Er Apoptygma Berzerk i ferd med å rakne?

Jeg må innrømme at jeg har fulgt litt dårlig med når det gjelder Apoptygma Berzerk etter at de slapp Rocket Science for snart et år siden. Derfor var det litt av en overraskelse når jeg sjekket siden om Apoptygma Berzerk på wikipedia i går. Der stod nemlig bare Stephan Groth oppført under «nåværende medlemmer». Hva hadde skjedd med resten? Det vil si Angel (Audun Stengel), Fredrik Brarud og Geir Bratland? Geir hadde vært med siden 1995 og de to andre hadde vært med siden 2002. Angel kom inn i bildet når Anders Odden valgte å forlate Apoptygma Berzerk igjen, han har spilt gitar i Apoptygma Berzerk i 1992-1999 og 2003-2006. Jeg måtte derfor undersøke dette nærmere og fant etterhvert frem til et par pressemeldinger fra Apoptygma Berzerk.

Bruddet med Apoptygma Berzerk for Angel, Fredrik og Geir sin del skjedde allerede i juli i fjor, noe som hadde gått meg helt hus forbi. Det skal visstnok bare være en pause, ihvertfall ut 2009. Men jeg har ikke funnet noe som tilsier at de er tilbake med Apoptygma Berzerk, så jeg aner rett og slett ikke hva som skjer. Se bort fra at Stephan Groth måtte stable på plass noen bandmedlemmer for å gjennomføre Rocket Science-turneen i blant annet USA. De han fikk med seg på laget var sin bror Jonas Groth som skulle spille keyboard. Thomas Jakobsen hadde allerede vært stand-in for Fredrik ved flere anledninger og skulle nå ta over trommene. En Brandon Smith fra The Anix ble hentet inn for å spille gitar etter Angel. Her er hele pressemeldingen fra Apoptygma Berzerk:

After we let you know that Geir, Angel and Fredrik are going to have a break from APOP many of you have written us, asking who is going to join Stephan on the US tour in September, so here is the news, directly from Stephan himself:

"I am very proud to announce that my brother Jonas is going to play keyboards on the US tour", Stephan says. "Over the years Jonas has been a part of APOP’s inner circle. He has been producing, arranging, remixing, and recording together with me on all APOP albums since "WELCOME TO EARTH". Jonas has also been co-writing several APOP songs and, most important, has been my "vocal coach" the last many years. Im sure you all remember his amazing acoustic version of UNTIL THE END OF THE WORLD that was featured on the HARMONIZER/UNICORN DVD, the BLACK EP and the soundtrack for the German movie "Lauf Um Dein Leben" in 2008."

"Thomas Jakobsen, who has been Fredrik’s "stand in" on several APOP shows, is going to play drums on the America tour. Thomas is an amazing drummer who has been (and still is) playing in some of the most interesting and edgy Norwegian bands over the years, eg. Bermuda Triangle, Zensor and Mortiis. Last time Thomas was in the US he was playing the SXSW convention in Texas after recording the ground breaking debut album "Pheromones" at Sylvia Massey’s RADIOSTAR studio in Oregon, with his previous band ANIMAL ALPHA."

"Brandon Smith from The Anix will be playing guitar. I met Brandon earlier this year when The Anix supported APOP on the European ROCKET SCIENCE tour. When I was first introduced to the band I was so impressed with their songs that I immediately asked them to support us on our European tour. After seeing The Anix live, I was blown away by Brandon’s voice and guitar playing, that’s why he was the first person popping into my mind when seeking a guitarist for September. We collaborated on some new Anix songs while I was in the states in spring, in preperation for their next album. Brandon has produced and written with some of the most well respected music industry legends, and is no stranger to the stage after sharing it with bands including but not limited to MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE, 30 SECONDS TO MARS, CHEVELLE and many others."

"I just wanted to give you all a quick update before we fly out tomorrow!  Very excited to see you all again!"

We wish you all a great time at the APOP shows in the USA, Canada and Mexico, APOP loves you!

Men hva skjer videre med Apoptygma Berzerk? Blir dette den nye besetningen, eller kommer Angel, Fredrik og Geir tilbake igjen?

Apoptygma Berzerk har forøvrig sluppet en ny EP, nærmere bestemt i november, den hadde jeg heller ikke fått med meg, som heter «Green Queen». Men det kan se ut som om den kun har blitt sluppet digitalt og ikke blitt gitt ut som tradisjonell EP/CD. Det synes selvfølgelig jeg er utrolig kjipt, jeg vil jo ha musikken min fysisk stående i hylla!