King Khan & the Shrines

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 stagings certainly remind us of a young Herman Sonny Blount and his Solar Arkestra? In 1995 Khan leaves the frosty soil of the city of Montreal playing the bass for the International-Underground-Legends THE SPACESHITS. The band is produced by Mike Mariconda with a special guest appearance from the Fabulous Andy G (Devil Dogs). Khan founds the secret lodge of the KUKAMONGAS. During the oncoming years Khan tours across the States. Detroit, New Orleans, New York City, LA, San Francisco, Dallas, Tijuana etc. Khan doesn’t return from the first Spaceshits-Europe-Tour in summer of 1999. In Germany the young 22-year old Canadian founds a Psychedlic-Soul-Big-Band THE SENSATIONAL SHRINES. The first line-up includes Ron Streeter (live-percussionist of Curtis Mayfield, Stevie Wonder, Al Jarreau and other Soul-Legends), as well as a horn section of rowdy teenagers, and a rhythm section which can only be called a german/french version of the Freak Brothers. Khan meets Fredovitch (Bordeaux's wildest organ player) wearing a silverstudded gogo dress, matching cowboy hat and sporting a full beard. He dubs him into shrinehood only one week before recording their first album in Toe Rag Studio in London. THREE HAIRS & YOU’RE MINE is produced by Liam Watson. THE SHRINES grow into an all-star international movement. Their first concert in London is suspended by the police. The band escapes through the back-door. Numerous gigs will follow all across Europe, among others with the Demolition Dollrods, Mr.Quintron and Ms. Pussycat, an after-party for 50 cent, even a legendary stint at the Roskilde festival. In 2003 Khan encounters the Hazelwood-producers-team Gordon “Two Horses” Friedrich and Wolfgang “Amadeus” Gottlieb, who stage the second longplayer MR. SUPERNATURAL in the beginning of 2004 ...

"WHAT IS?” the exile Canadian Enfant Dingue, KING KHAN, inquires platonically as well as categorically through the brand new LP from the SHRINES and snatches the master question right out of the astonished community’s mouth. While it’s predecessor, Mr. Supernatural, dug itself knee deep into the suds of the seventies, this newest piece reaches, at least, one decade further back and decorates the garage with psychedelic iridescent wallpaper composed of uninhibited multi-colored dazzling sixties fragments. Between clashing, clanking Keith, Lou and Iggy flirtatious guitar psychodelica, the MAHARAJA OF SOUL unexpectedly mutates into the RAJA OF SONG and spits out fourteen manically affected unforgettables into the airwaves, singalongs like monoliths – stoic, bewitching, unmistakable. Starting in May 2007, the SHRINES will be milling away through Europe’s stagescape with a brutal charge of musical dynamite in their hand baggage and are going to leave behind them a colorful cleft of amazement. Its nice that the KING, besides the filming of his own MTV show and the US-Jet-Tour with his alter ego BBQ, found the time to carve the fury of an album into it’s grooves. Also enclosed on the CD is the stupendous short film from the young director MIRIAM GLASER, a cinematic gem that enlightens one with an understanding of KING KHAN’s transendental Utopia that is within everyones reach.

LINEUP ON "WHAT IS?! ":

King Khan: vocals, guitar
Mr. Speedfinger: guitar
Riddiman: bass
John Boy Adonis: drums
Rahn Streeter: percussion
Fredovitch: lead organ
Sam Fransisco: trumpe, bells
Ben Ra: tenor saxophone
Big Fred Roller: baritone saxophone

Special guest: Kaneoka One on triangle.
Strings arranged and performed by Simon Nussbaum.

Recorded, mixed and produced by Kaneoka One and Simon Ae