Naked Lunch is a band from Klagenfurt, Carinthia, Austria, founded in 1991. They started out as an alternative rock band, mixing hard rock guitars and fragile vocals. In the nineties, they connected with the German band The Notwist, in Weilheim, with whom they still have ties; their producer, Olaf Opal, is also working for The Notwist.
The group's album Songs for the Exhausted was recorded after a long hiatus (when they nearly disbanded) and saw the band abandon their rock roots and turn to a more experimental, electronic approach to their songs.
They have a cult following in Austria and Germany. In 2007, a new album, This Atom Heart of Ours, was released.
Soon after their formation, they sent out demos and were signed on the spot by German Big Store Records, where a first release came out, the 6-track-mini-LP Naked. The year after that, a full-length album followed, titled Balsam. After that, bassist Trattnig left the band to focus on his writing. He died in 2000 due to alcoholism. The song "King George" on Songs for the Exhausted is written about his death.
Trattnig was replaced with Herwig Zamernik (of Disharmonic Orchestra). Zamernik and Welter remained the core of the band to this day.
After a first few successes, the band became hungry for an international breakthrough, but despite playing showcases for major record companies, it took a few years before they were signed by Mercury Records.
Superstardom (1997–2000)
After finally being signed to a big-time label, Naked Lunch took on recording their second album, which should bring them what they predicted with the over-ambitious title, Superstardom. Recordings took place in Weilheim, New York City and San Francisco. They shot a high-profile video for "Tambourine" (the single was mixed by Alan Moulder) in Brazil, where they also damaged equipment on stage; they were arrested in London, where some of the members had relocated. But still, big success did not take place.
In 1999, Love Junkies was released and the single "Closed today" was a minor hit internationally (and also the band's biggest so far), but the album did not sell well. Naked Lunch cut their ties with their label and signed with Virgin Records, where the same record got re-released. But it also flopped on second try and Virgin dropped them.
Songs for the Exhausted (2001–present)
After the events surrounding the two releases of Love Junkies, Naked Lunch went on hiatus. Oliver Welter had to return to his hometown and lived on the streets and "out of his car", so to speak, for half a year. He often remarks that this phase was one of the hardest in his life and he was sometimes close to the edge. Perhaps the long-time-suicide of Georg Trattnig (as he called his long-term alcoholism which ultimately led to this death) showed Welter that it is better to choose life over death. Also, he fathered a daughter and more recently, a son. Herwig Zamernik is also a father (of four children).
Back to life, Naked Lunch entered the studio again and were all set to record another, perhaps their final album. The old indie rock-concepts were abandoned in favour for a new working technique involving intensive work with computers. Songs for the Exhausted was recorded in Herwig Zamerniks own studio, the "Fuzzroom" in Klagenfurt over the course of a year. Prior to the recording, drummer and founding member Peter "Bogs" Hornbogner left the band - he was later replaced by Thorsten Thonhauser (although most drum tracks on the album were played by session drummers or were programmed). Shortly before the completion of the session, the studio burned down. Zamernik has subsequently built a new "Fuzzroom".
After the recording was finished, the band faced new problems. They were unable to find a record company willing to release the record, which was considered too sad, depressing and generally non-commercial. Finally in 2004, Motor Music Records put their effort out and Naked Lunch were facing generally very good reviews and surprisingly good sales.
In the aftermath, Naked Lunch put out an EP, Stay in 2005 and contributed music to befriended film-maker Thomas Woschitz's project Sperrstunde, which was screened to live backing music by the band. Also, Herwig Zamernik released a solo record, dubbed Fuzzman on Wohnzimmer Records.
Naked Lunch at Donauinselfest in Wien, Austria, 2009
A new album, This Atom Heart of Ours was released on January 19, 2007. It is the first to include new drummer, Alex Jezdinsky (formerly of Angelika Express), following the departure of Thorsten Thonhauser. Yet it is uncertain if Jezdinsky is a full member, hence he does not appear on any of the promotion photos for the new record nor in the video to the single "Military of the Heart".
The album entered the Austrian longplay charts at #25. In 2008, they composed the film score of Universalove by Thomas Woschitz.
Douglas Glenn Colvin, known professionally as Dee Dee Ramone, was an American musician, singer, rapper, and songwriter best known for being a founding member of the punk rock band Ramones, in which he played bass. Throughout the band's existence, Dee Dee was the band's most prolific lyricist and composer, writing many of their best-known songs, such as "53rd & 3rd", "Commando", "Wart Hog", "Rockaway Beach", "Poison Heart" and "Bonzo Goes To Bitburg". The latter won the New York Music Award for best independent single of the year in 1986, while Animal Boy, which the song is from, won for best album.
The Notwist are a German indie rock band. Formed in 1989, the band moved through several musical incarnations, despite maintaining a relatively stable line-up. While their early records moved through heavy metal into dark indie rock, their recent efforts for which they have received the most attention have been strongly influenced by the electronica scene, along with the other groups on the record label, Morr Music.
Razorblade Romance is the second studio album by Finnish gothic rock band HIM. HIM initially began recording the album with producer Hiili Hiilesmaa, who had helmed the group's 1997 debut album, however these sessions proved unsuccessful, and HIM parted ways with Hiilesmaa, and recruited John Fryer. The band, along with Fryer, relocated to Rockfield Studios in Wales to begin recording, and released the album on 24 January 2000. Musically, the album featured a sleeker production and a more melodic sound compared to their debut. The album's lead single "Join Me in Death" would prove to be HIM's breakthrough single, reaching number one in Finland and Germany. The song also found its way on to the soundtrack of the 1999 science fiction film The Thirteenth Floor.
