TNT (band)
 |
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (December 2010) |
 |
This article has no lead section. Please help by adding an introductory section to this article. For more information, see the layout guide, and Wikipedia's lead section guidelines. (March 2011) |
| TNT | |
|---|---|
 TNT on stage in 2009. |
|
| Background information | |
| Origin | Trondheim, Norway |
| Genres | Hard rock, glam metal, heavy metal, AOR |
| Years active | 1982–1992 1996–present |
| Associated acts | Vagabond, Starbreaker, Westworld, Stage Dolls |
| Website | Official website |
| Members | |
| Tony Mills Ronni Le Tekrø Victor Borge Diesel Dahl |
|
| Past members | |
| Dag Ingebrigtsen Steinar Eikum Kenneth Odiin John Macaluso Morty Black Tony Harnell |
|
TNT is a Norwegian hard rock/glam metal band from Trondheim, formed in 1982. The band has released twelve studio albums, three EPs and two live albums while going through numerous line-up changes since its formation. Guitarist Ronni Le Tekrø is the only consistent member of TNT.
Contents |
[edit] History
[edit] 1980s
TNT was formed in the Norwegian city Trondheim in 1982, by vocalist and rhythm guitarist Dag Ingebrigtsen, guitarist Ronni Le Tekrø, bassist Steinar Eikum and drummer Morten "Diesel" Dahl.[1] Securing a national record contract with PolyGram subsidiary Vertigo Norway, they released their self-titled debut album the same year — their only album that features Norwegian lyrics — and got a hit with the single "Harley-Davidson". In August 1983 Morty Black replaced Steinar Eikum on bass,[2] and the following year American vocalist Tony Harnell became TNT's new frontman, making his debut on their album Knights of the New Thunder. His unique and powerful 4 octave range was the final element the band needed to break out of Norway and into the world market. The album was a huge success in Scandinavia and the band then was offered a worldwide deal with Mercury/Polygram worldwide out of New York. Knights was then released in the U.S. in 1985 and the video for "Seven Seas" got heavy rotation on MTV and the album entered the billboard charts.
That line-up recorded one more album, Tell No Tales in 1987, before "Diesel" Dahl parted company from TNT the following year after some turbulent times within the band. Tell No Tales produced TNT's biggest hit, the single "10,000 Lovers (In One)". Tell No Tales marked a slight change in sound from melodic Euro-metal to a more palatable hard rock style, with Le Tekrø and Harnell gaining a reputation as a talented duo. The album was the best selling release in Norway and Sweden that year (outselling hugely popular artists like Michael Jackson and Def Leppard). Tell No Tales also saw the band establishing a mainstream following in Japan and the U.S. Promotional Videos for "Everyone's a Star" and "10,000 Lovers (In One)" were featured on both European and American MTV. They were also featured on Headbangers Ball. The band supported Stryper on a sold out arena tour in the U.S. followed by a tour with Twisted Sister and Great White as well as headlining shows in large clubs in the U.S.
Kenneth Odiin became TNT's new drummer and played on TNT's fourth studio album, Intuition, in 1989. This release marked a more AOR-oriented sound, still maintaining a little of the hard rock edge of the previous album. Intuition was another huge success in Scandinavia and Japan. It was also the band's best received American release and saw the band embarking on their first headlining tour of the U.S. which broke attendance records across the country in small theaters and large clubs, thanks to the prominent display of the video for the title track on MTV.
[edit] 1990s
After the touring to support Intuition was done, Odiin left the band and was replaced by John Macaluso. The band negotiated a new (and generous) record contract with Atlantic Records, and released the studio album Realized Fantasies and the live recording Three Nights in Tokyo, both in 1992. However, Atlantic did a poor job of promoting the album in the States (assuring that TNT would never find huge success in America) and also the rest of the world. The same year they decided to take a break, choosing to focus on various solo projects. In 1996 the compilation Till Next Time – The Best of TNT was released, and Harnell, Le Tekrø and Black reformed TNT with session drummer Frode Lamøy. That line-up recorded two albums, Firefly in 1997 and Transistor in 1999.
