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PRETTY MAIDS
- 1981
COUNTRY:
DENMARK
GENRE(S):
HEAVY METAL, MELODIC HARD ROCK, MELODIC METAL, ROCK
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SIMILAR BANDS:
HERMAN FRANK, PLACE VENDOME, PLEASURE DOME, JADED HEART, SEVEN TEARS, DEF LEPPARD, RONNIE ATKINS, SHAKRA, TNT, HAREM SCAREM
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Formed by Ronnie Atkins and Ken Hammer, Pretty Maids are known for their consistency and have successfully weathered the years thanks to their personal blend of heavy metal, melodic hard rock and glam.
LOLOCELTIC
- 20.11.2023
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In 1981, Pretty Maids was formed by Ken Hammer and Ronnie Atkins in Horsens (Denmark). They were originally in a cover band called Pretty Pretty Panick, but very quickly wrote their own songs and self-financed a demo that enabled them to sign with Bullet Records.
In 1983, they released their first EP, Pretty Maids, followed by a tour of the UK, which helped them gain further recognition. In 1984, they left their label for CBS, who re-released the EP, followed by their first album, "Red Hot and Heavy", which was a success. Recorded in New York by Eddie Kramer, it was not until 1987 that their second album, Future World, was released.
"Jump The Gun", produced by Roger Glover (Deep Purple), came out in 1990. Despite the label's best efforts, the album only managed to catch on in Japan. Following this lack of success, Pretty Maids split up, leaving only original members Ron Atkins and Ken Hammer. They recruited drummer Michael Fast and bassist Kenn Jackson and recorded "Sin-Decade" with Metallica producer Flemming Rasmussen in 1992. The album featured the John Sykes / Phil Lynott cover hit 'Please Don't Leave Me'.
The band found a large part of their fanbase in Japan, where Asian audiences were very fond of their ballads and the softer songs in their repertoire. In 1995, Pretty Maids surprised everyone by releasing "Scream", a very heavy album. This was followed by their first live album, Screamin' Live. "Spooked" was released in 1997. Considered a classic, it recaptured the energy and heaviness of "Scream". 1999 saw the release of "Anything Worth Doing Is Worth Overdoing", which produced one of the hits of the year, "Hell On High Heels".
In 2000, the band released 'Carpe Diem', a classic Pretty Maids album with a slightly more melodic feel. In 2002, they released 'Planet Panic', the heaviest album of their career. In 2003, their management company Rock On went bankrupt. This left the band in a very uncomfortable financial situation and led to several legal problems with copyright. On 6 December, Ken Hammer suffered a heart attack, but fortunately made a full recovery.
In July 2005, Michael Fast decided to leave the band before the recording of 'Wake Up To The Real World'. In April 2006, he was replaced by Allan Tschicaja (Royal Hunt, Kingdom Come), then joined by keyboardist Morten Sandager (ex-Mercenary). Recording resumed, and "Wake Up To The Real World" was released in 2006, marking their return after a four-year break. The album was praised for its blend of melodic hard rock and heavy metal.
"Pandemonium" in 2010 featured a more modern and powerful sound, while retaining the melodic elements that characterise Pretty Maids, followed by "Motherland" three years later on the same basis. In 2016, the band released 'Kingmaker' and then 'Undress Your Madness', guaranteeing effective, high-quality melodic heavy rock.
More informations on http://www.prettymaids.dk/
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DID YOU KNOW?
 In addition to his work with Pretty Maids, Ronnie Atkins has released solo albums under his own name.
Founding members Ronnie Atkins (vocals) and Ken Hammer (guitar) are the only two members who have remained constant throughout Pretty Maids' career, ensuring the band's stability.
Pretty Maids have won several Danish music awards, including the "Danish Metal Release of the Year" in 1992 for their album "Sin-Decade".
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DERNIERS ARTICLES ASSOCIES
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