Years active 1981–1985 Origin Belgium (1981) | Active until 1985 Genres Pop music, New wave | |
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Past members Drita Kotaji, Simon Rigot, Manuel Poutte, Pol Fourmois, Pierre Sorvil Albums A History of Bernthøler, Merry Lines in the Sky Record labels LTM Recordings, Blanco y Negro Records Similar Luna Twist, Anna Domino, Kid Montana, Red Zebra, The Wolf Banes | ||
Bernthøler is an Pop/Avant Garde band formed in Brussels, Belgium, and was active between 1981 and 1985. They were favourites of British radio DJ John Peel.
Contents
History
Originally just a "musical experiment" named after a line in a Virna Lindt song, the band found surprise success with their single 'My Suitor'/'Emotions' recorded in August 1983. Championed in the UK by DJ John Peel and appearing in his Festive Fifty for 1984, the group signed to the UK label Blanco y Negro. The band released one more record, a long version of "My suitor" with additional parts by Wim Mertens and Drita Kotaji and, despite occasional gigs, disbanded in 1985.
In 1999 radio station Studio Brussel chose 'My Suitor' for its Bass-tard remix competition, won by Buscemi - who later released his version as a single and on the album Our Girl in Havana - and the song was nominated by DJ Chantal Pattyn as "one of the classics of Belgian New Wave". The song was also covered by Kahimi Karie on her 2001 album of the same name. In 1997 Simon Rigot put together a compilation of studio, live and other tracks covering the group's whole career, A History of Bernthøler 1981-1985, issued as a limited release. An official issue was published in 2004 by LTM
A Vinyl 12 song issue was published in 2015 by Starman Records including the UK EP, the first Single, demo's from 1984 and never before released song "Heartbeat" from 1983.
Keyboard player Manuel Poutte later became a film director, winning the Palme d'Or for a short film in 1992.
Singer and writer Drita Kotaji is running a solo career and is also involved, amongst other projects, in the INK. duet.
Composer, guitarist and keyboard player Simon Rigot played and recorded with many bands ( Les Cactus, Resurrection(Belgium), learned Sitar in the 90's and plays now Synthesizer, Hammond Organ, Wurlitzer electric piano and Sitar with Belgian band The Narcotic Daffodils
Bassplayer Pol Fourmois is working as electro-technician in the Cinema
Singles
Albums
Songs in compilations
Cover of My Suitor
Other band covered "My Suitor" for live or special occasions
References
Songs
My Suitor1983
Merry Lines in the Sky
Pardon Up Here2004