Mike Tramp

Mike Tramp

Mike Tramp is a Danish singer and songwriter best known for his work with the hard rock bands White Lion and Freak of Nature. He is born Michael Trempenau and grows up in Vesterbro in Copenhagen with his single mother and two brothers, Dennis and Kim. He begins singing as a child at the Vesterbro Ungdomsgård youth club and appears on its first album, Vi lever på Vesterbro, in 1974.

Early career

Tramp first gains notice as the lead singer of Mabel, a Danish pop band that records four albums and becomes popular in Denmark and Spain. With Mabel, he reaches teen-idol status. In 1978 the band wins the Danish Melody Contest with the song “Boom Boom” and represents Denmark at the Eurovision Song Contest the same year. Mabel later moves to New York City in pursuit of a harder rock direction and changes its name to Studs, but the group soon breaks up.

White Lion and Freak of Nature

After Mabel ends, Tramp meets guitarist Vito Bratta, previously of Dreamer, and the two form White Lion. Following White Lion’s split in 1992, he forms Freak of Nature, a rock band that releases three albums between 1992 and 1994. A White Lion reunion album appears in 2008, with Tramp on vocals in a new, younger line-up, and the group tours with that formation.

Solo work

Tramp begins his solo career in 1997 and releases 14 albums in total, including seven solo albums. His solo work is described as straight rock with a harder edge, with songs often drawing on his own life and personal experiences. He also releases Mike Tramp and The Rock ’N’ Roll Circuz, his seventh solo album, and continues recording and touring under the Mike Tramp and The Rock-N-Roll Circuz name. His later material includes Stand Your Ground.