Secret Oyster was a Danish jazz-rock band that released four albums between 1973 and 1976 on CBS. Formed by alumni of Burnin Red Ivanhoe and Coronarias Dans, the group combined high-level composition with electric fusion instrumentation and toured extensively across Europe. Posthumous archival releases—Striptease and Mermaid—preserve their work for ballet and later live projects. Members: […]
The Old Man & the Sea were a Danish symphonic/hard-rock band from Horsens that was active for eight years, starting in 1967. The band released a popular self-titled album on Sonet in 1972 and recorded a followup that would ultimately be thrice issued by archival labels in subsequent decades. Members: Lars “Bekse” Thygesen (drums, 1967-69), […]
Burnin Red Ivanhoe was a Danish post-psychedelic jazz-rock that band released five albums (1969–74) on Sonet. They emerged with the double-album M 144, followed by the 1970/71 albums Burnin Red Ivanhoe and W.W.W. After their collaborative effort with singer/songwriter and trumpeter Povl Dissing (6 Elefantskovcikadeviser), they made the 1972–74 albums Miley Smile/Stage Recall and Right […]
The Savage Rose are a Danish rock band from København, formed in 1967 and fronted by Annisette Koppel. Between 1968 and 1973, they released six English-language albums and a soundtrack on Polydor. They combined folk rock and psychedelia on the 1968–69 albums The Savage Rose, In the Plain, and Travelin’, then embraced soul, cabaret, and […]
Dr. Dopo Jam was a Danish avant-jazz/rock band that released the 1973/74 Zebra albums Entrée and Fat Dogs and Danishmen, followed by the 1981 DIY title Cruisin’ at Midnite. Members: Kristian Pommer (clavinet, guitar, piano), Skak Snitker (trumpet), Nils Christensen “Vejmand” (drums, 1967-73), Lars Rasmussen (guitar, violin, 1968-71, 1981), Anders Gårdmand (saxophone, 1970-74), Bent Clausen […]
Culpeper’s Orchard was a Danish hard-rock/folk band that released the 1971/72 Polydor albums Culpeper’s Orchard, Second Sight, and Going for a Song. They regrouped as Culpeper for the 1977 Sonet title All Dressed Up & Nowhere to Go. Members: Cy Nicklin (vocals, rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar, percussion), Nils Henriksen (lead guitar, piano, vocals, acoustic guitar, […]
Gasolin’ were a Danish rock band formed in Copenhagen in 1969 by singer–guitarist Kim Larsen, guitarist Franz Beckerlee, bassist Wili Jønsson, and drummer Bjørn Uglebjerg. Søren Berlev replaced Uglebjerg before the group recorded eight studio albums and two live sets between 1971 and 1978 on CBS. Members: Kim Larsen (vocals, guitar), Franz Beckerlee (guitar, keyboards, […]
Ache was a Danish post-psych band that released the 1970/71 albums De Homine Urbano and Green Man. After a four-year pause, a revised lineup surfaced with the 1976/77 albums Pictures From Cyclus 7 and Bla Som Altid. Members: Torsten Olafsson (bass, vocals, 1970-71), Finn Olafsson (guitar), Peter Mellin (Hammond organ, piano), Glenn Fischer (drums, percussion, […]
Buki-Yamaz was a Danish jazz-rock/funk band that made a 1975 self-titled album on Hookfarm, followed by the 1976 Stuk release Segundo. In 1979, they teamed with American vocalist Debbie Cameron for the CBS album Maybe We. Members: Aske Bentzon (flute), Kim Sagild (guitar), Klavs Nordsø (percussion), Mikkel Nordsø (guitar), Henrik Bødtcher (bass), Ethan Weisgard (drums) […]
Coma was a Danish jazz-rock band that released the 1977–80 Genlyd albums Financial Tycoon and Amoc. Members: Jakob Mygind (saxophone), Leif Christensen (bass), Michael Bundgaard (keyboards), Flemming Friberg (guitar, vocals), Klaus Thrane (drums), Palle Rosenkrantz (percussion, guitar), Michael Friis (percussion, drums), Viggo Steincke (guitar) Background Coma formed in Frederikshavn in 1971 from a local pre-history […]
