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Madrugada

Madrugada was a Norwegian alternative rock band formed in the town of Stokmarknes in 1993. The band members included Sivert Høyem (vocals), Robert Burås (guitar) and Frode Jacobsen (bass). After the death of Burås on July 12, 2007, Høyem and Jacobsen decided to finish recording what was to be their final album. Entitled simply Madrugada, it was released on January 21, 2008 and following this, the band announced they would split after one last tour. They performed their final concert on November 15, 2008.HistoryThe group of musicians that would become Madrugada formed in the town of Stokmarknes in 1993 under the name 'Abbeys Adoption'. The band members at this time included Jon Lauvland Pettersen (drums), Frode Jacobsen (bass), Sivert Høyem (vocals), and Marius 'Wah Wah' Johansen (guitar). In 1995 the band were joined by guitarist Robert Burås and made the decision to move to Oslo where Johansen soon after decided to depart. By 1998 the band had been signed to a six album deal by Virgin Music Norway and after a chance meeting with Norwegian author and poet Øystein Wingaard Wolf in an Oslo bar, changed their name to Madrugada.Their debut album Industrial Silence was released on 30 August 1999 followed by the much darker, The Nightly Disease in 2001. Both albums were toured extensively around Europe and the band built a dedicated cult following in their native Norway, Germany and especially Greece.After personal relations became fraught, Lauvland Pettersen left the band in late 2002 and was replaced with Simen Vangen. Soon afterwards, work began on the recording of their third album Grit which saw the band move towards a more raw and experimental sound. Despite this the album featured perhaps the bands most well known single in the haunting and atmospheric, 'Majesty'. The band followed the album with yet more extensive touring and a largely unsuccessful attempt to break into the UK music scene.Madrugada finished recording their fourth album The Deep End in late 2004. Recorded in Los Angeles with producer George Drakoulias, it was released on February 28, 2005 in Norway, March 31 in the rest of Europe and finally in the US on April 11. Lead single "The Kids Are on High Street" was released for domestic radio play on January 14 and a music video was filmed in London. Simen Vangen announced his departure in early 2005 stating that he wished to focus on various jazz related projects, leaving the band without a permanent drummer.On December 14, 2005, Madrugada released the live album, Live at Tralfamadore, (named after the fictional home planet of aliens from several novels by the American author Kurt Vonnegut). By the end of 2005 – less than a month after its release – it became the highest selling album in Norway for that year with The Deep End as the runner-up. The year was capped off with Madrugada winning three awards at the annual Spellemannprisen – the Norwegian equivalent of the Grammys. They won the categories for Best Rock Album, Best Song and Spellemann of the Year.Following this highly successful period, the band members focused on various side projects. Sivert Høyem released his second solo album Exiles in 2006 whilst Robert Burås and his band My Midnight Creeps released their second album, the highly regarded Histamin in March, 2007.The band reconvened in the spring of 2007 with Industrial Silence, The Nightly Disease and Histamin producer John Agnello to begin work on their fifth album but on July 12, 2007, guitarist Robert Burås was found dead in his Oslo apartment. He was 31 years old.Following the release of new single "Look Away Lucifer" on December 10, 2007, their final, self titled album was eventually released on January 21, 2008. The majority of guitar tracks had been recorded before Robert Burås' death and It was very quickly decided by the remaining members to complete the record in memory of Robert.In the spring of 2008, Madrugada embarked on a tour throughout Europe and Norway, playing career spanning set lists along with material from the Madrugada album and on most nights a cover of one of Robert's favourite songs. In late October 2008, their 11 date farewell tour began and the last ever Madrugada concert was held in a sold out Oslo Spektrum on November 15, 2008.Line upPrevious membersSivert Høyem (vocals)Robert Burås (guitar) (deceased)Frode Jacobsen (bass)Erland Dahlen (drums)Jon Lauvland Pettersen (drums)Simen Vangen (drums)Mikael Lindqvist (piano & keyboards)EtymologyThe term "madrugada" is Portuguese and Spanish and means "early morning". The name was suggested to the band by poet/writer friend Øystein Wingaard Wolf.