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The
Norwegian rock ’n’ roll legends Backstreet Girls are back!
Formed in Oslo in the mid eighties, the band immediately become
a huge success in the live-circuit, and just weeks after
releasing their self-financed debut album “Mental Shakedown”
they were snapped up by the PolyGram label Mercury who
immediately re-released the album.
The band
split with PolyGram after four albums. At the same tim, this was
1991, the band also parted with vocalist Bjørn Muller and found
a replacement in the Swede Olle Hillborg from Glorious
Bankrobbers. He lasted for just one album, and so did the band
on their new label Warner Bros. A live-album was released on a
small independent company, a new vocalist was recruited in
Englishman Pat Diamond. A new albuma was recorded, but as Pat
disappeared, God knows where, and Bjørn Muller re-joined the
band, this album has so far not seen the light of day. With
Muller back in the band, Backstreet Girls started working on a
totally new album, signed on FaceFront and released an inferno
of hard, catchy rock ‘n’ roll album entitled “Hellway To High”.
During late summer of 1999 the band entered the studio again,
this time to record a mini-album filled with Christmas songs –
some originals, some cover songs. The return of Backstreet Girls
resulted in Universal/Mercury released a best of album with the
band in December 2000.
In late 2000
the band entered the studio again to record their newest opus,
“Tuff, Tuff, Tuff”, which turned to be another ride in the wild
world of Backstreet Girls rock ‘n’ roll. A European tour with
Rose Tattoo followed, and some live-recordings from that tour
can be found on “Black Boogie Death Rock ‘N’ Roll”, along six
new studio tracks.
A raw and
powerful new studioalbum followed a year later, and “Sick My
Duck” is regarded as one of the bands finest moments. After
endless touring to support the album, the band started to work
on new material during the winter of 2006. “Shake Your
Stimulator” is a mixture of all the different sides of
Backstreet Girls – power, boogie and high octane rock ‘n’ roll.
Before the album was recorded, original drummer BeeTee Baarli
left the band and was late in the recording session replaced
with Swede Martin H-son from Rampant Dogs, after using a number
of session drummers during the early days of recording.
Try to
imagine a mix of AC/DC, Rose Tattoo, Angel City and Ramones and
you have Backstreet Girls! Backstreet Girls are rock ‘n’ roll
few bands can capture the energy and show as these guys on
stage!
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The members of Backstreet
Girls are a testament to the meaning of a “real” band. No fancy
gimmicks; no silly recording tricks; no compromises. Listeners
are instinctively confident that they are experiencing the
empathy, excitement, and the “hard sweat factor” of “live”
musicians; rather than an index finger on a digital sound
module. I was impressed with the enthusiasm and attitude of the
Backstreet Girls, when I was introduced to them at on of my
concerts in Norway. It reminded me of when “Status Quo” started
to emerge on the “rock scene”; very confident, very sure, and
very much their own band. I hear wafts of the original Status
Quo-sound. I like the “weighty” but relaxed and controlled feel
of the Bass & Drums; the precision and energy of the Rhythm
Guitar (superb control of it’s powerful sound); the intelligent
licks, solos and syncopation of the Lead Guitar, empathising
with the vocalist; the Vocals’ strong low notes and powerful
highs, “living” the lyrics, through tragedy, fun & humour – a
special and unique vocal quality (in tone & performance), which
is “coolly” understated. There are no keyboards…. The member’s
have been together for many years, and have more than paid their
dues: writing; performing; and recording with passion. Surely
this band is only a blink away from the “big time”.
Alan Lancaster,
Status Quo
Rock?!! Fuckin' Love Em!! Pump?! Fuckin'
Oath!! Drink?! Fuck Me Dead!! More Energy Than A Power
Station!!! More Stayin' Power Than A Porn Stud!! Fuck Me
Sideways, I Love The Backstreet Girls!! If They Had Pussy's I'd
Fuck Em!! Rock Lives!!
Rockin' Rob Riley,
Rose Tattoo
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