Alrune Rod was a Danish post-psych band that made the 1969–72 Sonet albums Alrune Rod, Hej Du, and Alrune Rock, followed by the 1973/74 Mandragora titles Spredt for Vinden and 4-Vejs. Members: Leif Roden [Leif Roden Nielsen] (vocals, bass, guitar), Flemming Giese Rasmussen (guitar, 1968-70), Kurt “Pastor” Ziegler Simonsen (organ, piano, vocals, 1968-70, 1972-?), Claus […]
Heavy Joker was a Danish jazz-rock band that released a 1976 self-titled Polydor album and the 1978 Mercury title Caesar’s Palace. Members: Michael Bruun (guitar, Moog, ARP Solina String Ensemble), Max Leth Jun (keyboards, vibraphone, marimba), Henrik Bødtcher (bass), Jan Sivertsen (drums, percussion) Background Heavy Joker took shape around guitarist Michael Bruun and bassist Henrik […]
Pan was a Danish psych-rock band that released a self-titled album and standalone single on Sonet in 1970. Members: Robert Lelièvre (vocals, guitar), Thomas Puggaard-Müller (guitar), Henning Verner (piano, organ, vibraphone), Arne Würgler (bass, cello, 1969-70), Michael Puggaard-Müller (drums, 1969-?), Jens Elbøl (bass, 1970-71) Torben Enghoff (saxophone, flute, ?-1971), Nils Tuxen (guitar, ?-1971) Background Pan […]
Thors Hammer was a Danish jazz-rock band that issued a self-titled album on Metronome in 1971. Members: Peter Nielsen (vocals), Michael Bruun (guitar, piano), Jesper Neehammer (saxophone), Henrik Langkilde (organ, piano), Henrik Bødtcher (bass), Simon Koppel (drums) Background Thors Hammer included saxophonist Jesper Nehammer, guitarist Michael Bruun, bassist Henrik Bødtcher, and drummer Simon Koppel, all […]
Midnight Sun was a Danish art-rock band that released three albums on Sonet between 1971 and 1974. The band’s first album is a rerecording of the singular full-length issued under their earlier incarnation as Rainbow Band. Members: Peer Frost (guitar), Niels Brøndsted (piano), Bent Hesselman (saxophone, flute), Carsten Smedegaard (drums), Allan Mortensen (vocals, 1971-72), Bo […]
Iron Office was a Danish jazz-rock band that made a 1976 album on Metronome, followed by the 1978 Sonet release Ambience. Members: Allan Botschinsky (trumpet), Palle Mikkelborg (trumpet), Benny Rosenfeld (trumpet), Erik Tschentscher (trumpet), Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen (bass), Ole Kock Hansen (electric piano), Nils Tuxen (guitar), Kurt Riedel (drums), Bent Clausen (congas, percussion), Gert Rostock […]
Day of Phoenix was a Danish post-psych band that released the 1970–72 albums Wide Open N-way and The Neighbour’s Son. Members: Cy Nicklin (guitar, vocals, 1968-69), Karsten Lyng Nielsen (guitar), Jess Stæhr Nielsen (bass, 1968-69), Ole Prehn (guitar, acoustic guitar), Henrik Friis Nielsen (drums, percussion), Hans Lauridsen (vocals, 1969), Erik Stedt Rasmussen (bass, piano, 1969) […]
Blast Furnace was a Danish psychedelic art-rock band from København that released a 1971 album on Polydor. Members: Tom McEwan (drums, vocals), Thor Backhausen (organ, piano, flute), Arne Würgler (bass, cello, vocals), Niels Vangkilde (guitar) Background Blast Furnace assembled in Copenhagen during 1971 around bassist-vocalist Arne Würgler (b. October 30, 1943), a veteran jazz-rooted local […]
Cox Orange was a Danish jazz-rock band that released two albums on Amar between 1978 and 1980, followed by a third on Rosen in 1984. Drummer Ethan Weisgard appeared on two albums apiece with Dr. Dopo Jam and Buki-Yamaz. Guitarist Flemming Ostermann hailed from the original lineup of Savage Rose. Members: Morten Elbek (alto saxophone), […]
