Janne Stark

Infobox musical artist |
Name = Janne Stark


Img_capt =
Img_size = 170
Background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
Born = 1963
Origin = Sweden
Instrument = Guitar
Genre = Hard rock, heavy metal
Years_active = 1979–present
Associated_acts = Overdrive, Locomotive Breath, Baltimoore, Paradize

Janne Stark (born 1963 in Karlshamn, Sweden) is a Swedish guitarist, writer and author.

Biography

Stark recorded his first 7" single with the band Paradize in 1979, then formed the band Overdrive in 1980. He released the 12" MLP "Reflexions" in 1981, after which the band was signed by Planet Records and released the albums "Metal Attack" (1983) and "Swords And Axes" (1984). The band split in 1985 and Stark formed Overheat together with former Overdrive-singer Pelle Thuresson on bass. The band only lasted a few years and made no official recording.

In 1991 Stark participated in the national guitar competition Guitar Battle, where he went to the finals two years in a row, earning him tracks on the CD compilation "Guitar Heroes Of Sweden".

In 1995 Stark formed the band Locomotive Breath. The band released its debut album "Train Of Events" in 1997 and 1998. The follow-up "Heavy Machinery" was released in 2002 and the band's third album "Change Of Track" was released in October 2005. This album featured Marcel Jacob (Talisman, Yngwie Malmsteen) on bass.

In 1996 Stark released his first book, "The Encyclopedia Of Swedish Hard Rock And Heavy Metal 1970-1996", a 400 page encyclopedia featuring more than one thousand Swedish recording bands. In 2002 his second effort "Volume 2" was released. Both books released by Premium Publishing. A third book is in the writing process, but is not due until 2008.

Besides playing guitar in his ordinary bands, Stark has also made guest appearances on recordings by many bands, including Narnia, Blinded Colony, Faith, VII Gates, Chris Catena, Rod Chappell Band, Audiovision, From Behind (featuring former Samson-singer Nicky Moore), Zello etc.

He is also responsible for layout and/or artwork for albums by his own bands, as well as Zello, Neon Rose, Zeelion, Axia, RAW, Have Mercy and others.

In December 2006 Janne was part of the one-off Sweden Rock All Star Band which also featured Udo Dirkschneider, Ian Haugland, Ryan Roxie, Oscar Dronjac etc.

In 2007 Stark released the debut by his new solo project Mountain Of Power on Grooveyard Records, dedicated to his influences from the seventies, such as Derringer, Moxy, Stray Dog, Captain Beyond and Budgie, featuring guests like Dan Swanö, Björn Lodin, Thomas Larsson, Anders Johansson, Chris Catena, Jonas Hansson, David Fremberg, Micke "Nord" Andersson and Mike Andersson.

Further more an album with his collaboration with singer Chris Catena, christened Teenage Rampage, will release their debut in 2008. Also the resurrected Overdrive released the new album "Let The Metal Do The Talking" on Lion Music in January 2008.

In 2007 Janne joined forces with Björn Lodin and Micke "Nord" Andersson in a completely new band called incarnation of BALLS. The bands debut album "Chameleon" will be released October 10, 2008. He also contributed with guest solos on releases by Thalamus, M.O.B, Alyson Avenue and Tower Of Stone.

In August 2008 "The Encyclopedia of Swedish Punk" was published by Premium Publishing, written by Peter Jandreus, but where Janne is credited for layout, additional text and research. In med 2008 Janne started working on his own third encyclopedia of Swedish hard rock, due to be released late 2009 (Premium Publishing).

Equipment

Guitars
Gibson Les Paul Studio - with True Temperament neck
Epiphone Strat - with True Temperament neck
Gibson Explorer 76 Reissue
Fender Stratocaster HW1
ESP Eclipse
Fender Stratocaster HW1
Eugen Strat (custom built)

Amps
Hughes & Kettner Trilogy + 4x12" cab
Hughes & Kettner WARP 7
Orange Tiny Terror

Accessories
Ibanez Tube Screamer TS9
Dunlop Cry Baby
Keeley Compressor
Boss Octaver
Ibanez Chorus
Boss Delay
Boss Acoustic Simulator
POD XT

