Emmerhoff & The Melancholy Babies

Always somewhat outsiders of Bergen, Norway's thriving music scene (just think of Turbonegro or Motorpsycho!), EMMERHOFF & THE MELANCHOLY BABIES have since the late Nineties been carving out their own niche, far removed from "quiet is the new loud" ramblings and electronic pop favoured by some of their fellow Bergen dwellers. The guitar, unplugged or electrified, has and will always be EMMERHOFF's weapon of choice.

In 1996, EMMERHOFF & THE MELANCHOLY BABIES were formed, originally to perform material from Gunnar Emmerhoffs low-budget solo album, The Joy of Mourning. There was no denying the immediate group chemistry, though. Using their common love of Led Zeppelin as the main fuel and mixing that with the band members diverse individual influences, they set out to create the sound that still keeps them one of the most identifiable bands today; melodic, dynamic and charismatic - sometimes quiet, sometimes monumental, always intense and always willing to explore to the full the sonic possibilities of the three guitars, bass and drums line-up.



Band members from 1998 onwards:



Gunnar Emmerhoff, vocals, guitars

Inge Joakim Rypdal, guitars

Iver Sandoey, drums

Arild Vikane, guitars

Einride Torvik, bass



All five men were born and raised in rural areas scattered around the west coast of Norway. A definite closeness to the elements may have had an impact on their fondness for applying musical dynamics with such ease, and their ongoing quest to create music as diverse as the coastal meteorology itself