MESSENGER, who originate in Norway, are a four-piece rock band comprising Ole Christian Kvaernsveen on bass and vocals, Jon Narum on guitar, Sjur Lundstein on keyboards (and sometimes vocals) and Kurt Lisoe on drums. The band started playing together as MESSENGER three years ago but all members have a long musical history. Ole started playing bass at 14, left school at 15 and immediately started to earn his living in his father?s rock band. Over the next two or three years he perfected his craft by playing on average 250 gigs a year throughout Europe. He then joined Jon and Sjur to form a new young band which toured extensively and recorded several albums. All three became regular contributors to recording sessions and have appeared on numerous successful albums by various Scandinavian artists. Jon used his income from gigging and recording to set up his own studio and as well as his work as a musician he has taken on numerous projects as producer, the studio becoming a magnet for new and developing artists in that area of Norway. The three then went their separate ways for several years during which time Ole started to write his own songs. Ole also visited America and recorded a number of tracks with such renowned musicians as Nathan and Marcel East, John Robinson and the Earth Wind & Fire horn section, all of whom gave their services at a rock-bottom rate in order to play with this new songwriter. On returning to Scandinavia it became obvious that a vehicle was needed to perform these new songs and why look further than his old friends, Jon and Sjur? This formed the heart of MESSENGER but from time to time the band added up to six other musicians to perform in the UK, Scandinavia and Russia. The highlights of these gigs included performing at a Sci Fi convention at the Kensington Olympia in front of thousands of sci-fi fans and close to the Chechen border under the watchful eye of 30 heavily-armed Russian security men, where the band were mobbed and forced to play over an hour of encores. And now to record the album, where would any self-respecting, international musician want to go? The answer is Suffolk. For a year and a half MESSENGER rented a traditional Suffolk pink cottage into which they transplanted Jon?s studio and during this period their first album was born. Also at this time a regular drummer, Kurt Lisoe, was brought into the band. Kurt was highly qualified for the job as amongst other qualifications he has a PhD in Rhythmic Studies and when he is not providing the solid drumbeat for MESSENGER, he teaches drumming at the University of Kristiansand. MESSENGER will be releasing their eponymous album mid 2006 with the single "Head For Glory". The band will be playing various dates in the UK. Look out for them.