[edit] 2000s
"Diesel" Dahl returned to TNT in 2000,[3] and the band started working on new material. Their eighth studio album, My Religion, was released in 2004. Months after the album release, Morty Black decided to leave the band due to personal and professional differences,[4] and Sid Ringsby took his place for the following concerts and the album All the Way to the Sun, which was released in the fall of 2005.[5] A single, "Sometimes" was released on July 25 in Norway. At the end of the year Victor Borge became TNT's new permanent bassist.[6]
Tony Harnell left the band in April 2006 for both personal and professional reasons,[7] although his final show was on June 30, when TNT played the Polar Rock Festival in Storsteinnes, Norway.[8] He was replaced by British hard rock singer Tony Mills (of UK act Shy, coincidentally supporting TNT for Harnell's farewell show).[9] Despite leaving the band, Harnell collaborated with iMagic Films and producer Darren Paltrowitz on a live DVD featuring his performance with the band in Madrid, Spain from April 1, 2006. The Live in Madrid CD + DVD package was released in Japan in August 2006 and elsewhere in the world in September.
In 2007 TNT released their tenth studio album, The New Territory to mixed reviews and controversy amongst the fans. Their eleventh studio album, Atlantis, was released on September 22, 2008 in both Norway and Japan. The album was influenced by The Beatles and Queen, and was mixed by Tommy Hansen, who also worked on My Religion and All the Way to the Sun. On December 12, 2008, the original TNT line-up, consisting of Dag Ingebrigtsen, Ronni Le Tekrø, Steinar Eikum and "Diesel" Dahl, did a one-off reunion during a concert that was done to celebrate Ingebrigtsen's 50th birthday.[10]
[edit] 2010s
TNT's twelfth studio album, A Farewell to Arms, was released in Japan on December 15, 2010. "Diesel" Dahl has said that the album is an attempt to recapture the old TNT sound. Bård Svendsen, who provided keyboards and backing vocals on Knights of the New Thunder and Tell No Tales, worked on the album as well.[11] The album was mixed by Tommy Hansen, and has been described by him as "Def Leppard on speed". It was released in Europe in January 2011. The album has been retitled as Engine for the Scandinavian and American release. In Norway the album was released as an exclusive joint publishing deal between the Narvesen chain of convenience stores and TNT on December 27.[12] In an interview on the Norwegian radio show Stjerneklart in January 2011, Ronni Le Tekrø stated that it might be TNT's last album. "I can promise that it will be the very last TNT album," he said, "It might not be fully decided, but we might feel that this album is an honorable end to albums [being released] from the band. TNT will not split up, but I can't see that we're going to make a new studio album for many years."[13]
On April 27, 2011 keyboardist Dag Stokke, who had toured with TNT since April 1987 and appeared on every album from Realized Fantasies to A Farewell to Arms,[14] died of cancer.[15][16] He was replaced by Roger Gilton.[17]
A new live DVD recorded in Madrid is set for release in 2012.
