- Ralph Myerz and the Jack Herren Band
Ralph Myerz and the Jack Herren Band is a Norwegian
electronica group. The band was formed in1997 whenErlend Sellevold asked for people to play percussion with him during a party inBergen, Norway .Thomas Lønnheim andTarjei Strøm showed up through a combination of mutual contacts and high-school friendship. Supposedly a one-time-event, they had so much fun playing together that they decided to form a band, and Ralph Myerz & The Jack Herren Band was formed. After releasing a 7" and a 12" on the Norwegianrecord label Tellé Records . Those limited releases were followed by some attention from magazines and dj's around Europe, includingDimitri from Paris who included the track "Nikita" on one of his Playboy Mansion CD-compilations. In2002 they were signed by the US labelEmperor Norton Records , and they released their EP, "A Special EP". The album "A Special Album" followed one year later. It included the tracks "Casino" and "Think Twice", which both became hits in clubs across Europe, and commercial hits in Norway. During their touring promoting this album, the band was joined by guitarist Mads Berven on their live shows.2004 saw them open theGlastonbury Festival 's Pyramid Stage.In
2005 the album "Your New Best Friends" followed, to great reviews in Europe. Magazines such as Mixmag, Djmag and Sunday Times praised the new album as "Downtempo Heaven".Their live shows have gained a massive reputation both in Norway and in the rest of Europe combining various percussion instruments and pyrotechnics. The band members have stated in many interviews that they are fans of the rock group KISS, and that this has influenced their live shows. The name of the band is taken from the B-film director
Russ Meyer , Jack Herren being a fictional camera operator.In August 2005 their Single "Think Twice" appeared on the
Hôtel Costes, Vol. 8 compilation. "Think Twice" was also featured in the movie "The Girl Next Door".In June 2006, the single "Kill the DJ" was released. The album "Sharp Knives & Loaded Guns" was released in September 2006.
In 2008 the song 'The Teacher' featured on the GTA IV in-game radio soundtrack.
Discography
*"
A Special EP " (2002)
*"A Special Album (2003)
*"Your New Best Friends " (2005)
*"Sharp Knives & Loaded Guns " (2006)External links
* [http://www.emperornorton.com/mod/artistpage.php3?artist=ralph_myerz Emperor Norton's page on the artist]
* [http://www.ralphmyerz.net/ Official web site]
* [http://www.velvetpanda.com/user/details/17 Ralph Myerz on Velvetpanda]
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