RAIN

They were now joined by bass player Audun Norgaard. The boys had built up a strong set of own songs and cover songs, and was ready to meet the public.

The first gig they played together was at the legendary “Smuget” in Oslo in December 99. The following year RAIN played several concerts in the southern part of Norway and did studio recordings for the first album.

It was a busy time for all involved; Michael had his own band Jaded Heart, productions and other projects to take care of. Peppa was playing with different cover bands and went back and forth to USA to train as a commercial pilot. Tore, a renowned guitarist in Norway, was busy on multiple projects. Lars was writing songs for the forthcoming album with Sonny Crow, and Audun was keeping busy with his side project, Jet Surfers.

The band finally released their first album on the American label Kivel Records, titled “House of dreams”, in 2002 and got great reviews.

Over the next two years they continued to play concerts in Norway and had several shows at Smuget in Oslo. Audun, the country soul that he is, decided in 2004 to leave RAIN and devote his time to his roots band Jet Surfers. RAIN was back to it’s original four members; Michael Borman, Tore Moren, Lars Forseth and Peppa Bruvoll and has since then hired bass players when performing live sets.

In March 2005 they played “Rock the Boat” in Oslo with bands like Return and Stage Dolls.

The recordings for their second album took place in Michael Bormann’s studio in Duisburg, Germany in 2005. The album is now being released by MTM MUSIC for the territory of Europe and in Japan by JVC/Victor. “Stronger” is a pure AOR Hardrock album and Michael Bormann continues with this great band where he stopped after the JADED HEART “IV” album.
Lars Forseth and Michael Bormann about RAIN :

Lars Forseth : "We started the recordings for this album in February 2005. Michael had a bunch of suggestions ready by the time we arrived, and we kicked some stuff around for a while and then went for it. It came together pretty easily and we made more or less all the songs in the studio. In two weeks time we had 12 Songs recorded.

We all think the songs are "stronger" than the first album, as they are a little bit more edgy. We put some more balls and attitude into all the sessions, and we think it came across pretty good. The mixture of groovy & modern elements in songs like "DO YOU LIKE IT" & "GET OVER IT", poprocksongs like "DESERVE IT" , "CRAZY", "FLESH & BLOOD", "LOVE IS BY YOUR SIDE" heavy rockers like "INSOBRIETY" & "LET ME BE YOUR FAVORITE" and great ballads like "ID DIE FOR YOU", "THE OTHER SIDE" & "LOVESONG", make "Stronger" such a great album.

We had a blast during the making of "Stronger" and we hope, that everybody else will dig it as much as we do! It´s only Rock & Roll!"
Michael Bormann: "Well, at the time, when Jaded Heart and me went separate ways, I was of course disappointed and shocked. Life teaches you again and again, that nothing is really predictable. Anyway, this little slap in the face couldn´t hold me back from what I was born for. MUSIC!

It was a sideproject, or better a studiojob for me in the very beginning. It turned out to become a real band. Nobody knew this back then. We just connected in all ways. As this came clear, I didn't want to be just a hired singer. We all decided to bring me in as a songwriter. That was the time, that we also decided to produce a record like a band. That means TOGETHER! So we all took 2 weeks off to meet in my studio, to write and record songs. The first record was nothing else than 5 or 6 sessions in different studios, where we recorded about 3 to 4 songs. So, finally we grew as a band and the result you can hear. We had so much fun making it! Musically we also had no limits, so that we were able to use even modern elements. That's great, as it opens a wider range in the songwriting. FANTASTIC ALBUM!
Well, I guess RAIN is something that the rockin part of this world could fall in love with..
RAIN means strong beats, great lyrics, melodic or heavy guitars and the phenomenal voice of Michael Bormann united to something that touches the hearts and souls of the "last men standing".. of those who know how to rock.. those who consider music and Rock'n'Roll not as something that exists somewhere on this planet but as a lifestyle and something to believe in...

Trust me in one thing: RAIN is something that is able to survive in the music business of today, 'cause it's REAL...
This is a band that rocks against all those pseudos out there, their lyrics make you start thinkin. Get into it and you may understand what I mean.
Keep on rockin, guys!! (by saturdaynight1)