Wannskrækk
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Predecessor | Wannskrækk |
| Founded | 1979 in Trondheim, Norway |
| Founder | Kjartan Kristiansen, Per Christian "Persi" Iveland |
| Fate | Active |
| Headquarters | Oslo , Norway |
Area served | Norway |
Key people | Per Øivind "Prepple" Houmb, Kjartan Kristiansen, Aslak Dørum, Sola Jonsen |
| Products | Rock music albums and singles |
Number of employees | 4 (current members) |
| Website | www |
DumDum Boys is a Norwegian rock ensemble originating from Trondheim, established in 1979 initially under the name Wannskrækk. They rank among Norway's most prominent rock groups and are considered one of the "big four" that brought modern rock with Norwegian-language lyrics to prominence during the 1980s, alongside Jokke & Valentinerne, Raga Rockers, and DeLillos.
1979–1985: Origins and formative period
The band began in Trondheim in the late 1970s as a punk outfit called Wannskrækk, founded by guitarist Kjartan Kristiansen and bassist Per Christian "Persi" Iveland. Vocalist Per Øivind "Prepple" Houmb joined in 1979, followed by drummer Sola Jonsen in 1982. Their sound was heavily influenced by Norwegian punk trailblazers such as Lasse Myrvold and The Aller Værste!. Through numerous performances around Trondheim, they cultivated a devoted local fanbase. Wannskrækk released two singles—Faen Kuler Treffer Aldri Riktig (1981) and "...12..." (1982)—before transitioning towards a more mainstream rock style in 1985 and adopting the name DumDum Boys, inspired by an Iggy Pop track from The Idiot.
1986–1989: Releases of Blodig Alvor and Splitter Pine
In 1986, DumDum Boys debuted with the single "Sorgenfri" and the EP Bapshuari, relocating their base to Oslo. Their first full-length album, Blodig Alvor (1988), reached number 14 on the Norwegian charts and garnered a Spellemann Award in the Rock category. The subsequent album, Splitter Pine (1989), climbed to number three on the charts, secured a second Spellemann award, and achieved gold certification.
1990–1994: Albums Pstereo, Transit, and Ludium
Keyboardist Atle Karlsen became an official member in 1990 after contributing to Splitter Pine and co-writing the soundtrack for Døden på Oslo S. That same year, DumDum Boys released their third studio album, Pstereo, which earned them a third consecutive Spellemann award for Rock. In 1992, a compilation of Wannskrækk tracks was issued, followed by DumDum Boys' fourth album, Transit, which was both critically acclaimed and commercially successful, winning the band the Spellemann of the Year honor. Following internal disagreements, they took a lengthy hiatus; founding bassist Iveland exited in 1993 and was succeeded by Aslak Dørum. The band released their fifth studio album, Ludium, along with their first live album, 1001 Watt, in 1994.
1995–1998: The albums Sus and Totem
After pausing activities in 1995 during which members engaged in the side project Racer, DumDum Boys recorded their sixth album, Sus, in Melbourne, Australia, releasing it in 1996. Their 1998 release, Totem, received mixed critical responses. By the end of that year, the group entered an indefinite hiatus.
1999–2004: Hiatus period, compilation release, and reunion
During their break from band activities, members focused on individual musical ventures. Meanwhile, the compilation album Schlägers was issued in 2001. In 2003, DumDum Boys reunited for a live performance at a Racer concert in Trondheim—their first joint appearance in almost five years—and subsequently performed at the Norwegian Wood festival under their original name. This reunion concert was later made available as a video album titled DumDum Boys i Dødens Dal in 2004.
2005–2010: Gravitasjon and Tidsmaskin
In 2005, DumDum Boys embarked on a Norwegian tour while working on their comeback record. Their album Gravitasjon, released in March 2006, entered the Norwegian charts at number one and achieved sales exceeding 80,000 units. In 2007, after an 18-year tenure, keyboardist Karlsen departed during a short hiatus for the band. They resumed touring in the fall of that year and dedicated the following two years to touring and producing their next album. November 2009 marked the release of Tidsmaskin, which was followed by a supporting tour. The lyrics of its title track earned Kristiansen and Dørum the Spellemann award for This Year's Song.
2011–2016: Ti Liv and touring
In 2011, Prepple, Kristiansen, Iveland, and Jonsen reunited under the name Wannskrækk for two performances. That August, DumDum Boys performed "Tyven tyven" at Norway’s national memorial honoring victims of the July 22 attacks. Their tenth studio release, Ti Liv, came out in May 2012. The band conducted an extensive tour across Norway and issued the single "Tid & Sted / Har Det På Tunga" in 2015.
2017–present: Armer og Bein and Løsøre
DumDum Boys recorded a new album in 2017 and unveiled the single "Torden i det fjern" in November. Their album Armer og Bein was subsequently released in October 2018. In 2019, they presented the compilation album Løsøre. A planned tour for 2020 was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic but recommenced once Norway lifted its national restrictions.
Band members
Current members
- Per Øivind "Prepple" Houmb – lead vocals (1979–present)
- Kjartan Kristiansen – guitars, backing vocals (1979–present)
- Aslak Dørum – bass guitar, backing vocals (1993–present)
- Sola Jonsen – drums, backing vocals (1982–present)
Former members
- Per Christian "Persi" Iveland – bass guitar, backing vocals (1979–1993)
- Atle Karlsen – keyboards, backing vocals (1989–2007)
Studio albums
- Blodig Alvor (NaNaNaNa) (1988)
- Splitter Pine (1989)
- Pstereo (1990)
- Transit (1992)
- Ludium (1994)
- Sus (1996)
- Totem (1998)
- Gravitasjon (2006)
- Tidsmaskin (2009)
- Ti Liv (2012)
- Armer og Bein (2018)
Live albums
- 1001 Watt (1994)
- Rødøye (Live at Rockefeller) (2023)
Compilation albums
- Schlägers (2001)
- Løsøre (2019)
EPs
- Bapshuari (1986)
Video albums
- DumDum Boys i Dødens Dal (2004)