Pretty Maids
- MEMBERS:
- Ronnie Atkins (Paul Christensen) – lead vocals
- Ken Hammer (Kenneth Hansen) – guitar
- Rene Shades (Rene Sehic) – bass
- Chris Laney – keyboards, guitar
- Allan Sørensen – drums
BIOGRAPHY
Pretty Maids are a Danish hard rock/heavy metal band from Horsens, Denmark. Formed in 1981 by Ronnie Atkins and Ken Hammer, their sound and music can be described as classic guitar-laden heavy rock with a strong emphasis on melodic elements like vocals and keyboards.
Over the years, Pretty Maids have sold hundreds of thousands of records, but have never broken through in a major way, except in Japan during the 1990s. They have supported well known bands as Black Sabbath, Whitesnake, Deep Purple, Alice Cooper, and Saxon, and were also featured at the 1987 German version of Monsters of Rock, where Metallica headlined along with Deep Purple.
After a prolonged international touring hiatus before the release of the 2006 Wake Up to the Real World album, the band have every year since been touring their primary markets of Denmark, Sweden, Germany, and Spain.
In March 2014, Pretty Maids released their 13th studio album Louder Than Ever.
1980s
Pretty Maids were formed in 1981 by friends Ken Hammer and Ronnie Atkins in Horsens, Denmark. They were initially a cover band first named Pretty Pretty Panick, but soon started writing their own material and a self-financed demo resulted in a deal with the Englishrecord label Bullet Records.
In 1983, the band released their debut self-titled EP under the name Pretty Maids which is still the same today, and further recognition was fuelled by great reaction to their UK tour the same year. Inevitably the band outgrew their label, and in 1984 signed to CBS Records, who remixed and re-released their self-titled EP with a different cover.
In 1984, the band released their debut studio album, Red, Hot and Heavy, which was a success. More acclaim was followed with their second studio album, Future World, released in 1987. It was recorded in New York City with renowned producer Eddie Kramer. The album is considered to define the band’s definite sound, with typically aggressive rockers alongside more commercial, melodic moments.
1990s
The 1990 Follow up Jump the Gun, was produced by Deep Purple bassist Roger Glover, offered more of the same catchy riffs. The record label had put in all efforts to break the charts worldwide with this record, but it never took off, except in Japan. Whether it was lack of hits, marketing or they were simply another victim of grunge music is unknown, but the record didn’t live up to expectations. The band more or less broke up after the lack of success with this record, leaving only founding members Ron Atkins and Ken Hammer.
They would not quit, but however, so they recruited drummer Michael Fast and bass player Kenn Jackson, and went on to record Sin-Decade in 1992 with famed Metallicaproducer Flemming Rasmussen at the buttons. The album produced the hit single Please Don’t Leave Me – a John Sykes/Phil Lynott cover which opened the band up to an even wider audience of dongers.
The band did very well in Japan in the first half of the 90s and founded large fanbase over there. The Asian audience has a special craving for Pretty Maids’ ballads and more soft repertoire.
In 1995 however, the band really surprised the fans and critics by releasing the storming Scream. This was an altogether heavier and guitar-lead approach which gained numerous plaudits and saw the band release their first live album, Screamin’ Live.
The follow-up Spooked, released in 1997, was regarded by many as an instant classic, maintaining the energy and heaviness of Scream whilst still capturing the quintessential melody that is Pretty Maids.
1999’s Anything Worth Doing Is Worth Overdoing, whilst certainly having an overdone album title, also produced one of the songs of the year with Hell on High Heels, an absolute monster of commercial, hard driving rock.
2000s
In 2000 the Danish heavy rockers released the album Carpe Diem. A touch more melodic than their previous offerings – a fact that hasn’t gone down too well with certain factions of their fan-base, but this is still a classic album which has all the Pretty Maids trademarks in abundance.
In 2002 Pretty Maids released the album Planet Panic which was a trip back to the heavier sides of their catalogue.
