D.D.E.

A chart-topping, award-winning Norwegian rock band best known for its lively concert performances, D.D.E. made their album debut in 1993 and broke through to mainstream success in 1995 with their third album, the live recording Det è D.D.E. Founded in 1992 in Namsos, Norway, the band is comprised of Bjarne Brøndbo (vocals, accordion), Frode Viken (guitar), Arnt Egil Rånes (guitar), Eivind Berre (bass), Bård Jørgen Iversen (keyboards), Eskil Brøndbo (drums), and Terje Tranaas (keyboards), many of whom were members of another group, After Dark, for several years during the 1980s prior to D.D.E. The band made its album debut in 1993 with Rai-Rai, followed by Rai 2 in 1994. While neither of these albums was especially popular, the band's third album, the live recording Det è D.D.E. (1995), was a breakout hit, steadily rising to number two on the Norwegian albums chart and charting for a whopping 47 weeks overall. The follow-up album, Det Går Likar No (1996), a studio effort, capitalized on the band's newfound fan base and topped the Norwegian charts for eight weeks. Like its predecessor, it charted for nearly a year's time. In acknowledgement of D.D.E.'s breakout success in 1995-1996 with Det è D.D.E. and Det Går Likar No, the band was awarded a Spellemannprisen in 1996. Practically all of D.D.E.'s subsequent album releases were Top Five hits, several of them chart-toppers, including Ohwææææh!!! (1998), Vi Ska Fæst -- Aill' Mot Aill' (2001), and No Går Det Så Det Suse (2007). Periodic compilations such as Her Bli Det Liv: De Beste 1992-2002 (2002) and 15 År Live (2007) also proved popular. ~ Jason Birchmeier