Hanzel und Gretyl

Hanzel und Gretyl

Hanzel und Gretyl in 2010
Background information
Also known as "HuG"
Origin New York City
Genres industrial metal, Neue Deutsche Härte
Years active 1993–present
Labels Energy Records
Metropolis Records
Website Official Site
Members Kaizer Von Loopy (guitar, vocals, programming)
Vas Kallas (vocals, bass)
Past members Chris Kling, Drums (Theo & the Skyscrapers)
Anna K, Bass (Drain STH, Revolting Cocks)
Mark Baker, Drums (Ministry)
Joe Letz, Drums (Combichrist) Greta Brinkman, Bass (Moby, Debbie Harry)
Jordan Marchini, Drums (Bella Morte)
Acey Slade, Bass (Joan Jett, Murderdolls), Misfits (band))
Jon Osterman, Drums
Fiona "Gingerbread" Doherty, Bass
Louis "Seven" Echeverria, Drums
Pat "5000" Wolff, Drums
Robbie Whiplash, Drums

Hanzel und Gretyl are an American industrial metal band, formed by members Kaizer Von Loopy and Vas Kallas in February 1993. In the 1990s, their sound was described as a genre-defying blend of sci-fi metal/electronic and experimental, but into the new millennium they invoked a heavier sound leaning more towards aggressive metal. Due to their heavy use of German lyrics, Germanic imagery, and German-sounding pseudonyms, they are often mistaken for being a German band, and are largely regarded as the only existing American Neue Deutsche Härte band of note. Contrary to a generalized public perception, Kaizer Von Loopy and Vas Kallas are based in New York City to which they are native, and are not German.

History

Machines Good People Bad (1995-1999)

Hanzel und Gretyl formed in early 1993. In April, 1994, they completed a demo entitled "Kindermusik". Of the 200 cassette tapes manufactured, most were sent to record labels and fanzines and some were sold on consignment at a local music store called Bleeker Bob's. In January 1995, after refusing offers from at least one major label to resubmit their demo with only English lyrics, they signed with Energy Records, an indie record label based in New York City. HuG recorded and released their first full-length album, Ausgeflippt, in October 1995. With lyrics in five different languages and no two songs sounding alike, the album made a clear statement as deviating from the often predictable and monochromatic themes of many electro and industrial bands of the time. The single "Shine 2001" topped the Alternative Press dance chart at No. 1 shortly after its release. Performing only several local shows on Manhattan's lower east side, they immediately embarked on two US tours with Marilyn Manson. The first in 1995 with Clutch as direct support and again in 1996 as direct support for Manson themselves.

In 1997, they released their second full-length album, Transmissions From Uranus, that featured a video game in which the object was to transform Loopy and Vas into alien-like insectoid space creatures. The enhanced CD was again cited for its progressive-minded musical stylings and groundbreaking technological advances. This led the band to tour the US extensively with Tommy Victor's Prong, giving them even broader exposure nationally. In between shows on Prong's Cold Fusion tour, Hanzel und Gretyl headlined a Halloween show in Des Moines, Iowa with hometown band Slipknot in direct support. During the same year, Hanzel und Gretyl's song "9D Galactik Center" appeared in New Line Cinema's Mortal Kombat: Annihilation and was also played at the 1997 MTV Music Awards. Furthermore, the song "Robot Logik" from the same album was used in radio commercials for the Howard Stern Show.

In 1998, clad in custom-made lederhosen, Hanzel und Gretyl toured the US in direct support of Germany's Rammstein on the band's first ever headlining tour of the states after meeting and playing with the band at a CMJ Music Marathon show in New York City. HuG also supported Rob Halford's 2wo in Los Angeles during the Rammstein tour.

In 1999 Hanzel und Gretyl completed a full-length CD entitled Oz Faktor that is currently unreleased by Energy Records. The CD depicts a displaced Hanzel und Gretyl lost in a quasi-"Wizard of Oz" type setting.