In 2003 their management company Rock Onwent bankrupt due to some very unwise business moves in September 2002. This left Pretty Maids in a very bad financial situation and also left them with a lot of legal problems as well as lot of business and copyright mess.
Lead guitarist Ken Hammer was struck by a heart attack on December 6, 2003. He has since recovered completely and has been on stage numerous times since the incident.
As of July 2005 the drummer since 1991, Michael Fast, decided to leave before the recording of Wake Up to the Real World – an album that was originally intended to be released in 2005, but the initial recordings was postponed to the summer of 2006. In April 2006, new drummer Allan Tschicaja (Royal Hunt, Kingdom Come) was announced as Michael Fast’s replacement. In 2006, Morten Sandager (ex-Mercenary) joined Pretty Maids, playing the keyboards.
2010s
On May 14, 2010 Pretty Maids released their twelfth studio album, Pandemonium, through Frontiers Records, which was named one of their best albums. In April 2010, Pretty Maids announced that they have parted ways with bass player Kenn Jackson.
In May 2010, it was announced that American bass player Hal Patino (formerly of King Diamond) had replaced Jackson. Patino announced in April 2011 that he had left Pretty Maids.
Celebrating their 30th anniversary, Pretty Maids played a concert at Tivoli, Copenhagen, which featured Rene Shades [Mike Tramp] on bass. Rene Shades has replaced Hal Patino.
On September 15, 2012, Pretty Maids played in the USA for the first time in the Progressive festival ProgPower.
Pretty Maids released their thirteenth studio album Motherland on March 22 in Europe and on March 26 in North America through Frontiers Records. Ronnie Atkins has called it the band’s “best album song by song”.
In December 2015, Pretty Maids announced that their fourteenth studio album is set to be released in 2016.
In February 2016, Pretty Maids announced that keyboard player Morten Sandager had left the band.
In September 2016, Pretty Maids announced that Chris Laney has joined the band, playing keyboards and guitars.
Pretty Maids released their fifteenth studio album Kingmaker on November 4, 2016 through Frontiers Records.
On May 1, 2017 it was announced that drummer Allan Tschicaja had left the band. In a statement he said: “It’s been a difficult decision for me, but I want to focus more on family, friends and other projects.”He was replaced by Allan Sørensen on May 9, 2017, where he played for the first time with Pretty Maids on their opening slot for Kiss in Horsens, Denmark.
DISCOGRAPHY
Kingmaker / 2016
1. When God Took a Day Off
2. Kingmaker
3. Face the World
4. Humanize Me
5. Last Beauty on Earth
6. Bull’s Eye
7. King of the Right Here and Now
8. Heavens Little Devil
9. Civilized Monsters
10. Sickening
11. Was That What You Wanted (Look What You’ve Got)
Kingmaker is the fifteenth studio album by Danish hard rock/heavy metal Pretty Maids. The album was pre-released in Japan on October 21, 2016. In other areas, it was released on 4 November 2016 by Frontiers Records. It is the first album of all new material since Motherland (2013). Kingmaker is the first album without keyboard player Morten Sandager who left the band in February 2016 after joining Pretty Maids in 2006. Instead Kim Olesen of Anubis Gate plays keyboards on the album.
Louder Than Ever / 2014
1. Deranged
2. Playing God
3. Psycho-Time-Bomb-Planet-Earth
4. My Soul to Take
5. He Who Never Lived
6. Virtual Brutality
7. Tortured Spirit
8. With These Eyes
9. Nuclear Boomerang
10. Snakes in Eden
11. Wake Up to the Real World
12. A Heart Without a Home
Louder Than Ever is the fourteenth studio album by Danish hard rock/heavy metal Pretty Maids. It was released on March 21, 2014 by Frontiers Records. The album consists of re-recordings of eight previously released songs from the period 1994 to 2006, taken from the studio albums Scream (1994), Anything Worth Doing Is Worth Overdoing (1999), Carpe Diem (2000), Planet Panic (2002), and Wake Up to the Real World (2006). It also features the four new songs, “Deranged”, “My Soul to Take”, “Nuclear Boomerang”, and “A Heart Without a Home” which was recorded especially for the album.
