Hellbillies

{{Short description|Norwegian rock band}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Hellbillies | image = Hellbillies.jpg | caption = | image_size = | background = group_or_band | alias = | origin = Ål, Hallingdal, Norway | genre = Rock country rock | years_active = 1990-present | label = EMI | website = [https://www.hellbillies.com hellbillies.com] | current_members = * Aslag Haugen * Lars Håvard Haugen * Bjørn Gunnar Sando * Lars Christian Narum * Egil Stemkens | past_members = * Arne Henry Sandum * Arne Moslåtten }}

'''Hellbillies''' is a Norwegian rock band, formed in 1990 in Ål, a town located in Hallingdal.<ref name= snl>{{cite encyclopedia |url=https://snl.no/Hellbillies |title=Hellbillies Biography |language=nb |first=Jon Vidar |last=Bergan |encyclopedia=Store Norske Leksikon |publisher=Kunnskapsforlaget |date= 2013-02-19 |accessdate= 2013-10-16}}</ref>

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== Profile and history == Hellbellies are among Norway's most popular recording artists.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.dagbladet.no/2012/11/25/kultur/musikk/anmeldelser/musikkanmeldelser/hellbillies/24536034 |title=Hellbillies fant lykka i Oslo Spektrum |language=nb |first=Øyvind |last=Rønning |publisher=Dagbladet |date=2012-11-25 |accessdate=2013-10-16}}</ref> As of 2012, they have released 13 albums—including a compilation and two live albums—as well as three live concert DVDs. Their lyrics are written and sung in the dialect of the Hallingdal area of Norway, and there is evidence of influence from traditional (folk) Norwegian music, giving a distinctive "Norwegian" flavor to their country music.

Their early albums often included songs originally recorded by country music artists from the US with Hellbillies writing new lyrics in the Ål dialect of Norwegian, with the settings of the lyrics differing sharply from the source songs. Examples include ''Ei krasafaren steinbu'' (''Past the Point of Rescue'' by Hal Ketchum) and ''Pela stein'' (''Against the Grain'' by Garth Brooks).

Later efforts have included much more original material that reflect contemporary Norwegian people and Norwegian life and issues. They have also gradually changed their musical style from country to rock.

They have collaborated with musicians from the US. For example, Rob Hajacos from Nashville, who plays the fiddle on most Garth Brooks albums, Rob plays on three of Hellbillies’ albums.

In 2013 Hellbillies appeared at the Kongsberg Jazz Festival performing together with Jazz guests the Violin virtuoso Ola Kvernberg and the super trumpeter Mathias Eick.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kongsberg-jazzfestival.no/konsert/hellbillies-m-ola-kvernberg-mathias-eick |title=Hellbillies m./Ola Kvernberg + Mathias Eick |language=nb |publisher=Kongsberg Jazz Festival |date=2013-07-05 |accessdate= 2013-10-16 |url-status=dead |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20131017091122/http://kongsberg-jazzfestival.no/konsert/hellbillies-m-ola-kvernberg-mathias-eick/ |archivedate= 2013-10-17 }}</ref> In 2013 they also contributed to the book ''Think Like a Rockstar'' ([https://web.archive.org/web/20150402144446/http://www.publicomforlag.no/book/tenk-som-en-rockestjerne/ ''Tenk som en rockestjerne''],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://cameratravel.wordpress.com/2013/04/25/katzenjammer/ |title=Katzenjammer | LivingByCamera |accessdate=2015-04-17 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402162308/https://cameratravel.wordpress.com/2013/04/25/katzenjammer/ |archivedate= 2015-04-02 }}</ref> written by Ståle Økland.

== Band members == [[File:Hellbillies 03.jpg|thumb|right|Hellbillies during a concert in Langesund, July 2011.]] '''Current members''' * Aslag Haugen – lead vocals, electric and acoustic guitars (1990–present) * Lars Håvard Haugen – electric guitars, harmony and lead vocals (1990–present) * Bjørn Gunnar Sando – drums (1990–present)

'''Live and studio members''' * Egil Stemkens – bass, harmony vocals (2016–present) * Lars Christian Narum – piano and organ (2003–present)

'''Former members''' * Arne Moslåtten – accordion, flute, acoustic guitar, percussion (1990-2013), lyrics (1990-today) * Arne Henry Sandum – bass (1990-2016) * Lasse Hafreager – piano and organ (1993-2000) * Trond Nagell Dahl – piano and organ (2001-2003)

== Honors == *1993: Spellemannprisen in the class Country-rock awarded for the album ''Pela Stein'' *2007: Spellemannprisen awarded Spellemann of the Year for the album ''Spissrotgang''<ref name=snl/> *2022: Spellemannprisen awarded the honorary award for their long running career.

== Discography == {{main|Hellbillies discography}}

=== Studio albums === *''Sylvspente Boots'' (1992) *''Pela Stein'' (1993) *''Lakafant'' (1995) *''Drag'' (1996) *''Sol Over Livet'' (1999) *''Urban Twang'' (2001) *''Niende'' (2004) *''Spissrotgang'' (2007) *''Leite etter Lykka'' (2010) *''Tretten'' (2012) *''Søvnlaus'' (2016) *''Blå dag'' (2021)

=== Live albums === * ''Live Laga'' (1997) * ''CoolTur'' (2002) * ''Levande Live'' (2014) * ''30 år på vegen (Live 2020-2021)'' (2024)

=== Singles and EPs ===

* "Hallo Telenor" (2007) * "Den finast eg veit (2013)" (2013) * "Dirkefri Live" (2014) * "I eksil på sundrehall" (2020) * "Blå dag" (2020)

== References == {{portal|Norway|Music}} {{reflist}} {{commons category|Hellbillies}}

== External links == *[https://www.hellbillies.com Official Website]

{{s-start}} {{s-ach|aw}} {{s-bef | before = Vamp}} {{s-ttl | title = Recipient of the Spellemannprisen as This year's Spellemann | years = 2007}} {{s-aft | after = Espen Lind}} {{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hellbillies}} Category:Norwegian country rock groups Category:Spellemannprisen winners Category:Musical groups established in 1990 Category:1990 establishments in Norway Category:Musical groups from Buskerud Category:Ål