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Pretty Maids was founded in 1981 by guitarist Ken Hammer with vocalist Ronnie Atkins, guitarist Pete Collins, bassist John Darrow, keyboardplayer Alan Owen and drummer Phil Moorhead. In 1983 they recorded an EP with producer Tommy Hansen in Jailhouse Studios. Shortly after Collins and Darrow was replaced by Rick Hanson and Allan Delong. In 1984 they released "Red Hot and Heavy" again with producer Tommy Hansen in the Jailhouse Studios and guested by rock/blues-guitarist Billy Cross. Hanson left and was in a short period replaced by Benny Petersen (Ex White Lion) - but he left to found Jackal. In 1987 they worked with producer Eddie Kramer on "Future World", which featured Graham Bonnet on backing vocals and I consider it as the bands best effort. The band toured with Angel G. Schleifer, but as we all know he joined Bonfire in 1988. Instead the rest of the band hired Richy Marx and shortly after they recorded "Jump the Gun" with producer Roger Glover and drummer Ian Paice - both from Deep Purple. But the long work on the record did not pay off - it flopped and Marx, Moorhead and Delong left.
Owen, Atkins and Hammer continued, though but with new bassist Kenn Jackson and drummer Michael "Mini" Fast. In 1992 they recorded "Sin Decade" with producer Flemming Rasmussen - but Owen left and was replaced with Dominique Gale (The Shout). It was a strong record but did not sell that good either. Later that year they released the EP "Off-side" wich gave them a minor hit with John Sykes "Please don't leave me". In 1993 "Stripped" was released wich featured keyboardist Henrik Nilsson and Knud Lindhardt on backing vocals. Hammer was also to be found in the coverband Find Lizzy. In 1995 Atkins made a guest appearence on Blind Guardian's "Imaginations from the other Side" and Pretty Maids released "Scream"- also a very good release. In 1997 Owen returned and the band released "Spooked" guested by keyboardist Tommy Hansen also. In 1998 the band recorded the album with the long title "Anything worth doing is worth overdoing" guested by Knud Lindhardt again and they toured with Gale as Owen didn't want to do concerts. In 2000 Pretty Maids has just released "Carpe Diem". And on the tour to support the album they have joined forces with new keyboard player Jrgen Thorup, known for his work with danish party rock/pop band SHU-BI-DUA.
Two more albums followed. Another studio album called "Planet Panic" (2002) and a live recording called "Alive at Least" (2003).
In the beginning of 2006 drummer Michael Fast left the band and Allan Tschicaja (Royal Hunt & Kingdome Come) came in for his replacement.
Their new studio album called "WAKE UP TO THE REAL WORLD" is now available.
Here you find the PRETTY MAIDS FANCLUB:
DANISH DYNAMITE
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