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Ronny Moorings - produces, writes, records all music & lyrics...
Live members: Ronny Moorings sticks live to guitar & Vocals, Mojca on bass,
Mario Usai on guitar, Agnes Jasper , Denise Dijkstra & Yvonne de Ray ..boards.
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Clan Of Xymox LIVE AT AGRA HALLEN , WGT FESTIVAL JUNE 2006
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This World Live Video at the Zillo Festival 1998 , Hildesheim Flugplatz , Germany
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Louise , Live @ Lahr , Germany , Universal Dog Venue 2007
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Formed in Amsterdam in 1984, Clan of Xymox became one of the mainstays of the 4AD label. Along with label mates such as Cocteau Twins and Dead Can Dance the Clan’s dark electro-gothic approach to music quickly became the benchmark by which all other bands to follow were judged. Prior to their 4AD days, Clan of Xymox released "Subsequent Pleasures" on their own label in a limited run of 500 vinyl copies. Their self titled debut, released in 1985 on 4AD, was highlighted by the club classics "A Day" and "Stranger". In 1987, the band was included on 4AD’s popular "Lonely as an Eyesore" compilation with "Muscoviet Musquito", as well as releasing their darker follow-up CD, "Medusa" and the 12 inch "A Million Things".
In 1988, Clan of Xymox changed labels, moving to Wing, a subsidiary of PolyGram, and shortened their name to Xymox. Modifying their sound to appeal to a larger audience, their 1989 debut record for Wing, "Twist of Shadow", sold in excess of 300,000 copies. Following up the album was three extremely successful 12 inches: "Obsession", "Imagination", and "Blind Hearts". "Phoenix" followed two years later, but without the same clout as their three predecessor albums.
After leaving Wing in the early nineties, Xymox became the sole signing to the independent label, Zok Records. They released four recordings, primarily in the dance genre: "Metamorphosis", "Headclouds", one remix CD, and they re-released "Subsequent Pleasures".
Also see Clan of Xymox Official Web Site
In 1997, the band reclaimed their original name, Clan of Xymox, and began the work of reclaiming their original sound and glory. "Hidden Faces", produced by Dave Allen (of Sisters fame) and John Rivers (of Love and Rockets note) hearkened back to the 4AD years, and although it did not completely regain the power of their initial sound, it was clearly the best work they had done since "Medusa". This release was followed by a number of American and European dates, including co-headlining the Zillo and Leipzig festivals in Germany. In relation to these intriguing live shows, Pandemonium records released two singles "Out of the Rain" and "This World" which rose to the top 10 in the German Independent Charts.
In 1999, Clan of Xymox signed on with Metropolis Records, and delivered "Creatures" to a public that had been waiting for the true follow-up to 1985’s "Clan of Xymox" album for 14 years. "Creatures" not only captures the sound of their amazing debut (which has also been reissued in 1999 along with "Medusa"), but infuses it with the dark rock and Gothic guitar styles.
2000 marked a first for the Clan of Xymox. After thousands of requests from fans for a live album, Clan of Xymox returned with "Live", a double live CD which featured nineteen tracks and two QuickTime videos. All of the tracks were recorded during their Central and South American tour in 1999, and could almost be considered a best of. A re-issue of the ever increasingly hard to find Subsequent Pleasures EP featuring many obscure pre-4AD demos, as well as a new single, "Liberty," followed.
Metropolis’s second studio album by the Clan of Xymox was 2001’s "Notes from the Underground." It combined haunting yet atmospheric synth lines with dark rhythms, powerful beats and lively guitar strumming to yield a release based on agony and anguish caused by being disconnected from society. A double remix CD was released the year after titled "Remixes from the Underground," featuring the mixing talents of Front 242, Beborn Beton, Iris, Assemblage23 and many more.
Clan of Xymox spent the two years following "Notes from the Underground" to work on their next record, "Farewell," which was released in 2003. "Farewell" yielded club-friendly songs sitting comfortably along side moody atmospheric tracks to create a hybrid which can only remotely be described as Dark Goth Electro. The basic theme that runs through "Farewell" is about leaving everything behind and going away, which can be exhibited through the lyrics that tell the sad and bitter tales of love and relationships.
One year later, the band released their first ’best of’ CD simply titled, "The Best of Clan of Xymox." In the words of Ronny Moorings, "The most difficult task was to pick the best of songsbut with the help of our fans who voted for their favorite songs on-line we finally got the resulting tracks Whilst listening to the final running order as listed here I just got swept from period to period, remembering all kind of people and situations. I am sure you too will have memories with certain tracks, so all I want to say to you now is: cherish your moments in life!"
2006, Clan of Xymox released first the single & video the new album called "Weak In My Knees" subsequently followed by the release of the album " Breaking Point" peaking in the usual alternative charts and yet again declared by critics as the best album released so far by Clan Of Xymox. This year the band played numerous festivals with the absolute highlight on festivals like WGT & Mera Luna.
A new single came out in 2007 called Heroes including an exclusive b side: On A Mission
Their first DVD "Visible" was released the 21st of March as a Limited double disc edition and sold out in the first week of release. A normal single disc version of "Visible " is however available.
