Punishment Park

Punishment Park started out on the 23.12. 1990. The band -based in Bergen (NORWAY)- became known' as one of Europe’s very best melodic punk releated bands. Punishment Park has toured all over Europe, and released 3 album, 1 EP and been incl. on lot's of comp albums around the world.
The band created their own sound, the band has never received a bad review for their albums or their gig's. The band split up on the 30 of September 2000. When Kikki on lead vocals decided to leave the band. But no worry's the music still lives on records and mp3. The rest of the members in Punishment Park, started JEF after the split up of the band.

PUNISHMENT PARK
THE WORLD’S LEADING PARTYCORE BAND (Chronology)

1990 – Kjell E. Moberg forms PUNISHMENT PARK in November –90. The band’s first rehearsal takes place on December the 23rd 1990. The line up: Kjell – Guitar, Pez – Drums, Anja – Lead vocals & Claes – Bass.

1991 – PUNISHMENT PARK play their first gig ever on the 19th of April, at Hulen Rock Club in Bergen / Norway. On the 26th of April Punishment Park support ”Life But How To Live It!” at Garage Rock Club in Bergen, Norway. On the 8th of May Punishment Park support ”Pompel & The Pilts” at Joss Pub in Høyanger, Norway. On the 10th of May Punishment Park support ”Femi Gange” at Hulen Rock Club in Bergen, Norway and support ”Pompel & The Pilts” again on the 16th of May at Garage Rock Club in Bergen, Norway.
In May Sveni joins the band on keyboard, but he joins the band too late to play on the first album.
During the rest of the year Punishment Park played together with bands like: Stage Dolls, Stengte Dører and Old Funeral. Punishment Park release their first album in August 1991. The release was followed by a great release party at Hulen Rock Club in Bergen, Norway at the end of August.
In November Punishment Park get a call from A&S Musicproductions in Germany. Punishment Park get their first record deal offer at the end of November this year.

1992 – PUNISHMENT PARK signs the deal with A&S Musicproductions for one LP/CD. Anja leaves the band in January in order to focus on her studies. Leni replaces Anja on lead vocals. Punishment Park record their new album ”The Return Of The Shovel Police” during one week of June in Delta Studio, Germany.
This album was never released by A&S Musicproductions or their partners Inline Music/AVC Music. As it all turns out later these companies were big frauds. They cheated new and upcoming bands for money and rights. Punishment Park struggled with these corrupt companies for many years. Punishment Park was lucky enough to keep a copy of the master dat tape of the recordings. Punishment Park went on their first European tour in the autumn of 1992. Punishment Park toured Belgium, France, Yugoslavia and Norway with the American band Agent 86. In Lyon, France Punishment Park played with Jawbreaker from USA. Punishment Park had to cancel their one month tour of Italy due to 4 serious breakdowns of their very old van in Norway, Holland, France and Germany during the tour.
Leni was sacked from Punishment Park in November 1992, after only 10 ½ month’s in the band.



1993 – PUNISHMENT PARK starts to write new songs without a new lead singer. The band tried out a few singers who didn’t work out at all. In April Kikki calls the band, and after just one rehearsal she got the job. Punishment Park start the recordings for their new album during the summer of -93. Sveini quits the band to focus on his studies. Birgitte joins Punishment Park for a short time on keyboard to replace Sveini, but leaves after just a few weeks. After all this the band decide to become a quartet for ever. Punishment Park played a couple of gigs, but 1993 was a quiet year for the band.

1994 – PUNISHMENT PARK continues the work and recording of their new album. Punishment Park goes on a 4 ½ week European tour in
April/May. The tour included Poland, Slovakia, Czech rep. and Germany. During this tour Punishment Park played with bands like ”Jawbox” in Poznan, Poland, ”Dirt and Hellcrusher” in Halle, Germany, ”Hammerhead” and ”Jennet & Joe” in Halberstadt, Germany. Punishment Park played 27 gig’s during this tour spread over the above countries.
Punishment Park gets their first number one hit on an indie radio program in Croatia with their song ”This Ain’t No New York Rap Shit!”, it was voted number one for two weeks. At the end of the year Punishment Park start to mix their new album.
In addition the album from 1991 is released by Harmony Records in Czech rep. on vinyl LP in 650 copies only. This LP version was only sold at gig’s.

1995 – PUNISHMENT PARK and the swedish Tequila Girls go on a 2 ½ week tour in Germany in May. Punishment Park do a few gig’s in Norway. At the end of the year the band release the MC Blendwerk in 500 copies. As a bonus A&S Music productions, Inline Music and AVC Music goes bust, after being sued by several bands including Punishment Park. Punishment Park get back all their rights for the album ”The Return Of The Shovel Police” All artwork was lost for ever.
Rovers Records in Poland release Punishment Park’s first album from 1991 on MC in Poland only. First pressing was 1000 copies, and sold out fast.

1996 – PUNISHMENT PARK is picked up by Dream Circle Records in Germany. Dream Circle Records release the album Blendwerk on CD, including 4 bonus tracks from the recordings from the album ”The Return Of The Shovel Police” (1992), which was never released. Punishment Park go on a 2 ½ week tour in June through Germany together with their friends Tequila Girls. Punishment Park also play some gigs in Norway.