[edit] Band members
[edit] Current line-up
- Ronni Le Tekrø - Guitar, background vocals (1982–92, 1996–)
- Morten "Diesel" Dahl - Drums (1982–88, 2000–)
- Victor Borge - Bass guitar, background vocals (2005–)
- Tony Mills - Vocals (2006–)
[edit] Former members
- Steinar Eikum - Bass guitar (1982–83)
- Dag Ingebrigtsen - Vocals, rhythm guitar (1982–84)
- Kenneth Odiin - Drums (1988–89)
- John Macaluso - Drums (1990–92)
- Morty Black - Bass guitar, background vocals (1983–92, 1996–2004)
- Tony Harnell - Vocals (1984–92, 1996–2006)
[edit] Live musicians
- Dag Stokke - Keyboards, background vocals (1987–92, 1996–2011)
- Frode Lamøy - Drums (1996–2000)
- Sid Ringsby - Bass guitar, background vocals (2004–05)
- Roger Gilton - Keyboards, background vocals (2011–)
[edit] Discography
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | TNT | PolyGram |
| 1984 | Knights of the New Thunder | |
| 1987 | Tell No Tales | |
| 1989 | Intuition | |
| 1992 | Realized Fantasies | Atlantic Records |
| 1997 | Firefly | Norske Gram |
| 1999 | Transistor | |
| 2004 | My Religion | MTM |
| 2005 | All the Way to the Sun | |
| 2007 | The New Territory | Bonnier Amigo |
| 2008 | Atlantis | |
| 2010 | A Farewell to Arms | TNT Records |
[edit] References
- ^ "Tekstarkiv - Dagbladet.no" (in Norwegian). dagbladet.no. http://www.dagbladet.no/tekstarkiv/artikkel.php?id=5001060062756&tag=item. Retrieved 2011-03-16.
- ^ "Metal-Rules.com: Interview with TNT's Morty Black". Metal-Rules.com. http://www.metal-rules.com/interviews/TNT-August2004.htm. Retrieved 2011-03-13.
- ^ Dahle, Jan (April 2003). "Nye eksplosiver fra den gamle gjengen" (in Norwegian). Scream Magazine (75): pp. 4–5.
- ^ "BLABBERMOUTH.NET - TNT Part Ways With Bassist MORTY BLACK". roadrunnerrecords.com. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=25493. Retrieved 2011-03-13.
- ^ "Puls - TNT snart albumklare" (in Norwegian). puls.no. http://www.puls.no/13667.html. Retrieved 2011-03-16.
- ^ "Ny læregutt - Musikk - NRK" (in Norwegian). nrk.no. http://www.nrk.no/musikk/5195197.html. Retrieved 2011-03-13.
- ^ "BLABBERMOUTH.NET - Vocalist TONY HARNELL Quits TNT". roadrunnerrecords.com. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=50710. Retrieved 2011-03-13.
- ^ "BLABBERMOUTH.NET - Vocalist TONY HARNELL To Perform Final Show With TNT". roadrunnerrecords.com. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=53851. Retrieved 2011-03-13.
- ^ "BLABBERMOUTH.NET - New TNT Singer Speaks". roadrunnerrecords.com. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=52390. Retrieved 2011-03-13.
- ^ "Dags store natt - adressa.no" (in Norwegian). adressa.no. http://www.adressa.no/kultur/article1208853.ece. Retrieved 2011-03-13.
- ^ "TNT i studio - ny plate kommer til høsten - adressa.no" (in Norwegian). adressa.no. http://www.adressa.no/kultur/musikk/article1483786.ece. Retrieved 2011-03-13.
- ^ "heavymetal.no - Tnt, big in Japan" (in Norwegian). heavymetal.no. http://www.heavymetal.no/show.article.asp?menuid=&artid=13116. Retrieved 2011-03-19.
- ^ "Siste album fra TNT? - Kultur-og-underholdning - NRK" (in Norwegian). nrk.no. http://www.nrk.no/kultur-og-underholdning/1.7489943. Retrieved 2011-03-13.
- ^ Dahle, Jan (2010). "Dag Stokke – Rockestjerne og kirkeorganist" (in Norwegian). TNT BookAzine: pp. 16.
- ^ "TNT-keyboardist Dag Stokke død - VG Nett" (in Norwegian). vg.no. http://www.vg.no/musikk/artikkel.php?artid=10084893. Retrieved 2011-04-27.
- ^ "BLABBERMOUTH.NET - TNT Keyboardist Loses Battle With Cancer At Age 44". roadrunnerrecords.com. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=157351. Retrieved 2011-04-27.
- ^ "Kjapt og effektivt av TNT" (in Norwegian). oa.no. http://www.oa.no/kultur/article5693467.ece. Retrieved 2011-08-07.
[edit] External links
|
||||||||||||||||||||
