Clawfinger

Clawfinger
From left to right: André Skaug, Zak Tell, Micke Dahlénn, Jocke Skog and Bård Torstensen.
Background information
Origin	Stockholm, Sweden
Genres	Rap metal[1]
Years active	1989–present
Labels	Nuclear Blast, WEA/WMG
Associated acts	Emigrate, Just D
Website	clawfinger.net
Members
Zak Tell Jocke Skog Bård Torstensen André Skaug Micke Dahlén
Past members
Henka Johansson Erlend Ottem Morten Skaug Ottar Vigerstøl

Clawfinger is a rap metal^[1] band from Sweden and was one of the earliest bands to adopt this sound. Clawfinger is known for aggressive but melodic music and tackling political and anti-racist themes in their songs.

Band history

The band's origin dates back to the summer of 1989 when Zak Tell and Jocke Skog met while working together at the Rosegrove Hospital somewhere in the vicinity of Stockholm. In 1990 they were joined by the Norwegian guitarists Bård Torstensen and Erlend Ottem who were also working at the same hospital. Soon the four realized their similar interests in music. Bård and Erlend previously played in a band called Theo in their hometown Arendal back in Norway. Their free time was invested in exploring the musical world, composing and writing songs while evolving into a band.

Their original demo comprising three tracks (Waste of Time, Nigger and Profit Preacher) quickly secured them local radio airplay and consequently brought them to the attention of the MVG label. "Nigger" is an anti-racism statement that caused quite a stir and was a massive success; it was also released as a single. By the beginning of the 1990s, Clawfinger self-released their debut Deaf Dumb Blind. This sold in over 600,000 copies worldwide and was critically acclaimed in Swedish press. With the addition of André Skaug and drummer Morten Skaug, Clawfinger went on tour and played at countless European festivals including major support slots with Anthrax and Alice in Chains.

The band received many awards, including two home Grammies at the Swedish Grammy Awards in 1994 for best hard rock band and best music video. After touring, they went straight back in the studio to record their second album, Use Your Brain. After the release of this album they went on yet another touring campaign, most notably participating at Ozzy Osbourne's Monsters of Rock Festival in Brazil and Chile, rocking alongside American metal counterparts like Megadeth, Faith No More, and Alice Cooper. Back in Europe they continued their touring campaign by participating at festivals and countless gigs.

Their self-titled album Clawfinger was released in 1997. The first song on the album is Two Sides, which expanded the band's reach by using female choir vocals and a Middle Eastern sound. The rest of the album continues with the band's typical aggressive voice and socio-political lyrics.

Clawfinger contains 12 songs with an additional 3 bonus tracks on the limited edition. They released three singles and two videos (Biggest & the Best and Two Sides).

A Whole Lot of Nothing was the fourth album released on 23 July 2001. The music showcases the same aggressive guitars, with more distortion effects and sounds, adding a whole new level of diversification. As for the synthesizers, on this particular album they're more present than on any other of Clawfinger's works.

A Whole Lot of Nothing contains 13 tracks and 2 bonus tracks on the limited edition. Clawfinger also released four singles, two of which are limited editions.

Zeros & Heroes was released in 2003 and it caused controversy in America because the song Step Aside did not sit well with most American audiences due to the fact it slams George W. Bush and the post 9/11 (and not only) military politics of the US. It offers yet another style change for the ears of the listener. The electronic sound and synthesizers from A Whole Lot of Nothing are gone and replaced by a more complex and melodic guitar riffing.

Hate Yourself With Style was released in 2005. The album continued the path entered on Zeros & Heroes and is characterized by hardrock style melodic speedy guitar riffs. The keyboards which particularly characterized A Whole Lot of Nothing have completely disappeared.

Unlike the previous albums, where the limited edition featured two or more bonus-tracks, the limited edition of this album features a DVD with live footage from the Greenfield festival and videoclips of all singles up to Clawfinger's third album.

Life Will Kill You was released in 2007. It has spawned three singles: Prisoners, The Price We Pay, and Little Baby.

Clawfinger are currently working on a re-recording of their debut album Deaf Dumb Blind.^[2] The plan is to re-record all the songs from that album and bring in guests. Zak Tell has stated they were speaking with the members of Rammstein and Peter Tagtgren from the bands Pain and Hypocrisy.^[3]

In 2008 and 2009 the band played at the biggest open-air festival in Europe (400.000 - 500.000 rock fans every year) - Przystanek Woodstock^[4] in Poland

Members

Current members

• Zak Tell - Lead vocals, lyrics (1989–present)
• Jocke Skog - Keyboards, vocals (1989–present)
• Bård Torstensen - Rhythm guitar (1989–present)
• André Skaug - Bass (1992–present)
• Micke Dahlén - Drums (2008–present)