The Trinity Session is the second album by alternative rock band Cowboy Junkies, released in 1988.
The Bravery was an American rock band formed in New York City in 2003 that consisted of lead vocalist Sam Endicott, guitarist Michael Zakarin, keyboardist John Conway, bassist Mike Hindert and drummer Anthony Burulcich. They released three studio albums: The Bravery (2005), The Sun and the Moon (2007) and Stir the Blood (2009). They also released a remixed edition of its second album called The Sun and the Moon Complete in 2008 and an Internet live album called Live at the Wiltern Theater in 2010. The group's music was mostly post-punk dance-influenced rock.
Adam David "Atom" Willard is an American drummer who has been a member of several notable musical acts. Willard's drumming career began in 1990 when he joined Rocket from the Crypt, with whom he remained until 2000. Subsequently, he joined The Special Goodness, The Offspring, and in 2005 became a founding member of Angels & Airwaves. In 2007 his departure from The Offspring was announced so Willard could focus on his work with Angels & Airwaves, and in April 2009 he also joined Social Distortion, but left the following March. In June 2011, he joined the band Danko Jones and in October 2011 he announced his amicable departure from Angels & Airwaves. He has been the drummer for Against Me! since 2013.
Juli is a German alternative pop band from Gießen, Hesse, consisting of singer Eva Briegel, guitarists Jonas Pfetzing and Simon Triebel, bassist Andreas "Dedi" Herde and drummer Marcel Römer. The band was formed with this lineup from the band Sunnyglade in 2001.
Now... Us! is the second studio album by German girl group No Angels. It was released by Polydor–Zeitgeist and Cheyenne Records on 24 June 24, 2002 in German-speaking Europe. Recorded after the release of the band's majorly successful debut album Elle'ments (2001) and its accompanying Rivers of Joy Tour, the group consulted work by frequent collaborators Thorsten Brötzmann, Peter Ries, and Leslie Mándoki as well as international songwriters and producers such as Anders Bagge, Figge Boström, Dennis Dowlut, Mousse T., Pontus Söderqvist, and Quiz & Larossi, while taking a wider role in contributing own lyrics and melodies to the album.
Harry Crews was an American, short-lived no wave-influenced hardcore punk and crossover thrash supergroup, made up of Lydia Lunch (guitar), Kim Gordon (bass), and Sadie Mae (drums). The band was only musically active in 1988, and only officially produced and released one album, Naked in Garden Hills. The album was released in 1989 and was a compilation of live recordings played at clubs in London, England, and Austria. Shortly after the release of the album the band split up, due to their involvement in other bands and projects. The band's name was taken after the author of the same name, hence the album's title being taken from a novel by Crews. The majority of the songs were also named after Crews' various novels. They also covered "(She's in A) Bad Mood", and "Orphans"
Songs for the Exhausted is the fourth full-length studio album by Austrian indie-band Naked Lunch. It was received with critical praise in Germany and Austria and sold surprisingly well. It was the band's first album after a five year-hiatus, following the flopping of Love Junkies, which caused them being dropped by their record label. Recorded in the wake of this backslashing event, most of the songs are dominated by a sad, bleak tone. Also, one of the songs, "King George" was written about the death of the group ex-bass player, Georg Timber-Trattnig.
Cause & Effect was an American electronic/synthpop band from Sacramento, California.
The Lovebugs are a Swiss rock band from Basel, Switzerland founded in 1992. They are one of Switzerland's most successful bands with three number one albums in the Swiss charts.
Weekender Records was an Artist Management Company and an independent record label, based in London, England, it also had a sister company based in Berlin Germany. The company closed in March 2010.
The Naked and Famous are a New Zealand indie electronic band from Auckland, formed in 2007. The band currently consists of Alisa Xayalith, and Thom Powers.
Atom Smash is a Miami, Florida-based hard rock band consisting of Serg Gabriel Sanchez (vocals), Mark "Taco" Annino (drums), Luke "Cowboy" Rice and "Crazy" Dave Carrey (Bass) Formerly signed to Jive Records.
Tommy Henriksen is an American musician from Port Jefferson, New York, best known for his work as a guitarist, bassist and songwriter with Alice Cooper, Hollywood Vampires and German metal band Warlock. He has also fronted punk rockers P.O.L. and released several albums as a solo artist. In addition, Henriksen is a songwriter, arranger, producer and mixer who has worked with artists such as Lady Gaga, Meat Loaf, Lou Reed, Halestorm, Kesha, and Daughtry. Henriksen is currently based out of Zurich, Switzerland where he lives with his family.
The Canadian alternative rock band Barenaked Ladies released five demo tapes before being signed to Reprise Records.
"Hearts Like Ours" is the first single from In Rolling Waves, the second studio album from New Zealand post-punk revival band The Naked and Famous. The song, which is also the sixth single from the ensemble, premiered 23 July 2013 on BBC Radio 1 as Zane Lowe’s “Hottest Record in the World Today”. The video was released on YouTube on 29 July 2013.
Naked Lunch are an English band formed in 1979, by Tony Mayo who advertised for like-minded people in the Melody Maker. Mick Clarke replied and they then moved into a flat to work on further material. In preparation to play live further members were advertised for and Tim Yorke, Paul Nicholas Davies and Cliff Chapman joined and then, in 1981, by Mark Irving who replaced Yorke.
Thomas Woschitz is an Austrian film director, screenwriter and film editor.
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.
