Kaizers Orchestra

Kaizers Orchestra (also known as simply Kaizers, mostly to fans) is an alternative rock group, formed in Norway on January 1, 2000. The current band members are Janove Ottesen (a.k.a. The Jackal, lead vocal), Geir Zahl (a.k.a., 2nd guitar, 2nd vocal, oil barrels), Rune Solheim (aka.Mink, drums), Terje Winterstø Røthing (a.k.a. Killmaster, 1st guitar, oil barrels, backing vocals), Øyvind Storesund (a.k.a.Thunder, double bass, whistler) and Helge Risa (a.k.a. Omen, pump organ, piano, accordion). The sextet is well known for their energetic live shows, the interlocking stories found in their lyrics, about the mafia, war, underground resistance groups and mental institutions, as well as their trademark 1940 gas mask, worn by Helge.

Kaizers Orchestra was formed by Janove and Geir in 1999. The two childfriends had earlier created several bands together before, like gnom and Blod, Snått og Juling. Like with their old bands, all songs are sung in the Norwegian Bryne (Bryne, Stavanger is Janove and Geir's hometown) dialect. Despite the release of their only album Mys, any recognition eluded gnom. However, one song they during gnom's active period, called "Bastard", received such response from the not-so-large crowds, and, with its Tom Waits-inspired melody and lyrics, as well as the unusual inclusion of oil barrels as percussion, inspired them to reinvent their sound, image and name. While Janove and Geir's past bands had a more folk/pop sound, Kaizers Orchestra was going to be entirely different. Drummer Rune Solheim and organ player Helge Risa who had been playing with them in gnom, joined the new band. Jon Sjøen, an educated musician also joined as their stand-up bass player.

Kaizers Orchestra played shows around Norway as a nearly unknown band (save perhaps in the Stavanger area) in 2000. They recorded an unnamed EP in 2000, known as Gul EP (Yellow EP), featuring a recording of "Bastard" (which had, despite its response, not been recorded while gnom was active). After months of struggling, they finally signed a deal with the indie label BroilerFarm. In 2001, they also signed up a new member for the band, Terje Vinterstø, as their first guitarist. Their first album, Ompa til du dør, released in 2001, received top marks from nearly all the high-profile publications in Norway, and went on to become the best selling rock album ever in Norway, and won a Spellemannspris (the norwegian equivalent of the Grammy awards). The beginning of 2002 saw the release of their second EP, Død manns tango. Later in 2002, they released another EP, Mann mot mann and played their first show outside of Norway; at the prestigious Roskilde Festival, to much critical praise. In January 2003, they were present at the Eurosonic festival in Groningen, the Netherlands, where they made a huge impression on the Dutch audience. Later in 2003, Kaizers released a remastered version of their gnom record, Mys, including a recording of "Bastard" which was not originally on the record, while being a gnom composition.

On February 3, 2003, their second studio album, Evig pint was released. This album had a darker atmosphere, and included only one song with their trademark oil barrels. It received nearly as much critical praise as Ompa til du dør, however, it did not sell as well. In 2004, they signed a record deal with Universal Germany and most of their old releases were re-released around Europe. By this time, the Kaizers had toured nearly all major countries of Europe. In 2005, they released their third studio album, Maestro which was released in certain european countries as well as Norway. The album received a majority of positive reviews, however, some were disappointed (the album received the lowest marks given from a Swedish magazine in some time) and the albums did not sell as well as expected in the european countries besides Norway, something which Kaizers blamed on little support and promotion from Universal Germany. Nevertheless, the Kaizers embarked on the "Maestro Tour", spanning over ten countries, lasting until early 2006.

After the release of their first live album, Live at Vega and live DVD, Viva La Vega in 2006, Kaizers announced that they were going to have a one-year hiatus from performing in 2007. The "Grand Finale Tour" commenced, spanning more than 10 countries, culminating in four consecutive shows at Vega, Copenhagen, Denmark, the same concert hall in which Live at Vega and Viva La Vega were recorded. Also in 2006, a book about Kaizers Orchestra and their past, present and future, chronicling their rise from small-time guitar duo to one of the better-known live acts ever from Norway, "Kontroll på kontinentet" was released. It was written by Geir Zahl's brother Jan and featured photos taken by their staff photographer Paal Audestad.

In 2007, the Kaizers, despite their announcement of a complete hiatus from live performances, played three shows; One at their old favourite, the club Folken in Stavanger, at the Documenta 12 art expo in Germany, and the Sziget Festival in Hungary. Shortly after the Sziget show, the Kaizers released information about their fourth album. The album title was revealed to be Maskineri released in 2008. Then came live album called "250 Prosent". Not to mention "Våre Demoner" in 2009. An album containing B songs that never made it on any album.
From then on the band embarked on a journey of a trilogy of albums. Violeta Violeta I was released in 2011. The album contained the band's greatest hit to date "Hjerteknuser". Violeta Violeta II was released later the same year, and in 2012 the band released Violeta Violeta III.
In 2013 the band announced that they were going on hiatus and played a huge arena show in Bergen for 22 000 people and 8 times in DNB Arena (6.000 capacity) in Stavanger, Norway.
On 11.11.22 the band announced new shows for Autumn 2023. All 56 shows sold out in less than half an hour. Kaizers Orchestra are back!