How Do You Do", and remained together until January 1999 when Horntveth returned to Jaga Jazzist, to be replaced by Kristian Syvertsen. Syvertsen remained with the band until April of that year when he left and was replaced by Olaf Olsen. Bassist Tresselt left the band in August 1999 and was succeeded by Nikolai Eilertsen
.
Greni sold his Vespa
to pay the final installment to finance the production of Electric Psalmbook
recorded during 1998 in Athletic Sound Studio in Halden
, and released on the own label Grand Sport in March 1999. The band's breakthrough came about following a highly successful 1999 by:Larm
concert in Stavanger, when suddenly several record companies demonstrated great interest in signing them. The band signed with Warner Music in 1999, and immediately re-released Electric Psalmbook in the fall of 1999.
For a period during 1999 as the song "Wild Bird" received considerable radio exposure and became established as a hit, BigBang as a group was temporarily dissolved. The BigBang song "Long Distance Man" is an English adaptation (with completely rewritten lyrics) of a Norwegian song by Undertakers Circus, "Nettenes Prinsesse" from 1973.
The album Clouds Rolling By
from 2000 was the start of commercial success for BigBang, as the song "Girl In Oslo" became established as a hit and had been released in several compilation albums by that time. In early 2001, BigBang was Launched in Germany, Switzerland and Austria with the EP release Girl In Oslo.
Drummer Olaf Olsen was absent from the band from May 2000 until he returned in May 2001. During this time, drums were played by Karim Sayed. In March 2002, BigBang released Frontside Rock'n'Roll
. The album features the song "Frontside Rock'n'Roll", which Øystein Greni dedicated to two skaters he knew that had died in their youth. The title refers to a skateboarding trick requiring a high level of proficiency. The release was followed by a U.S. tour spanning five weeks.
The live album Radio Radio TV Sleep
was released in August 2003. A double CD with half acoustic material, the album's title refers to a cheatcode often found on Norwegian hotel room TV remote controls to access pay-television.
National network NRK taped a documentary over these live sessions, which climax is a performance of "Girl in Oslo" featuring five drummers, one of whom being Thor S. Greni.
In 2004 bassist Eilertsen departed from the band in order to focus on the group The National Bank, and former bassist Erik Tresselt returned to the band. With the April 2005 release of Poetic Terrorism
, the band again utilised their own independent label Grand Sport in Norway, maintaining the role of Warner Music was for international and not domestic use.
Shortly after the release of the 2005 EP, Erik Tresselt left the band for the second time, and was replaced by Jarle Bernhoft, a former guitarist and vocalist of the Norwegian punk rock band Span
. Bernhoft performed only one concert in Norway with the band. On the 2006 acoustic tour, former bassist and keyboardist Nikolai Eilertsen joined the band. During the concerts of this summer, Lasse Weeden
played the bass.
Following their March 2007 album, Too Much Yang
(2007), the band moved to Los Angeles, California in September 2007. Having employed several bassists during the year, Eilertsen did not wish to move to the U.S., and the role was filled by Lasse Weeden. The 2008 album From Acid to Zen
was their American debut release, which received complementary reviews from among others David Fricke
of Rolling Stones who selected the album as his "Fricke's Pick" and compared it to a "a shotgun buffet".
As of 2009, the band released the seventh studio album Edendale
, with Nikolai Eilertsen returning as bassist. In March 2011, BigBang released their eighth studio album, Epic Scrap Metal
.
Past
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
rock
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 led by frontman Øystein Greni
Øystein Greni
Øystein Greni is the singer and lead guitar player of the Norwegian rock and roll band BigBang.-Biography:Øystein Greni is the son of Thor Sigbjørn Greni, singer and songwriter of the Undertakers Circus, a 60/70s soul band...
. Over several years the band lineup has altered several times while remaining a trio
Trio
- Musical ensembles and forms :*Trio , three people performing music in some way*Piano trio *String trio *Trio *Clarinet-violin-piano trio...
, with Greni remaining the one constant member. Though the band name spelling is inconsistent, it is usually styled BigBang.
BigBang has been described as "Norway's best live band", with the recording Radio Radio TV Sleep
Radio Radio TV Sleep
Radio Radio TV Sleep is a live album by the Norwegian rock band BigBang, which was released in 2003.-Overview:The release contains two discs, one with recordings from some of their acoustic concerts, and the other a collection of live electric tracks. Two different releases were made, a regular one...
holding the distinction of being the best selling live album ever to be released in Norway. The song lyrics are all in English.
