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Kaizers Orchestra (also known as simply Kaizers, mostly to fans) is an alternative rock group, formed in Norway on January 1, 2000. The current band members are Janove Ottesen (a.k.a. “The Jackal”, lead vocal), Geir Zahl (a.k.a. “Hellraizer”, 2nd guitar, 2nd vocal, oil barrels), Rune Solheim (aka “Mink”, drums), Terje Winterstø Røthing (a.k.a. “Killmaster”, 1st guitar, oil barrels, backing vocals), Øyvind Storesund (a.k.a. “Thunder”, double bass, whistler) and Helge Risa (aka “Omen”, pump organ, piano, accordion). The sextet is well known for their energetic live shows, the interlocking stories found in their lyrics, about the mafia, war, underground resistance groups and mental institutions, as well as their trademark 1940 gas mask, worn by Helge.
Kaizers Orchestra was formed by Janove and Geir in 1999. The two childfriends had earlier created several bands together before, like gnom and Blod, Snått og Juling. Like with their old bands, all songs are sung in the Norwegian Bryne (Bryne, Stavanger is Janove and Geir’s hometown) dialect. Despite the release of their only album Mys, any recognition eluded gnom. However, one song they during gnom’s active period, called “Bastard”, received such response from the not-so-large crowds, and, with its Tom Waits-inspired melody and lyrics, as well as the unusual inclusion of oil barrels as percussion, inspired them to reinvent their sound, image and name. While Janove and Geir’s past bands had a more folk/pop sound, Kaizers Orchestra was going to be entirely different. |
