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Nekromantix are a Danish-American psychobilly band formed in 1989 in Copenhagen, Denmark and currently recording for Hellcat Records. Their music is generally structured around monster and horror themes which are reflected in their album and song titles, lyrics, artwork, and stage show. A central icon of the band's image is bassist/vocalist Kim Nekroman's "coffinbass", a custom-built, very deep double bass with a body in the shape of a coffin and a headstock the shape of a cross.
The band has had changing lineups throughout its career, with founder Kim Nekroman as the sole constant member. The current line-up consists of Nekroman, guitarist Franc, and drummer Lux. Throughout the band's first 11 years they released five albums on various European record labels, which were only available in the US as imports. The group crossed over to American audiences in the early 2000s by signing to the Los Angeles-based Hellcat Records label, through which they have released three albums since 2002. The Nekromantix' eighth album, Life Is a Grave & I Dig It!, was released in April 2007.
HistoryFormationThe Nekromantix were formed in 1989 in Copenhagen by Kim Nekroman after he left the Danish Navy, in which he had been a submarine radio operator.[title=Romancing the Bones] Deciding to launch a new career in music, he initially played drums in a rockabilly band prior to the foundation of Nekromantix.Citation needed
After six months of practice and two local performances in Copenhagen at the Stengade 30 club, the Nekromantix appeared at large psychobilly festival in Hamburg, Germany.Citation needed Lineup changesIn 1992 both Peek and Sandorff left the band
. They were replaced by guitarist Jan Daggry and drummer Tim Kristensen, who used the stage names Ian Dawn ("Dawn" being an English translation of the Danish name Daggry) and Grim Tim Handsome. This lineup recorded the album Brought Back to Life, released in 1994, which earned a Grammy Award nomination for "Best Heavy Metal Album."
At a 1996 festival in Cologne, Germany Nekroman met fellow Copenhagen native Patricia Day, with whom he launched a new band called HorrorPops with himself on guitar and Day on double bass and lead vocals.Citation needed
International successIn 1997 Peter Sandorff returned to Nekromantix, bringing along his brother, Kristian, to play drums. In 1999 the band played a tenth-anniversary performance at Stengade 30 in Copenhagen, where they had performed their first shows after forming the band.Citation needed
Move to AmericaFollowing the release of Return of the Loving Dead Nekroman relocated to Los Angeles, touring and recording two albums with the HorrorPops. The Sandorff brothers remained in Denmark, and recording of the Nekromantix' 2004 album ''Dead Girls Don't Cry'' was done almost entirely in Los Angeles, with only Peter Sandorff's backing vocals recorded in Copenhagen. In April 2005 the Sandorffs left the band leaving only Nekroman in band.[title=Nekromantix Lose Guitarist, Drummer] To replace them Nekroman recruited guitarist Troy Russel (Tröy Deströy) and drummer James Mesa (Wasted James) of the California-based psychobilly band the Rezurex. That year the band's third album Brought Back to Life was remastered and re-released by Hellcat under the title Brought Back Again.
Recent activityIn May 2006 Meza left the Nekromantix, later joining Tiger Army. He was replaced by Andrew Martinez (Andy DeMize) of The Rocketz. The Nekromantix' most recent album, Life Is a Grave & I Dig It!, was released in April 2007. In November 2007 the band announced Tröy Deströy's departure to focus on a solo career. Pete Belair of the Australian band Firebird was announced as the band's new guitarist and performed with them during their 2008 tours, living in Australia complicated things and Franc, formerly of Barcelona-based Nightbreed and Ultimo Asalto, joined as a permanent guitarist.
On January 11, 2009 Martinez was killed in an automobile collision.[publisher =Punknews.org][title=Nekromantix drummer Andy DeMize, 25, dies in car crash ] The following month it was announced that Lux, formerly of Mystery Hangup and Sacred Storm, would be Martinez's replacement. The band's first female member, Lux stated that the Nekromantix would tour North America with Reverend Horton Heat during the summer and record a new album later in the year.[publisher =Punknews.org]
In September 2009, Nekromantix announced they will be touring with Rob Zombie.
Band membersCurrent members- Kim Nekroman – Contrabass, vocals (1989–present)
- Franc – guitar, backing vocals (2008–present)
- Lux – drums (2009–present)
Past members- Paolo Molinari – guitar (1989)
- Jens Brygman – drums (1989))
- Peek (Sebastian) – drums (1989–1993)
- Peter Sandorff – guitar, backing vocals (1989–1993, 1997–2005)
- Ian Dawn (Jan Daggry) – guitar, backing vocals (1993–1994)
- Emil Oelund – guitar (1994–1995)
- Thormod – guitar (1995)
- Søren Munk Petersen – guitar, backing vocals (1995–1996)
- Grim Tim Handsome (Tim Kristensen) – drums (1993–1996)
- Kristian Sandorff – drums (2000–2005)
- Wasted James (James Meza) – drums (2005–2006)
- Tröy Deströy – guitar, backing vocals (2005–2007)
- Pete Belair – guitar, backing vocals (2007–2008)
- Andy DeMize (Andrew Martinez) – drums (2006–2009)
DiscographyAlbumsSinglesVideographyMusic videos
Copyright Citations
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