TANTRIC CYCLE is an Austrian hard rock band formed in 2006 by Paulus (lead vocals, harmonica), his brother Peter aka Lez (lead guitar/vocals) and their longtime friend Bones (guitar) who were joined by the twin brothers Satoshi (bass) and Yutaka (drums) Ichiyanagi in 2007 in Los Angeles.
FROM TIROL TO BAVARIA
After years of rocking the basement and a fruitless search for a suitable drummer and bassplayer, the three Austrians leave their hometown Lienz, Austria, and move to Munich, Germany in spring 2006. With Felix Leuschner on drums and Max Fraas on bass they play their first shows in Austria and Germany but due to differing aspirations soon abandon this ”half-hearted” constellation. As a three piece acoustic act (or at times with a drum machine and pre-recorded bassline) they tour Austria, Germany and Italy. With their exceptional performances they manage to cause a stir and draw media attention, win various band battles and get to play bigger shows and festivals such as the Fiera della Musica and the Fuochi Fauti Festival in Italy before they move to Los Angeles in spring 2007.
FROM BAVARIA TO CALIFORNIA
In only three months time they manage to play over 30 shows in most of Los Angeles‘ notable clubs, often sharing the stage with Rock Stars, such as Dizzy Reed (Guns N' Roses), James Kottak (Scorpions), Billy Sheehan (Mr.Big), Ray Luzier (Korn, Slash,Dio) and many more.
At their weekly residence, the Kibitz Room, they meet Satoshi and Yutaka Ichiyanagi from Japan who join the band and play the remaining shows with them before the Austrians head to Europe to play further shows and take on various jobs before returning to California in spring 2008 to link to their previous achievements.
Many performances at the Viper Room, Key Club, Cat Club, Whisky A Go Go, Kibitz Room, the Joint, Les Deux and others follow; they play the Hollywood Rock Convention 2008, live in Andy Dick's Shit Show (Howard Stern's Sirius Satellite Radio) and are elected finalists of the Gretsch 125th Anniversary Unsigned Band Competition. Six months after their arrival in L.A. they return to Austria where Peter severly injures his shoulder in a skateboarding accident forcing the band to take a long break from performing.
DIE KAPUTTEN and “FOR A SPELL” EP
In the summer of 2009 Peter, Paulus and Bones get to know Austrian drummer Eugen Klammsteiner with whom they form the punk rock band “die kApuTTen” to work up all the German songs they have written over the years. Shortly before their repeated journey to the US in October 2009 they do a tour as “TANTRIC CYCLE und die kApuTTen” and record their first release “For A Spell”.
JERRY COTTON SOUNDTRACK
They recently contributed the track ”Jerry Cotton Theme” to the motion picture “Jerry Cotton” that will hit cinemas across Europe in March 2010.
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