BIO IN GERMAN -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clan of Xymox - Düster, Aufregend, Frisch und einzigartig
Ganz am Anfang stand die selbstproduzierte 12” Subsequent Pleasures. Die Amsterdamer Formation um Ronny Moorings (Gesang und Gitarre) bemühte sich nicht einmal um einen Plattenvertrag, sondern bekam diesen, kurz nachdem diese Maxi über Umwege nach England gelang, vom Kultlabel 4AD regelrecht hinterhergetragen. Neben zwei Alben produzierte die Band auch den Song “Muscoviet Mosquito”, der bei vielen als das Highlight der 4AD Labelcompilation “Lonelyness Is A Eyesore” gilt. Bereits nach den besagten zwei Alben (Clan Of Xymox und Medusa) wurden die Musikindustrie aufmerksam; Ronny verliess 4AD, kürzte den Namen auf Xymox und veröffentlichte mit “Twist Of Shadows” und “Phoenix” zwei weitere Alben, doch Ronny sollte auch auf Polygram nicht mehr als zwei Alben veröffentlichten, struktuierte Band und Sound erneut um und schlug musikalisch neue Pfade ein. Pfade, die zwar auf großen Respekt der Musikjournalisten stiessen, denen seine Fans jedoch nicht zwingend folgen sollten. Es wurde ein wenig ruhig um Xymox, und die beiden Alben “Headclouds” und “Metamorphosis” gehören heute schon zu Sammlerstücken.
Ronny beschloss abermals sich neu zu orientieren, nahm sich dafür aber auch gleich eine mehrere Jahre dauernde Auszeit.
Und da das Naheliegende oft das beste ist, kehrte er in den späten Neunzigern wieder mit dem Clan im Gepäck zurück und veröffentlichte auf Tess/Pandaimonium in Europa das siebte, für mache aber auch erst dritte Album “Hidden Faces”: ‘Starke Gitarren, unverwechselbare Vocals und frischeste Elektronik der 90er brachten den Clan wieder auf Erfolgskurs. Produzent Dave M. Allen, der auch schon mit The Cure oder The Sisters of Mercy zusammen arbeitete holte aus dem vorhandenen Schaffen des Clans das wertvollste heraus und die 90er waren um ein sehr eigenwilliges, ehrliches Stück Musik reicher’ (Synthetics). Mit dem folgenden Album “Creatures” sollte Ronny dabei ein noch düsteres Album veröffentlichen, das auch sehr gitarrenlastige Tracks wie “Jasmine & Rose” auf die Tanzflächen brachte. Von nun an sollten Clan Of Xymox auch fester Bestandteil der europäischen Sommerfestivals werden. Mit “Notes From The Underground” schloss er musikalisch an den Vorgänger an – legte erneut Wert auf eine gesunde dunkle Grundnote und brach doch eine alte Regel – erstmals wechselte er nicht nach zwei Alben das Label. Auch erfüllte er einen lange gehegten Wunsch der Fans und veröffentlichte mit “Remixes From The Underground” ein Doppelalbum, auf dem sich befreundete Musiker aus bekannten und weniger bekannten Bands seinen Songs auf “Notes From The Underground” annahmen, und sie in ein weitestgehend elektronisches Gewand kleideten.
Als Clan Of Xymox dann “Farewell” veröffentlichten, ging Besorgnis durch die Szene. Auch wenn Ronny immer wieder mit kryptischen Titeln für einiges Nachdenken sorgte, schien sich hier tatsächlich ein Abschied anzudeuten, zumal sich Ronny in Interviews auch immer wieder über eine gewisse Perspektivlosigkeit in der Musikindustrie äusserte. Doch keine Sorge, auf “Farewell” ging es dann doch “nur” um Trennungen im Leben. Musikalisch beschritt er wieder einen mehr ins elektronische gehende Weg, dies jedoch wie gewohnt sehr eigenständig und ohne sich dabei aktuellen und doch eher kurzlebigen Trends anzubiedern.
Und auch das nächste – und bis dato aktuelle – Album “Breaking Point” gab Spielraum für Spekulationen. Würde Ronny sich musikalisch neu orientieren? Nein, auch hier blieb er seinem eigenen Stil treu: Tradition gepaart mit Innovation, die konsequente Umsetzung seiner musikalischen Version.
Für den herbst 2007 ist eine DVD geplant – das lange Warten bis dahin wurde mit der EP “Heroes” abgekürzt, auf der sich Ronny einem der Klassiker schlechthin der Musikgeschichte angenommen hat.
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Gothland (Russia) frontcover
Pictures are great, of course you are on it =P First I wanted to ask you, if you would like to drink one or more beer with us, but you went away so fast.. Maybe we could drink something together next time we meet ;)
But now I wish you a nice time in Belgia and for the rest of your tour!!
After being a fan for over 20 years all i can say "I can't wait to see you in concert for the first time , in Orlando , Fl . Greetings from Peru and The United States .
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Ronny Moorings - produces, writes, records all music & lyrics...
Live members: Ronny Moorings sticks live to guitar & Vocals, Mojca on bass,
Mario Usai on guitar, Agnes Jasper , Denise Dijkstra & Yvonne de Ray ..boards.
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