Band-bio – Michael Stanley – Søren – Rasmus – Flemming
Søren
Born November the 10th, 1970, Søren, like most of the other bandmembers, arrived too late to experience The Beatles while they were still around. This didn’t prevent him from growing addicted to his Parents collection of Beatles 45s and albums at an very early age. Especially the album; “A Hard Day’s Night” made such a strong impression, that when asked which one album to bring to that famous desert island, “A Hard Day’s Night” would be the answer (though “Revolver” is a close contender).
Søren’s first attempt of playing music happened at the age of five when he took up playing chair – later drums. At the age of nine he started maltreating an organ learning himself the basic chords, but it was a year later that he realised the guitar as the best accompanying instrument and coolest looking if you wanted to be the leadsinger in a band. Handling only three chords on his Dad’s Egmond Hi-Spot electric, but with a good sense of knowing how to use them, one of the first songs Søren could actually play was “I Saw Her Standing There”, complete with nonsense-lyrics and a very boyish unbroken voice. (A rare recording of this, put down in Søren’s playroom back in January 1981, exists in Sørens own, very private Anthology-collection).
The following years Søren learned even more chords on the guitar by playing along to his parents Beatles records. Søren drew some attention, in several ways, fronting many local bands, doing mainly covers. Sørens music teatcher was a Beatles fan too and many a music lesson was ended discussing the music and influence of The Beatles. During these years, several Beatles songs sneaked their way into the bands set. At the age of fifteen Søren started writing songs himself and a few years later formed the, for Søren’s part anyway, very ambitious band C.B. & The Tranquillizers. In the meantime he also bought a Hofner Violin Bass and a Vox bass gear and played bass with pop/rock band Dans Moderne, with whom he released his first record in 1990, a 45 r.p.m. Vinyl single.
Still a singer and guitarist with C.B & The Tranquillizers, the band changed its name to Flow in 1994 and released an EP before signing with Virgin Records. During 1996 four singles and an album “Flow” were released. This album was mastered at Abbey Road studios by Chris Blair, who at that time was working on The Beatles Anthology project. Søren was present during the mastering and will never forget when he had to sign in the guestbook of the historical studio to be allowed into the facilities. During the stay Søren tried to sneak himself into Studio 2 (where nearly all Beatles’ recordings were made) but was stopped by a very serious guard. After a tremendous career and in spite of the Abbey Road mastering, the band split up in 1998. In the meantime Søren had started gigging as a guitarist/backing vocalist with Marie Frank and her friends from danish surburban Randers, with whom he recorded the album; “Ancient Pleasures”. The album was recorded partly in New York, and partly in Søren’s own studio, Echophonic, and earned him, not gold, but a gold record anyway. The same year Søren guested with danish indie-band Lovebites – both live and on their album “Exploding Star”. Worked at the same time with The Raveonettes singer/bass-player Sharin Foo on the bandproject Belvedere. Wrote and recorded with Marie Frank the second album; “Vermilion” – released 2001. Since 1997 Søren has been a regular member of The Marie Frank Band and have played many tours with this band. Both in Denmark and abroad, among other places Liverpool, England, where Søren, to his big surpise, didn’t succeed in talking the other band members into playing a live version of The Beatles’ Revolution No. 9 during a showcase for English record company executives. One of the experiences with Marie Frank that are clearly rememberd by Søren was a concert during the night of George Harrison’s death. Five minutes before the show, Søren realised that it was actually possible to sing Harrison’s “Here Comes The Sun” using the chords of the Marie Frank song “For Better Or For Worse”. When the band, unknown to this, reached the part where the guitar solo was about to start, a rather touched Søren instead went to the microphone and sang Harrison’s “Here Comes The Sun” – soon joined by a very enthusiastic and emotional crowd for the chorus. There was not a dry eye in the house. Lately Søren have worked in the Echophonic studio, recording guitar parts for an upcoming Lovebites album.
While earlier Søren took care of Paul’s vocal range and George’s guitar playing, these days he enjoys being George out-and-out, which was made possible by the arrival of Magnus in the new Beat The Meetles line-up. George’s lesser vocal appearances also makes it possible for Søren to concentrate more on the keyboard playing which he also takes care of. Earlier on it could be quite a sight to see Søren’s oyster-like performance of Get Back, singing Paul’s lead, playing Billy Preston’s electric piano part while, at the same time, doing the lead guitar parts. These days Søren also find more time to do his interpretation of George’s trademark – the famous “Liverpool Leg”. Søren is also a keen collector (and not at least user) of vintage instruments. This also shows in the band’s choice of guitars and amps, which are, if possible, identical to those used by The Beatles themselves.
Søren – Instrumentation
Hank B. Harrison (Søren): Vocals, guitar, harp, keyboard
Main instruments:
Gretsch Tennessean 6119, 1964
Gretsch Country Gentleman 6122, 1971
Rickenbacker 360/12V64, fireglo, reissue 1991
Tokai TST-55 Stratocaster (painted like Harrisons Magical mystery tour Strat)Epiphone Casino, sunburst, 1968
VOX AC-30 Top Boost, 1964
KORG M1 Keyboard, AKAI S3000 Sampler