Chris Summers (drummer)

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Chris Summers
Summers with Turbonegro in 2007
Summers with Turbonegro in 2007
Background information
Birth nameChrister Engen
Also known as
  • The Prince of Drummers
  • The Rolex of Drummers
Born (1974-11-07) 7 November 1974 (age 49)
Oslo
Genres
Occupation(s)
Instrument(s)
  • Drums
  • percussion
  • vocals
Years active1992–present
Formerly of

Christer Engen (born 7 November 1974), also known by his stage name Chris Summers, is a Norwegian musician best known as the drummer for rock bands Turbonegro, Bigbang and Euroboys. Engen was a founding member of Bigbang and played with the band from 1992 to 1997. He left Bigbang to join Turbonegro in 1997 and released four studio albums with the band until his departure in 2008.[1][2] Engen was enganged to singer Elvira Nikolaisen from 2007 to 2011.[3][4]

Career[edit]

Engen started his musical career when he founded Bigbang together with Øystein Greni while they were in high school.[5] The two shared a common interest in American punk and hardcore bands, as well as classic rock from the 1960s, 70s and 80s.[5] Engen released one album with Bigbang, Waxed, before being asked to join Turbonegro by guitarist Rune Rebellion in 1997.[5] He toured with Turbonegro in support of Ass Cobra and later recorded the album Apocalypse Dudes with the band. In 1998, Turbonegro disbanded while on tour due to singer Hank von Hell's drug addiction and mental illness.[6] The following year, Engen played drums on Bigbang's song "Wild Bird" off their Electric Psalmbook album. He again contributed drums to Bigbang on their 2000 studio album, Clouds Rolling By, including the hit song "Girl In Oslo".

Unbeknownst to Turbonegro, in the years that followed their break-up, the band would become a cult phenomenon with fan clubs called Turbojugend being established all over the world.[6] Turbonegro reunited in 2002 and released their comeback album, Scandinavian Leather, in 2003.[7][8] The band toured extensively in support of the album, including a tour of the United States with Queens of the Stone Age. Turbonegro released their next album, Party Animals, in 2005, and toured Europe and the United States throughout the year and in 2006. The band released the album Retox in 2007. Later that year, Engen suffered a foot injury and played several festival shows with a broken foot before getting a stand-in.[9][5] Engen left Turbonegro in 2008 due to his injury and touring fatigue.[5][2] He would later reveal in a 2021 interview that it took four years for his foot to fully heal.[5] After leaving Turbonegro, Engen has occasionally featured as a session musician and works as a junior high school teacher.[5]

Discography[edit]

With Turbonegro[edit]

Studio albums[edit]

Live albums[edit]

Compilation albums[edit]

With Bigbang[edit]

With Oslo Motherfuckers[edit]

  • Greetings From The Big O (2002)

Production, instrumental and vocal credits[edit]

Year Artist Title Song(s) Notes
1999 Bigbang Electric Psalmbook "Wild Bird" Drums, percussion
"So In Love", "How Do You Do" Backing vocals
2000 Clouds Rolling By "To The Mountains", "Girl In Oslo", "Sing And Dance" Drums, percussion
Euroboys Getting Out Of Nowhere "Scarborough Fair" Vocals
Tom Lund Band "Europas Juvel" Drums
2001 Amulet Freedom Fighters Percussion
2002 Kåre João Sideman Performer
2004 Turbonegro No Music Requests "Bloodstains" (Agent Orange cover) Performer
Euroboys Soft Focus "Fears Be Gone", "Topanga" Drums, percussion
"Good Enough For Now" Vocals, percussion
Backyard Babies "Friends" Guest
2005 Bigbang Poetic Terrorism "On Your Mind" Drums
Turbonegro Det Beste Til Meg Og Mine Venner (En Hyllest Til Joachim Nielsen) "Her Kommer Vinteren" (Jokke & Valentinerne cover) Drums, backing vocals
2007 Bigbang Something Special: The Best Of Bigbang "Wild Bird", "Girl In Oslo" Drums
2014 White Sands "The Wait" Drums
2018 Michael Krohn Søvnløse Netter Percussion
2020 Sweetheart Sweetheart "I Will Always Be Right Here" Percussion
2022 Lady Friend Songs From The Guesthouse Producer, drums, percussion, backing vocals

References[edit]

  1. ^ Thorkildsen, Joakim; Barstein, Geir (2008-03-04). "- De oppfattet kanskje at han prioriterte Elvira". dagbladet.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2023-11-07.
  2. ^ a b "Turbonegertumulter". www.aftenbladet.no (in Norwegian Bokmål). 2008-03-04. Retrieved 2023-11-07.
  3. ^ "Gifter seg med trommis". www.bt.no (in Norwegian Bokmål). 2007-12-03. Retrieved 2023-11-07.
  4. ^ Winterkjær, Ståle (2012-03-16). "Elvira Nikolaisen: – Sunt for meg å være singel". TV 2 (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 2023-11-07.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Turbojugend Radio Podcast Episode 75: Chris Summers, 2021-01-19, retrieved 2023-11-07
  6. ^ a b Sættem, Trond. Turbonegro - The ResErection (2002). Nordisk Film.
  7. ^ Glette, Jan-Olav (2002-05-15). "Turbonegro i studio igjen? • ballade.no". ballade.no (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 2023-11-07.
  8. ^ "Helvete er løs!". Verdens Gang (in Norwegian Bokmål). 2003-03-14. Retrieved 2023-11-07.
  9. ^ THORKILDSEN, JOAKIM (2008-03-05). "- Elvira er lett tramping, Turbo en heavy anstrengelse". dagbladet.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2023-11-07.

External links[edit]