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Norway (2000 – present)

Kaizers Orchestra (also known as simply Kaizers, mostly to fans) is an alternative rock group, formed in Norway on January 1, 2000. The current band members are Janove Ottesen (a.k.a. “The Jackal”, lead vocal), Geir Zahl (a.k.a. “Hellraizer”, 2nd guitar, 2nd vocal, oil barrels), Rune Solheim (aka “Mink”, drums), Terje Winterstø Røthing (a.k.a. “Killmaster”, 1st guitar, oil barrels, backing vocals), Øyvind Storesund (a.k.a. “Thunder”, double bass, whistler) and Helge Risa (aka “Omen”, pump organ, piano, accordion). The sextet is well known for their energetic live shows, the interlocking stories found in their lyrics, about the mafia, war, underground resistance groups and mental institutions, as well as their trademark 1940 gas mask, worn by Helge.

Kaizers Orchestra was formed by Janove and Geir in 1999. The two childfriends had earlier created several bands together before, like gnom and Blod, Snått og Juling. Like with their old bands, all songs are sung in the Norwegian Bryne (Bryne, Stavanger is Janove and Geir’s hometown) dialect. Despite the release of their only album Mys, any recognition eluded gnom. However, one song they during gnom’s active period, called “

Bastard”, received such response from the not-so-large crowds, and, with its Tom Waits-inspired melody and lyrics, as well as the unusual inclusion of oil barrels as percussion, inspired them to reinvent their sound, image and name. While Janove and Geir’s past bands had a more folk/pop sound, Kaizers Orchestra was going to be entirely different.

Tagged as:

norwegian, rock, alternative, alternative rock, indie
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Ompa til du dør
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Maestro
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Evig pint
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Maskineri
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Top Tracks

1	Ompa til du dør	490
2	Kontroll på kontinentet	412
3	Knekker deg til sist	405
4	Blitzregn baby	394
5	Delikatessen	351
6	Maestro	350
7	KGB	338
8	Bøn fra helvete	333
9	Bris	318
10	Resistansen	316
11	Christiania	312
12	Dekk bord	308
13	Bak et halleluja	305
14	170	298
15	Dr. Mowinckel	255

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stjarnjerry wrote:
Thursday morning

Saw them first time on hultsfred 06 , went there to hear a song i had heard somewere, and ended up loving every single song ! Next best concert after rage against the machine hultsfred 08. Favorite song, Christiania ! Check it out !

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ubu_noir wrote:
Tuesday afternoon

COOOOOOOOOOL!!!!

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Lindabob wrote:
Monday evening

Det er kald november, på grenså til desember.

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Koeffe wrote:
last week

I saw them last week in Vega in Cph - but I think their gig was better in Malmø last summer where I also saw them..

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Inartificial wrote:
last week

wunderful gig yesterday! =D

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nachtschwarm wrote:
last week

i'm going to their gig on WEDNESDAY!!! finally...can't wait...

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trentantula wrote:
14 days ago

Wish they would come to North America.

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Rawenkeke wrote:
19 days ago

wow, the vocalist's father is one of my teachers ^_^

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Henkir wrote:
last month

Geir Zahl's uncle was my German teacher last year. He influenced me to try out whale-beef. How cool isn't that?

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kitzz wrote:
last month

I was quite lucky to see both The Hives and Kaizers live and I can tell you there is nothing common in them... Kaizers is good on records which isn't true for The Hives (too short and too noisy songs)

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rompefittekuk wrote:
last month

Sigøynerblod!

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FooFranz wrote:
last month

They're playing some concerts soon where they gonna play some of the more rare songs they don't play so much!! I'm gonna see them in Stavanger, I think this is gonna be a great experience for all the fans :)

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soimless wrote:
last month

I'm never quite sure where they stand on the issue of religion. However, they do comment that it is full of corruption. Look at Father Martin, he ratted out Dominique to the family after he came to him to confess what happened to Tony, he also helped set a fire in Kontroll på Kontinentet, told Dominique to hire a double or become a priest. The introduction of the band from Live at Vega also speaks a lot of this. Ottesen introduces Terje by saying the "I can tell you two things about the man on the second guitar... the devil built this guitar for him but the lord made him this suit...because the lord can make you feel good in any colour." To me this says that he looks and feels good about himself while still doing the work of the devil. I could be wrong, my understanding of Norwegian and Norwegian culture is crap at best and no matter what I still love this band.

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Bastard1 wrote:
last month

Helge is the only really religious guy in the band as far as I know.

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barebear wrote:
last month

@saruebaby: they come from a very religious town.

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Koeffe wrote:
last month

Anyone who has at recent setlist? I saw them in august in Stockholm, and I'm gonna watch them i Copenhagen in November.

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[deleted-user] wrote:
last month

and what's the backround of having the picture of martin luther on the organ at every concert? Should that a religious commitment? greetz rauken
thatdamnfeli wrote:
September 2008

you're right, lazor12, there are similarities between kaizers and the hives on stage and both, i might add, are among my favorite live acts (though i've gotta say, kaizers is still heading the race). they have the same attitude, i guess.

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FelipeDiniz wrote:
September 2008

i hope someday they come to brazil >.<

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lazor12 wrote:
September 2008

I dunno if I'm the only one who thinks like this. Imo, Kaizers Orchestra is Norway's answer to the Swedish rock band The Hives. The difference is huge in the type of music, and different languages too. But when the play live, I see so many connections. Länge leve Kaizers!!!

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Events

Nov 19 Kaizers Orchestra Tivoli Oudegracht, Utrecht, Netherlands
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Nov 20 Kaizers Orchestra LKA-Longhorn, Stuttgart, Germany
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Nov 21 Kaizers Orchestra Fritzclub im Postbahnhof, Berlin, Germany
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News

The 250 Prosent Tour goes abroad!

4 Nov 2008 | from blog.myspace.com/kaizerso

Kaizers Orchestra are just about to embark on the euro part of the 250 Prosent Tour. The band plays 14 shows in 15 days through six countries.- It's been a really great year for us so far, but we're e. …

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