Former members

• Henka Johansson - Drums (1997–2008)
• Erlend Ottem - Lead-guitar (1989–2003)
• Morten Skaug - Drums (1992–1994)
• Ottar Vigerstøl - Drums (1994–1997)

Discography

Studio albums

• Deaf Dumb Blind - (1993)
• Use Your Brain - (1995)
• Clawfinger - (1997)
• A Whole Lot of Nothing - (2001)
• Zeros & Heroes - (2003)
• The Biggest and the Best of - (2005) (Compilation)
• Hate Yourself with Style - (2005)
• Life Will Kill You - (2007)
• Deafer Dumber Blinder - (TBA) (Re-recording of Deaf Dumb Blind)

Singles

From Deaf Dumb Blind

• "Rosegrove" (Scandinavia only) (1993)
• "Nigger v1" (Scandinavia only) (1993)
• "Nigger v2" (1993)
• "The Truth" (1993)
• "Warfair" (1993)
• "Warfair" Remixes (1993)

From Use Your Brain

• "Pin Me Down 1" (1995)
• "Pin Me Down 2" (1995)
• "Do What I Say" (1995)
• "Tomorrow" (1996)

From Clawfinger

• "Biggest & the Best" (1997)
• "Two Sides" (1997)
• "Don't Wake Me Up" (1998)
• "Two Sides" (1999)

From A Whole Lot of Nothing

• "Out to Get Me" (2001)
• "Out to Get Me" - Limited Edition 1 (2001)
• "Out to Get Me" - Limited Edition 2 (2001)
• "Nothing Going On" (2001)

From Zeros & Heroes

• "Recipe for Hate" (2003)
• Bitch (2003) (Promo-CDS)

From Hate Yourself With Style

• "Dirty Lies" (2005) (Promo-CDS)
• "Without a Case" (2005) (Video single)

From Life Will Kill You

• "The Price We Pay" (2007) (Video single)
• "Prisoners" (2007) (Video single)

Videos

Most of these videos can be downloaded from the Official Clawfinger Pages. All the video clips from 1993-1997 can be found on the "Hate Yourself With Style" Bonus DVD.

• Nigger v1 (1993?)
• Nigger v2 (1993)
• The Truth (1993)
• Warfair (1993)
• Pin Me Down (1995)
• Do What I Say (1995)
• Tomorrow (1996)
• Biggest & the Best (1997)
• Two Sides (1997)
• Out to Get Me (2001)
• Nothing Going On (2001)
• Recipe for Hate (2003)
• Recipe for Hate (2003) (Edit by Jocke Skog)
• Grumpy Old Men On A Mission (2005) (web released documentary on the making of Hate Yourself With Style) 46.55min
• Dirty Lies (2005)
• Hate Yourself With Style (2005) (web-only video by Bard Torstensen)
• Without a Case (2005)
• The Price We Pay (2007)
• Prisoners (2007)

Live recordings

• KB Hallen, Copenhagen, October 7, 1993, bootleg video recording
• Roskilde Festival, Roskilde, June 1, 1994, bootleg audio recording, released as Don't Get Me Wrong bootleg CD
• Chalmers Rock, Göteborg April 29, 1994, "Pin Me Down" was released on the Do What I Say single
• Bizarre Festival, Cologne, August 19, 1995, broadcast on TV (WDR Rockpalast)
• Bizarre Festival, Weeze, August 20, 2000, broadcast on TV (WDR Rockpalast)
• WDR Rockpalast, Philipshalle, Düsseldorf, April 15, 2001, broadcast on TV (WDR Rockpalast)
• Kick, Herford, July 2, 2001, broadcast on TV (VIVA Overdrive). "Nigger" was released on the Nothing Going On single
• Rock Am Ring, Nürburgring, June 7, 2003, broadcast on TV (WDR Rockpalast)
• Abart Club, Zürich, June 18, 2003, web-released videoclip "Rosegrove" + "Nigger"
• Budapest A38, Budapest, May 15, 2004, web-released audiotrack "Bitch"
• Tufertschwil Open Air, Tufertschwil, August 21, 2004, web-released videoclip "World Domination" (Edit)
• Aerodrome Festival, Wiener Neustadt, May 26, 2005, 5 web-released videoclips
• Greenfield Festival, Interlaken, June 25, 2005, video released on the Hate Yourself With Style Bonus DVD
• Berlin Columbiahalle, Berlin, October 17, 2007, video recording in production
• Przystanek Woodstock, Kostrzyn nad Odrą, Poland, August 2, 2009, bootleg video recording.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Clawfinger - Biography". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p201508/biography. Retrieved 2008-12-18. 
2. ^ http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.Net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=129254
3. ^ http://www.radiotangra.com/?page=int&lng=en&id=206
4. ^ http://www.en.wosp.org.pl/woodstock/

External links

• The Official Clawfinger pages (in English)
• The Belgian Clawfinger pages (in English)
• Clawfinger discography at MusicBrainz
• Official MySpace