Swans of Avon
| Swans of Avon | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| origin | Recklinghausen , Germany |
| Genre (s) | Dark rock , alternative rock , gothic rock , dark wave |
| founding | 1992 |
| Website | www.swansofavon.com |
| Founding members | |
| Dirk Sonnet | |
| Jan D. | |
| Volli C. | |
| Janus | |
| Current occupation | |
Vocals, guitar |
Dirk Sonnet |
Guitar, vocals |
Raphael Weber |
bass |
Tim Strauss |
| Henning Rossa | |
Drums |
Daniel Guthausen |
Swans of Avon is a band from Recklinghausen , which was founded by the songwriter and singer Dirk Sonnet. Sonnet is the head and permanent member of the band. The original line-up until 1994 consisted of Dirk Sonnet (vocals, guitar, lyrics), Jan D. (bass), Volli C. (keyboard, flute, violin) and Janus (drums). After numerous changes of line-up and serious label problems, the Swans of Avon disbanded for the time being at the end of 2000. Sonnet reformed the band some time later.
The band name was based on Swan of Avon , an Antonomasie that the English playwright and poet Ben Jonson used for William Shakespeare .
history
Inspired by the music of groups like Christian Death , Bauhaus , The Cure and Depeche Mode , Swans of Avon was founded in 1992. After a demo cassette in 1993, the band debuted a few months later with the mini-album When Heaven Falls , which received consistently positive reviews. The independent magazine Zillo described the music as a “dark wave of the more exciting kind”.
With the 1995 MCD Trust the Angels , Swans of Avon became known in the USA . In New York, the single placed in the top ten of the alternative college charts and became a dance hit in the Manhattan nightclub "The Limelight".
The band played several concerts as the opening act, for example in 1993 for the group Shadow Project (featuring Rozz Williams ) in the Bochum discotheque Zwischenfall . The high points of their performances were the second Sacrosanct Festival in Astoria / London on August 11, 1996 and a concert in the support program of the rock band Liquido in Holland.
Although the second album Sky of Candlelight was completely composed and announced for 1996, the release came to nothing due to label- related difficulties. Several negotiations with various record companies failed, so that the band gradually fell apart and at the end of 2000 ceased their activities.
In 2003 the Swans of Avon returned after a long creative break with the double album Alive , which contains old and unreleased material as well as new songs on which the band combines influences from different musical styles such as alternative rock or trip-hop .
Dirk Sonnet
Dirk Sonnet is the only permanent member of the band. In addition to his work with Swans of Avon, Sonnet was also temporarily active as a guitarist with Secret Discovery . He is also a producer and remixer. Among other things, he remixed two tracks by De / Vision for their 2002 album remixed, and a year later the track On Dark Days by the electronica formation Ncor for their maxi of the same name.
Side projects
Raphael Weber is active alongside Swans of Avon as guitarist and lead singer of the rock band Soulbreed .
Discography
- 1993: When Heaven Falls (MC)
- 1994: Kingdom of Thoughts (MC)
- 1994: Celebrating a Dream (MC)
- 1994: When Heaven Falls (CD)
- 1995: Trust the Angels (MC)
- 1995: Trust the Angels (MCD)
- 1996: Caranirvana (MC)
- 1996: When Heaven Falls (CD + Bonus)
- 1997: Ritual Faith (MC)
- 2003: Alive (DCD)
Remixes
- 2002: Your Hands On My Skin (Sonnet Shuttle Mix) - on the album "remixed" by De / Vision
- 2002: I Regret (Sonnet JAB Mix) - on the album "remixed" by De / Vision
- 2003: On Dark Days (Sonnet Chrome Remix) - on the single "On Dark Days" by Ncor
swell
- ^ Black Musik-Magazin · Issue 34 · Interview with Swans of Avon · Page 22 · December 2003 / January 2004
- ↑ Zillo Music Magazine · Issue No. 2/94 Report on the Swans of Avon Page 30 February 1994
- ↑ The Gothic Grimoire · Issue 2/96 · Interview with Swans of Avon · Page 12 · 1996
- ^ Black Musik-Magazin · Issue 34 · Interview with Swans of Avon · Page 22 · December 2003 / January 2004
- ^ Black Musik-Magazin · Issue 34 · Interview with Swans of Avon · Page 22 · December 2003 / January 2004