{{Short description|Danish rock band}} {{Redirect|Sandmen|other uses|Sandman (disambiguation)}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = The Sandmen | image = | caption = | image_size = | alias = | origin = Copenhagen, Denmark | genre = Rock | years_active = 1985–1995<br>2003–present | label = Garden Records, A&M Records, EMI, Universal | website = {{URL|http://www.thesandmen.dk/}} | current_members = Allan Vegenfeldt <br>Michael Illo Rasmussen<br>Stefan Moulvad | past_members = Ole Wennike (until 2011)<br>Stefan Jensen<br> Sam Mitchell <br> Anders Poulsen }} '''The Sandmen''' is a Danish rock band that was formed in Copenhagen in 1985. The band broke up in 1995, but was reunited in 2003 on the occasion of the release of the compilation album ''Beauties and Beasts''. In 2006 they revived releasing their studio album, the first in over a decade called ''White Trash Red Front'', their biggest success. In 2014, the band has become a trio formation of Allan Vegenfeldt, Michael Illo Rasmussen and Stefan Moulvad with a new release ''Den Bedste dag'' and a new departure for the band in its first album in Danish after 8 albums in English.<ref> [http://www.lydtapet.net/2014/09/anmeldelse-the-sandmen-den-bedste-dag/ Lydtapet: Anmeldelse: The Sandmen – Den Bedste Dag] {{in lang|da}}</ref> 2019 saw the release of yet another album In danish language: Himmelstormer

==Original phase== Originally The Sandmen consisted of Allan Vegenfeldt on vocals, Stefan Jensen, Ole Wennike and Michael Illo Rasmussen. They released their materials on Garden Records. Guitarist Sam Mitchell joined The Sandmen in 1988, before releasing the album ''Western Blood''. In 1989, the group had a hit with the song "House in the Country" from the American version of ''Western Blood'' released a year later.

The Sandmen were included in record label A & M Records with a promotional tour in the United States. ''Gimme Gimme'', the band's third album was recorded in place in Malmö, Sweden and shelving of materials recorded earlier in London. The album became one of the first examples of classic rock fused with the twisted late-80s Manchester-wave in the style of Happy Mondays.

Stefan Jensen left the band in 1992 just before signing with EMI and recording of ''Sleepyhead''. The album helped the band to be an established name in Denmark. The 1994 album ''In The House of Secrets'' added a "jazzy" side with improvisations. "Slave Song" from that album has become a huge live favourite tune. The band broke up in 1995.

Ole Wennike, Allan Vegenfeldt then formed the band ''Nerve'' together with ''The Law'' guitarist Stefan Moulvad and Morten Hansen and Alex Puddu (from Puddu Varano). After an EP and an album that band also split up.

==Reunion and revival== Release of the compilation album ''Beauties and Beasts'' in 2003 was an occasion for reuniting, but without guitar player Sam Mitchell, who had been struck by illness. The band now consisted of : Allan Vegenfeldt, Ole Wennike, Michael Illo Rasmussen and Stefan Moulvad. On 15 June 2006 Sam Mitchell died at the age of 56. In 2006, ''White Trash Red Front'' became their highest charting album and a first album after a break for a full decade. The ballad "Wouldn't Mind at All" became a radio hit. Influences included pop, garage rock and psychedelic / improvisational rock.

In May 2008, the band recorded in Gothenburg the critically acclaimed album Shine. The band toured until mid-2009, when members decided to take time off for personal projects. In 2011, bassist Ole Wennike left the band for unknown reasons. Allan Vegenfeldt, Michael Illo Rasmussen and Stefan Moulvad decided to continue the cooperation. Bass player Jens Hein and keyboard player Palle Hjorth were added subsequently for live gigs and were part of the release, the 2014 album ''Den bedste dag''.<ref>[http://politiken.dk/kultur/musik/cd-beat/ECE2413291/the-sandmen-genopfinder-sig-selv-som-dansksproget-rockband/ ''Politiken'': The Sandmen genopfinder sig selv som dansksproget rockband] {{in lang|da}}</ref><ref>[http://ekstrabladet.dk/musik/dkalbum/article5038720.ece ''Ekstrabladet'': The Sandmen - Helt godnat - Resterne af Ole Lukøjerne er trættende på dansksprogede 'Den bedste dag'] {{in lang|da}}</ref> In 2016-17 the band worked on material for the 2019 release Himmelstormer again collaborating with Jens Hein and now also guitarist and harpist Jarno Varsted. Both have continued to be close musical partners with the band writing and recording as Well as live on stage

==Members== ;Original line-up (1985) *Allan Vegenfeldt (born 1964) - vocals *Stefan Jensen (born 1962) - guitar (left in 1992) *Ole Wennike (born 1958) - bass, harmonica (left In 2009) *Michael Illo Rasmussen (born 1959) - drummer ;Others *Sam Mitchell (1950-2006) - guitar (joined in 1988) *Stefan Moulvad (born 1968) - guitar (joined in 2003) ;Present line-up *Michael Illo Rasmussen *Allan Vegenfeldt *Stefan Moulvad

