Freak of Nature (band)

Last updated
Freak of Nature
Genres Heavy Metal, Alternative rock
Years active1992–1996
Labels Music for Nations, Ulftone Records
Past members Mike Tramp
Dennis Chick
Kenny Korade
Jerry Best
Johnny Haro
Oliver Steffensen
Marcus Nand

Freak of Nature was an American heavy metal /alternative-rock band, formed in 1992 by former White Lion co-founder/vocalist, Danish singer Mike Tramp. The band was formed after White Lion broke up and the follow-up was significantly darker and harder than White Lion. The band released three albums and then disbanded in 1996. Following Freak of Nature, Mike Tramp released several solo albums and also reformed White Lion with a new line up.

Contents

Band history

Formation

In September 1991, just days after White Lion played their last gig, Mike Tramp met up with long-time friend Oliver Steffensen who was an original member of the pre White Lion band "Danish Lions". The pair spent weeks in Tramp's house in Santa Monica, California, resulting in several songs which were later released under the moniker "Mike and Oliver". The album was titled Brothers For Life and was Tramp's progression from White Lion to Freak of Nature. Three songs from the same sessions later ended up on Freak of Nature's debut album. Ex-Lion bassist Jerry Best joined the pair shortly after, as did ex-Strike Twice guitarist Kenny Korade. [1] The band used programmed drums and another drummer up until drummer Johnny Haro joined the newly formed band. [2] [3] [4] After six months of rehearsals, Tramp and Steffensen had an argument resulting in Steffensen leaving the band to return to Denmark. [1] In 1992 Ex-House of Lords guitarist Dennis Chick was brought in to replace Steffensen, [1] and the band was finally official. [5]

Rise and fall

In November 1992, the band entered the Record Plant in Sausalito, California, to record their self-titled debut album and although the record, released in 1993 through Music For Nations, did not shift in large quantities, Freak Of Nature's relentless work ethic brought in many admirers. [1] "Rescue Me" was released as the band's debut single [6] and "Turn the Other Way" was also released as a promo single. Both singles featured music videos. In 1993, Freak of Nature toured for eight months, playing a mixture of headlining shows, mainly in Britain, including gigs at the Roskilde Festival on July 2, and support slots for Helloween in September and Dio in November.

Early in 1994, Korade said he wanted to leave the band and both Best and Haro indicated likewise. Tramp managed to talk Best and Haro into staying, but Korade only agreed to stay through the recording of the band's second album. Gathering of Freaks was released in 1994 and shortly after the recording processes in Canoga Park, California, and North Hollywood, California, Korade was replaced by Marcus Nand. [1] [7] The album spent one week at No. 66 on the UK Albums Chart in October 1994 which was the band's only UK chart presence. [8] The album included the single "Enemy" which featured a music video. Sea of Tranquility reviewer Murat Batmaz gave the album a glowing review, calling it perhaps Mike Tramp's greatest vocal performance with his darkest songwriting vision. [9]

The band undertook a tour in support of the album and then eventually disbanded. In 1998 an album of outtakes, demos and rarities was released titled Outcasts .

Post split

Tramp moved to Australia and between 1998 and 2004 released four studio albums and one live album as a solo artist: Capricorn , Recovering the Wasted Years , More to Life Than This , and Songs I Left Behind as studio efforts, with Rock 'N' Roll Alive as a live album. [10] Tramp also reformed White Lion with a new line-up under the name "Tramp's White Lion" (aka White Lion II) due to legal issues with former members. The band played and re-recorded White Lion songs. TWL toured during 2005 and released a double-live CD entitled Rocking the USA . In 2007, a White Lion compilation, The Definitive Rock Collection , was released and the band was set for a summer tour with Poison and Ratt, only to be dropped by the tour promoter after ex-White Lion guitarist Vito Bratta threatened to take legal action over the band name. [11] Eventually Tramp was able to use the White Lion name and they released Return of the Pride in 2008. [12]

Korade returned to play on Tramp's solo album Capricorn in 1997. Korade formed a band called Zero G, [13] [4] which at one point also included both Best and Haro. Korade later joined Courtney Love's touring band.

Best played bass for Dio between August 1995 and May 1996, taking part in recording sessions and a South American tour. He also stayed for the pre-production on Dio's Angry Machines album co-writing some of the songs. [14] [15] He also played on Tramp's solo album Capricorn and the tour that followed. He too was part of Courtney Love's band for a couple of years, co-writing seven of the twelve songs on America's Sweetheart . He also played on the White Lion US tour in July 2007.

Haro was in the band Star 69 in 1996 and 1997, playing on their last album Eating February. He went on to a brief stint in Stabbing Westward, filling in for their drummer on tour in 1998. A couple of months later, Haro joined Econoline Crush, where he stayed until the band's break-up in 2001. In 2002, he teamed up with ex-Stabbing Westward singer Christopher Hall and formed The Dreaming.

