User:Namiasito

The Lemmings
The Lemmings Rock Band from South Africa, Pretoria.

The Lemmings are a rock /acoustic /pop band from Pretoria, South Africa.

Formed in December 1995, the band consists of founding members Abri van Straten - singer/songwriter and Ludwig Bouwer – bassist.

Joining them are Warren Bruckmann on drums and Brian Hodge on Piano and Keyboards. The intricate drums and effects-drenched bass foundation is augmented by a classical guitar and swirls of electronics and piano which gives the group its unusual sound and sensitivity.

The music, of which there are three released albums, has been described as "fluid and poetic" creating a new space in today's arena.

The Lemmings have done several national tours in South Africa and two tours in Europe - twice to the UK and once to Sweden. In total, the band has played far over one thousand shows, including such famous events and venues as The Radium (Johannesburg), The Blues Room (Johannesburg), The Sun City Superbowl, Gunston 500, The Saint Hill Arts Festival (Sussex, UK), Tre Backar (Stockholm) and Roxy Rhythm Bar (Melville, Johannesburg).

In 2001, the band took a creative break. The individual members went off to pursue other musical projects and to recharge their creativity after seven years on the circuit.

Abri spent almost a year composing and producing the music for the Sun City Extravaganza "Odyssey", a spectacular show that thousands of international theatre goers ultimately saw. He also spent a year in the USA and then in The Cape, South Africa, writing new material. Ludwig spent this time designing and building his now famous One Big Room Studios, which has made a lasting mark on the local music circuit. When he's not playing in The Lemmings, Ludwig produces music for other artists and for film/television. Now, finally, The Lemmings are not only performing again, but are also constantly writing and recording new material.

About The Music:

Though The Lemmings is a great studio band, they are ultimately a live act that continues to blow audiences away with their two-hour concerts. From vast spacial moments that remind one of Pink Floyd, to shimmering and energetic anthems that get the audiences singing along, the band's dynamic performances are ultimately where the die-hard fans are won.

Abri comments: "We are motivated by the present situation on Earth and our position in it. Music can bring hope and create the feeling of a future worth living. Art is really all people have today - an appreciation of beauty. One of our biggest sources of inspiration is the following quote: "A culture is only as great as its dreams, and its dreams are dreamed by artists."

The Band:

Abri van Straten: Guitars and Voice

With a Swedish mother and a famous South-African writer-poet as a father, Abri grew up in the beauty of Cape Town, South Africa. On his mother’s side, the heritage of a famous aunt Karen Blixan, about whose life the film "Out of Africa" was made, as well as his Swedish grandfather’s influence on him in terms of aesthetics and design, made for a rich childhood.

"When I was nine years old, I heard The Byrds play 'Tambourine Man' and was stunned by the beauty of this. I decided to spend my life doing the same thing. I wanted to write great songs that stood on their own for all time.

Early inspiration was folk writers like Dylan and Simon and Garfunkel. Later on Pink Floyd and The Police.

I studied classical guitar up to grade 8 and after school completed a four year music degree. I have found my own voice combining rock music with the individuality of the classical guitar. My vision is the creation of beauty."

Ludwig Bouwer: Bass Guitars, Voice and Production Ludwig was born into a family where performing arts were encouraged. His father, a respected architect, as well as a mother who had studied literature and drama gave him a good appreciation for the fine arts.

"I was raised on 70s pop/rock. I started formal piano training at age six and took up bass and songwriting at age thirteen. In 1992 I joined legendary singer, Joe Blu, in a blues-rock group which appeared on national television three times in two years. My influences include Pink Floyd, Tori Amos, Journey, Sting and Soundgarden, to name a few. In 1995 I was introduced to Abri and his music. I absolutely loved Abri's songwriting and guitar playing.

We became good friends (mainly out of a mutual interest in philosophy and conspiracy theories!), and realised that we shared the same vision of creating an acoustic rock band based around strong songwriting and a classical guitar as lead instrument.

My music philosophy? An artist creates futures for all humankind, and if the artist is truly honest, it should be respected - as long as the artist takes responsibility for his or her message."

Warren Bruckmann: Drums

Warren played drums for legendary bands The Cuban Doctors (- a Dire Straits Tribute Band) and 5X, before joining The Lemmings.

Warren is not only a brilliant drummer but also a true humanitarian, conducting human rights-missions into Africa and contributing hugely to several betterment groups.

Brian Hodge: Piano, Keyboards and Voice

The newest addition to the band, and keyboardist of note.

Brian met The Lemmings in 1996 and was immediately enthralled with their unique sound and musical arrangements. “I saw them perform and immediately made a decision that one day there might be an opportunity to join and work together on new material. Incredible how the universe gives you want you want.”

Brian played in a variety of bands during the 90’s and established himself as a special event producer, travelling and staging special events in Europe, the USA, Canada and Africa. “My musical influences are wide and diverse and includes the likes of Chopin, Billy Joel, Journey, Bach, Supertramp and Pink Floyd.”

“One of the greatest gifts mankind has been given is art. We dream, we create, we communicate and shift viewpoints through art, its wonderful.”

The Name: While some other bands have tried to hijack the name over the years, The Lemmings from South Africa remain the first and original The Lemmings. This is the story behind the name...

A great many myths abound about what a lemming is and what it is supposed to do. The most common myth – on which the computer game was based - is that lemmings are stupid little furry creatures similar to huge rats that follow their leader off cliffs and die. Some say they commit suicide due to over-population. There is also a story that goes that they leap into the Baltic-ocean in order to find a new land to inhabit. The truth is far more interesting…

Many, many years ago - some say before the time of the city of Atlantis - a beautiful and perfect land existed. It was known as Lemuria, and some referred to it as Mu. It was the land of the lemmings and it was paradise. But, as nature sometimes does, a great catastrophe occurred. Some say it was a meteorite, some say it may have been a volcano, others swear it was an angry god, but all agree that it was the greatest threat Lemuria had ever seen. The lemmings faced an almost certain end to their race. Becoming more and more desperate, and unsure whether they would be able to save their precious land, the elders of the lemmings built a special boat and put all the youngest of their race aboard, safely nestled in protective cocoons. They cast the boat off into the stormy ocean praying that the gods and the elements would guide these young infants to arrive somewhere more inhabitable.

As the vessel disappeared into the stormy distance, the elders turned back to their task of saving Lemuria. Weeks and months later, carried from ocean to ocean by the currents and tides, the vessel bearing the infants struck shore on the cliffs of northern Scandinavia. The local villagers who discovered these infant lemmings raised them and tried to domesticate them, but as free beings often do, they resisted this attempt at control and when they grew up they fled into the forests where they again started to flourish. Unlike their ancestors though, the young lemmings had retained none of their former technology and over generations became quite a primitive race.

The haze of time could not erase all the memories completely though, and even to this day, the lemmings talk amongst themselves and swap folk tales about a perfect land called Lemuria.

And sometimes, just sometimes, when the nostalgia gets too much, a few lemmings gather enough courage to leap back into the ocean in search of this place, this perfect state of existence…

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