Pretty Maids

Ronnie Atkins Ken Hammer Kenn Jackson Michael Fast

Pretty Maids was founded in 1981 by guitarist Ken Hammer (aka Kenneth Hansen) with vocalist Ronnie Atkins (aka Paul Christensen), guitarist Pete Collins (aka Jan Piete), bassist John Darrow (aka Johnny Møller), keyboardplayer Alan Owen (aka Allan Nielsen) and drummer Phil Moorhead (aka Henrik Andersen). In 1983 they recorded an EP with producer Tommy Hansen in Jailhouse Studios. Shortly after Collins and Darrow was replaced by Rick Hanson (aka Kim Hansen) and Allan Delong (aka Allan Jensen). In 1984 they released "Red Hot and Heavy" again with producer Tommy Hansen in the Jailhouse Studios and guested by rock/blues-guitarist Billy Cross. Hanson left and was in a short period replaced by Benny Petersen (Ex White Lion) - but he left to found Jackal. In 1987 they worked with producer Eddie Kramer on "Future World", which featured Graham Bonnet on backing vocals and I consider it as the bands best effort. The band toured with Angel G. Schleifer, but as we all know he joined Bonfire in 1988. Instead the rest of the band hired Ricky Marx (aka Henrik Mark) and shortly after they recorded "Jump the Gun" with producer Roger Glover and drummer Ian Paice - both from Deep Purple. But the long work on the record did not pay off - it flopped and Marx, Moorhead and Delong left. Marx is now living in Monte Carlo.
Owen, Atkins and Hammer continued, though but with new bassist Kenn Jackson (aka Ken Jacobsen Ex White Mountain) and drummer Michael "Mini" Fast (Ex Hero/Fanny Hill). In 1992 they recorded "Sin Decade" with producer Flemming Rasmussen - but Owen left and was replaced with Dominique Gale (The Shout). It was a strong record but did not sell that good either. Later that year they released the EP "Off-side" wich gave them a minor hit with John Sykes "Please don't leave me". In 1993 "Stripped" was released wich featured keyboardist Henrik Nilsson and Knud Lindhardt on backing vocals. Hammer was also to be found in the coverband Find Lizzy. In 1995 Atkins made a guest appearence on Blind Guardian's "Imaginations from the other Side" and Pretty Maids released "Scream"- also a very good release. In 1997 Owen returned and the band released "Spooked" guested by keyboardist Tommy Hansen also. In 1998 the band recorded the album with the long title "Anything worth doing is worth overdoing" guested by Knud Lindhardt again and they toured with Gale as Owen didn't want to do concerts. In 2000 Pretty Maids has just released "Carpe Diem". And on the tour to support the album they have joined forces with new keyboard player Jørgen Thorup, known for his work with danish party rock/pop band SHU-BI-DUA.
Album in 2002 is called "Planet Panic", recorded with good old Alan Owen behind the keyboard - and it's engineered by Tommy Hansen at Jailhouse Studios and mixed by former Skagarack bassist Morten Munch.
In 2006 Allan Tshicaja replaced Michael "Mini" Fast behind the drums and the band will release their new album "Wake Up To The Real World" on Frontiers (Zink/Bonnier Amigo) on November 10th 2006.

Current line Up:
Ronnie Atkins - Lead Vocals
Ken Hammer - Guitars
Kenn Jackson - Bass
Allan Tshicaja - Drums

Discography:
Cover Tracklisting Label Year of Release
Pretty Maids (EP)
"Pretty Maids" (EP)
City Light; Fantasy; Shelly the Maid; Children of tomorrow; Nowhere to run.
Bullet Records
CULP1
1983
Red Hot and Heavy
Red Hot and Heavy
Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi; Back to Back; Red, hot & heavy; Waitin' for the Time; Cold Ciller; Battle of Pride; Night Danger; A Place in the Night; Queen of Dreams; Little Darling.
CBS
26207
1984
Future World
Future World
Future World; We came to rock; Love Games; Yellow Rain; Loud n' Proud; Rodeo; Needles in the Dark; Eye of the Storm; Long way to go.
CBS
450281-1
1987
In Santa's Claws
In Santa's Claws (EP)
In Santa's Claws; A merry Jingle; Rock the House (live); Eye of the Storm (live); Red hot and Heavy.
CBS
467744-2
1990
Jump the Gun
Jump the Gun
Leathal Heroes; Don't settle for Less; Rock the House; Savage Heart; Young Blood; Headlines; Jump the Gun; Partners in Crime; Attention; Hang tough; Over and out; Dream on.
CBS
466365-2
1991
Sin Decade
Sin Decade
Running out; Who said Money; Nigtmare in the Neighbourhood; Sin-Decade; Come on tough, come on nasty; Raise your Flag; Credit Card Lover; Know it ain't easy; Healing Touch; In the Flesh; PLease don't leave me.
Columbia
47125-1
1992
Off-Side
Off-side (EP)
Heartbeat from Heaven; Please don't leave me; In the Minds of the Young; 39; Fly away.
Coming up !
1992
Stripped
Stripped (Live)
If it ain't gonna change; Please don't leave me; In the Minds of the Young; Too late,too loud; Say the Word; How does it feel; I'll be there; Far far away; Savage Heart.
Columbia
473964-2
1993
Scream
Scream
Rise; Scream; Psycho-Time-Bomb-Planet-Earth; This Love; Walk Away; No Messiah; In A World Of Your Own; Don't Turn Your Sex On Me; Adrenalin Junkie; Anytime Anywhere.
Epic/SONY
478389-2
1995
Screamin' Live
Screamin' Live
Psycho-timebomb-planet-Earth; Rock the House; Rise; Walk away; Scream; Yellow Rain; Sin-Decade; Savage Heart; No Messiah; Please, Don't leave Me; Lovegames; Future World; Back to Back; Red Hot and Heavy.
Epic/SONY
481660 2
1995
Spooked
Spooked
Ressurrection; Freakshow; Dead or alive; Die with your Dreams; Fly me out; Live until it hurts; Spooked; Twisted; If it can't be love; Never too late; Your Mind is where the money is; Hard luck Woman; The One that should not be.
Scandinavian Records
SRCD 54175
1997
Anything worth doing is worth overdoing
Anything worth doing is worth overdoing
Snakes in Eden; Destination Paradise; Hell on high Heels; When the Angels cry; Back off; Only in America; With these Eyes; Anything worth doing is worth overdoing; Scent of my Prey; Face me; Loveshine.
Scandinavian Records
SRCD 54274
1999
Carpe Diem
Carpe Diem
Violent Tribe; Carpe Diem; Tortured Spirits; Wouldn't Miss You; Clay; Poisoned Pleasures; Until It Dies; The Unwritten Pages; For Once In Your Life; They're All Alike; Time Awaits For No One; Invisible Chains.
Scandinavian Records
2000
Planet Panic
Planet Panic
Virtual Brutality; Playing God; He who never lived; Face of the Enemy; Not what you think; Natural High; Who's gonna change; Worthless; One way to rock (S. Hagar); Enter Forevermore.
Scandinavian Records
82002
2002


© Steen Elstrup Pejtersen 1999-2006