Norwegian classic rock band Humbucker originally formed in 1998. Four guys who wanted to create a band that didn`t just stand still on stage… they wanted to create something visually exciting too, possibly one of the most energetic rock bands in Norway today. In that first year, the band was more or less an AC/DC tribute, playing mostly DC-songs with a Motorhead or Rods tune here and there. Slowly the band started to write their own songs, and by the end of 2001 Humbucker went into studio to cut their first demo, a hurried, but well received 5 track recording. Although building a solid fan-base by gigging anywhere that would take them, by 2002 the band decided to call it a day due to the pressure of day jobs.
That was until the summer of 2010, which saw the band reuniting for a one-off performance. The boys agreed, and after that first rehearsal they knew they were back on track; the magic was all there, sounding better than they had ever done before. Deciding to “Go for it,” on that first gig back together by the end of that show they had already been offered three more gigs. After a period of six months they decided to finally record their debut, recruiting singer Jan Anders Boen in the process. Lifting the band to yet another level with his young, fresh attitude. The debut album R.O.C.K.S was released on August 20th 2011, receiving a resounding thumbs up from the Norwegian press, even with some suggestions that the band had authentically resurrected the glorious sound of the classic rock bands of the 70s and 80s! The interest generated by the album has ensured that the name Humbucker is mentioned as far and wide as the USA and Greece, and the guys have already got an offer to do a festival in Athens in the summer of 2012! Pleased with the reaction to their debut, Humbucker are prepared to give it everything they’ve got… and this time their day-jobs won`t stop them either!
After years of people asking when Humbucker would make a record, they finally released their debut album R.O.C.K.S on August 20th 2011. Done in a way that few bands are doing anymore! The band decided that if they were to do a record, it should NOT be recorded in the living room and mixed in the hallway! It should be as good as possible and they decided to use the best people on every part.
The record was recorded at Urban Sound Studios in Oslo with engineer and producer extraordinary Thomas Wang., one of the finest recording facilities in Norway. Thomas is one of the guys you can ask anything when it comes to music and he knows the answer no matter what. He lives and breathes music, and as an arranger he is second to none. He gave the record a fantastic sound to start with!
R.O.C.K.S was mixed and mastered in the US by legendary producer Beau Hill. The band wanted that classic 80s rock sound and Hill got them just that. Beau Hill has produced records for multi platinum artist such as Warrant, Ratt, Winger, Alice Cooper etc... And it`s the first time he`s mixed and mastered a full album by a Norwegian band. We think that`s cool, and about time too!
A cool record has to have a cool cover, and UK graphic artist and music designer Hugh Gilmour (who also finds time to play bass in the band Pig Iron) is responsible for the artwork for R.O.C.K.S. He has produced designs for Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath and Whitesnake, to name but a few, and has given the record the classic look we were after.