History
Øystein Greni grew up with a conviction that he was meant to create music, influenced not only by his own father's work, Thor S. Greni a performer in 1960—70s Norwegian language soul band Undertakers Circus and in 1968 an opening act for Led ZeppelinLed Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
, but also by other 1960s and 70s artists such as Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
and Curtis Mayfield
Curtis Mayfield
Curtis Lee Mayfield was an American soul, R&B, and funk singer, songwriter, and record producer.He is best known for his anthemic music with The Impressions during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960's and for composing the soundtrack to the blaxploitation film Super Fly, Mayfield is highly...
. As a skateboarder he was influenced by punk rock
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...
music such as The Jam
The Jam
The Jam were an English punk rock/New Wave/mod revival band active during the late 1970s and early 1980s. They were formed in Woking, Surrey. While they shared the "angry young men" outlook and fast tempos of their punk rock contemporaries, The Jam wore smartly tailored suits rather than ripped...
, Dinosaur Jr. and Hüsker Dü
Hüsker Dü
Hüsker Dü was an American rock band formed in Saint Paul, Minnesota in 1979. The band's continual members were guitarist Bob Mould, bassist Greg Norton, and drummer Grant Hart....
.
BigBang was formed in 1992 by Greni, Erik Tresselt and Christer Engen. The group went on a month-long tour of the U.S. in 1993, and released their first album Waxed
Waxed
Waxed is the debut album of the Norwegian rock band BigBang. It was first released in 1995 then reissued in 2002 by Warner Music.-Overview:...
in 1995 on the own independent record label, Grand Sport.
Drummer Christer Engen left the band to join Turbonegro
Turbonegro
Turbonegro is a Norwegian punk rock band that was initially active from 1989 to 1998, and later reformed in 2002. Their style combines glam rock, punk rock and hard rock into a style the band describes as "deathpunk"....
in 1997, and was replaced by Martin Horntveth, previously with Jaga Jazzist
Jaga Jazzist
Jaga Jazzist is an experimental jazz band from Norway that rose to prominence when the BBC named their first album, A Livingroom Hush , the best jazz album of 2002. The core of the band are brothers and main songwriters Lars and Martin Horntveth...
. They released the single "How Do You Do", and remained together until January 1999 when Horntveth returned to Jaga Jazzist, to be replaced by Kristian Syvertsen. Syvertsen remained with the band until April of that year when he left and was replaced by Olaf Olsen. Bassist Tresselt left the band in August 1999 and was succeeded by Nikolai Eilertsen
Nikolai Eilertsen
Nikolai Hængsle Eilertsen is a Norwegian bass guitarist. He is primarily known as a member of BigBang and The National Bank . Eilertsen also participates in the bands Lester, Needlepoint and Elephant9....
.
Greni sold his Vespa
Vespa
Vespa is an Italian brand of scooter manufactured by Piaggio. The name means wasp in Italian.The Vespa has evolved from a single model motor scooter manufactured in 1946 by Piaggio & Co. S.p.A...
to pay the final installment to finance the production of Electric Psalmbook
Electric Psalmbook
Electric Psalmbook is the second album by the Norwegian rock band BigBang, which was released in 1999.-Overview:"Volume or Tone" and "Wild Bird " are two bonus tracks added in the Warner release...
recorded during 1998 in Athletic Sound Studio in Halden
Halden
is a both a town and a municipality in Østfold county, Norway. The seat of the municipality, Halden is a border town located at the Tista river delta on the Iddefjord, the southernmost border crossing between Norway and Sweden.-History:...
, and released on the own label Grand Sport in March 1999. The band's breakthrough came about following a highly successful 1999 by:Larm
By:Larm
by:Larm is a music festival and conference held annually at different locations in Norway since 1998. Since 2008 the festival has been held in Oslo....
concert in Stavanger, when suddenly several record companies demonstrated great interest in signing them. The band signed with Warner Music in 1999, and immediately re-released Electric Psalmbook in the fall of 1999.
For a period during 1999 as the song "Wild Bird" received considerable radio exposure and became established as a hit, BigBang as a group was temporarily dissolved. The BigBang song "Long Distance Man" is an English adaptation (with completely rewritten lyrics) of a Norwegian song by Undertakers Circus, "Nettenes Prinsesse" from 1973.
The album Clouds Rolling By
Clouds Rolling By
Clouds Rolling By is the third album by the Norwegian rock band BigBang, which was released in 2000. It was released on both CD and LP, the LP version being limited to 500 copies.The album's producers were Michael Ilbert and Nils B...
from 2000 was the start of commercial success for BigBang, as the song "Girl In Oslo" became established as a hit and had been released in several compilation albums by that time. In early 2001, BigBang was Launched in Germany, Switzerland and Austria with the EP release Girl In Oslo.