Ariel was a Danish jazz-rock band that released a self-titled album in early 1980. Later that same year, they released Solens Børn with an expanded, multi-national lineup. Both albums appeared on the specialty label Pick Up Records. Members: Lei Moe (vocals), Klavs Hovman (bass), Per Goldschmidt (vocals, tenor saxophone), Anders Müller (keyboards), Atilla Engin (percussion), […]
Drops was a Danish jazz-rock band that released a 1976 self-titled album on Hookfarm. Members: Jesper Nehammer (flute, soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone), Poul Freiber (guitar), Henrik Langkilde (electric piano, synthesizer), Peter Ingemann (bass guitar), Jesper Thorup (drums) Background Drops was assembled at the height of the jazz-rock boom by some of Denmark’s most seasoned musicians. […]
Witch Cross was a Danish metal band that self-released the 1983 sides “Are You There” and “No Angel,” followed by the 1984 Roadrunner album Fit for Fight. Members: Alex Nyborg Madsen [aka Savage] (vocals), Mike “Wlad” Kock (guitar, vocals), Cloe Hamilton (bass), Jan “Little John Field” Normark (bass), Anders “A.C.” Hjort (drums) Background Witch Cross […]
Sods were a Danish punk/New Wave band from Copenhagen that released two albums on Medley Records in 1979/80. After a name-change to Sort Sol, they issued two further albums on the label between 1983 and 1987. Members: Peter Peter [Peter Schneidermann] (guitar), Knud Odde Sørensen (bass), Steen Jørgensen (vocals), Tomas Ortved Larsen (drums) Discography: Minutes […]
Natdamperen were a Danish jazz-rock band that released two albums on self-press Abel Records in 1975/76 and a third on Respons in 1978. Members: Ed Jones (drums, percussion), Flemming Quist Møller (percussion), Jan Ole Kristensen (guitar), Jørgen Nielsen (bass), Niels-Henning Henningsen (drums), Ole Kühl (saxophone, flute), Ole Nordenhof (piano), Poul Poulsen (drums), Stefan Borum (piano, […]
Moral were a Danish coldwave band from Århus, Midtjylland, that released two albums on self-press Ådsel Service in 1981/82 and a third on Arp Grammofon in 1984. Members: Hanne Winterberg (vocals), Marco Andreis (guitar), Ingolf Brown (synthesizer) Discography: Dance of the Dolls (cassette, 1981) Whispering Sons (1982) And Life Is (1984)
Hunk Ai were a Danish avant-jazz/rock band from Aarhus, Midtjylland, that released two albums on Olufsen Records between 1986 and 1988. Members: Cathrine Lervig (vocals), Morten Lervig (bass), Rasmus Louis Lunding (guitar), Bo Madsen (guitar), Carsten Orthmann (drums), Henrik Jespersen (saxophone) Discography: Hunk Ai (1986) Alene Hjemme (1988)
Entrance was a Danish jazz-rock band that released three albums between 1977 and 1984 on Metronome. Members: Palle Mikkelborg (trumpet, flugelhorn, synthesizer, piano), Kenneth Knudsen (piano, Mini Moog, Polymoog), Jesper Nehammer (saxophone, flute), Bjarne Roupé (guitar), Thomas Clausen (keyboards), Bo Stief (bass), Kasper Winding (drums, percussion, melodica), Jon Christensen (drums), Ethan Weisgard (percussion, drums), Lennart […]
Trouble were a Danish jazz-rock band that released the album After the War on Sonet/Telefunken in 1970. Members: Allan Botschinsky (trumpet, flugelhorn), Ray Pitts (tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, flute), Ole Kock Hansen (organ, piano), Ole Berndorf (guitar), Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen (bass), Bjarne Rostvold (drums) Discography: After the War (1970)
