PING – Biography

Ping was founded in Bergen during the autumn 1998 by guitarist Mattis Janitz and bassplayer/vocalist Jørgen Greiner. Tore Hofstad joined on keyboards at the start of 1999 and they have since been the stable core of Ping.

The band now operates in Oslo, Norway and consists of Mattis, Jørgen, Tore, drummer Mats Monstad, guitarist Bjørn Arne Johansen and keyboardist/producer Roald Madland, in addition to several permanent guest musicians.

The process of arranging and recording is unorthodox, where humour and spontaneity is highly appreciated; creative use of various instruments and vocal arrangements flow through a number of genres. Most songs are made through a process of communal improvisation, while the result often is well-considered and thoughtfully arranged.

The artworks for the albums feature commissioned paintings by artist Christer Karlstad and graphic design by Martin Kvamme.

Ping’s debut album «It’s a picnic» was released in 2000, followed by a split-Ep with No Life Orchestra in 2004.

In 2006 German label QDK-Media/Normal Records released «The Castle Massacre.

In August 2009 the band released their 3rd album “Discotheque of Darkness” on Luftwaffel Records.

Pings 4th album “The Hurricane Spoof” was released on Brown Lagoon Records in May 2012. This was the first album with producer Roald Madland.

In 2013 the band explored the utmost consequences of the classic A/B-single concept with the songs “The A-Side” and “The B-Side”.

Pings studio was destroyed in a fire in 2014. The only thing remaining was a harddisk with demos for the next album.

Guitarist Bjørn Arne Johansen joined the band in 2019. Bjørn Arne had played with Jørgen and Mattis in their death metal band Euthanasia back in the 1990s.

In spring 2020 Ping signed with Apollon Records, and their fifth album – The Zigzag Manoeuvre – was released November the same year.

Get in touch with us by sending an email to thepingpage [at] gmail.com