Steffensen formed the band Spacehead and released an album. Later an album called Brothers For Life was released under the moniker Mike & Oliver containing pre Freak of Nature material. Steffensen also was part of Tramp's solo albums Recovering the Wasted Years and More to Life Than This and also played with Tramp during his European tour in 2003.

Dennis Chick runs a custom motorcycle shop in Los Angeles.

Nand moved back to Málaga, Spain, where he grew up. He later returned to Los Angeles, where he worked both solo and with other musicians.

In 2014, Tramp stated that a Freak of Nature reunion would only be possible with the original members. [16]

Discography

Albums

Compilation albums

Singles and EPs

  1. "Rescue Me" (1993)
  2. "Are You Ready"
  3. "Turn the Other Way" (acoustic)
  4. "What Am I" (acoustic)
  1. "Rescue Me"
  2. "What Am I" (acoustic)
  3. "Turn the Other Way" (acoustic)
  4. "Wartime"
  5. "Can't Find My Way"

DVDs

  1. "Turn the Other Way"
  2. "People"
  3. "World Doesn't Mind"
  4. "Rescue Me"
  5. "Possessed"
  6. "Are You Ready"
  7. "'92"
  8. "What Am I"
  9. "If I Leave"
  10. "Bad Reputation"
  11. "What Am I"
  12. "Love Was Here"
  13. "What Am I" †
  14. "If I Leave" †
  15. "Ohio" †

† Bonus footage : Freak of Nature unplugged in France (1993)

Other albums

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White Lion</span> American glam metal band

White Lion was a Danish-American pop-rock band that was formed in New York City in 1983 by Danish vocalist/guitarist Mike Tramp and Italian-American guitarist Vito Bratta. Mainly active in the 1980s and early 1990s, they released their debut album Fight to Survive in 1985. The band achieved success with their No. 8 hit "Wait" and No. 3 hit "When the Children Cry" from their second album, the double platinum selling Pride. The band continued their success with their third album, Big Game which achieved Gold status and their fourth album Mane Attraction which included a supporting tour. White Lion disbanded in 1992 and not long after their first compilation album, The Best of White Lion was released.

<i>Pride</i> (White Lion album) 1987 studio album by White Lion

Pride is the second studio album by the American-Danish pop-rock band White Lion, released on June 22, 1987, by Atlantic Records. The album featured the two top ten hits "Wait" and "When the Children Cry". It peaked at number 11 on the Billboard 200 and remained in the Billboard Top 200 for a full year, selling two million copies in the US alone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Tramp</span> Danish singer (born 1961)

Michael Trempenau, better known as Mike Tramp, is a Danish singer best known for his work with the glam metal band White Lion, which he was the sole continuous member of the band until their disbandment in 2013. Since 1998, he has also released several solo albums. In 2012, Tramp went on a solo acoustic tour releasing acoustic albums in both 2013 and 2014. He returned with a full band lineup in 2015 and in 2017, released the album Maybe Tomorrow, which charted at number 1 in Denmark.

<i>Gathering of Freaks</i> 1994 studio album by Freak of Nature

Gathering of Freaks is the second album from the Heavy Metal band Freak of Nature, fronted by former White Lion lead singer Mike Tramp, released in 1994.

<i>Freak of Nature</i> (Freak of Nature album) 1993 studio album by Freak of Nature

Freak of Nature is the self-titled debut album by American hard rock / heavy metal band Freak of Nature, released on March 29, 1993. The band features former White Lion vocalist Mike Tramp who formed Freak of Nature following White Lion's last album release The Best of White Lion in 1992.

"Rescue Me" is the debut single by hard rock band Freak of Nature, released in 1993 from their self-titled debut album. The band features former White Lion vocalist Mike Tramp who formed Freak of Nature after White Lion broke up in 1992. Tramp has remarked that the lyrics to this song were autobiographical. A music video was also made for the song.

<i>Outcasts</i> (Freak of Nature album) 1998 compilation album by Freak of Nature

Outcasts is the third and final album from the Hard Rock / Heavy Metal band Freak of Nature, released in 1998. The album is a collection of B-sides, demos and outtakes released through Ulftone Records. Most of the tracks had never been released before with the exception of a few tracks being released as b-sides to previous singles.

<i>Remembering White Lion</i> 1999 studio album of re-recorded songs by White Lion

Remembering White Lion is an album by White Lion featuring new re-recorded versions of their classic songs from previous studio albums, including the band's biggest three hits: "When the Children Cry", "Wait", and "Little Fighter".

<i>Return of the Pride</i> 2008 studio album by White Lion

Return of the Pride is the fifth and final studio album featuring original material by White Lion. The album was released in 2008 on March 14 (Europe), April 9 (Japan), April 29 . The album was produced by singer Mike Tramp and bassist Claus Langeskov and recorded during 2007 in both Australia and Copenhagen, Denmark.

