Paranoiacs

Music:

Member Since: 4/24/2006
Band Website: paranoiacs.de
Band Members: Frankly, theres little need to introduce The Paranoaics. Theres simply no other contemporary band that has left its mark so prominently on the Belgian rock scene for the last two decades than this kick ass rockin gang.Sure, theres happened quite a lot since the band, that was founded and is still fronted by Hans Stevens and his even more infamous brother Rafke, played its first ever gig in 1985. After they blew everybody away at the local clubs with their powerful collision of punk, garage and rock n roll (think everything thats good in rock, from Ramones, Iggy & The Stooges over MC5 and Motorhead to sixties garage rock). By the time they released their first mini-LP We're The Teenage Lovers in 1987, these guys had already established themselves as the true kings of rock'n'roll in the sonic wasteland that we now refer to as the eighties. What Motley Crue did to the LA rockscene, The Paranoiacs did for Belgian rock. Except these guys could truly rock and didnt have to dress like old tarts. Period.It was after another highly acclaimed mini-LP (Sometimes Teenage Is Spelt T.N.T.) and an even more successful European tour that The Paranoiacs finally truly exploded on the international rock scene with their eponymous first full album Bananas.After their second killer album Thirteen, which was produced by Roli Mosimann of Young Gods and Swans fame and mastered in New York by Howie Weinberg (The Clash, Nirvana, Metallica, Ramones), the band continued to record and tour. Meanwhile Rafke had become Belgiums first ever rock star as such with multiple appearances in TV and radio shows. EP Back From Nowhere ironically marked their comeback in 1998 with the title track booming in the alternative music charts and getting huge airplay on the biggest radio stations. No wonder only a year later their third full-cd 7 Day Weekend put The Paranoiacs back where they belong: on top of the rock scene.One could say the party has since lasted and will most probably never stop. Mind you, the band still acted up to their reputation and kept on serving surprises. For instance, the last decade saw The Paranoiacs play Belgiums biggest rock venue, Forrest National alongside a symphonic orchestra without losing one volt of their heart-crushing rock n roll power. On top of that the band recorded the six track mini-album Countryhead: Paranoiacs Go Country, contributed a mind bending cover version of Carbona Not Glue for Ramones tribute album 1234, made the sun rise early in Japan by waking up their eastern fans with two songs (including their celebrated version of Johnny Cash's (Ghost)Riders in the Sky on Punk it! Vol 1 & 2 . They also appear on the Fuzztones tribute album Illegitimate Spawn with their killer deconstruction and rebuilding of the Fuzztones classic Cheyenne Rider. The Paranoiacs have paid their dues the last two decades. They don"t even think about quiting as true survivors. Rock'n'roll is a way of life for this crazy motherfuckers... L.A.M.F. forever!!!
Influences: CITY SLANG, Ramones, Dead Boys, The Germs, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Radio Birdman, Stooges, MC 5, New York Dolls, Masters of Reality, Blondie, The Nerves, Kyuss, The Clash, Hank Williams, Neil Young, Motorhead, Motley Cru, Kiss, Redd Kross, Johnny Cash, Bay City Rollers, Van Halen, The Sonics, Yardbirds, The Pretty Things, The Kinks, The Who, The Plimsouls, Cheap Trick, The Byrds, X, Gun Club, The Dictators, T.Rex, Thin Lizzy, Ramones, Replacements, Husker Du, Big Star, Eastern Dark, AC/DC, Johnny Thunders & the Heartbreakers, Standells, We The People, Music Machine, Roky Erickson, Sonic's Rendezvous Band, Flamin' Groovies, Aerosmith, Beach Boys, The Shangri-Las, Phil Spector, ...
Sounds Like: Paranoiacs, Supersuckers, Social Distortion, Turbonegro, Rocket From The Crypt, The Sultans, Guitar Wolf, Hellacopters, Backyard Babies, The Nomads, Dgeneration
Record Label: Bookings: L&S Agency tel. 0032 (0)11/67.17.01
Type of Label: Indie