Sort Sol

Infobox musical artist 2
Name = Sort Sol


Img_capt = From left to right: Steen Jørgensen, Knud Odde, Peter Peter Schneiderman, Lars Top-Galia and Thomas Ortved
Background = group_or_band
Border = white
Origin = Copenhagen, Denmark
Genre = Punk, Post punk, Rock
Years_active = 1977 - 2004 (indefinite hiatus)
Label = Universal Music
URL = [http://www.sortsol.dk www.sortsol.dk]
Current_members = Steen Jørgensen vocals (1977-)
Peter Schneidenman guitars (1977-1995)
Tomas Ortved drums (1977-)
Knud Odde bass (1977-2001)
Lars Top-Galia guitar (1985-2004)

Sort Sol is a pioneer rock band from Copenhagen, Denmark. The band was formed in 1977 as a punk rock outfit, originally under the name Sods. Despite a drastic changes in the group's line-up their current name, which translates to English as "black sun", has remained with them since the early 1980s. For reasons unknown, the Danish press often refers to their musical style as 'punk', though nearly everything they have put out since 1980 is more reminiscent of styles such as post punk, goth, and even industrial music.

Band history

Sods was formed in Copenhagen, 1977. The original lineup consisted of: Steen Jørgensen (vocal), Peter Peter Schneidermann (guitar), Knud Odde (bass guitar), Tomas Ortved (drums).The band released their first record "Minutes to go" February 1979 and it is considered the first Danish punk album. They went on to release "Under en sort sol" in 1980, a more experimental album, influenced in part by Joy Division, Pere Ubu and Television.

T. S. Høeg (sax) entered the group for a short while in late 1980. In 1981 the group released their first single under the name Sort Sol. The single "Marble Station" (b/w Misguided) is only released in England on the record label 4AD. In March 1981 the group played their first concert outside of Denmark. 1983 saw the release of the album "Dagger & Guitar", featuring punk idol Lydia Lunch. In 1985 Lars Top-Galia (guitar) joined the group, and the line-up stayed intact until 1996, when Peter Peter left due to disagreements within the band, partly owing to artistic differences.In 1988 they made the album "Everything That Rises Must Converge" which has been described as their artistic breakthrough. The album consists of 10 slowpaced tracks that rely heavily on the talented deep voice of Steen Jørgensen. In 1991 they made their first CD which was "Flow my Firetear". This was the first of their records reaching a broad audience.They reached their peak popularity three years later with "Glamourpuss" which by 2002 had sold 122.483 records in Denmark, more than all their previous records had sold. The Danish hit-movie "Nattevagten", used 3 tracks from "Glamourpuss" on the soundtrack, which contributed to the commercial breakthrough of Sort Sol in Denmark.

In 2004 Lars Top-Galia left the band and Sort Sols future in jeopardy. Tomas Ortved releases his solo debut Sun Pistol in 2008. All members are known from various musical or art project throughout the years, which can be found listed in Jan Poulsens biography of the band (see below)

Internationally renowned artists who have performed and/or recorded with the group include William S. Burroughs, Lydia Lunch, Link Wray, The Jordanaires, Sune Wagner and Sissel.

Discography

*"Minutes to go" - 1979 (re-released in England in 1980 by Step Forward)
*"Under en sort sol" - 1980
*"Dagger & Guitar" - 1983
*"Everything That Rises Must Converge" - 1987
*"Flow My Firetear" - 1991
*"Fog Things" - 1992
*"Glamourpuss" - 1994
*"Unspoiled Monsters" - 1996
*"Snakecharmer" - 2001
*"Circle Hits the Flame (Best Of)" - 2002

Biography

*Jan Poulsen (Aschehoug 2002): "Under en Sort Sol - Fra Pisserenden til Statens museum for kunst"

External sources

*http://www.dr.dk/musik/rock/artikel/sort_sol_profil.asp da icon
*http://sortsol.dk/