Drummer Olaf Olsen was absent from the band from May 2000 until he returned in May 2001. During this time, drums were played by Karim Sayed. In March 2002, BigBang released Frontside Rock'n'Roll
Frontside Rock'n'Roll
Frontside Rock'n'Roll is the fourth album by the Norwegian rock band BigBang, which was released in 2002.-Overview:This is the first album to be published outside Norway. Warner Germany also re-released the previous full-length Clouds Rolling By in the country...
. The album features the song "Frontside Rock'n'Roll", which Øystein Greni dedicated to two skaters he knew that had died in their youth. The title refers to a skateboarding trick requiring a high level of proficiency. The release was followed by a U.S. tour spanning five weeks.
The live album Radio Radio TV Sleep
Radio Radio TV Sleep
Radio Radio TV Sleep is a live album by the Norwegian rock band BigBang, which was released in 2003.-Overview:The release contains two discs, one with recordings from some of their acoustic concerts, and the other a collection of live electric tracks. Two different releases were made, a regular one...
was released in August 2003. A double CD with half acoustic material, the album's title refers to a cheatcode often found on Norwegian hotel room TV remote controls to access pay-television.
National network NRK taped a documentary over these live sessions, which climax is a performance of "Girl in Oslo" featuring five drummers, one of whom being Thor S. Greni.
In 2004 bassist Eilertsen departed from the band in order to focus on the group The National Bank, and former bassist Erik Tresselt returned to the band. With the April 2005 release of Poetic Terrorism
Poetic Terrorism
Poetic Terrorism is the fifth studio album by the Norwegian rock band BigBang, which was released in April 2005.-Overview:Øystein Greni describes the record as "minimalistic" and reminiscent of the Dinosaur Jr./Hüsker Dü era punk rock to "a more west coast 1976 acting things and symphonic orchestra"...
, the band again utilised their own independent label Grand Sport in Norway, maintaining the role of Warner Music was for international and not domestic use.
Shortly after the release of the 2005 EP, Erik Tresselt left the band for the second time, and was replaced by Jarle Bernhoft, a former guitarist and vocalist of the Norwegian punk rock band Span
Span (band)
SPAN was a Norwegian rock band that formed in 2000 from the ashes of two other outfits; Explicit Lyrics and Squid. Self-proclaimed as "Norwegian Turbo-Rock 'n' Roll Commandos" , the band spent much of the years between 2002 and 2004 touring the UK and Norway as well as spending a brief time in the...
. Bernhoft performed only one concert in Norway with the band. On the 2006 acoustic tour, former bassist and keyboardist Nikolai Eilertsen joined the band. During the concerts of this summer, Lasse Weeden
Lasse Weeden
Lasse Weeden is an American-Norwegian bass player.He was for a period the bass player of BigBang, including the recording of the 2007 album Too Much Yang. He was replaced later in 2007 with Øyvind Storli Hoel....
played the bass.
Following their March 2007 album, Too Much Yang
Too Much Yang
Too Much Yang is the sixth studio album made by the Norwegian rock band BigBang. It was released in Norway, March 19, 2007, at Warner Music and Grand Sport Records...
(2007), the band moved to Los Angeles, California in September 2007. Having employed several bassists during the year, Eilertsen did not wish to move to the U.S., and the role was filled by Lasse Weeden. The 2008 album From Acid to Zen
From Acid to Zen
From Acid to Zen is the Norwegian rock band BigBang's ninth album, and the first released exclusively for the American market. It consist mainly of previously released material, except for two new songs...
was their American debut release, which received complementary reviews from among others David Fricke
David Fricke
David Fricke is a senior editor at Rolling Stone magazine, where he writes predominantly on rock music. In the 1990s, he was managing editor before stepping down.-Background:David Fricke is a graduate of Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania...
of Rolling Stones who selected the album as his "Fricke's Pick" and compared it to a "a shotgun buffet".
As of 2009, the band released the seventh studio album Edendale
Edendale (album)
Edendale is the Norwegian rock band BigBang's seventh studio album , and the second album released to the American market. It was released on March 9, 2009 in Norway and in the U.S. on January 19, 2010...
, with Nikolai Eilertsen returning as bassist. In March 2011, BigBang released their eighth studio album, Epic Scrap Metal
Epic Scrap Metal
Epic Scrap Metal is the Norwegian rock band BigBang's eighth studio album. It was released on March 4, 2011 in Norway and jumped straight into #1 on its week of release, staying on top of the Norwegian Albums Chart for 4 consecutive weeks.- Overview:...
