Span (band)
Encyclopedia
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" http://www.span.mu/, 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 U.S.
. To date they have sold over 55,000 albums world wide.
In August 2005, much to their loyal fans' disappointment, SPAN announced that they were to take a break. Unfortunately there are no plans to return since a post on their website stated that the band "no longer share a common dream and ambition" and that they have "decided to end this while we are still the best of friends".
, recording their debut album at RAK Studios in London with producer Gil Norton
. Despite much interest gained from incessant touring and the minor-hit singles 'Found' and 'Don't Think The Way They Do', Island held back the album Mass Distraction until 2004, a year after its originally planned release date, and much of the early impetus was lost.
SPAN then tried to establish themselves in the U.S.
but were unsuccessful after attempts to sign with Geffen Records
and Interscope Records
fell through. In fact Interscope had agreed to sign the band after an impressive showcase gig at LA's Troubadour. However, following roster rationalisation at the label, SPAN were unceremoniously discarded without releasing a note Stateside. Additional tracks were recorded for a planned US version of the album but this never saw the light of day. The track 'Stay As You Are' featured on a US TV Nissan car ad, which attracted considerable public attention, but the opportunity had gone. Additionally, their song 'Don't Think the Way They Do' was featured in
Gran Turismo 4
.
Their second album, Vs. Time
, was released in Norway only, on the Johnny NoWhere/Mercury label. Despite a domestic hit single with 'Cut Like Diamonds' peaking at number two, by the Summer of 2005 the band had decided to split, with singer Jarle keen to pursue a more mellow style. The band played their final gig before a sold-out Oslo crowd in October 2005 and fans eagerly await a commemorative DVD of the event, which has yet to see the light of day.
released his first solo album "Ceramik City Chronicles". He showcases songs and videos on his MySpace site (www.myspace.com/jarlebernhoft). He has done work with acclaimed Norwegian artists Kristin Asbjørnsen, Friko, Shining
, Big Bang
and Hanne Hukkelberg
, doing guitar, bass, percussion, vocals, flute, et al.
Guitarist Joff Nilsen, bassist Kim Nordbæk and drummer Fredrik Wallumrød formed the heavier metal outfit Dog Almighty
, with singer Sindri from the Norwegian band Farout Fishing. Their debut release emerged in the autumn of 2007 but didn't have the pop sensibility of SPAN. Sindri subsequently departed the band and though auditions took place for a new singer, the band appears to have split.
Freddy now plays with Norwegian metallers El Caco, whilst Kim is working with the melodic local outfit Sibir. Meanwhile Joff has kept a relatively low profile, focussing on session work and production.
On January 24th the release "Container" saw the light of day. This multivocalist 12-track cd, written by Freddy and Joff, has Jarle singing on one of the tracks along with other vocalists like Venke Knutson, Thom Hell and Shaun Bartlett to name a few.
No touring to promote the album is so far scheduled, with all the vocalists focusing on their own careers.
and produced by Gil Norton
. There is also a UK special edition version with a second CD of rarities.
Track listing
Vs. Time
, April 2005 (Johnny Nowhere / Mercury)
Track listing
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Norway
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...
as well as spending a brief time in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. To date they have sold over 55,000 albums world wide.
In August 2005, much to their loyal fans' disappointment, SPAN announced that they were to take a break. Unfortunately there are no plans to return since a post on their website stated that the band "no longer share a common dream and ambition" and that they have "decided to end this while we are still the best of friends".
Labels
In the Summer of 2002, the band signed to Island RecordsIsland Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
, recording their debut album at RAK Studios in London with producer Gil Norton
Gil Norton
Gil Norton is a British record producer known for his work with such bands as Pixies, Echo & the Bunnymen, Foo Fighters, Tribe, Jimmy Eat World, Dashboard Confessional, Feeder, The Distillers, Maxïmo Park, Counting Crows, Terrorvision, The Triffids, Del Amitri, James, The Feelers, The Beekeepers,...
. Despite much interest gained from incessant touring and the minor-hit singles 'Found' and 'Don't Think The Way They Do', Island held back the album Mass Distraction until 2004, a year after its originally planned release date, and much of the early impetus was lost.
SPAN then tried to establish themselves in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
but were unsuccessful after attempts to sign with Geffen Records
Geffen Records
Geffen Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operated as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-Beginnings:...
and Interscope Records
Interscope Records
Interscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that currently operates as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-History:...
fell through. In fact Interscope had agreed to sign the band after an impressive showcase gig at LA's Troubadour. However, following roster rationalisation at the label, SPAN were unceremoniously discarded without releasing a note Stateside. Additional tracks were recorded for a planned US version of the album but this never saw the light of day. The track 'Stay As You Are' featured on a US TV Nissan car ad, which attracted considerable public attention, but the opportunity had gone. Additionally, their song 'Don't Think the Way They Do' was featured in
Music of the Gran Turismo Series
-Gran Turismo:Gran Turismo featured two different opening songs. For the North American and PAL versions is a Chemical Brothers remix of the Manic Street Preachers song Everything Must Go...
