Mads Eriksen (musician)

Mads Eriksen
Background information
Born 12 October 1962
Bergen, Hordaland
Origin Norway
Genres Rock
Occupation(s) Musician, composer
Instruments Guitar
Labels MTG Music, Storyteller
Associated acts Mads Eriksen Band
Mad & Hungry
Sharks & Whales
Website www.madseriksen.com

Mads Eriksen (born 12 October 1962 in Bergen, Norway) is a Norwegian guitarist and composer, known as solo artist and for his cooperation with Chris Thompson among others.[1]

Career

Eriksen and Frank Hovland at Rootsfestivalen in Brønnøysund 2008.

Eriksen was born in Bergen and picked up the guitar at twelve, and started the band «Lorraine» in 1976 together with schoolmates (including keyboardist Hans-Petter Isaksen & bassist Roar Nilson) from Nattland primary school.[1] He got the role as "local guitar hero" inspired by Jimi Hendrix and Stones guitarist Keith Richards, playing at school dances. He continued appearing in various local bands, including «Sharks & Whales» (the continuation of «Lorraine» now including Hans-Petter Isaksen & bassist Ole Vaksdal) with the album Reaped by Man released in 1988.

After being labeled "A cross between Joe Satriani and Eddie Van Halen" by the Guitar Player Magazine in 1989,[2] Eriksen has embarked on a solo recording career together with producer and bassist Frank Hovland. In 1989 he debuted as a solo artist with the album Journey, and has released a total of eight solo albums since then. Among other releases is the album Rediscovery which was released together with previous Manfred Mann's Earth Band guitarist and vocalist Chris Thompson.[1]

In 1993 Eriksen was invited to contribute to the 150th anniversary of Edvard Grieg's birth. The result was a mini-CD called Intermission Troldhaugen (1993), where he interpreted six compositions by Grieg on electric guitar. This was also the year Eriksen participated in the band Jordal Express with Helge Jordal, Gisle Johnsen, Eirik «Pytten» Hundvin and Magne Lunde. The following year he was appointed musical ambassador of Norway in the U.S.[1][2]

Eriksen has also performed with Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra among other symphony orchestras. In the spring of 2009 he toured with Ronni Le Tekrø (TNT) og Terje Rypdal under the name N3 (short for Norwegian Three).[3]

Eriksen has been working full-time as a guitarist and guitar teacher since 1988. In addition to many private students, he has taught in the municipal musical schools in Bergen and Sund. From 1989 he held a permanent position as part-time teacher of electric guitar at Voss Folk High School until 2001. Since 1994 he has been frequently used as teacher at the Bergen College of Education, Åsane Folk High School, Voss high school and Kongshaug music college.[4]

Honors

Discography

Solo albums

Within Mad & Hungry, with Hungry John (Magnar Bernes)

Collaborations

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Eriksen, Mads - Biography MIC.no". (in Norwegian)
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "Chris Thompson & Mads Eriksen band - KvalitetsArtister.no". (in Norwegian)
  3. ↑ "N3-Norwegian3 - Norwegian3.com". (in Norwegian)
  4. ↑ "Instruktørene 2012 - RockeSommer.no". (in Norwegian)
  5. ↑ "Mads Eriksen Guitarist - Press - MadsEriksen.com".
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 "Mads Eriksen Discography - KulturNett.no". (in Norwegian)
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 7.8 7.9 "Mads Eriksen Discography - RadioLudo.no". (in Norwegian)
  8. ↑ "Mad & Hungry Review - Puls BA.no". (in Norwegian)
  9. ↑ "Helge Jordal - Stjerneklart". NRK.no (in Norwegian)
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 "Mads Eriksen Discography - CDUniverse.com".
  11. ↑ "Chris Thompson – Live". Discogs.com.
  12. ↑ "Off the Records ... - SharksAndWhales.no". (in Norwegian)
  13. ↑ "Chris Thompson – Timeline". Discogs.com.
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