GNAGS

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Gnags


Img_capt = Gasolin' in the seventies. From left to right: Peter A.G. Nielsen, Jacob Riis-Olsen, Ivan Oehlenschaeg Sørensen, Mads Michelsen, Mika Vandborg and Bastian Sjelberg
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Origin = Skjern, Denmark
Genre = Rock
Years_active = 1966 - Present
Label = Genlyd
Associated_acts =
URL = www.gnags.dk
Current_members = Peter A.G. Nielsen, Jacob Riis-Olsen, Ivan Oehlenschaeg Sørensen, Mads Michelsen, Mika Vandborg and Bastian Sjelberg
Past_members = Per Christian Frost Jens G Nielsen Sven Fenger Henning Stærk

Gnags is a Danish rock band from Skjern formed by Peter A.G. Nielsen and his elder brother Jens G Nielsen in 1966 though the band did not start playing regularly till 1968 after winning the Danish national championship in "beat music". Their championship title paved the way for the band's first two singe recordings "Eyes and Ears" and "I can't talk about it now". Sven Fenger left the band in 1969/70 after which Gnags continues as a trio playing at a number of Danish festivals as well as in Amsterdam in Holland.

The band moved to Aarhus in 1971 and set themselves up in a commune. It was from Aarhus that they recorded their first album "Paa vej", which was released in 1973. As the band had financed the album out of own pocket, they sold the distribution rights to the record producer and musician Johnny Reimar. Struggling to find a record label Gnags created Genlyd Records in 1974 the same year as Per Christian Frost and the year after Ivan Oehlenschaeg Sørensen joined the band. With an extended band and their own record label Gnags released their second album in 1974 Del af en ring, which was an instant success.

Gnags created Feedback studios in 1975 from which most of their subsequent works have been recorded.

Gnags' sales and popularity rose steadily during the 1970s reaching national saturation in the 1980s with albums such as Intercity, Safari and X.

Gnags continue to play and tour after 40 years as a band. Though some members have left over time, the band has retained unbelievably stable membership over the years with only Per Christian Frost, Henning Stærk and Jens G Nielsen leaving in recent history. The latter allegedly due to long term illness.

Music style

Gnags' musical style is fairly unique. It is clearly rock and roll but stylistically it is dominated by Peter A.G. Nielsen's unmistakable voice. From 1981 - 1983 there was a strong influence from reggae music, which has its origins in their work with producer Jack Nuber. Gnags have recorded almost all their songs in the Danish language. Exceptions are three songs in English: Their 1st single ("Eyes and Ears" and "I can't talk about it now") and the last track on the 1982 album "Safari" ("American Boy"). As such it is reasonable to assume that they have never harboured ambitions for a musical career outside Denmark.Fact|date=July 2008

Gnags are energetic performers on stage and frequently referred to as one of the best live band in Danish rock history.Fact|date=July 2008

Trivia

It is unknown what the word Gnags means in any language but it is thought that it is a form of anagram of Peter A.G and Jens G Nielsen.Fact|date=July 2008

Discography

Albums

* "Gnags" (1973) UNKNOWN
* "Del af en ring" (1975) Genlyd
* "Det er det" (1976) Genlyd
* "La' det gro" (1977) Genlyd
* "Er du hjemme i aften?" (1978) Genlyd
* "Burhøns" (1979) Genlyd
* "Intercity" (1980) Genlyd
* "Live vol. 1" (1981 - live recording) Genlyd
* "Safari" (1982) Genlyd
* "X" (1983) Genlyd
* "Den blå hund" (1984) Genlyd
* "En underlig fisk" (1985) Genlyd
* "Plads til begejstring" (1986) Genlyd
* "Har de puttet noget i kaffen?" (1987) Genlyd
* "Under bøgen" (1988 - Compilation) Genlyd
* "Mr. Swing King" (1989) Genlyd
* "Lygtemandens sang" (1991) Genlyd
* "Live vol. 2" (1992 - Live recording) Genlyd
* "Øjne på stilke" (1994) Genlyd
* "Gösta Hammerfedt" (1996) Genlyd
* "Gnags Greatest" (1999 - Compilation) Genlyd
* "Ridser, Revner og Buler" (2000) Genlyd
* "Skønhedspletter" (2002) Genlyd
* "Skitsernes Drøm" (2003) Genlyd
* "Siden 66" (2005 - Compilation - Box set) Genlyd

References

* http://www.gnags.dk
* http://www.genlyd.dk
* http://www.feedback.dk