Pretty Maids
Pretty Maids is a Danish heavy metal band from Horsens, formed in 1981 by Ken Hammer and completed with Ronnie Atkins in 1982. Their style is characterised by guitar-driven heavy rock with a strong emphasis on melody. The band has sold a significant number of records and gained particular success in Japan during the 1990s. They have supported acts such as Black Sabbath, Whitesnake, Deep Purple, Alice Cooper and Saxon, and performed at the 1987 German edition of Monsters of Rock, where Deep Purple headlined. Since the mid-2000s, Pretty Maids have regularly toured in Denmark, Sweden, France, Germany and Japan.
Pretty Maids was initially formed in 1981 by Ken Hammer and John Jacobsen as a cover band called Pretty Panic. Ronnie Atkins joined in 1982, replacing Jacobsen as vocalist. The band began writing original material and a self-financed demo led to a contract with the English record label Bullet Records. In 1983, they released their debut self-titled EP under the name Pretty Maids, and toured the UK that year. In 1984, CBS Records in Denmark remixed and re-released the EP with a new cover.
Their debut studio album, "Red, Hot and Heavy", was released in 1984 with new members Allan DeLong on bass and Rick Hanson on guitar. Hanson was briefly replaced by Benny Petersen. The second studio album, "Future World", was released in 1987 and recorded at Bearsville Studios in New York with producers Flemming Rasmussen and Kevin Elson. Angel Schleifer joined as touring guitarist in 1987–88.
The 1990 album "Jump the Gun", with new guitarist Ricky Marx and produced by Roger Glover, did not achieve commercial success and led to a temporary reduction in band activity. Founding members Atkins and Hammer recruited drummer Michael Fast and bassist Kenn Jackson to record "Sin-Decade" in 1992, produced by Flemming Rasmussen. The album included the single "Please Don't Leave Me", a cover of a John Sykes and Phil Lynott song. The band achieved notable popularity in Japan during the early 1990s.
"Scream" was released in 1995, showcasing a heavier, guitar-led approach, followed by the live album "Screamin' Live". The 1997 album "Spooked" continued the heavier style while retaining melodic elements. "Anything Worth Doing Is Worth Overdoing" (1999) included the track "Hell on High Heels".
In 2000, Pretty Maids released "Carpe Diem", which was more melodic, and "Planet Panic" in 2002, which returned to a heavier sound. The band's management company Rock On went bankrupt in 2002, creating financial and legal difficulties. Guitarist Ken Hammer suffered a heart attack in 2003 but fully recovered. Drummer Michael Fast departed in 2005 and was replaced by Allan Tschicaja, while Morten Sandager joined on keyboards in 2006.
In 2010, Pretty Maids released "Pandemonium" through Frontiers Records, with the single "Little Drops of Heaven". Bassist Kenn Jackson left and was temporarily replaced by Hal Patino, who departed in 2011. The band celebrated its 30th anniversary with a concert at Tivoli, Copenhagen. In 2012, Pretty Maids performed in the US for the first time at the ProgPower festival. The album "Motherland" was released in March 2013 through Frontiers Records.
Keyboardist Morten Sandager left in 2016 and was replaced by Chris Laney, who contributed keyboards and guitars. "Kingmaker" was released in November 2016. Drummer Allan Tschicaja left in May 2017 and was replaced by Allan Sørensen. "Undress Your Madness" was released in November 2019.
In March 2020, Ronnie Atkins revealed a lung cancer diagnosis. Following initial treatment, the cancer returned in October 2020. In 2021, Atkins released his debut solo album "One Shot". Guitarist Ken Hammer also engaged in side projects, releasing "Taboo" in 2022 with vocalist Christoffer Stjerne of H.E.R.O. In November 2021, Pretty Maids published two authorised books: "40 år med Pretty Maids" in Danish and "We Came To Rock – The Official Pretty Maids Journals" in English.
After a five-year hiatus, Pretty Maids returned to live performances in June 2024, including appearances at Copenhell 2024 and the Time To Rock festival in Sweden.
