Member Since: 1/24/2006
Band Website: www.ivarthomas.com
Band Members: THE HIRED GUNS -Members in the band does vary a bit but I am lucky to have with me some of the finest country, roots and bluegrass musicians in Norway such as steelguitarists and dobroplayers TORE "STEEL" BLESTRUD and SVEINUNG LILLEHEIER (who also sometimes picks up the fiddle), string pickers like OLAV TORGEIR KOPSLAND (also plays steelguitar, dobro and mandolin), RUNAR GRANHEIM or DANIEL GULLIEN.
Solid rocks in the back are FINN HAKON BORGI or BJORN "HONKY" HAGLUND on drums (sings harmonies like noone else and guitarist in the great surf band BEAT TORNADOS). On bass is mainly ERLEND HOLLAND and also sometimes DANIEL GULLIEN.It is a true privilige to be able to make music and have so much fun with these great guys.
Influences: Everything that rocks, swing and touches my heart - my top favorite artists are JOHNNY CASH who's been with me from the cradle, he was my mothers favorite. I remember well the cover picture on "RIDE THIS TRAIN". As a kid I thought that guy must have been the boogie man - real spooky and still is. I still have the record and the cover.
NEIL YOUNG and JONI MITCHELL have also been with me for longer than I remember. Then there is of course HANK WILLIAMS as songwriter and GEORGE JONES as singer. MARTY STUART and DWIGHT YOAKAM are artists that history will preserve and elevate up that same level, much due to their contributions to save and preserve the spirit of country music and take it further (no contradiction there), - as opposed to other fakes that will be forgotten just as fast as they hit the charts and made their fortunes.
Another influence and inspiration these day is a young norwegian lady who just released a fantastic album with her own songs - check out MONICA NORDLI at www.monicanor.com and at myspace. BRENNEN LEIGH is a remarkable talent and a big inspiration. An amazing singer, songwriter and a fantastic mandolinplayer! Check www.brennenleigh.com
A norwegian musician and incredible guitar player who I really look up to is KNUT REIERSRUD. Check out his site www.knutreiersrud.no. I cannot get past JACO PASTORIUS who I never get tired of listening too, specially his solo albums. A sad tragic story of great talent wasted...
Last but not least, there are all the great musicians, including my beauteful daughter MALIN, that I am so incredibly lucky to be playing with, and good friends and family who supports me with enthusiasm and a great deal of patience. Thanks for all the fun.
Sounds Like: Nothing else.., myself and the great guys that I play with.
Record Label: Unsigned