Gran Turismo 4
Gran Turismo 4
is a racing simulator for the Sony PlayStation 2 which was developed by Polyphony Digital. It was released on December 28, 2004 in Japan and Hong Kong , February 22, 2005 in North America , and March 9, 2005 in Europe , and has since been re-issued under Sony's 'Greatest Hits' line...
.
Their second album, Vs. Time
Vs. Time
Vs. Time is the second album by Span and features 11 tracks.The band decided to produce the album themselves, unlike their first album Mass Distraction, which was produced by Gil Norton ....
, was released in Norway only, on the Johnny NoWhere/Mercury label. Despite a domestic hit single with 'Cut Like Diamonds' peaking at number two, by the Summer of 2005 the band had decided to split, with singer Jarle keen to pursue a more mellow style. The band played their final gig before a sold-out Oslo crowd in October 2005 and fans eagerly await a commemorative DVD of the event, which has yet to see the light of day.
Life after SPAN
On September 1, 2008, singer Jarle BernhoftJarle Bernhoft
Jarle Bernhoft, also known as Bernhoft, is a Norwegian singer, multi-instrumentalist, composer and lyricist. Bernhoft is from Nittedal in Norway, but currently lives in Oslo. His best known songs are "Streetlights", "Shout", "Choices" and "C'mon Talk"....
released his first solo album "Ceramik City Chronicles". He showcases songs and videos on his MySpace site (www.myspace.com/jarlebernhoft). He has done work with acclaimed Norwegian artists Kristin Asbjørnsen, Friko, Shining
Shining (Norwegian band)
Shining is a Norwegian band that started out as an acoustic jazz quartet in 1999. Their sound has since become more experimental and extreme, incorporating elements from metal and progressive rock as well as 19th and 20th century classical music....
, Big Bang
Big Bang
The Big Bang theory is the prevailing cosmological model that explains the early development of the Universe. According to the Big Bang theory, the Universe was once in an extremely hot and dense state which expanded rapidly. This rapid expansion caused the young Universe to cool and resulted in...
and Hanne Hukkelberg
Hanne Hukkelberg
Hanne Hukkelberg is a singer-songwriter from Kongsberg, Norway.Hukkelberg started singing and playing instruments at the age of 3...
, doing guitar, bass, percussion, vocals, flute, et al.
Guitarist Joff Nilsen, bassist Kim Nordbæk and drummer Fredrik Wallumrød formed the heavier metal outfit Dog Almighty
Dog Almighty
Dog Almighty is a Norwegian rock band consisting of Fridtjof Nilsen, Kim Nordbæk and Fredrik Wallumrød, started in January 2006. It was formed from the bands Span and Farout Fishing....
, with singer Sindri from the Norwegian band Farout Fishing. Their debut release emerged in the autumn of 2007 but didn't have the pop sensibility of SPAN. Sindri subsequently departed the band and though auditions took place for a new singer, the band appears to have split.
Freddy now plays with Norwegian metallers El Caco, whilst Kim is working with the melodic local outfit Sibir. Meanwhile Joff has kept a relatively low profile, focussing on session work and production.
On January 24th the release "Container" saw the light of day. This multivocalist 12-track cd, written by Freddy and Joff, has Jarle singing on one of the tracks along with other vocalists like Venke Knutson, Thom Hell and Shaun Bartlett to name a few.
No touring to promote the album is so far scheduled, with all the vocalists focusing on their own careers.
Band members
- Jarle Bernhoft: lead vocals, guitar
- Fridtjof 'Joff' Nilsen: guitar, backing vocals
- Kim Nordbæk: bass, backing vocals
- Fredrik Wallumrød: drums, backing vocals
Full length albums
Mass Distraction is the first album by Span and features eleven tracks. Standard UK versions of the album add a track, bringing the total up to twelve. It was released in February 2004 on Island RecordsIsland Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
and produced by Gil Norton
Gil Norton
Gil Norton is a British record producer known for his work with such bands as Pixies, Echo & the Bunnymen, Foo Fighters, Tribe, Jimmy Eat World, Dashboard Confessional, Feeder, The Distillers, Maxïmo Park, Counting Crows, Terrorvision, The Triffids, Del Amitri, James, The Feelers, The Beekeepers,...
. There is also a UK special edition version with a second CD of rarities.
Track listing
- Found
- Don't Think the Way they Do
- Peaceful
- Papa
- Stay as You are
- Missing in Stereo
- On my way Down (Album Version)
- Buckle Under Pressure
- Baby's Come Back
- Wildflower
- When She Stares
- The End (UK bonus track)
Vs. Time
Vs. Time
Vs. Time is the second album by Span and features 11 tracks.The band decided to produce the album themselves, unlike their first album Mass Distraction, which was produced by Gil Norton ....
, April 2005 (Johnny Nowhere / Mercury)
Track listing
- Better Believe It
- Cut Like Diamonds
- The Outside
- I'm One of Us
- Living in a Suitcase
- I'm Nothing
- Sea
- Nowhere to be Found
- When I Fall
- Room for One
- Wish it Would Rain