Motherland / 2013
1. Mother of All Lies
2. To Fool a Nation
3. Confession
4. The Iceman
5. Sad to See You Suffer
6. Hooligan
7. Infinity
8. Why So Serious
9. Motherland
10. I See Ghosts
11. Bullet for You
12. Who What Where When Why
13. Wasted
Motherland is thirteenth album by Danish heavy metal band Pretty Maids. Album was released in March 2013.
Pandemonium / 2010
1. Pandemonium
2. I.N.V.U.
3. Little Drops of Heaven
4. One World One Truth
5. Final Day of Innocence
6. Cielo Drive
7. It Comes at Night
8. Old Enough to Know
9. Beautiful Madness
10. Breathless
11. It Comes at Night (Remix)
Pandemonium is twelft studio album by Danish heavy metal band Pretty Maids. Album was released in 2010.
Wake Up to the Real World / 2006
1. Wake Up To The Real World
2. All In The Name Of Love
3. I Am The End
4. As Guilty As You
5. Why Die For A Lie
6. Such A Rush
7. Where True Beauty Lies
8. Brave Young New Breed
9. Terminal Violence
10. Perfect Srangers
11. Another Shot Of Your Love
Wake Up to the Real World is the eleventh album by the Danish hard rock and heavy metal band Pretty Maids, released in 2006.
Planet Panic / 2002
1. Virtual Brutality
2. Playing God
3. He Who Never Lived
4. Face of My Enemy
5. Not What You Think
6. Natural High
7. Who’s Gonna Change
8. Worthless
9. One Way to Rock (Sammy Hagar cover)
10. Enter Forevermore
Planet Panic is the tenth studio album by the Danish hard rock band Pretty Maids. It was released in 2002 by Scanbox Entertainment in Scandinavia and Massacre Records in Germany. According to the band’s guitarist, Ken Hammer, they tried a more “electronic” sound for the album.
Carpe Diem / 2000
1. Violent Tribe
2. Carpe Diem
3. Tortured Spirit
4. Wouldn’t Miss You
5. Clay
6. Poisoned Pleasures
7. Until It Dies
8. The Unwritten Pages
9. For Once in Your Life
10. They’re All Alike
11. Time Awaits for No One
12. Invisible Chains
Carpe Diem is ninht studio album by Danish heavy metal band Pretty Maids.
Anything Worth Doing, Is Worth Overdoing / 1999
1. Snakes in Eden
2. Destination Paradise
3. Hell on High Heels
4. When the Angels Cry
5. Back Off
6. Only in America
7. With These Eyes
8. Anything Worth Doing Is Worth Overdoing
9. Scent of My Prey
10. Face Me
11. Loveshine
Anything Worth Doing, Is Worth Overdoing is eight studio album by Danish heavy metal band Pretty Maids.
Spooked / 1997
1. Resurrection
2. Freakshow
3. Dead or Alive
4. Die with Your Dreams
5. Fly Me Out
6. Live Until It Hurts
7. Spooked
8. Twisted
9. If It Can’t Be Love
10. Never Too Late
11. Your Mind Is Where the Money Is
12. Hard Luck Woman (KISS cover)
13. The One That Should Not Be
Spooked is seventh studio album by Danish heavy metal band Pretty Maids. Album was released via Massacre Records in 1997.
Scream / 1994
1. Rise
2. Scream
3. Psycho-Time-Bomb-Planet-Earth
4. This Love
5. Walk Away
6. No Messiah
7. In A World Of Your Own
8. Don’t Turn Your Sex On Me
9. Adrenalin Junkie
10. Anytime Anywhere
Scream is the fifth studio album by Danish hard rock/heavy metal band Pretty Maids. The album was released in Japan on October 13, 1994, and in Denmark on January 23, 1995 by Epic Records.
