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All Music Guide:
Founded in 1966 in Skjern, Denmark, by brothers Peter A.G. Nielsen (vocals) and Jens G. Nielsen (drums), Gnags are a Danish rock band originally founded in the 1960s whose popularity spans decades, extending into the next century. While other bandmembers came and went over the decades, the one constant was Peter (born December 17, 1952, in Skjern, Denmark) as the band's well-known frontman. Jens left the band in 2000 after four decades of activity. After moving from Skjern to Aarhus in 1971, Gnags made their album debut in 1973. A couple years later the band released its second album, Del af en Ring (1975), on the label Genlyd. Gnags released a steady succession of albums on Genlyd from then onward, and the association between the band and the label extended from 1975 into the next century. While the style of Gnags over the years remained rooted in rock & roll, it did change with the times; for instance, in the early '80s the band went though a brief reggae phase. In 2005 the retrospective box set Siden 66 was released on Genlyd. During this post-millennial period, Gnags remained popular in Denmark. Latter-day albums such as Skønhedspletter (2002) and Legepladsen (2008) reached the Top Ten, if not the Top Five, of the Danish albums chart.
Wikipedia:
Gnags is a Danish rock band from Skjern formed by Peter A. G. Nielsen and his brother Jens G. Nielsen in 1966.
History
The band started playing regularly in 1968 after winning the Danish national championship in "beat music". Their championship title paved the way for the band's first two single recordings, "Eyes and Ears" and "I Can't Talk About It Now". Sven Fenger left the band in 1969, after which Gnags continued as a trio, playing Danish festivals and in Amsterdam.
The band moved to Aarhus in 1971 and joined a commune. There they recorded their first album, Paa Vej, which was released in 1973. The band had financed the album out of their own pockets, and they sold the distribution rights to the record producer and musician Johnny Reimar. Struggling to find a record label, Gnags created Genlyd Records in 1974. Ivan Oehlenschaeg Sørensen joined the band in 1973 and Per Christian Frost in 1974. Gnags released their second album, Del af en ring, in 1974.
Gnags created Feedback Studios in 1975, from which most of their subsequent works have been recorded.
Gnags' sales and popularity rose steadily during the 1970s reaching national saturation in the 1980s with albums such as Intercity, Safari and .
Gnags continues to play and tour after 40 years as a band. Though some members have left over time, the band has maintained a stable membership over the years with only Per Christian Frost, Henning Stærk and Jens G Nielsen leaving in recent history.
Music style
Gnags' musical style is fairly unique. It is clearly rock and roll but stylistically it is dominated by Peter A. G. Nielsen's unmistakable voice. From 1981 to 1983 there was a strong influence from reggae music, which has its origins in their work with producer Jack Nuber. Gnags have recorded almost all their songs in the Danish language. Exceptions are three songs in English: Their singles "Eyes and Ears" and "I Can't Talk About It Now", and the last track on the 1982 album Safari ("American Boy"). Gnags are energetic performers on stage.