.
Members
Present- Øystein GreniØystein GreniØystein Greni is the singer and lead guitar player of the Norwegian rock and roll band BigBang.-Biography:Øystein Greni is the son of Thor Sigbjørn Greni, singer and songwriter of the Undertakers Circus, a 60/70s soul band...
– guitar, bass, drums, percussion, vocals (1992–) - Olaf Olsen – drums, percussion, backing vocals (1999–2000, 2001–)
- Nikolai EilertsenNikolai EilertsenNikolai Hængsle Eilertsen is a Norwegian bass guitarist. He is primarily known as a member of BigBang and The National Bank . Eilertsen also participates in the bands Lester, Needlepoint and Elephant9....
– bass/keyboards (1999–2004, 2009–)
Past
- Christer Engen – drums (1992–1997)
- Martin Horntveth – drums (1997–1999)
- Kristian Syvertsen – drums (1999)
- Karim Sayed – drums (2000–2001)
- Erik Tresselt – bass (1992–1999, 2004–2005)
- Øyvind Storli Hoel – bass, backing vocals (2007–2008)
- Lasse WeedenLasse WeedenLasse Weeden is an American-Norwegian bass player.He was for a period the bass player of BigBang, including the recording of the 2007 album Too Much Yang. He was replaced later in 2007 with Øyvind Storli Hoel....
– bass (2007)
Albums
- WaxedWaxedWaxed is the debut album of the Norwegian rock band BigBang. It was first released in 1995 then reissued in 2002 by Warner Music.-Overview:...
(1995) - Electric PsalmbookElectric PsalmbookElectric Psalmbook is the second album by the Norwegian rock band BigBang, which was released in 1999.-Overview:"Volume or Tone" and "Wild Bird " are two bonus tracks added in the Warner release...
(1999) - Clouds Rolling ByClouds Rolling ByClouds Rolling By is the third album by the Norwegian rock band BigBang, which was released in 2000. It was released on both CD and LP, the LP version being limited to 500 copies.The album's producers were Michael Ilbert and Nils B...
(2000) - Frontside Rock'n'RollFrontside Rock'n'RollFrontside Rock'n'Roll is the fourth album by the Norwegian rock band BigBang, which was released in 2002.-Overview:This is the first album to be published outside Norway. Warner Germany also re-released the previous full-length Clouds Rolling By in the country...
(2002) - Radio Radio TV SleepRadio Radio TV SleepRadio Radio TV Sleep is a live album by the Norwegian rock band BigBang, which was released in 2003.-Overview:The release contains two discs, one with recordings from some of their acoustic concerts, and the other a collection of live electric tracks. Two different releases were made, a regular one...
(Live recordings, 2 CDs) (2003) - Poetic TerrorismPoetic TerrorismPoetic Terrorism is the fifth studio album by the Norwegian rock band BigBang, which was released in April 2005.-Overview:Øystein Greni describes the record as "minimalistic" and reminiscent of the Dinosaur Jr./Hüsker Dü era punk rock to "a more west coast 1976 acting things and symphonic orchestra"...
(2005) - Too Much YangToo Much YangToo Much Yang is the sixth studio album made by the Norwegian rock band BigBang. It was released in Norway, March 19, 2007, at Warner Music and Grand Sport Records...
(2007) - Something Special – The Best of Bigbang (2007)
- From Acid to ZenFrom Acid to ZenFrom Acid to Zen is the Norwegian rock band BigBang's ninth album, and the first released exclusively for the American market. It consist mainly of previously released material, except for two new songs...
(2008) - EdendaleEdendale (album)Edendale is the Norwegian rock band BigBang's seventh studio album , and the second album released to the American market. It was released on March 9, 2009 in Norway and in the U.S. on January 19, 2010...
(2009) - Epic Scrap MetalEpic Scrap MetalEpic Scrap Metal is the Norwegian rock band BigBang's eighth studio album. It was released on March 4, 2011 in Norway and jumped straight into #1 on its week of release, staying on top of the Norwegian Albums Chart for 4 consecutive weeks.- Overview:...
(2011)
EPs
- Girl in Oslo (2000)
- New Glow (2000)
- Girl in Oslo (Europe) (2001)
- Smiling for (2001)
- Not A Rolling Stone (2005)
7"
- How Do You Do? / Something Better (Yellow & Brown/Black limited editions) (1997)
- Hurricane Boy (US promo limited edition) (2007)