The Gufs

Infobox musical artist
Name = The Gufs

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Img_capt = The Gufs in concert
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Origin = Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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Genre = pop/rock
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Years_active = 1988-1999, 2006-present
Label = Red Submarine Records, Atlantic Records
Associated_acts = Goran Kralj
URL = http://www.thegufs.com/
Current_members = Goran Kralj, Dejan Kralj, Morgan Dawley, and Scott Schwebel
Past_members = Tony Luna, Brian Pettit
Notable_instruments =

The Gufs is a pop rock band from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The band's latest album "A Different Sea" was released on October 17, 2006. Their first single from the album is "Beautiful Disaster" [http://www.ink19.com/issues/november2006/musicReviews/musicG/gufs.html www.ink19.com review of "A Different Sea"] ] , which was the #2 unsigned artist download in October 2006 at the website www.purevolume.com. [ [http://www.purevolume.com/thegufs The Gufs at Purevolume.com] ]

The Gufs are best known for their songs "Smile" and "Crash (into me)". [http://www.wdtimes.com/articles/2006/04/26/news/news2.txt Riverfest this year: Better Than Ezra] from Watertown Daily Times] [http://onmilwaukee.com/music/articles/gufsreturn.html The Gufs return to Milwaukee at www.onmilwaukee.com] ]

To celebrate their twentieth anniversary in 2008, The Gufs played a series of four free concerts with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra in June. [http://www.thegufs.com/tour.htm The Gufs tour page] ]

History

The Gufs began as an eastside Milwaukee band in 1988, with University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee students Goran Kralj and Scott Schwebel. Kralj and Schwebel, roommates and teammates on UWM's soccer team, recruited Kralj's younger brother, Dejan Kralj (still in high school in Northwestern Indiana), and high school friend Tony Luna, to round-off the quartet on bass and lead guitar. The band took their name from a place where a baby's soul comes from before the child is born, a phrase used in the Demi Moore film "The Seventh Sign". After a few years of playing local eastside Milwaukee bars, the band lineup changed, as Luna left in 1990 to pursue a career in sound engineering, opening the way for Marquette University student and Milwaukee native Morgan Dawley to fill the vacancy. [ [http://www.marquettetribune.org/media/storage/paper1130/news/2006/09/28/Marquee/Milwaukees.Best-2439423.shtml?norewrite200612100028&sourcedomain=www.marquettetribune.org Milwaukee's Best at www.marquettetribune.com] ] The band soon gained momentum, performing more frequently throughout Milwaukee. The band also featured percussionist Brian Pettit on all of their albums up to their Atlantic Records Release of "The Gufs." After the album release and tour, Brian left the band to pursue other interests.

The band took second place at a battle of the bands at Marquette University in 1991. [ [http://www.marquettetribune.org/media/storage/paper1130/news/2006/09/28/Marquee/Milwaukees.Best-2439423-page2.shtml Milwaukee's Best at www.marquettetribune.com (page 2)] ]

The band released several independent label records and gained increasing exposure nationwide on college radio before being signed by Atlantic Records. The Gufs' tour with Matchbox Twenty resulted in Rob Thomas singing backup on the song "Give Back Yourself" on their "Holiday from You" album. [ [http://onmilwaukee.com/music/articles/guftalk06.html?page=1 Milwaukee Talks: The Gufs] from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel] The Gufs often play Summerfest. [ [http://onmilwaukee.com/music/soundcheck/articles/gufsfest06.html Gufs rock the rained-on faithful at www.onmilwaukee.com] ]

Members

*Goran Kralj - Lead singer
*Dejan Kralj - bass guitar
*Morgan Dawley - lead guitar and backup vocals
*Scott Schwebel - drums

Discography

Albums

*"A Different Sea" (2006) - Red Submarine Records. The album features string arrangements from the Milwaukee Symphony. [ [http://www.madison.com/archives/read.php?ref=/wsj/2006/10/05/0610040281.php After A 7-year Hiatus, The Gufs Are Back] from the Wisconsin State Journal] [http://melodic.net/latestReviews.asp#5379 Review] [ [http://melodic.net/latestReviews.asp#5379 Review of "A Different Sea"] by Johan Wippsson; melodic.net; Retrieved January 21 2007]

*"Holiday from You" (1999) - Atlantic Records (produced by Arnold Lanni) - The album peaked at #33 on the Billboard magazine Top Heatseekers chart. [ [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:cl2ibkh9hakx~T5 The Gufs album chart success at allmusic.com] ] "Holiday From You" was re-released on Red Submarine Records, with some alternate tracks and revamped artwork, in 2006.

*"Collide Sessions" (1997) - Red Submarine Records/Don't Records

*"The Gufs" (1996) - Atlantic Records [ [http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/gufs/albums.jhtml Albums at VH1.com] ] - This album is comprised mainly of material first released on "Collide".

*"Collide" (1995) - Red Submarine Records

*"Circa 89" (1993) - Red Submarine Records

*"Songs of Life" (1992) - Red Submarine Records

*"Staring into the Sun" (1990) - Red Submarine Records

ingles

"Smile" was included on the compilation CDs "Sounds of the Leisure Class Records: Midwest Collection" [ [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:rg0e4j673wav www.allmusic.com] ] and "WIIL Rock 95.1 Live" [ [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:uk9as34qa3pg www.allmusic.com] ] . "Smile" was also remixed into a techno trance song at one point in the late 90s, and recorded acoustic. "Give back yourself" was included on the compilation CD "Aware Compilation, Vol. 7" [ [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:sn6htr7ekl6x www.allmusic.com] ]

References

* [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:4dzsa9tgy230~T2 www.allmusic.com list of albums (caution:several release dates reflect major label re-release dates)]

External links

* [http://www.thegufs.com/ Official Website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/thegufs Band's Myspace]
* [http://www.goranmusic.com/ Goran's Official Website]
* [http://thegufs.tripod.com/ Fan Site]
* [http://www.rhapsody.com/thegufs Artist page at rhapsody.com]