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LION'S SHARE, VERY DETAILED BIOGRAPHY BY LARS CHRISS
Founded in Sundsvall, Sweden in the spring of 1987, by guitarist Lars Chriss
and keyboardist Kay Backlund, LION'S SHARE immediately began perfecting
their brand of classy, commercial hard rock through intensive rehearsals and
live performances, recorded the song I'm On A Roll, in June 1987. The band
got aired on a Swedish national radio station (Rock Box) in August 1987 with
this song, which eventually lead the band to a national band competition and
won first prize, a free recording of a vinyl single.
In an effort to capitalize on their early momentum, the group entered the
studio in February and March of 1988 to record the new single Ghost
Town Queen, along with a new recording of I'm On A Roll, which was
released in August 1988 and received a number of positive reviews
in various hard rock publications all across Europe. This line-up consisted
of Lars Chriss (g), Kay Backlund (keys), Mikael Hansson
(b), Mark Norton (vo) and Jouni Niemi (ds).
LION'S SHARE won yet another national band competition in the summer of
1988, which again, the first prize was a free vinyl single recording. The
band again entered the studios to begin recording a follow up single in
October 1988. The A-side song was entitled Partners In Crime, and in early
1989, the band recorded some B-side tracks entitled If You Cut Us We Bleed,
No Easy Way Out and In Your Shadow, an effort which sadly never saw the light
of day due to internal problems within the group's line-up at the time. After parting
ways with the rest of the band, Lars Chriss and Kay
Backlund spent the bulk of 1989 and 1990 attempting to find suitable
replacements, but without any success. Frustrated and disappointed, Lars
Chriss and Kay Backlund decided to place the band on hold for the time
being.
In 1991 Lars Chriss moved to Stockholm, the capitol of Sweden, in the search
for the right band. After jamming with a couple of different groups, Lars
Chriss ended up in Andy Engberg's band APHASIA.
In 1992, Lars Chriss received an offer from a small Belgian label to include
a song on a compilation CD, which was to feature some of the most promising
new groups from the European continent. Without a proper line-up, the
guitarist quickly rounded up some of Sweden's top musicians to record the
original track Nothing's Free, with the song's final version featuring Lars Chriss,
Marcel Jacob (TALISMAN, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, JOHN NORUM) on bass, Conny Lind
(GREAT KING RAT, VISION, AMAZE ME) on vocals, P-A Danielsson (TIAMAT, VENI
DOMINE) on keyboards, and Johan Koleberg on drums.
Satisfied with the results, Lars Chriss set about reforming the group in a
brand new incarnation, in which he was eventually joined by the returning
keyboardist Kay Backlund, who at the time was performing with MOAHNI MOAHNA,
drummer Johan Koleberg, ex-SORCEROR / APHASIA vocalist Andy Engberg and
ex-GLORY bassist Andy Loos. LION'S SHARE was reborn in March 1993, and the
first set of demos included, Judgment Day, Nothing's Free, Sins Of A Father, Holding
On, Play By The Rules, Searching For Answers, Don't Look Back. Another two songs,
Arabia and Taking On The World, were later recorded.
It wasn't long before this line-up of LION'S SHARE landed a deal with
Japan's Zero Corporation and Germany's Long Island Records. The band entered
Airplay Studios in Stockholm to start recording the group's self-titled
debut album, which ultimately saw the light of day in December 1994 in Japan
(the European release through Long Island Records took place several months
later).
When it came time for promoting and touring in support of the new album, the
band had to part ways with Andy Loos, due to the pressures and
responsibilities of "family life". LION'S SHARE eventually enlisted the
services of bassist Pontus Egberg (STEAMROLLER, incl. Bo Werner from Yngwie
fame), but it was at this time that vocalist Andy Enberg was having throat
problems and on doctor's orders, went through surgery and a long quite
period of recovery. So needless to say, LION'S SHARE never toured in support
of their debut album and Lars Chriss and Kay Backlund started writing new
material for their second album.
At this time, Century Media Records, expressed interest with the band for
worldwide rights, if the band would consider recording their second album
more heavier than the debut outing. The recording of guitars and bass for
the first five songs for the album were recorded in XTC Studios in February 1996.
In April of 1996, the rest of the guitars and basses were recorded, and in May, the
band moved over to Airplay Studios for the recording of the drumtracks. The vocals
were done in Khabang Studios during the summer. Backing vocals were also, this time,
performed by Mats Leven (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, TREAT, SWEDISH EROTICA) and Thomas Vikstrom
(CANDLEMASS, BRAZEN ABBOT). The album was mixed as with the debut, by Niklas
Flyckt (EASY ACTION, GREAT KING RAT) at Khabang Studios in September 1996.
In the summer of 1996, the band contributed to the JUDAS PRIEST Tribute Vol.1,
with a cover version of A Touch Of Evil, JUDAS PRIEST's Painkiller album.
The CD also featured bands like SAXON, MERCYFUL FATE, HELLOWEEN,
U.D.O., DEVIN TOWNSEND among others. This vocal performance was actually Andy Enberg's first
since the surgery of his damaged vocal chords.
In November and December of 1996, LION'S SHARE supported Metal legends SAXON
on their European tour.
- 27.11.96 Vasteras/Extremes (Sweden)
- 28.11.96 Gothenburg/Metron (Sweden)
- 29.11.96 Salen/HC (Sweden)
- 30.11.96 Karlstad/Cinema (Sweden)
- 01.12.96 Uppsala/Sten Sture & Co. (Sweden)
- 02.12.96 Stockholm/Gino (Sweden)
- 03.12.96 Norrkoping/Kulturkammaren (Sweden)
- 04.12.96 Copenhagen/Pumpehuset (Denmark)
- 06.12.96 Vosselaar/Biebob (Belgium)
- 07.12.96 Silvolde/Zaal Pan (Holland)
Century Media Records, pleased with the results of this tour, signed the
band and released Two, on January 3, 1997 in Europe.
