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Playing live at The Echo, July 10th!

Who is this manic Master of Ceremonies who openly confesses to the two grand black bohemians said to be lunatic Sun Ra and George Clinton, and whose antics certainly remind us of a young Herman Sonny Blount and his Solar Arkestra?

King Khan & The Shrines have been spreading their love like peanut butter since 1999. A youngblood King Khan on his royal buddhistic journey decides to sow some wild oats in Germany, he finds true love and fulfills his life long dream of leading a super bad ass 10 piece soul inferno!!!!

“I didn’t just want the audience to have an aural orgasm… I wanted an EYEGASM too!!!” - King Khan.

The line-up includes 60 year-old Chicago-born, Ron Streeter (the live-percussionist of Curtis Mayfield, Stevie Wonder, and many other Soul-Legends), a horn section consisting of Simon Wojan (the mastermind behind Kranky Records recording artists Cloudland Canyon), Ben Ra (Germany’s John Coltrane), and famous French rockabilly saxophonist Big Fred Rollercoaster. The rhythm section of the Sensational Shrines has been called “a German/French version of the Freak Brothers”.

Their first album "Three Hairs & You're Mine" was produced by Liam Watson, recorded in the legendary Toe Rag Studios in London, England and released in 2002. A second full-length, "Mr. Supernatural," followed in 2004. King Khan & the Shrines became an all-star international movement. Numerous gigs followed all across Europe with the Black Lips, Enon, Demolition Dollrods, Mr.Quintron & Ms. Pussycat, an after-party for 50 Cent in Norway. They headlined Toronto’s NXNE festival 2006 playing three nights in a row and even had a member of the Sun Ra Arkestra join their brass section….

In 2007 King Khan made the soundtrack and film score for “Schwarze Schafe” a major motion picture in Germany. The soundtrack included music from The Black Lips, The Spits, Gris Gris, Quintron and more.

In 2007, King Khan also released "What Is?!" which received critical acclaim from all over the world, landing at #33 on Pitchfork’s Top Albums of 2007 while their track “Welfare Bread” landed at #66 on Pitchfork’s Top 100 Songs of 2007.

Now comes 2008 and for the first time ever this musical dynamite is widely available the U.S. of A. for the very first time. A greatest hits of his greatest hits, the cream of a very creamy crop - this is the Supreme Genius of King Khan and The Shrines at their absolutely very best. The entire 11-person psychedelic-soul big band revue will be raving up stages for the first time through North America the summer of 2008, leaving behind them a colorful spell of amazement and wonder.


ESSAY BY JARED SWILLEY FROM THE BLACK LIPS

The first time I crossed paths with King Khan and the Shrines was on a cold foggy day in London. The gloomy weather was fitting as I'd lost my passport, money, and most of my personal effects at the previous night's concert. My spirits were down and I was in desperate need of salvation. As I sat wallowing in sorrow outside of the club I suddenly felt a supernatural calling that drew me in like a rat following the Pied Piper. What followed was to this day one of the best shows I have ever witnessed. The scene inside was nothing short of insanity. Horns were blaring that could have taken down the walls of Jericho, the drums pounding a rhythm deep into my heart, guitars, bass and organ wailing and King Khan at the epicenter of it all commanding the stage like a soul-soaked shaman. I was spellbound, moved, shaken, stirred and cured - not unlike what I hear religious experiences are like. I left the show a saved and converted man. I had experienced Supreme Genius.


INTRODUCING THE SHRINES

Mr. Speedfinger: guitar
Original member of the Shrines. He owns a bar in Kassel and hasn’t charged Khan for a drink in five years.

Riddiman: bass
Gypsy-punk and truck-driver. He found his bass in the garbage and plays it up to the very day. Member of the Anarchist-Elektro-Punk-Band EGOTRONIC.

John Boy Adonis: drums
Even though he looks like a bizarre mixture between Jesus Christ and Charlie Manson, no kinship could be proven. Member of the Experimental-Sub-Underground-Band INCLUB EXPLOSIVO.

Ron Streeter: percussion
Percussionist of countless soul-legends. Khan slid a paper with his phone-number under the toilet-door, with one simple plea “don’t wipe your ass with it”. Two days later Ron played with the shrines.

Freddy “Mr. Ovitch” Rococo: lead organ and piano
Khan had organized a show for the French one-man-band FREDOVITCH. Freddie performed in a silver go-go dress with a matching cowboy-hat and full beard. Two weeks later the shrines had him flown into the London studio.

Sam Fransisco: trumpet
Plays in numerous noise-bands with long artful names. After his girlfriend left him, Sam hurled himself into excessive drug abuse, a circumstance that bestowed a heap of good songs upon the Shrines and musical immortality for himself.

Ben Ra: tenor saxophone
Plays in the 60’s-Garage-Punk-Band HARAKEEREES. His idols are John Coltrane, Sun Ra and the Sonics. Nevertheless Ben Ra perambulates the universe with his go-go-girl-friend and is easily irritable.

Big Fred Rollercoaster: baritone saxophone
Plays with the French Trash-Rockabilly-Band BDK & THE ROLLERCOASTERS. Big Fred has got the longest fingers in all of France and has no problem in using them.

Bamboorella: go-go-dance
The appearance of the Japanese go-go-dancer conceals the notorious Rock’n’roll-DJ KITTY ATOMIC. Bamboorella traded a life of crime, sex and drugs for a life of rock’n’roll, sex and drugs. With her salacious dances she enthuses both men and women alike.