Biography
It was the year 2000. Prophecies spoke of massive computer breakdowns, meteor showers and even apocalypse to end the millennium. Mass hysteria reigned and societies were on the brink of chaos. But nothing happened—apparently. Apocalypse never came and the computers pulled through. Instead the new millennium gave birth to Amnesia, the band which would set the standards for the next millennium.
The band was formed when Kim Anders, Marius and Trond were at school, just playing some tunes for fun. Kim Anders was a singer/guitar player, Marius as well a guitar player and Trond a drummer. So they needed someone to play the bass guitar. The bass was unknown to all of them, but then something happened that the bass guitar did not intend. It was picked up by the most unlikely creature imaginable, a rhythm less guitar player. Marius had never touched a bass guitar before, therefore it sounded pretty shitty that day. But thanks to Kim Anders' skills and Trond's beats, they managed to keep the sound together. And it was on that late spring day, in the year 2000, that the three guys made their first song, “Like me.” They played this song on their first live show at their school later that spring. Marius was sick so a guy called Sven did the bass on Amnesia's debut concert.
During the summer a new member joined Amnesia. His name was Magne and he was Trond's older brother. Magne's task was to do the keys, which he managed pretty well. During Amnesia's career, Magne never fell out of the rhythm. The band practiced a few times during that summer in Kim Anders' garage, but it was first when the summer became autumn that Amnesia really got into the rehearsal rooms. They booked time at a local rock 'n' roll workshop and started practicing each Friday. But they did not do any more shows. They stayed in the rehearsal room. And some things that should not have been forgotten were lost.
History became legend, legend became myth and for six and a half months, the band passed out of all knowledge, until when chance came, they played a second show. This show was in a church. A Christian youth organization organized a show where young people could get on stage and do their thing. Amnesia's thing was definitely rock 'n' roll. The four-piece played two songs at this show, “Like me” and “Lost.” “Like me” is a rockin' tune and “Lost” is pretty much a ballad. The guys were shaking from nervousness, and Marius was even interviewed on stage. Despite the fact that they were all nervous wrecks, the two songs turned out good. Later that night a bunch of Christian kids crewed up and told Amnesia that they were great rockers.
The next concert was a Christmas show at their rock 'n' roll workshop, right before Christmas 2000. Trond was sick so the band was desperately in need of a step-in. Alex, singer/guitar player of the then infamous Exergonic, later known as Krace, did the drums. He did not get more than a few hours to practice together with Amnesia and the show turned out totally out of rhythm. Still it was fun, and Amnesia played five fine songs of pure rock 'n' roll.
Amnesia kept practicing and made tons of new songs, and in late winter 2001 they played another show, which was up until then their biggest show. It was a competition with bands from the entire region. Amnesia however, was knocked out. It was a great performance, but Magne was sick, and no step-in was to be found. So they played the show without keyboards, which are pretty important to Amnesia's sound. Amnesia played two songs at this show and one of them was “Lost.”
The four guys kept touring and later that year, in the early summer time, Amnesia played a show alone at this place called “Vårtun.” It really was a great show. The audience went nuts; Kim Anders climbed onto the loud speakers and rocked his guitar, while Marius sat on his knees, rocking the bass on the floor, among the wild crowd. When “Like me” was played, the mike was handed out to one guy in the audience who screamed on the top of his lounges. Magne was the only one not out of rhythm. His brother just got more and more drunk, and played faster and faster until he rose up and played standing. Amnesia played somewhere in between eight and ten songs that night. Everyone who was not there sure missed out on some great rocking tunes.
For the rest of that year they continued playing shows and making songs, and on 3 November, 2001 they participated in another competition. Amnesia played “Like me,” which was very changed since it originated. The people fixing the sound really fucked up, so Magne and Marius could not hear anything but the keyboard. People in the crowd however, said it sounded OK. Three hundred people showed up to see this event, and the audience voted Amnesia as their favourite. Amnesia therefore won the “audience price” and ran away with a check for one thousand NOK (which had to be used at a local music equipment store).
As with all decent rock 'n' roll bands, Amnesia also had band fights. In the winter of 2001/2002 Trond lost interest and ceased to enjoy playing the drums. He brought Amnesia an unnatural long life. For one and a half years he played the drums, and in the gloom of Amnesia's rehearsal room he waited. Darkness crept back into the rock 'n' roll workshop. Rumour grew of a new drummer, whispers of a nameless drum machine, and Trond perceived that his time had now come. He abandoned Amnesia. This was first official when Amnesia played their, until now, last show. Trond was not behind the drums; instead a new guy called Victor was slamming the sticks. This was in summer 2002 at an arrangement called “Parkrock,” where Amnesia played seven songs. The entire show was recorded, and a CD was released containing one song from each participating band. Amnesia's contribution is a slow song called “Come with me.” But Victor never committed to the band, so Amnesia was without a drummer. At current date, it seems Amnesia is not going to play together anymore. Kim Anders is involved with different music projects and so is Marius. Trond is busy playing football and eight ball, and Magne is now a postman and even a student.
Nevertheless, Amnesia has just finished their studio sessions and a demo with approximately ten songs will soon be ready. But the recorded songs are just a mere documentation of what once was.
The reports of our resurrection were greatly exaggerated.
“It used to be about the music.” – Marius, 13 March, 2003