Stripped / 1993
1. If It Ain’t Gonna Change
2. Please Don’t Leave Me
3. In the Minds of the Young
4. Too Late, Loo Loud
5. Say the Word
6. 39″
7. Heartbeat from Heaven
8. How Does It Feel
9. I’ll Be There
10. Savage Heart
Stripped is the fifth studio album by the Danish hard rock/heavy metal band Pretty Maids, released on 6 September 1993 by Columbia Records. In 1992, Pretty Maids released an extended play with acoustic versions entitled Offside for the Japanese market. Due to the success of Offside, the band decided to record a full-length acoustic album with a mixture of new songs and cover songs. “Savage Heart” had previously been released on Jump the Gun (1990), and “Please Don’t Leave Me”, “In the Minds of the Young”, “39” and “Heartbeat from Heaven” were released on Offside.
Sin-Decade / 1992
1. Running Out
2. Who Said Money
3. Nightmare in the Neighbourhood
4. Sin-Decade
5. Come on Tough, Come on Nasty
6. Raise Your Flag
7. Credit Card Lover
8. Know It Ain’t Easy
9. Healing Touch
10. In the Flesh
11. Please Don’t Leave Me
Sin-Decade is the fourth studio album by the Danish hard rock/heavy metal band Pretty Maids. It was produced by Flemming Rasmussen and Pretty Maids, and released in 1992 by Columbia Records. The album includes the single “Please Don’t Leave Me” (a cover version of the John Sykes song) which has become Pretty Maids‘ signature song. It was later re-recorded in an acoustic version for the band’s fifth studio album, Stripped (1993).
Jump the Gun / 1990
1. Lethal Heroes
2. Don’t Settle for Less
3. Rock the House
4. Savage Heart
5. Young Blood
6. Headlines
7. Jump the Gun
8. Partners in Crime
9. Attention
10. Hang Tough
11. Over and Out
12. Dream On
Jump the Gun is the third studio album by the Danish hard rock/heavy metal band Pretty Maids. It was released on 20 April 1990 in Europe by CBS. In the US, the title was changed to Lethal Heroes and it was released by Epic Records. The album was produced by Deep Purple’s bass guitarist Roger Glover. According to CBS, it was then the most expensive album recording to date in Denmark, with a cost of around DKK 3–3.5 million.
Future World / 1987
1. Future World
2. Loud ‘n’ Proud
3. Love Games
4. Yellow Rain
5. Rodeo
6. We Came to Rock
7. Needles in the Dark
8. Eye of the Storm
9. Long Way to Go
Future World is the second album by the Danish hard rock/heavy metal band Pretty Maids. The album was released by CBS in 1987. By 1990, the album had sold 300,000 copies worldwide.The album charted at number 165 on the Billboard 200 in the United States.
Red Hot and Heavy / 1984
1. Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi (Carmina Burana)
2. Back to Back
3. Red, Hot and Heavy
4. Waitin’ For the Time
5. Cold Killer
6. Battle of Pride
7. Night Danger
8. A Place in the Night
9. Queen of Dreams
10. Little Darling
Red, Hot and Heavy is the first studio album by the Danish hard rock/heavy metal band Pretty Maids. The album was released in 1984 by CBS Records. The song “Night Danger” was used in the soundtrack for the horror film Demons (1985) by Lamberto Bava. In 2005, Red, Hot and Heavy was ranked number 437 in Rock Hard magazine’s book of The 500 Greatest Rock & Metal Albums of All Time.
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TOURDATES
| Date | Venue | City | Country | Info | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-10-25T18:00:00 | RuhrCongress Bochum | Bochum | Germany | Info | Tickets |
| 2024-10-27T19:00:00 | Z7 Konzertfabrik | Pratteln | Switzerland | Info | Tickets |
| 2024-12-05T20:00:00 | Amager Bio | Copenhagen | Denmark | Info | Tickets |
| 2024-12-06T20:00:00 | Amager Bio | Copenhagen | Denmark | Info | Tickets |