TNT

TNT is a Norwegian hard rock and heavy metal band from Trondheim, active from 1982 to the present. The group forms around vocalist and rhythm guitarist Dag Ingebrigtsen, guitarist Ronni Le Tekrø, bassist Steinar Eikum and drummer Morten “Diesel” Dahl. Its core style is hard rock, and it is also associated with melodic metal, melodic hard rock and 1980s metal.

Early years and first releases

The band’s self-titled debut album appears in 1982 and is the only TNT album to feature Norwegian-language lyrics. It includes the single “Harley Davidson”, which becomes an early hit. In August 1983, Morty Black replaces Steinar Eikum on bass.

Changing line-ups and key albums

American singer Tony Harnell joins in 1984 and makes his debut on Knights of the New Thunder under the temporary name Tony Hansen. That line-up records Tell No Tales in 1987, and the album produces the band’s biggest hit, “10,000 Lovers (In One)”, co-written by Dahl.

Diesel Dahl leaves in 1988, and Kenneth Odiin becomes drummer for Intuition in 1989. John Macaluso then plays drums on Realized Fantasies and Three Nights in Tokyo, both from 1992. The band pauses that same year so members can focus on solo projects.

Reformations and later work

A compilation, Till Next Time, appears in 1996. Harnell, Le Tekrø and Morty Black then reform TNT with drummer Frode Hansen and record Firefly in 1997 and Transistor in 1999. Diesel Dahl returns in 2000, and the band works on My Religion, released in 2004. Morty Black later leaves again, with Sid Ringsby taking over for live shows.

All The Way To The Sun follows in 2005. That period also sees the single “Sometimes”, which is issued only in Norway. Victor Borge becomes the live bassist in 2005.

Vocal changes and current membership

Tony Harnell leaves in 2006. Tony Mills of Birmingham, England then becomes the new singer. Mills is known for his work with the UK melodic rock band Shy and for solo releases, and he has also worked with Cinderella, Dokken, Cozy Powell, Meat Loaf and The Sweet. A farewell show with Harnell takes place at the Polar Festival in Storsteinnes, Norway, before the change in singers.

Personnel

Members associated with TNT include Dag Ingebrigtsen, Diesel Dahl, Ronni Le Tekrø, Morty Black, Tony Harnell, John Macaluso, Øystein Ringsby, Tony Mills, Victor Borge, Steinar Eikum and Kenneth Odiin. The band uses TNT Records as its label.