Fukken Über - (2003- 2013)

After a long hiatus due to the dissolving of their label, Energy Records, the band signed to Metropolis Records in 2002 and immediately began recording for their long anticipated third album, Über Alles. Described by Kaizer Von Loopy as a "futuristic Wagnerian rock opera" and released in 2003, it marked a distinct stylistic change for the band favoring heavy guitar riffs and Germanic themes over the more genre expanding electro-metal style for which they had become known in the 90s. The CD was met with a fair amount of controversy over its parodic cross-referencing of both German and American stereotypes set against a surreal and spaced-out WWII backdrop but nevertheless attained a four out of five star review in Kerrang! magazine and equally high praise from New York City's prestigious The Village Voice. Following the release of the album, the band toured the US as a headliner on their aptly named "Fukken Uber Tour" and later in direct support of The Genitorturers in the states and Canada after which they returned to the studio to record a new album. In September 2004, the band released their fourth album, Scheissmessiah. The album was immediately hailed as required listening for fans of industrial metal alongside Nine Inch Nails, KMFDM and Ministry by Revolver Magazine. Served up devilishly as a "Handel's Messiah from hell", HuG continued to grow harder and heavier touring the states in support of My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult and in direct support of Al Jourgensen's Ministry for a three-month stint on their "Evil Doer Tour" throughout the US and Canada. Hanzel und Gretyl co-headlined, along with Slick Idiot, the first Gothicfest at the Odeum Expo Center in Illinois. In 2006, the band toured across America and Canada as a headliner with label mates Bella Morte in direct support upon the release of the four-song EP "Oktotenfest 2006". With song titles like "Fukken Uber Death Party" and later "Bavarian Bierhaus Blood", HuG's home-brewed putsch soon led to a full-scale UK tour in direct support of Cradle of Filth in 2007. Shortly thereafter, they began work on their fifth full-length album, 2012: Zwanzig Zwölf, released in February 2008. Drawing more and more from death metal and black metal sentiments, 2012 is HuG's heaviest offering thus far leading to HuG's first-ever headlining shows overseas beginning in Moscow, Russia in September 2008. In January 2009, Hanzel und Gretyl kicked off their extensive headlining "World Fukken Tour 2009" including shows throughout the US, Europe, UK, Scandinavia, Russia, Ukraine, New Zealand and Australia ending with a final show in New York City on December 19, 2009. On August 8, 2010, with the number 87 as the numerical representation of the band and the words "More German Than German" found on their backdrop and T-shirts Hanzel und Gretyl performed to a capacity crowd on the main stage at M'era Luna Festival in Hildesheim, Germany. Born To Be Heiled, Hanzel und Gretyl's 6th full-length CD release on November 27, 2012 was launched as a debut release for the newly formed Metropolis Metal Records, a subdivision of Metropolis Records that focusses on their more metal based electronic and industrial bands. Beginning in June 2012, HuG followed up the completion of Born To Be Heiled with multiple extensive headlining tours including Australia, New Zealand, US, Canada, Russia, and Europe. "Hanzel und Gretyl Für Immer" an album composed entirely of remixes of their previous CD, "Born To Be Heiled", was completed by "KyzrWölf" aka Kaizer Von Loopy, in July 2013 and slated for worldwide release by Metropolis Records on October 8, 2013 .

Grimm Star (2014-present)

October 2014 saw the release of HuG's 7th album, Black Forest Metal and the beginning of a new era for the band. Perhaps their darkest and most metal sounding release to date, BFM employs satanic themes cross-referenced with forest motifs from the original Brothers Grimm fairy tale. U.S. and European tours followed the release.

2015 found Hanzel und Gretyl playing select dates in the USA and returning in October to Europe, UK, Russia and also Greece for the first time in the band's history.

September 25, 2015, Hanzel und Gretyl appears in DVD / Blu ray release - Rammstein In Amerika , being interviewed amongst the likes of artists Steven Tyler, Kiss (band), Marilyn Manson, Iggy Pop, Korn, Slash (musician) and others discussing Rammstein's first shows in America with Hanzel und Gretyl in 1997 & 1998 and eventual ascent which led to Rammstein's sold out show at Madison Square Garden on December 11, 2010.

Members


Discography

"MACHINES GOOD PEOPLE BAD"
"FUKKEN ÜBER"
"GRIMM STAR"

Filmography

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