Studio albums
Red Hot and Heavy (1984)
Future World (1987)
Jump the Gun (1990)
Sin-Decade (1992)
Stripped (1993)
Scream (1994)
Spooked (1998)
Anything Worth Doing Is Worth Overdoing (1999)
Carpe Diem (2000)
Planet Panic (2002)
Wake Up to the Real World (2006)
Pandemonium (2010)
Motherland (2013)
Louder Than Ever (2014)
Kingmaker (2016)
Undress Your Madness (2019)
Pretty Maids was initially formed in 1981 by Ken Hammer and John Jacobsen as a cover band called Pretty Panic. Ronnie Atkins joined in 1982, replacing Jacobsen as vocalist. The band began writing original material and a self-financed demo led to a contract with the English record label Bullet Records. In 1983, they released their debut self-titled EP under the name Pretty Maids, and toured the UK that year. In 1984, CBS Records in Denmark remixed and re-released the EP with a new cover.
Their debut studio album, "Red, Hot and Heavy", was released in 1984 with new members Allan DeLong on bass and Rick Hanson on guitar. Hanson was briefly replaced by Benny Petersen. The second studio album, "Future World", was released in 1987 and recorded at Bearsville Studios in New York with producers Flemming Rasmussen and Kevin Elson. Angel Schleifer joined as touring guitarist in 1987–88.
The 1990 album "Jump the Gun", with new guitarist Ricky Marx and produced by Roger Glover, did not achieve commercial success and led to a temporary reduction in band activity. Founding members Atkins and Hammer recruited drummer Michael Fast and bassist Kenn Jackson to record "Sin-Decade" in 1992, produced by Flemming Rasmussen. The album included the single "Please Don't Leave Me", a cover of a John Sykes and Phil Lynott song. The band achieved notable popularity in Japan during the early 1990s.
"Scream" was released in 1995, showcasing a heavier, guitar-led approach, followed by the live album "Screamin' Live". The 1997 album "Spooked" continued the heavier style while retaining melodic elements. "Anything Worth Doing Is Worth Overdoing" (1999) included the track "Hell on High Heels".
In 2000, Pretty Maids released "Carpe Diem", which was more melodic, and "Planet Panic" in 2002, which returned to a heavier sound. The band's management company Rock On went bankrupt in 2002, creating financial and legal difficulties. Guitarist Ken Hammer suffered a heart attack in 2003 but fully recovered. Drummer Michael Fast departed in 2005 and was replaced by Allan Tschicaja, while Morten Sandager joined on keyboards in 2006.
In 2010, Pretty Maids released "Pandemonium" through Frontiers Records, with the single "Little Drops of Heaven". Bassist Kenn Jackson left and was temporarily replaced by Hal Patino, who departed in 2011. The band celebrated its 30th anniversary with a concert at Tivoli, Copenhagen. In 2012, Pretty Maids performed in the US for the first time at the ProgPower festival. The album "Motherland" was released in March 2013 through Frontiers Records.
Keyboardist Morten Sandager left in 2016 and was replaced by Chris Laney, who contributed keyboards and guitars. "Kingmaker" was released in November 2016. Drummer Allan Tschicaja left in May 2017 and was replaced by Allan Sørensen. "Undress Your Madness" was released in November 2019.
In March 2020, Ronnie Atkins revealed a lung cancer diagnosis. Following initial treatment, the cancer returned in October 2020. In 2021, Atkins released his debut solo album "One Shot". Guitarist Ken Hammer also engaged in side projects, releasing "Taboo" in 2022 with vocalist Christoffer Stjerne of H.E.R.O. In November 2021, Pretty Maids published two authorised books: "40 år med Pretty Maids" in Danish and "We Came To Rock – The Official Pretty Maids Journals" in English.
After a five-year hiatus, Pretty Maids returned to live performances in June 2024, including appearances at Copenhell 2024 and the Time To Rock festival in Sweden.
Studio albums
Red Hot and Heavy (1984)
Future World (1987)
Jump the Gun (1990)
Sin-Decade (1992)
Stripped (1993)
Scream (1994)
Spooked (1998)
Anything Worth Doing Is Worth Overdoing (1999)
Carpe Diem (2000)
Planet Panic (2002)
Wake Up to the Real World (2006)
Pandemonium (2010)
Motherland (2013)
Louder Than Ever (2014)
Kingmaker (2016)
Undress Your Madness (2019)
