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Bigbang (Norwegian band)

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Bigbang

Bigbang is a Norwegian rock band led by frontman Øystein Greni.

History

Bigbang is a rock bank who play retro-rock, in '70s style, but also acoustic folk ballads such as Chocolate Factory or Old People, all sung in English.

The album Clouds Rolling By from 2000 was the beginning of their commercial success, thanks to the hit Girl In Oslo, released in many compilations by that time.

Øystein's father, Thor S. Greni was performer in the Undertakers Circus 1960/70s soul band. The songs were sung in Norwegian except two Curtis Mayfield covers included in the debut album.

Young Greni grew up with the intimate conviction that "[he] was born to do that", he was influenced not only by his own father's work but also by other 60/70s Norwegian bands as well as British and American artists like The Rolling Stones, The Who, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Cream and The Eagles, Lynyrd Skynyrd or Eric Clapton's Blind Faith cult band. As a skateboarder he was into Punk rock energetic music like The Jam, Dinosaur Jr. or Hüsker Dü and American 80s alternative, like the Red Hot Chili Peppers or Tom Petty. He was also into Bob Dylan and Neil Young's folk-rock though, hence a sounding resemblance with acts such as Pearl Jam (To the Mountains) or R.E.M. (Spiritual Heart Surgery).

Bigbang's classic Long Distance Man is actually the English adaptation (with totally different lyrics) of a Norwegian sung Undertakers Circus 1973 tune. The band often covers their favourite tracks on stage, including almost all previously mentioned bands and even an instrumental partial cover of James Brown's 'There Was A Time'.

In 2002 Bigbang released Frontside Rock'n'Roll. The album features the song Frontside Rock'n'Roll, which is a song Øystein Greni dedicated to two skaters that passed away. The name of the song is in fact one of the most difficult, but beautiful tricks one can do with a skateboard.

Bigbang was formed in 1992 by Øystein Greni, Erik Tresselt and Christer Engen (Turbonegro). Throughout the years the band's line-up has changed several times. The following persons have entered and left the band:

  • Nikolai Eilertsen
  • Karim Sayed
  • Stig Morten Sørheim
  • Lasse Weeden
  • Kristian Syvertsen
  • Martin Horntveth
  • Erik Tresselt

As of 2007, the band consists of Øystein Greni, Olaf Olsen and Lasse Weeden. Øystein Greni is the only person who has always been a member of the band, and he is also commonly seen as the band's front figure, as he writes almost all the songs as well as being the lead vocalist and guitarist.

Shortly after the release of the 2005 EP, Erik Tresselt left the band, and was replaced by Jarle Bernhoft (former guitarist & vocalist of the Norwegian punk/rock band Span). The line-up seemed somewhat unsure at this stage, as Bernhoft only did one concert in Norway with the band. On the acoustic tour they did in early 2006, former bass and piano player Nikolai Eilertsen joined the band. He also played at a couple of electric shows in April and Norwegian Wood in June. During the concerts of this summer, it was Lasse Weeden who played the bass.

As of March 2007 and the release of their latest album, Too Much Yang (2007), the line-up did consist of Øystein Greni, Lasse Weeden and Olaf Olsen. Weeden was replaced by Øyvind Storli Hoel in June 2007. The band moved to Los Angeles, California in September where they will stay for one year.

The spelling of the band name is often inconsistent. It is usually written "Bigbang" or "BIGBANG".

In Norway, Bigbang is often described as "Norway's best live band" which might not be far from the truth, since Radio Radio TV Sleep has become the most successful live album ever released in Norway.

Discography

Albums

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)

DVDs

  • Radio Radio TV Sleep - (Live footage + bonus material) (2003)

B-Sides

  • Across the Street (demo '99)
  • All Alone
  • Chocolate Factory
  • Girl in Oslo (Live at Quart Festival '99)
  • How Do You Do? (SP version '97)
  • Light of Hope (The Last James cover)
  • Long Distance Man (Live at Rockefeller '01)
  • New Glow
  • Not a Rolling Stone (EP version '05)
  • On Your Mind (EP version '00)
  • One of Them
  • Old People
  • Running Along
  • Smiling For
  • Something Better
  • Underneath the Sun
  • Wrong Number

Bootleg recordings

  • Live at Folken, Stavanger
  • p3sessions 03
  • Hamar 8. march 2001
  • p3sessions 07
  • Kveldsåpent p1
  • Live at Roskilde
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