A re-mastered version of the band's self-titled debut album, with new artwork
and booklet, was released on the same date. Since Century Media Records have
a label deal with JVC Victor in Japan, JVC Victor released the album on April 23, 1997.
In February 1997, LION'S SHARE did a playback performance at Swedish TV
channel TV4, with the radio edited version (single) of Flash In The Night. In March 1997,
LION'S SHARE made a promotional music video for the song Shadows, which later got
aired all over Europe, including on MTV and Viva.
Another tour followed to promote the release, this time a package tour with
ICED EARTH and NEVERMORE through Europe in April and May of 1997 for three
and a half weeks.
- 27.04.97 Novara/Blackman (Italy)
- 28.04.97 Thessaloniki/Alone Metal Club (Greece)
- 29.04.97 Athen/Rodon Club (Greece)
- 30.04.97 Offenbach/Hafenbahn (Germany)
- 01.05.97 Hamburg/Markthalle (Germany)
- 02.05.97 Katwijk/Scum (Holland)
- 03.05.97 Brussel/Biebob (Belgium)
- 04.05.97 Nijmegen/Staddijk (Holland)
- 06.05.97 Wien/Rockhaus (Austria)
- 07.05.97 Wels/Alter Schlachthof (Austria)
- 08.05.97 Bulle/Ebullution (Switzerland)
- 09.05.97 Pratteln/Z7 (Switzerland)
- 10.05.97 Freiberg/Tivoli (Germany)
- 11.05.97 Ludwigsburg/Rockfabrik (Germany)
- 13.05.97 Ubach/Rockfabrik (Germany)
- 14.05.97 Cologne/Live music hall (Germany)- TV filmed
- 15.05.97 Essen/Zeche Carl (Germany)
- 16.05.97 Berlin/Knaack Club (Germany)
- 18.05.97 Falkenberg/Smedjan (Sweden)
- 19.05.97 Stockholm/Studion (Sweden)
On June 27, 1997, the official Lion's Share home page
www.ronnerdal.se/lionsshare
went public. The autumn of 1997 was spent playing a couple of small headline
shows and writing new material for the third album. The first fan-made
LION'S SHARE's home page was done by Diego Renzini from Italy during this period aswell.
Another tour with SAXON followed a year after the first one.
- 10.12.97 Uppsala/Fredmans (Sweden)
- 11.12.97 Umea/Corona, Universum (Sweden)
- 12.12.97 Eskilstuna/Josefs (Sweden)
- 13.12.97 Hono/Trubaduran (Sweden)
- 14.12.97 Bollnas/Tranan (Sweden)
- 15.12.97 Stockholm/Underground (Sweden)
- 16.12.97 Helsingborg/The Tivoli (Sweden)
- 17.12.97 Jonkoping/Eldslandet (Sweden)
Lion's Share started 1998 by touring again, this time with ex: ACCEPT
vocalist's band U.D.O...
- 29.01.98 Vasteras,Extreme's (Sweden)
- 30.01.98 Norrkoping, Kulturkammaren (Sweden)
- 31.01.98 Eskilstuna, Josefs (Sweden)
- 01.02.98 Uppsala, Sten Sture & CO (Sweden)
- 03.02.98 Malmo, KB (Sweden)
- 04.02.98 Stockholm, Kolingsborg (Sweden)
- 06.02.98 Helsinki (F), Tavastia Club (Finland)
- 07.02.98 Tampere (F), Tulli Club (Finland)
The spring was spent writing and demoing new songs, since Century Media
wanted to have the new master delivered by mid July at the latest. Although
Lion's Share took some time to do a couple of headline shows with TREASURE
LAND supporting.
- 02.04.98 Stockholm, Daily's (Sweden)
- 03.04.98 Hono, Trubaduran (Sweden)
- 04.04.98 Halmstad, Diezel (Sweden)
On June 5, the group entered Soundtrade Studios in Stockholm with Ronny
Lahti (SAIGON KICK, EUROPE, GLENN HUGHES, TALISMAN, CLOCKWISE,
MASQUERADE, ELECTRIC BOYS etc.), to start recording what would become their
masterpiece so far, Fall From Grace. "The recordings went on very smoothly, and we
felt all the touring paid back". Svante Henryson (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN), played
cello on the ballad Remembrance, and Thomas Vikstrom and Magnus Rongedal
(BIG MONEY) did help out with the backing vocals, since Mats Leven was on
tour with YNGWIE MALMSTEEN.
During the recordings, it became clear that Century Media Records were
having big economical problems. The advance to producer Ronny Lahti didn't
show up, neither did the money for the studio time. Lion's Share did see the
chance to have the contract terminated (C.M. had 4 options!), and simply
offered to pay the invoices if C.M. agreed to terminate the contract. After
a couple of weeks of negotiations, C.M. had no other alternative than to
agree.
It was quite hard for the band to be creative in the studio and at the same
time negotiate the legal stuff with Century Media, but the vibes within the
band was on top during the whole period, and on July 16, the last song was
mixed.
So far everyone that have heard the final results, agree on that it's for
sure the best LION'S SHARE album to date.
LION'S SHARE is firmly committed to following their hearts and not the
current musical trends when it comes to their songwriting, an attitude and
approach which the group themselves find much more personally fulfilling. It
is the band's hope and belief that the sincerity and the passion which they
pour into their music will ultimately help them find their audience and
provide the quintet with the recognition that they deserve.