;Timeline {{#tag:timeline| ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:25 PlotArea = left:110 bottom:80 top:10 right:10 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy Period = from:06/01/1985 till:{{#time: m/d/Y }} TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:3 ScaleMajor = increment:3 start:1986 ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1986

Colors = id:vocals value:red legend:Vocals id:guitar value:green legend:Guitar id:bass value:blue legend:Bass id:drums value:orange legend:Drums id:studio value:black legend:Studio_album

LineData = layer:back color:studio at:06/01/1987 at:06/01/1988 at:06/01/1990 at:09/01/1992 at:06/01/1994 at:06/01/2006 at:06/01/2008 at:06/01/2014

BarData = bar:Vegenfeldt text:"Allan Vegenfeldt" bar:Jensen text:"Stefan Jensen" bar:Mitchell text:"Sam Mitchell" bar:Moulvad text:"Stefan Moulvad" bar:Wennike text:"Ole Wennike" bar:Rasmussen text:"Michael Rasmussen"

PlotData= width:11 bar:Vegenfeldt from:06/01/1985 till:end color:vocals bar:Jensen from:06/01/1985 till:06/01/1992 color:guitar bar:Mitchell from:06/01/1988 till:06/01/1995 color:guitar bar:Moulvad from:06/01/2003 till:end color:guitar bar:Wennike from:06/01/1985 till:06/01/2011 color:bass bar:Rasmussen from:06/01/1985 till:end color:drums

}}

==Discography== {| class="wikitable" !align="center" rowspan="2" width="220"|Album and details !align="center" colspan="1" width="20"|Peak positions !align="center" rowspan="2" width="70"|Certification |- ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | DEN<br><ref name="den">{{cite web | url=https://danishcharts.dk/showinterpret.asp?interpret=The+Sandmen | title=The Sandmen discography | publisher=Hung Medien | work=danishcharts.dk |accessdate=11 October 2014}}</ref> |- | style="text-align:left;"|'''''The Sandmen''''' *Year released 1987 *Record label: Garden Records | style="text-align:center;"|{{spaced ndash}} | style="text-align:center;"| |- | style="text-align:left;"|'''''Western Blood''''' *Year released 1988 (Denmark) *Record label: Garden Records *Year rereleased 1989 (United States version) *Record label: A&M | style="text-align:center;"|{{spaced ndash}} | style="text-align:center;"| |- | style="text-align:left;"|'''''Gimme Gimme''''' *Year released 1990 *Record label: Garden Records | style="text-align:center;"|{{spaced ndash}} | style="text-align:center;"| |- | style="text-align:left;"|'''''Sleepyhead''''' *Year released 1992 *Record label: EMI | style="text-align:center;"|{{spaced ndash}} | style="text-align:center;"| |- | style="text-align:left;"|'''''In The House of Secrets''''' *Year released 1994 *Record label: EMI | style="text-align:center;"|{{spaced ndash}} | style="text-align:center;"| |- | style="text-align:left;"|'''''White Trash Red Front''''' *Year released 2006 *Record label: EMI | style="text-align:center;"|9 | style="text-align:center;"| |- | style="text-align:left;"|'''''Shine''''' *Year released 2008 *Record label: EMI | style="text-align:center;"|15 | style="text-align:center;"| |- | style="text-align:left;"|'''''Den bedste dag''''' *Year released 2014 *Record label: Universal Music | style="text-align:center;"|13 | style="text-align:center;"| |- | style="text-align:left;"|'''''Himmelstormer''''' *Year released 2019 *Record label: 500% Records | style="text-align:center;"| | style="text-align:center;"| |- |}

;Live albums {| class="wikitable" !align="center" rowspan="2" width="220"|Album and details !align="center" colspan="1" width="20"|Peak positions !align="center" rowspan="2" width="70"|Certification |- ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | DEN<br><ref name="den"/> |- | style="text-align:left;"|'''''Live ''''' *Year released 1993 *Record label: EMI | style="text-align:center;"|{{spaced ndash}} | style="text-align:center;"| |- | style="text-align:left,"|'''''Live in Copenhagen ''''' *Year released 2012 *Record label: The Sandmen / NMS 2012 | style="text-align:center,"|{{spaced ndash}} | style |- |}

;Compilation albums {| class="wikitable" !align="center" rowspan="2" width="220"|Album and details !align="center" colspan="1" width="20"|Peak positions !align="center" rowspan="2" width="70"|Certification |- ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | DEN<br><ref name="den"/> |- | style="text-align:left;"|'''''Beauties and Beasts ''''' *Year released 2003 *Content: Best of plus rareties *Record label: EMI | style="text-align:center;"|36 | style="text-align:center;"| |- |}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.thesandmen.dk/ Official website] *[http://www.discogs.com/artist/535750-Sandmen-The-2 Discogs]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sandmen}} Category:Danish rock music groups Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1995 Category:Musical groups established in 1985 Category:Musical groups established in 2003 Category:1985 establishments in Denmark