Birmingham 6 (band)
Birmingham 6 is a Danish electro-industrial/EBM group founded in 1991 and named after the Birmingham Six, a group of Irish men wrongly imprisoned for the Birmingham pub bombings. Members include Kim Løhde Petersen and Michael Hillerup.[1]
They took on the name as they focused on injustices worldwide, but particularly in western democratic society. Their lyrics have often been controversial and some radio stations have banned airplay of their songs, while other groups refused to be associated with them. They released their first album, Mindhallucination in 1994 and Assassinate in 1995, followed by Error of Judgement in 1996 and finally Resurrection in 1999.
7 tracks on the album Error of Judgement were sung by Jean-Luc de Meyer, better known as a member of Front 242.
Birmingham 6 also released as a single a cover of "Godlike" by KMFDM.
In 1997, they embarked on a 5-week coast to coast U.S. Tour together with Seattle act RORSCHACH TEST. Due to poor tour organisation, vocalist and original member Kim Løhde Petersen left the band after only four shows. At the time, they were noted as being "among industrial music's most compelling bands."[2]
Unable to perform the remaining shows on the tour without Kim, the band broke up the tour, and returned to Denmark in a state of bankruptcy.
As a tribute to the Danish Club Metropolis, Kim Løhde Petersen and Michael Hillerup reunited for one night to play live at the club's 10th-year anniversary party on March 7, 2003. The concert also featured Diary of Dreams.
In October 2008 Birmingham 6 performed at 12. Electrisch Festival in Zwickau, Germany. As a result of the festival the German label Black Rain released the live compilation 12. Electrisch Festival on 17.th of December 2008. This festival also featured Absolute Body Control and Tyske ludder. The Birmingham 6 tracks featured on the live compilation are You cannot walk here and Godlike by KMFDM.
In March 2009 Birmingham 6 performed in Copenhagen at the "10 years of Black Rain" show (celebrating the 10 year anniversary of the German label Black Rain) featuring Hicoctan (DE) and Feindflug (DE).
Birmingham 6 has written several songs questioning governmental systems and their unwillingness to admit their own fallibility. Israel talks about the issues between the Palestinians and the Jews. Contagious discusses AIDS and Who Do You Love? points out the difficulty in telling good from evil. The song 6794700 describes church views on abortion they disagreed with. Love Child describes how the tourism agency in Thailand helps western travel agencies fulfill certain men's desire for an underage prostitute.
The song Policestate talks about the riots in Copenhagen in 1993 during the re-voting for the European Union in which police shot into the angry mob, injuring several protesters.
Discography
Albums
- Mindhallucination (Transfixion Records)
- Assassinate (Cleopatra Records)[3]
- Error of Judgement (Zoth Ommog Records, Cleopatra Records)
- Resurrection (COP International)
- 12. Electrisch Festival
- Also provided a notable cover version of AC/DC's Thunderstruck for the 1997 tribute album Covered In Black, by Cleopatra records.
- Also provided a notable cover of Metallica's Seek and Destroy for a tribute album "Tribute to... METALLICA"
EPs and Singles
- Israel (Transfixion Records)
- Contagious (Transfixion Records)
- Policestate (Cleopatra Records)
- To Protect and To Serve (Cleopatra Records)
- The Kill (Error of Judgement 12" Promo) (Zoth Ommog Records)
- You Cannot Walk Here (Zoth Ommog Records, Cleopatra Records)
- Mixed Judgements (Zoth Ommog Records)
References
- ↑ Bush, John. "Birmingham 6: Biography", Allmusic. Retrieved 2010-03-16.
- ↑ Ehrbar, Joe (January 9, 1997). "Industrial strength", The Spokesman-Review, p. 2. Convenience link.
- ↑ "Discogs: Birmingham 6". discogs.com. Retrieved 2010-03-07.