Pocket-Size were a Danish psych-rock band that recorded an album’s worth of material circa 1970. In 2002, the material was released on the CD In One or Another Condition by archivists Frost Records. Members: Kaj Bruhn (vocals, bass), Dan Johnsen (vocals, guitar), Niels Martinussen (organ), Finn Tony Rasmussen (drums) Discography: In One or Another Condition […]
My Ship were a Danish psych-rock band that released the album Morning Song on BASF in 1972. Members: Bent Sten Myggen (vocals, piano, guitar, flute), Oliver Strauss (vocals, guitar), Jens Elbøl (bass), Michael Puggaard-Müller (drums, tambourine) Discography: Morning Song (1972)
Coronarias Dans were a Danish jazz/rock band that was twice active during the 1970s, issuing the free-jazz album Breathe (1970) on Parlophone and Visitor (1975) on SteepleChase, the latter featuring most of Secret Oyster. Members: Kenneth Knudsen (keyboards), Claus Bøhling (guitar), Peter Friis Nielsen (bass), Claus Boje (drums), Ole Streenberg (drums) Discography: Breathe (1970) Visitor […]
Birds of Beauty were a Danish jazz-rock ensemble that released the 1978 album Pelican on CBS. Veteran saxophonist Karsten Vogel launched BoB after four albums with Secret Oyster. Members: Ben Besiakov (grand piano), Jeppe Reipurth (drums), Karsten Vogel (alto/soprano saxophone, synthesizer [ARP stringensemble]), Kim Menzer (flute, harmonica), Kim Yarbrough (bass), Klavs Nordsø (percussion), Mikkel Nordsø […]
Tømrerclaus — aka Claus Clement Pedersen (born Nov. 21, 1945) — is a Danish cellist from Århus, Jylland, who released the cassette album Snydt on self-press Karma Music in 1977, followed by an eponymous album-proper in 1978. He followed these releases with a trio of 1979 singles, recorded in collaboration with the band Boline and […]
Kliche was a Danish post-punk band that made the 1980–82 albums Supertanker and Okay Okay Boys on Medley Records. Members: Lars H.U.G. (vocals, guitar), Johnny Voss [Johannes E. Möller] (bass, vocals), Anders Brill [Anders Gilberg] (drums), Jens Valo [aka Jens Danielsen] (keyboards, 1977-80), Steffen Brandt (keyboards, 1980-?), Nils Torp (keyboards, ?-1984) Background Kliché formed in […]
Hyldemor were a Danish psych-rock band from Copenhagen that released the album Glem det Hele on CBS in 1978. The band evolved from the folksier Hyldemors Grønsaligheder, which issued the cassette-album Lysene Tændes on Studie 14 in 1975. Members: Hans Vinding (guitar, vocals), Steen Claësson (violin), Jens Breum (drums), John Teglgaard (guitar), Thor Mathisen (bass) […]
Matao were a Denmark-based jazz-rock combo fronted by Turkish percussionist Atilla Engin. The band released the album Turkish Delight on RA Records in 1980. Members: Atilla Engin (drums, percussion), Torben Grønning (bass), Svend Staal Larsen (guitar), Alan Stade (piano) Discography: Turkish Delight (1980)
Istanbul Express were a Danish jazz-rock ensemble led by Turkish multi-instrumentalist Mehmet Ozan. The band issued three albums on assorted labels between 1979 and 1985. Members: Mehmet Ozan (guitar, percussion, saz, vocals), Jan zum Vohrde (alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, flute), Mads Vinding (bass, double bass), Alex Riel (drums), Christian Sievert (guitar, percussion), Jens Jefsen (bass), […]
Himmel Expressen — alternately spelled Himmelexpressen — were a Danish Latin-jazz/rock band that issued the album Latinamerikansk Olie on Hookfarm in 1976. Members: Mich Jensen (electric guitar), Kenn Lending (electric guitar, acoustic guitar, triangle), Jesper Naur (electric piano, Hammond organ, grand piano, moog), Jesper Ray Manley (drums), Kim Nidam (harmonica), Michael Nielsen (alto saxophone, baritone saxophone, […]
