Kong

Summary

Biography

Amsterdam-based quartet that combines various musical styles like metal, dance and ambient. The band attracts attention because of the use of quadraphonic during their shows, in which the four musicians each play in a different part of the venue.
Full biography

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Members

Mark Drillich   basgitaar, producer, sampler, toetsinstrumenten
Mandy Hopman   drums
Tijs Keverkamp   gitaar
David Kox   gitaar

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Former members

Klaas Broekema   drums
Rob Smits   drums
Marieke Verdonk   gitaar
Dirk de Vries   engineer, gitaar, producer, toetsinstrumenten
Rob Snijders   drums
Aldo Sprenger   gitaar
Full list... Summarized list

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Biography

Amsterdam-based quartet that combines various musical styles like metal, dance and ambient. The band attracts attention because of the use of quadraphonic during their shows, in which the four musicians each play in a different part of the venue.

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1988

Kong is formed by Dirk de Vries (guitar, programming) and Mark Drillich (bass, programming) who are both former members of new wave band Slauerhoff. They are later joined by drummer Rob Smits and guitarist Aldo Sprenger.

Slauerhoff

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1990

Kong's debut album comes out via the Dreamtime label and gets raving reviews.

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1992

The band's second CD, Phlegm, also gets positive reviews. Kong's motto is: Everything goes when it comes to the music we make. The band kicks off a European tour and becomes increasingly popular.

Nerve Quazar

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1994

Push Comes To Shove (produced by Tom Holkenborg) is Kong's third album. Although the press is positive about the album, the band is experiencing some personnel problems. Drummer Rob Smits and guitarist Aldo Sprengers quit because of 'a lack of inspiration'.

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1995

Drummer Rob Snijders and guitarist Marieke Verdonk (ex-Morzelpronk) join the band, which results in a more subtle sound.

Morzelpronk

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1997

Kong signs to Roadrunner Records and starts recordings for a new album (again produced by Tom Holkenborg). Most noticeable is that the metal influences are less dominant on this album.

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1998

Again the band experiences personnel problems. Drummer Rob Snijders leaves the band early in the year and Verdonk announces that she wants to concern herself less with composing. Dirk de Vries and Mark Drillich separately start writing for a new album, which for a great deal comes about on computers. Original drummer Rob Smits rejoins the band on a temporary basis and is later replaced by Klaas Broekema.

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1999

Kong's new album, Freakcontrol, is strongly dance-oriented and contains 11 dreamy compositions. Tom Holkenborg acts as co-producer because most of the producing work is done by Dirk and Mark.

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2001

The album 88-95, released in June, contains songs that were originally on the albums, which were released via Peaceville (UK). The album also includes demos and live recordings and a video that comes with the song Stockhouse.

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2002

The band has not officially split up, but they keep a low profile. Drummer Broekema has moved to Barcelona and joined a local rock band.

Celestial Season Drive By Wire

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2003

On its website Kong writes that the band is officially defunct now. There will be no more gigs and records. Drillich writes music for television documentaries. With Paul van Mook he's part of the Matogrosso project, which produces music for theatres and dance performances.

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2007 - 2009

After seven years Kong is back in business. Bassist Mark Drillich goes into the studio with a line-up consisting of guitarist Tijs Keverkamp and drummer Mandy Hopman. The three new tracks Musclebound Elf, Bokito Sunrise and Tenfold Right are put online in February 2008. Dirk de Vries is involved in the recordings as producer, engineer and mixer. Joined by guitarist David Kox (Pimpersticker) more recordings take place in the period August through November 2008 that will end up on the album What It Seems Is What You Get (February 2009). The album features the sound of the band's early period on which samples and electronica take up a less prominent places. The sound instead features heavy guitar and bass riffs and solid and groovy drums.

Pimpersticker

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Discography

In the discography you will find all recordings that have been released listed chronologically. We restrict ourselves to the title, the type of audio, year of publication or recording, label, list of guest musicians, plus any comments on the issue.

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Photos

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