Releases featuring Stark

"Paradise"- "Caress of Steel" (7", 1980)
"Overdrive"- "Reflexions" (MLP, 1981)
"Overdrive" - "Rockslaget" (3LP comp, 1982)
"Overdrive"- "Metal Attack" (LP, 1983)
"Overdrive"- "Swords And Axes" (LP, 1984)
"Janne Stark" - "Guitar Heroes Of Sweden Vol 1" (CD, 1991)
"Janne Stark" - "Guitar Heroes Of Sweden Vol 2" (CD, 1992)
"Paradize" - "Swedish Metal Explosion" (CD, bootleg, 199?)
"Overdrive" - "Swedish Hard Rock & Heavy Metal" (3CD, 1996)
"Locomotive Breath" - "Swedish Hard Rock & Heavy Metal" (CD comp, 1996)
"Overdrive" - "Swedish Hard Rock & Heavy Metal" (3CD comp, 1996)
"Locomotive Breath"- "Train Of Events" (CD, 1997 Eu, 1998 Jap)
"Locomotive Breath" - "Released By X-mas" (CD comp, 1998)
"Locomotive Breath" - "Thousand Days Of Yesterdays - Captain Beyond tribute" (CD comp, 1999)
"Overdrive"- "Metal Attack" (CD re-issue, 1996)
"Overdrive"- "Swords And Axes" (CD re-issue, 1996)
"Narnia"- "Awakening" (CD, 1997) - guest
"Locomotive Breath" - "Power From The North" (CD comp, 2000)
"Overdrive"- "Overdrive" (7" Pic disc, 2001)
"Locomotive Breath"- "The Spirit Of The Black Rose - Phil Lynott tribute" (2CD comp, 2001)
"Overdrive"- "Mission Of Destruction - Live" (CD, 2001)
"Locomotive Breath"- "Heavy Machinery" (CD, 2002)
"Locomotive Breath"- "Train Of New Events" (CD, 2003)
"Spearfish"- "Back For The Future" (CD, 2003) - guest
"VII Gates"- "Fire, Walk With Me" (CD, 2003) - guest
"Locomotive Breath"- "Raisin' Hell In Blekinge" (CD comp, 2003)
"Faith"- "Salvation Lies Within" (LP, 2003) - guest
"Blinded Colony"- "Divine" (CD, 2004) - guest
"Locomotive Breath" - "The Sweet According To Sweden" (CD comp, 2004)
"Zello"- "First Chapter, Second Verse" (CD, 2004)
"Audiovisions"- "The Calling" (CD 2005) - guest
"Locomotive Breath"- "Change Of Track" (CD, 2005)
"Overdrive"- "Resurrected" (MCD, 2006)
"Planet Alliance"- s/t (CD, 2006)
"Mountain Of Power"- s/t (CD, 2006)
"Tower Of Stone"- "Painting Tomorrow" (CD demo, 2007) - guest
"Teenage Rampage"- "Too fast for love - A millennium tribute to Mötley Crüe" (CD comp, 2007)
"The Kaars"- "Göra Maul Kaaa" (CDS, 2007)
"John Garner's Sir Lord Baltimore" - "Sweden Rock Festival 2007" (CD comp, 2007)
"Overdrive"- "Sweden Rock Festival 2007" (CD comp, 2007)
"Chris Catena"- "Booze, Brawds and rockin' hard" (CD, 2007) - guest
"Mörrum's Own"- "Mörrum Ka" (MCD, 2007)
"Chris Catena"- "Discovery" (CD, 2008) - guest, composer
"Overdrive"- "Let The Metal Do The Talking" (CD, 2008)
"Teenage Rampage"- "Rough 'N Ready" (CD, TBR)
"Teenage Rampage" - "Lick It Up: A Millennium Tribute to Kiss" (comp 2008)
"Thalamus"- "Beneath A Dying Sun" (CD, 2007) - guest
"M.O.B"- "The Greatest Enemy" (CD, 2008) - guest
"Pavic"- "Unconditioned" (CD, 2008) - lyrics
"BALLS"- "Chameleon" (CD, 2008)

References

* "Rockdetector" [http://www.rockdetector.com/quicksearch.do;jsessionid=166F1D1455C01756114CF798364D1D0E?q=janne+stark&type=lineup&x=11&y=2 Rockdetector]
* "Get Ready To Rock Interview" (http://www.getreadytorock.com/10questions/janne_stark.htm)
* "All Out Guitar interview" [http://www.alloutguitar.com/interview/elevenses/the_shredding_author_janne_stark]
* "Tartarean Desire" [http://www.tartareandesire.com/people/Janne_Stark/63242/]
* "All Experts" [http://en.allexperts.com/e/j/ja/janne_stark.htm]
* "Brave Words" [http://www.bravewords.com/news/61062]