Finn Olafsson is a Danish jazz-rock guitarist who first emerged in psych-rock combo Ache at the dawn of the 1970s. In 1976, he issued the album Savannah on KFM and has recorded in solo and combo configurations since. His partnership with violinist Anders Roland yielded four albums, starting with the 1984 released Sight – Seeing. […]
Fagrir Fuglar were a Danish/Faroe Islands jazz-rock band that released the album Vedurlög on the Tutl label in 1981. Members: Ólavur Øster (guitar), Ernst Sondum Dalsgarð (flute), Kristian Blak (keyboards), Jóhannus á Rógvu Joensen (bass), Jan Jacobsen (drums, percussion) Discography: Vedurlög (1981)
Barbarella were a Danish art-pop band that released a singular, self-titled album — alternately issued as First Love — on the Artist label in 1975. Members: Gerner Bresson (vocals, flute), Henning Pold (bass, vocals), Terje Barnholdt (drums, percussion), Kaare Barkou (keyboards, vocals), Kenneth Carter (guitar, vocals) Discography: Barbarella [First Love] (1975)
Tequila were a Danish jazz-pop spin-off of Dr. Dopo Jam that issued two albums on Metronome between 1974 and 1976. Members: Arne Degn Kristensen (bass), Søren “Nix” Nikolajsen (congas, percussion, harmonica), Claes Pauli Jacobsen (drums, percussion), Kristian Pommer (keyboards, percussion), Konrad “Farmer” Jahn (lead guitar, vocals), Dennis Hastings (lead vocals, guitar, percussion), Gitte Glavind (vocals, […]
Rainbow Band were a Danish art-rock/psych band that released a self-titled album on Sonet in 1970. The band evolved into Midnight Sun for three further albums on the label over the next four years, including a rerecording of Rainbow Band. Members: Bent Hesselmann (saxophone, flute), Peer Frost (guitar), Carsten Smedegaard (drums), Niels Brønsted (piano), Bo […]
Masala Dosa were a Danish jazz-rock band that issued the album 77 on Kong Pære in 1979. Members: John Teglgaard (guitar, sitar, vocals), Thor Mathiesen (bass), Vagn Carlsen (guitar, 1975-78), Ole Slick (drums, 1975-77), Joe Rains (drums, 1975-77), Marian Lichtman (drums, 1977-78), Claus Bøhling (guitar, 1978-83), Bo Thrige Andersen (drums, 1978-83), Jeff King (drums, 1983) […]
Mads Vinding Group were a Danish jazz-rock combo that issued the album Danish Design on Sonet in 1974. Members: Mads Vinding (acoustic guitar, bass), Kjell Öhman (keyboards), Ola Brunkert (drums) Discography: Danish Design (1974)
Gangway were a Danish sophisti-pop band from København that was active for 16 years, starting in 1982. Members: Henrik Balling (guitar, keyboards), Allan Jensen (vocals), Torben Johansen (keyboards), Cai Bojsen-Mølle (drums, keyboards) Discography: The Twist (1984) Sitting in the Park (1986) My Girl and Me (EP, 1988) The Quiet Boy Ate the Whole Cake (1991) […]
Feo were a Danish acid-folk combo who released two albums between 1971 and 1974 on Spectator and Lucifer. All the members were blind or visually impaired. Members: Flemming Nørgaard (bass), Rudi Albertsen (vocals), Sune Durhuus (guitar), Thorkild Blond Andersen (flute), Mikkel Bayer (violin) Discography: Eg Meini Teð (1971) Filtskolyd (1974)
Far Out were a Danish hard-rock trio from Christiania, Copenhagen, formed in 1971. A decade into their existence, the band issued two albums during 1981 and 1982 on Spiren and Taleag. Members: Lars Larsen (guitar, vocals), Ole Knudsen (bass, vocals), Henning Hansen (drums) Discography: Far Out (1981) Warpigs (1982)
Fred Israel is an American composer whose singular album, Fashions of Moon, was recorded with Danish jazz-rock musicians and released in 1977 on Hookfarm. Discography: Fashions of Moon (1977)
