THE HIRED GUNS -
Members in the band does vary a bit but I am lucky to have with me some of the finest country, roots and bluegrass musicians in Norway such as steelguitarists and dobroplayers TORE "STEEL" BLESTRUD and SVEINUNG LILLEHEIER (who also sometimes picks up the fiddle), string pickers like OLAV TORGEIR KOPSLAND (also plays steelguitar, dobro and mandolin), RUNAR GRANHEIM or DANIEL GULLIEN.
Solid rocks in the back are FINN HAKON BORGI or BJORN "HONKY" HAGLUND on drums (sings harmonies like noone else and guitarist in the great surf band BEAT TORNADOS). On bass is mainly ERLEND HOLLAND and also sometimes DANIEL GULLIEN.
It is a true privilige to be able to make music and have so much fun with these great guys.
Influences
Everything that rocks, swing and touches my heart - my top favorite artists are JOHNNY CASH who's been with me from the cradle, he was my mothers favorite. I remember well the cover picture on "RIDE THIS TRAIN". As a kid I thought that guy must have been the boogie man - real spooky and still is. I still have the record and the cover.
NEIL YOUNG and JONI MITCHELL have also been with me for longer than I remember. Then there is of course HANK WILLIAMS as songwriter and GEORGE JONES as singer. MARTY STUART and DWIGHT YOAKAM are artists that history will preserve and elevate up that same level, much due to their contributions to save and preserve the spirit of country music and take it further (no contradiction there), - as opposed to other fakes that will be forgotten just as fast as they hit the charts and made their fortunes.
Another influence and inspiration these day is a young norwegian lady who just released a fantastic album with her own songs - check out MONICA NORDLI at www.monicanor.com and at myspace. BRENNEN LEIGH is a remarkable talent and a big inspiration. An amazing singer, songwriter and a fantastic mandolinplayer! Check www.brennenleigh.com
A norwegian musician and incredible guitar player who I really look up to is KNUT REIERSRUD. Check out his site www.knutreiersrud.no. I cannot get past JACO PASTORIUS who I never get tired of listening too, specially his solo albums. A sad tragic story of great talent wasted...
Last but not least, there are all the great musicians, including my beauteful daughter MALIN, that I am so incredibly lucky to be playing with, and good friends and family who supports me with enthusiasm and a great deal of patience. Thanks for all the fun.
Sounds Like
Nothing else.., myself and the great guys that I play with.
IVAR THOMAS is from the small paradise island of Veierland in the south of Norway, and now lives with his family in Oslo and at Veierland. After many years at sea and a changing musical past, he is now grounded, land based and steadily playing the music he enjoys the most.
The main activity is performing solo or with his great backing band, THE HIRED GUNS but Ivar also plays bass in the Telemark based band BIG BULL BAND and takes on other bass gigs.
He draws his inspiration from good friends and fellow musicians, from his many trips to the live music mecca of Austin TX and from listening to all the great music out there.
Vi tackar för vänskapen! Välkommen in till oss och lyssna. Det är sköna låtar med refränger man gärna nynnar med i och - dom fastnar! Vi finns nu även på Spotify!
Hei. Ny skive "Love/Death" ligger på siden min i noen dager nå. Sjekk ut hvis du har tid og lyst:-) Håper ellers alt er bra! Blir det noe køntrispelling i Sarpsborg?
Today I like to inform you, that you can read and watch interviews with your favorit country stars in Enlgish, German and French at http://www.CountryHome.de/Interviews .
Warm regards
Christian
Editor & Journalist for Country Music Christian Lamitschka An der Pfingstweide 28 61118 Bad Vilbel Germany Phone: ++49 6101 544613 Mobil: ++49 171 6903352 Ch.Lamitschka@t-online.de Info@CountryMusic-Magazin.de www.MySpace.com/ChristianLamitschka
Klassekampen tirsdag 18 august i spalten "Sekser uten terning" : "Hunting A Dream" nytt album fra Norges tøffeste countryrock dame. I salg fra mandag 27 august. Slippfest på Buckley's i Arbeidergata torsdag 27 august kl 21. Vælkommin!
We have just released 3 songs from our debut album on our MySpace page. It would be awesome if you could listen to them and let us know what you think...
Hey ! Thanks for the friendship and the best of luck and happiness for you... Stop by anytime and let me know what you think of my art and or maybe even download one for yourself or a friend. Thanks again and keep on rockin and rollin…
