Genre(s):
Melodic Heavy Metal
Lyrical Theme(s):
Politics, World Hunger, Oppression of People, Love
Origin:
Denmark (Horsens)
Formed In:
1981
Status:
Active
Current line-up:
Ronnie Atkins (aka Paul Christensen) - Vocals (1982-) (L.A.)
Ken Hammer (aka Kenneth Hansen) - Guitars (1981-) (Silvergrey Acid, Roads)
Hasse "Hal" Patino - Bass (2010-) (Force of Evil, Blakk Totem, Maltese Falcon, Palladion, Doctor Butcher, Disaster Peace, King Diamond, =Y=)
Allan Tschicaja - Drums (2006-) (Jane Doe, Furious Trauma, Royal Hunt, Missing Tide)
Morten Sandager - Keyboards (2006-) (Mercenary (Dnk))
Former/Past Member(s):
Guitars:
Pete Collins (aka Jan Piete) (1982-1984, 1985-1986)
Rick Hanson (aka Kim Hansen) (1984) (Shylock (Dnk))
Chris "Angel" Gerhardt Schleifer (1987-1988) (live only) (Bonfire, Sinner (Deu))
Benny Petersen (Mercyful Fate, Evil (Dnk), Encore)
Ricky Marx (aka Henrik Mark) (1989-1991)
Bass:
John Darrow aka Johnny Møller (1981-1984) (Lost Connection, Back to Black, Attica)
Allan Delong (aka Allan Klitgård Jensen) (1984-1991) (Shylock (Dnk), Addiction)
Kenn Jackson (aka Kenn Lund Jacobsen) (1991-2010) (White Mountain)
Keyboards:
Dominic Gale (1990-1996, 1998-1999) (The Shout, Kilkenny's, Finn Nørbygaard)
Alan 'Stevie' Owen (aka Allan Nielsen) - Keyboards (1982-1990 as a full-time member, since then as studio member)
Drums:
Phil Moorheed/More/Morehead (aka Henrik Andersen) (1981-1991)
Michael Fast Petersen (1991-2005) (Hero (Dnk), Fanny Hill, The Glam Gang, Deccoband)
Backing vocals:
Knud Lindhard (one of the most frequently used backing singers in Denmark)
Additional notes
Started out as a cover band in 1981 (with Hammer, Darrow and More in the lineup) playing (mostly) Thin Lizzy covers but with the addition of Ronnie Atkins in 1982 they started writing their own material.
Since Pretty Maids didn't break through in USA, Allan Delong, Ricky Marx and Phil More left the band in 1991 leaving just Atkins and Hammer. The band was actually split up for a little while but then Atkins and Hammer decided that the over-produced Jump the Gun shouldn't be the epitaph of Pretty Maids and then they found Jackson (who were the boyfriend of Hammer's niece) and Fast (Fast had formerly played in Kalundborg-based Hero and he and Hammer had talked about doing something together and so Fast became a member of PM).
The first album with the new Lineup, Sin-decade, won a Danish Grammy Award in 1993.
The Danish song, Det bedste til mig og mine venner, which appears on the "B est of... Back To Back" is taken from the tribute album FiFi Dong, which was a tribute to legendary Danish rock group Gasolin'.
In 1998, Pretty Maids received another Danish Grammy Award: This time for the Spooked album.
In December 2003 Ken Hammer was diagnosed with a blood clot in his heart but made a full recovery.
Summer 2005: Michael Fast leaves the band after a 14 year run. The band currently finds themselves without a drummer but continue working on material for the next album.
Since Pretty Maids didn't break through in USA, Allan Delong, Ricky Marx and Phil More left the band in 1991 leaving just Atkins and Hammer. The band was actually split up for a little while but then Atkins and Hammer decided that the over-produced Jump the Gun shouldn't be the epitaph of Pretty Maids and then they found Jackson (who were the boyfriend of Hammer's niece) and Fast (Fast had formerly played in Kalundborg-based Hero and he and Hammer had talked about doing something together and so Fast became a member of PM).
The first album with the new Lineup, Sin-decade, won a Danish Grammy Award in 1993.
The Danish song, Det bedste til mig og mine venner, which appears on the "B est of... Back To Back" is taken from the tribute album FiFi Dong, which was a tribute to legendary Danish rock group Gasolin'.
In 1998, Pretty Maids received another Danish Grammy Award: This time for the Spooked album.
In December 2003 Ken Hammer was diagnosed with a blood clot in his heart but made a full recovery.
Summer 2005: Michael Fast leaves the band after a 14 year run. The band currently finds themselves without a drummer but continue working on material for the next album.
Discography:
Pretty Maids - 1982 Demo [demo] - 1982
Pretty Maids - Pretty Maids [ep] - 1983
Pretty Maids - 1983 Demo [demo] - 1983
Pretty Maids - Demo II [demo] - 1984
Pretty Maids - Red, Hot And Heavy [full-length] - 1984
Pretty Maids - Red Hot And Heavy [single] - 1985
Pretty Maids - Waitin' For The Time [single] - 1985
Pretty Maids - Demo [demo] - 1985
Pretty Maids - Demo 1986 [demo] - 1986
Pretty Maids - Love Games [ep] - 1987
Pretty Maids - Future World [single] - 1987
Pretty Maids - Love Games [single] - 1987
Pretty Maids - Future World [full-length] - 1987
Pretty Maids - Savage Heart [single] - 1990
Pretty Maids - Young Blood [single] - 1990
Pretty Maids - Jump The Gun [full-length] - 1990
Pretty Maids - In Santa's Claws [ep] - 1990
Pretty Maids - In The Minds Of The Young [single] - 1992
Pretty Maids - Please Don't Leave Me [single] - 1992
Pretty Maids - Please Don't Leave Me (Jap. Single) [single] - 1992
Pretty Maids - Sin-decade [full-length] - 1992
Pretty Maids - Offside [ep] - 1992
Pretty Maids - If It Ain't Gonna Change [single] - 1993
Pretty Maids - Stripped [full-length] - 1993
Pretty Maids - Walk Away [single] - 1994
Pretty Maids - Scream [full-length] - 1995
Pretty Maids - Screamin' Live [live album] - 1995
Pretty Maids - Hard Luck Woman [single] - 1997
Pretty Maids - If It Can't Be Love [single] - 1997
Pretty Maids - Spooked [full-length] - 1997
Pretty Maids - The Best Of...Back To Back [best of/compilation] - 1998
Pretty Maids - Hell On High Heels [single] - 1999
Pretty Maids - With These Eyes [single] - 1999
Pretty Maids - Anything Worth Doing, Is Worth Overdoing [full-length] - 1999
Pretty Maids - Massacre Classix Shape Edition [ep] - 1999
Pretty Maids - First Cuts...And Then Some [best of/compilation] - 1999
Pretty Maids - Clay [single] - 2000
Pretty Maids - For Once In Your Life [single] - 2000
Pretty Maids - Carpe Diem [full-length] - 2000
Pretty Maids - Planet Panic [full-length] - 2002
Pretty Maids - Alive At Least [live album] - 2003
Pretty Maids - Wake Up To The Real World [full-length] - 2006
Pretty Maids - Pandemonium [full-length] - 2010
Pretty Maids - It Comes Alive (Maid In Switzerland) [live] - 2012
Pretty Maids - Motherland [full-length] - 2013
Pretty Maids - Kingmaker [full-length] - 2016
*****
Official site:
http://www.prettymaids.dk
http://www.myspace.com/pmaids
http://www.youtube.com/prettymaidsdenmark