1997 – Punishment Park takes a break. The band only plays some local shows in and around Bergen, Norway, including the show at Hulen Rock Club in February together with Tequila Girls, Twigs and Furia. This show was done for the fun of it all and the party after the gig. The gig was recorded live, and will be released on this web page soon. Hulen is known for their great parties after a good show. PUNISHMENT PARK takes a break again until April. Then they begin the preparations for three concerts in London, UK: 1-4 of May at Rusking Arms, The Albion & The Laurel Tree. One week before depaurture Punishment Park’s drummer Pez was beaten up by a crazy man at Os, 30 minutes south of Bergen. Pez ended up in hospital and stayed there for a while. The London trip is cancelled due to this. Pez got back on his feet just in time for Punishment Park’s concert at Quart Festivalen 03.07.1997 in Kristiansand, Norway.
Punishment Park keep a low profile until the 29th, 30th & 31st of August. Punishment Park go to London to give three concerts at Rusking Arms, Goldsmith Tarven & The Penbury. Punishment Park take Twigs with them to London as a supportig act. Paul Cook from ”The Sex Pistols” lends them drums for the three concerts.
Punishment Park stops their CD Blendwerk and pulls it off the marked because of dissatisfaction with the CD cover artwork. Punishment Park play a few concerts during the rest of 1997. Between the gigs Punishment Park take some time off from music.

1998 – The album Blendwerk is re-released with a new CD cover artwork and a new title ”Party” by Dream Circle Records in Germany. Party sold 1200 copies the 2 first weeks, only in Germany alone. Punishment Park start the recording of a new album, release date not confirmed yet. Two split vinyl 7” are also released: Punishment Park/Mu 330 & Punishment Park/Link 80. Both 7” are released in 1000 copies and given away free to the fans. Punishment Park play a few gigs during the year, but nothing more really happens during 1998.

1999 – Punishment Park is released on the Indica Records compilation ”Inhale Fig. 2” with a brand new song ”Survival Sweetie”. Other bands on the comp are No Means No, Grimskunk, Liberator, Voodoo Glow Skulls ++ more.
Punishment Park is released on The DHMG/October Party Records compilation ”Genetic Mutations Volume One” with another brand new song, a cover version of the old German band Nena’s big hit from the 80’s ”99 Luftballons”. Other bands on the comp: Ex-Cathedra, Los Fastidios, Grimskunk, The Guttersnipes, Twigs, Derozer ++ more.
Punishment Park is released on the compilation CD ”Outra Coletanea Em CD” from Detroit Noise Records with the track ”99 Luftballons”. Other bands on the comp: Hillside Stranglers, Jason, The Splits, Skels ++ more. Dream Circle Records release the single ”99 LUFTBALLONS” in Germany, where it becomes a small radio hit for the band. Claes desides to leave Punishment Park to concentrate on his studies. Claes moves to Den Haag in Holland. In August the band asks Katy (lead vocalist and bass player in the great band Twigs) to replace Claes. Katy joins the band from August 1999. Katy entered the stage with Punishment park at Garage Rock club in Bergen, Norway in November. The concert was a massive hit. Katy rocks like hell and the audience love the new Punishment Park bass player.

2000 – Punishment Park continue to write and record new songs for the new album they started on in 1998, This album ended up as the “sweetie-EP”. This was released at the last official Punishment Park concert on the 30 of September 2000, together with No Means No at Garage in Bergen / Norway.
Punishment Park will be appearing on several compilation CDs around the world during 2000.

2001 – Punishment Park are not existing as a band anymore. Kikki left the band for steady job in a bank in Bergen / Norway. The members of Punishment Park are taking Dream Circle records to court. Dream Circle Records never paid the band the money they owe the band for sold albums etc…. Punishment Park advice all music lovers all over the world to boycott Ole Bergfleth ( label Manager ) and his Dream Circle Records. This label is pure ripp off!!!!!!! DREAM CIRCLE RECORDS DE-VOSS-STRASSE 20 25524 ITZEHOE GERMANY TEL + 49 (0) 48 21 8 72 72 FAX + 49 (0) 48 21 8 37 01
Punishment Park will be appearing on several compilation CDs, LP’s, MC’s around the world during 2001.
This bio will be updated the day Punishment Park starts to play again!
Kjell, Pez and Katy started a new band named JEF after Punishment Park’s split up. Jef has already played with bands like: UK SUBS, SPUNGE, LINK 80, PSYCHO-PATH ++ many more. In September 2001 Jef released their first EP, which incl. One of the greatest cover versions in the world, of The Explotied’s old punk hit “alternative”. You can listen to some of their songs at http://www.mp3.com/jef_x

Transcript from an Interview with Punishment Park.

Why this name?

The name was taken before the line up of the band was ready in 1990. The name was picked because it had a good sound to it.

Do you play live?

Punishment Park played live all over Europe during the 10 years the band where together. The band loved to be on stage, and they loved their audience. Lot's of very good memories from all over Europe. We miss those moments partying with our fans after the shows. You where all so very nice.

How, do you think, does the internet (or mp3) change the music industry?

The net and mp3 gives all bands a chance to drop the major labels and make themselves known. It keeps music alive, and this is very important. You do not need a lot of money to get your music out to the world, just use the www.

Would you sign a record contract with a major label?

Never had an offer from a major label. Punishment Park worked in the DIY (do it yourself) way.

Your influences?

Motorhead, Sex Pistols, Spermbirds, Fugazi, Pixies, Faith No More, Blondie, Life But How To Live It! ... plus many many more.

Favorite spot?

Home: Bergen/Norway where the rain pours down 24 hours every day, at least that is what the roumer says :))

Anything else...?
This is your chance to download Punishment Parks legendary songs 100% for free. Help us to spread the songs to ever corner of the world.

Equipment used: Guitar, Bass, Drums, Vocals

Official Website:
http://punishmentpark.iuma.com/