Kamæleon were a Danish jazz-rock band from Århus that was active for eight years, starting in 1976. Between 1978 and 1980, the band released two albums on Amar. Members: Fini Høstrup (keyboards), Jens Jefsen (bass), Steen Råhauge (percussion), Uffe Steen (guitar), Poul Poulsen (drums) Discography: Kamiæleon (1978) Svajende Siv (1980) Ebeltoft Session 82 (1982)
Agathorn were a Danish art-rock band from Roskilde, Sjælland, that released a self-tilted album on Telefunken in 1981, followed by a standalone a-side in 1982 and a numerically eponymous second album in 1987. Members: Henrik Dall (lead guitar, vocals), Jan Kargaard Madsen (guitar, vocals), Jan Heidebo (keyboards, vocals), Morten Bruun Pedersen (bass, vocals), Erik Havaleska […]
Daily Fauli was the stagename of Søren Fauli, a Danish synth-punk/coldwave musician who issued the 1982 cassette-album Jugend Unsinn, followed by the 1983 proper album Fauli til Dauli, both on small-press Gry Records. Background Fauli was born Søren Clemmensen Møller on October 24, 1963, in Frederiksberg, Denmark. His mother, Mona Clemmensen, was a journalist and […]
Blue Sun were a Danish band from Copenhagen that debuted with the live album Peace Be Unto You on Spectator Records in 1970, followed by a self-titled studio album on Parlophone in 1971. A string of stop-gap singles and unreleased recordings preceded the band’s third album, It’s All Money Johnny, on Genlyd in 1976. Members: […]
Balkan were a Danish folk trio from Copenhagen that released the album Spiller on Sonet in 1973. Members: Egon Aagaard (accordion), Peter Bastian (clarinet, zurna), John Ravn (drums) Discography: Spiller (1973)
Akropolis were a Danish art-rock band that released the album Half A Million Hours Symphony on Circle Records in 1979. Members: Jens Lund (vocals, guitars), Jørn Bennedbæk (guitars), James Templeton (keyboards), Hans Johannsen (bass), James Pearson (drums) Discography: Half A Million Hours Symphony (1979)
Hurdy Gurdy was a Danish psych-rock band that cut the 1970 Spectator single “Tick Tock Man,” followed in 1972 with a self-titled album on CBS. Members: Claus Bøhling (vocals, guitar, sitar, harmonica), Mac MacLeod (bass, 1967-70), Jens Marquard Otzen (drums), Torben Forne (bass, 1970-72) Background Hurdy Gurdy formed in 1967 in Copenhagen when guitarist Claus […]
The Floor were a Danish pop-psych band that released the album 1st Floor on Philips in 1967, followed by a standalone single in 1968. Members: Mogens Petersen, Joergen Krabbenhoeft, Torben Sardorf, Bjarne de la Motte, Steen Bergstroem (organ) Discography: 1st Floor (1967) “You Ain’t Going Nowhere” / “Open the Door Homer” (1968)
Ballet Mécanique was a Danish post-punk band from København that released a standalone single on small-press Better Day Records in 1980, followed by two albums on CBS in 1981/82, the second under the truncated name Ballet M. Frontman Martin Hall subsequently launched a solo career. Members: Martin Hall (vocals, grand piano, guitar), Michael Karshøj (drums), […]
Bifrost were a Danish folk-rock band from København, Hovedstaden, that released three albums on CBS between 1976 and 1978, followed by a second trio of titles on Mercury during the early 1980s. Members: Tom Lundén (vocals, keyboard), Ida Klemann (vocals, 1975-83), Pia Cohn (vocals, 1983-), Annapurna (vocals, 1975-79), Finn Jensen (guitar, 1974-77), Michael Miller (guitar, […]
Anima were a Danish jazz-rock band from that released the album Kilgore on Sonet in 1980, followed by two further albums on Metronome and Telaeg between 1982 and 1986. Members: Kenneth Knudsen (keyboards), Mikkel Nordsø (guitar), Michael Friis (bass), Ole Theill (drums) Discography: Kilgore (1980) Songs (1982) Shanghai Circus (1986)