<i>Mike Tramp & The Rock N Roll Circuz</i>

Mike Tramp & The Rock 'N' Roll Circuz is a studio album by former Freak of Nature and current White Lion lead vocalist Mike Tramp, released on 5 October 2009. The album is Tramp's fifth solo album and the first since 2004's Songs I Left Behind.

<i>Recovering the Wasted Years</i> 2002 studio album by Mike Tramp

Recovering the Wasted Years is the second solo album by former White Lion and Freak of Nature lead singer, Mike Tramp, released on 1 January 2002.

<i>Capricorn</i> (Mike Tramp album) 1997 studio album by Mike Tramp

Capricorn is the debut solo album by former White Lion and Freak of Nature lead singer, Mike Tramp.

<i>More to Life Than This</i> 2003 studio album by Mike Tramp

More to Life Than This is the third solo album by former White Lion and Freak of Nature lead singer, Mike Tramp, released on March 17, 2003.

Gerard John "Jerry" Best, is a Los Angeles-based hard rock bassist, songwriter and composer, active since 1984. He has played with bands such as Lion, Dio, Freak of Nature and Heavy Bones. Jerry was first introduced to his instrument by his older brother Tom, who showed him how to play the basic chords.

<i>Rock N Roll Alive</i> 2003 live album by Mike Tramp

Rock 'N' Roll Alive is a double disc live album from former White Lion and Freak of Nature lead singer, Mike Tramp, released in 2003.

<i>Songs I Left Behind</i> 2004 studio album by Mike Tramp

Songs I Left Behind is the fourth solo album by Mike Tramp. Released in 2004, the album came out only one year after his last studio album More to Life Than This.

<i>Cobblestone Street</i> 2013 studio album by Mike Tramp

Cobblestone Street is the seventh solo album by former White Lion and Freak of Nature lead singer, Mike Tramp, released April 8, 2013.

<i>Museum</i> (Mike Tramp album) 2014 studio album by Mike Tramp

Museum is the eighth solo album by former White Lion and Freak of Nature lead singer, Mike Tramp, released August 18, 2014 on Target Records.

<i>Stray from the Flock</i> 2019 studio album by Mike Tramp

Stray from the Flock is the eleventh solo album by former White Lion and Freak of Nature lead singer, Mike Tramp, released on March 1, 2019 through Mighty Music/Target Records. The album was released on CD, double gatefold LP on black 140G vinyl, LTD double gatefold LP on orange colour LP 180G digital, and cassette.

<i>Trampthology</i> 2020 compilation album by Mike Tramp

Trampthology is the first greatest hits album by former White Lion and Freak of Nature lead singer Mike Tramp, released on December 18, 2020, through Mighty Music/Target Records. The album was released to celebrate Tramp's 25th anniversary as a solo artist.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Colin Larkin, ed. (1999). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Heavy Rock (First ed.). Virgin Books. pp. 172/3. ISBN   0-7535-0257-7.
  2. ↑ "Sid Falck". Discogs.com. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
  3. ↑ "Sid Falck - Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives". Metal-archives.com. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
  4. 1 2 "Interviews: A Candid Interview with Mike Tramp - Sea of Tranquility - The Web Destination for Progressive Music!". Seaoftranquility.org. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
  5. ↑ "Freak of Nature official bio". Facebook.com. Retrieved January 24, 2011.
  6. ↑ "Rescue Me single". Metal-archives.com. Archived from the original on September 22, 2015. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
  7. ↑ "Freak of Nature". Myspace.com. Retrieved January 24, 2011.
  8. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 213. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
  9. ↑ "Review: "Freak of Nature: Freak of Nature" - Sea of Tranquility - The Web Destination for Progressive Music!". Seaoftranquility.org. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
  10. ↑ "Mike Tramp solo albums". Miketramp.dk. Retrieved 2012-02-03.
  11. ↑ "White Lion Officially Off Poison Ratt Tour". Knac.com. 2007-06-03. Retrieved 2012-05-20.
  12. ↑ "White Lion - Return of the Pride". Heavymetaladdiction.com. 2008. Archived from the original on 2014-09-17. Retrieved January 24, 2012.
  13. ↑ "Jerry Best - My Story". Jerrybest.com. Archived from the original on February 12, 2017. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
  14. ↑ "Castironring.com". Castironring.com. Archived from the original on August 19, 2014. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
  15. ↑ "MusicMight :: Artists :: FREAK OF NATURE". Archived from the original on 2009-01-01. Retrieved 2014-08-19.
  16. ↑ "Interviews: A Candid Interview with Mike Tramp - Sea of Tranquility - The Web Destination for Progressive Music!". Seaoftranquility.org. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
  17. ↑ "Freakthology". AllMusic . Retrieved January 24, 2011.[ permanent dead link ]
  18. ↑ "Rescue Me single". Gemm.com. Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
  19. ↑ "Freak of Nature DVD". Spirit-of-metal.com. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.