Freak of Nature (band)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Freak of Nature


Img_capt =
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Background = group_or_band
Origin =
Genre = Hard rock
Years_active = 1991 – 1994
Label = Music for Nations, Ulftone Records
URL =
Current_members =
Past_members = Mike Tramp Dennis Chick Kenny Korade Jerry Best Johnny Haro Oliver Steffensen Marcus Nand

Freak of Nature was a band put together in 1991 lead by ex-White Lion singer Mike Tramp. Freak of Nature was significantly darker and harder than White Lion, especially on their second album. Mike Tramp has called the Freak of Nature years the happiest of his career.

Band history

Gathering the freaks

Mike Tramp and long-time friend Oliver Steffensen met up in September 1991, just days after White Lion played their last gig. The pair spent weeks in Tramp's house in Santa Monica, CA, writing material pretty much around the clock, resulting in six songs, three of which later ended up on the debut album. Ex-Lion bassist Jerry Best joined them shortly after, as did ex-Strike Twice guitarist Kenny Korade. The band used programmed drums up until drummer Johnny Haro joined and the Freaks were gathered. After six months of extensive rehearsals, Tramp and Steffensen had an argument making Steffensen leave the band and return to their fellow native Denmark. Ex-House of Lords guitarist Dennis Chick was brought in to replace Steffensen.

The rise and fall

In November 1992 the band entered [http://www.plantstudios.com/ The Plant Studios] in Sausalito, CA to record their debut album. In 1993 Freak of Nature found themselves on the road for no less than eight months, including gigs at the Roskilde Festival on July 2, and support slots for Helloween in September and Dio in November. Early 1994, Kenny Korade said he wanted to leave the band and both Jerry Best and Johnny Haro said they were thinking of quitting as well. Tramp managed to talk Best and Haro into staying with the band, but Korade would only agree to stay through the recording on the band's second album "Gathering of Freaks". Shortly after the recording process at Rumbo Recorder, Canoga Park, CA and Clear Lake Audio, North Hollywood, CA, Korade was replaced by Marcus Nand. Even though Nand did a fine job, all parties agreed it wasn't just the same without Kenny, making the band decide to cut the tour in support of the album short. A few weeks later, at a band meeting, the members agreed to end the Freak of Nature saga.

Post-Split activities

Mike Tramp has since the Freak of Nature days moved to Australia and released five solo albums, sporting a more AOR oriented style. He has also made numerous attempts to kick some life into White Lion (including Tramp's White Lion and White Lion II), always running into trouble along the way. The last attempt was made in 2007, when Mike got a band together for an album due for release this fall and a summer tour with Poison and Ratt, only to be dropped by the tour promoter after ex-White Lion guitarist Vito Bratta threatened to take legal action over the band name.

Kenny Korade returned to play on Mike Tramp's solo album "Capricorn" in 1997. Kenny formed a band called Zero G which at one point also included both Jerry Best and Johnny Haro. Zero G was put to sleep not making it past the "project phase" and Kenny joined Courtney Love's touring band instead.

Jerry Best landed a bass player slot for Dio between August 1995 and May 1996, taking part in recording sessions and a South American tour. Jerry was brought in to play on Mike Tramp's solo album "Capricorn" and the tour that followed. He too was part of Courtney Love's band for a couple of years, co-writing seven of the twelve songs on "America's Sweetheart". He also played on White Lion US tour in July 2007.

Johnny Haro was in the band Star 69 1996-1997, playing on their last album "Eating February". He went on to a brief stint in Stabbing Westward, filling in for their drummer on tour in 1998. A couple of months later, Johnny joined Econoline Crush, where he stayed until the band's break-up in 2001. In 2002, he teamed up with ex-Stabbing Westward singer Christopher Hall and formed The Dreaming. The band's song "Beautiful" was featured on the soundtrack for the movie Elektra. The Dreaming are currently touring the US, with focus on the East Coast, in the Locobazooka 2008 tour in support of their debut album, "Etched In Blood." Their debut album was released on January 31st, 2008.

Oliver Steffensen formed the band Spacehead and released an album. Later an album called "Brothers For Life" was released under the moniker Mike & Oliver, containing material Steffensen and Tramp did together before Freak of Nature. Oliver also was part of Mike Tramp's album "Recovering the Wasted Years" and played with Mike Tramp during European Tour in 2003.

Dennis Chick runs a custom motorcycle shop in Los Angeles, CA.

Marcus Nand moved back to Malaga, Spain, where he grew up. He later returned to Los Angeles where he worked both solo and with a number of singers and musicians.

Discography

=Freak of Nature=

Catalogue number: MFN146Produced Freak of Nature and Phil Kaffel.
# "Turn the Other Way"
# "What Am I"
# "Rescue Me"
# "'92"
# "People"
# "World Doesn't Mind"
# "Possessed"
# "Where Can I Go"
# "If I Leave"
# "Love Was Here"

Gathering of Freaks

Catalogue number: MFN169Produced by Phil Kaffel.
# "The Gathering"
# "Enemy"
# "Stand Back"
# "Raping the Cradle"
# "Big Black Hole"
# "The Tree"
# "Candle"
# "Need"
# "Open Space"
# "Get It Yourself"
# "Powerless"
# "The Parting"

=Rescue Me (European single)=

Catalogue number: KUT153
# "Rescue Me"
# "Are You Ready"
# "Turn the Other Way" (acoustic)
# "What Am I" (acoustic)

Rescue Me (Japan EP)

Catalogue number: VICP2091
# "Rescue Me"
# "What Am I" (acoustic)
# "Turn the Other Way" (acoustic)
# "Wartime"
# "Can't Find My Way"

=Outcasts=

Released through Ulftone Records 1998This is a compilation of demos and outtakes.
# "Blame It on the Fool ("live in the studio", featuring Oliver Steffensen, recorded by Michael Wagener)
# "One Love" ("live in the studio", featuring Oliver Steffensen, recorded by Michael Wagener)
# "Where You Belong" ("live in the studio", featuring Oliver Steffensen, recorded by Michael Wagener)
# "Wartime" (from the Freak of Nature sessions)
# "Dead and Gone" (from the Gathering of Freaks sessions)
# "What Am I" (acoustic)
# "I Regret"(from the Gathering of Freaks sessions)
# "Can't Find My Way" (from the Freak of Nature sessions)
# "If" (from the Gathering of Freaks sessions)
# "Turn the Other Way" (acoustic)
# "Are You Ready"("live in the studio", featuring Oliver Steffensen, recorded by Michael Wagener)
# "Possessed" ("live in the studio", featuring Oliver Steffensen, recorded by Michael Wagener)
# "Disturbing the Peace" ("live in the studio", featuring Oliver Steffensen, recorded by Michael Wagener)

Freakthology box set

Limited edition box set featuring all three albumsReleased 2003 through Ulftone Records

Live in Japan 1993 DVD

Released 2004 through Staria Music
# "Turn the Other Way"
# "People"
# "World Doesn't Mind"
# "Rescue Me"
# "Possessed"
# "Are You Ready"
# "'92"
# "What Am I"
# "If I Leave"
# "Bad Reputation"
# "What Am I"
# "Love Was Here"
# "What Am I *"
# "If I leave *"
# "Ohio*"

* *Bonus footage : Freak of Nature unplugged in France (1993)

References