Israelvis
Encyclopedia
Israelvis is a Norwegian
rock band
from Trondheim
formed in 1988 by members of Angor Wat, a punk band that had just broke up.
In the first year, the band consisted of Tor Egil "Gillo" Ingebrigtsen (bass), Viggo Mastad (guitar), Bård Noodt (vocals), and Jens-Petter Wiig (drums), but by the time the second album Half Past Heaven was released, Noodt was no longer with the group, and Mastad had taken over the singing in what now was a trio. Later guitarist Morten Skjørholm (from 1994 till now) and keyboard player and producer Trude Midtgaard (from 1994 till 2000) would also join.
Israelvis became one of Norway’s most important alternative bands in the early nineties. Their debut was released in 1989, titled “Heart to Heart Politics”. One year later the band released “Half Past Heaven” (1990), the EP “We Only Live Twice” (1992), and could reach a breakthrough with the album “Albino Blue” in 1993. The following albums “Church of Israelvis” (1994) and “Eurosis” (1996) became fan favorites and in 2005 the band released their so far last album, "The Israelvis Effect".
Although controversy surrounding their name followed the band through their career it wasn't until the release of the mini album 'Church Of Israelvis' in 1995 it had any greater effect. The cover, showing a young Elvis Presley
with a bloody Star of David
on his forehead, was banned in Germany
causing the band to make a new cover for the German market. A picture of what looks like Jesus Christ with a bloody dollar sign painted on his forehead was instead chosen as the German version of the front cover. The album also had guest appearances from Steve Ignorant
of Crass
and Katja Osvold of Life... But How To Live It?
The Israelvis sound can be described as an addition of sharp guitar hardrock/metal style, with ironically and politically charged lyrics. Their style was influenced by diverse genres, like punk, metal, jazz, electronica, mambo and other sonic brique-a-braques. The band's music has been described as cutting edge, unpredictable, and uncompromising.
During the 90s, the band had significant success in the alternative music scene in Norway and Germany.
During the summer of 2010 the band reunited for a one-off concert at the Pstereo festival in Trondheim, Norway, and also used the opportunity to record the single Random City, with Katja Benneche Osvold on lead vocals.
EPs and singles:
Contributions to various artists compilations:
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 band
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...
from Trondheim
Trondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
formed in 1988 by members of Angor Wat, a punk band that had just broke up.
In the first year, the band consisted of Tor Egil "Gillo" Ingebrigtsen (bass), Viggo Mastad (guitar), Bård Noodt (vocals), and Jens-Petter Wiig (drums), but by the time the second album Half Past Heaven was released, Noodt was no longer with the group, and Mastad had taken over the singing in what now was a trio. Later guitarist Morten Skjørholm (from 1994 till now) and keyboard player and producer Trude Midtgaard (from 1994 till 2000) would also join.
Israelvis became one of Norway’s most important alternative bands in the early nineties. Their debut was released in 1989, titled “Heart to Heart Politics”. One year later the band released “Half Past Heaven” (1990), the EP “We Only Live Twice” (1992), and could reach a breakthrough with the album “Albino Blue” in 1993. The following albums “Church of Israelvis” (1994) and “Eurosis” (1996) became fan favorites and in 2005 the band released their so far last album, "The Israelvis Effect".
Although controversy surrounding their name followed the band through their career it wasn't until the release of the mini album 'Church Of Israelvis' in 1995 it had any greater effect. The cover, showing a young Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
with a bloody Star of David
Star of David
The Star of David, known in Hebrew as the Shield of David or Magen David is a generally recognized symbol of Jewish identity and Judaism.Its shape is that of a hexagram, the compound of two equilateral triangles...
on his forehead, was banned in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
causing the band to make a new cover for the German market. A picture of what looks like Jesus Christ with a bloody dollar sign painted on his forehead was instead chosen as the German version of the front cover. The album also had guest appearances from Steve Ignorant
Steve Ignorant
Steve Ignorant is a singer and artist. He co-founded the anarcho-punk band Crass with Penny Rimbaud in 1977. After Crass stopped performing in 1984, he has worked with other groups including Conflict, Schwartzeneggar, The Stratford Mercenaries, Current 93 , US punk band Thought Crime, as well as...
of Crass
Crass
Crass are an English punk rock band that was formed in 1977, which promoted anarchism as a political ideology, way of living, and as a resistance movement. Crass popularised the seminal anarcho-punk movement of the punk subculture, and advocated direct action, animal rights, and environmentalism...
and Katja Osvold of Life... But How To Live It?
Life... But How To Live It?
Life... But How to Live It? was a Norwegian hardcore punk band, formed in Oslo in 1988. They played their first show at UFFA, Trondheim October 22 1988 and their final show at Kampen Verksted, Oslo, April 2 1994.-Members:*Katja Benneche Osvold - Vocals...
The Israelvis sound can be described as an addition of sharp guitar hardrock/metal style, with ironically and politically charged lyrics. Their style was influenced by diverse genres, like punk, metal, jazz, electronica, mambo and other sonic brique-a-braques. The band's music has been described as cutting edge, unpredictable, and uncompromising.
During the 90s, the band had significant success in the alternative music scene in Norway and Germany.
During the summer of 2010 the band reunited for a one-off concert at the Pstereo festival in Trondheim, Norway, and also used the opportunity to record the single Random City, with Katja Benneche Osvold on lead vocals.
Discography (incomplete)
Albums:- Heart to Heart Politics (1989)
- Half Past Heaven (1990)
- Albino Blue (1993)
- Church of Israelvis (1995)
- Eurosis (1996)
- The Israelvis Effect (2005)
EPs and singles:
- Sweet Bird of Truth (1989)
- We Only Live Twice (1992)
- Bitter Lennon (1992)
- Mutilation (1993)
- Random City, feat Katja (2010)
Contributions to various artists compilations:
- "Dyrevise" - Ellediller & Krokofanter (1996)
- "Havana Affair" (live) - We're the RamonesRamonesThe Ramones were an American rock band that formed in the New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974. They are often cited as the first punk rock group...
(1998) - "Mine klamme hender" - Det beste til meg og mine venner: En hyllest til Joachim NielsenJoachim NielsenJoachim Nielsen , better known as Jokke, was a Norwegian rock musician and poet. He was the frontman of Norwegian rock band Jokke & Valentinerne, the brother of cartoonist Christopher Nielsen, and son of the artist John David Nielsen...
(2005)