It
is with melancholy that we announce the break-up of the legendary Danish/German
rock band 18th Dye. Their 3rd album "Amorine
Queen" from 2008 unfortunately was to be the band's last. It's not the
first time the band dissolves. The first time was in 1996 after two trendsetting albums and an EP
(released by Matador, Che and Cloudland Records), 3 John Peel BBC sessions and
a lot of memorable concerts. After a long break they reformed in 2005 to play
the Crunchy Frog festival VibraCrunch in Malmö, Sweden. This performance was
the spark that inspired the trio to do more concerts reaching and surpassing
the high quality of the 90s shows. The band started writing new material and
the ensuing 3rd album revived the well-known, compact Dye musical
universe – and extended it with alternative instrumentation and a less
naturalistic approach to the studio process. "Amorine Queen" was met
with due critical acclaim and the band toured both home countries and the USA,
and played the Roskilde Festival. Even though 18th Dye artistically
– both regarding recordings and live energy – was showing great promise for the
future, the band report that external circumstances and other obligations has
come in the way of continuing the band. The members are good friends and the
decision was taken together.
18th
Dye write – taciturn and characteristically to the point:
"It is not possible for us to compose, create and act as a band any
more. We have decided to stop the band at this point."
Jesper Reginal,
Crunchy Frog MD, dye-hard fan and producer of "Amorine Queen" states:
"It is a huge
loss to our label and to the Danish rock scene in general that 18th
Dye has chosen to stop. Their influence on the Danish indie rock can hardly be
overstated. They seriously put uncompromising noise, minimalism and originality
on the agenda here in the 90s, and it was a great honour for us to be able to
work with the band when they reformed in 2005. That their last show was to be
at our Crunchy Frog 15th anniversary party is also something of
which we are proud. Without putting any of the other bands' fine performances
down, 18th Dye simply showed all of us how it is Done. In my opinion
among the 5 best live bands on the planet. On a good day: the best. At the
party Dye played a handful of new tunes, promising great things for the planned
4th 18th Dye album, which we will now never hear. Dammit!
And seriously: It was a pleasure and a privilege to work with the band, and we
of course respect Piet, Heike and Basti's decision. It hasn't been an easy one.
We wish them all the best for the future and cross our fingers for a re-union
in 2017."
18th Dye was – and will always be:
Sebastian Büttrich: guitar, vocal
Heike Marie Rädeker: bass, vocal
Piet Breinholm Bendtsen: drums, vocal
CRUNCHY FROG
