Garage/Rock'N'Roll band formed in 1994 in Thessaloniki, Greece.
The Frantic Five were formed in June of 1994 (Thessaloniki-Greece) and they have never denied their obsession with the sound of the mid-sixties garage punk, rnb and euro beat. The spine of their sound consists of an explosive mixture of farfisa and fuzz and they manage to move smoothly between garage punk, groovy beat and melodic moody tunes.
The Frantic V were formed in early summer 1994. The boys then decided it was time for Thessalonica
to see some real garage raunch, so they went off for summer vacation. As soon as they returned, they immediately became active and started performing their music in front of stunned crowds, sometimes endangering their lives. Imagine in the grunge and techno era, 5 guys in white shirts and black ties performing real unadulterated 60s garage and euro beat!!! In 1995, Jens Lindberg came to visit the boys and on a starless night they recorded properly 2 tracks lost in oblivion (but if you dig deep in our site, something is to be found) and 10 tracks as a rehearsal the night before.
Time passed and the band started to have a following, some e.p.s published in and out of Greek border , and doing wild and fun gigs was the permanent winter agenda for the cold north Greek nights. Sometimes mistaken for undertakers while carrying the farfisa, sometimes frustrated by people mocking at them, but always in a party, party party mood. It was May, 1999, and ? And the Mysterians chose the band to open for them, performing in front of a stunned crowd who could not stop dancing.
The band has a bunch of releases in various labels across the globe (Greece, Australia, Italy, UK,Germany) and has participated in numerous compilations. The Frantic Five have been on stage countless times and they also have been touring outside the borders of Greece in countries such as Germany, Italy,UK and Turkey since 2003. The Frantics where honored to open for bands such as the Sonics (2009), the Fuzztones (2001,2003), ? and The Mysterians (1999), Sky Saxon and The Seeds (2006), Fleshtones (2006), Sick Rose (2006) and others and they have also shared the stage with all the Greek rock n roll bands.
During 2000, after finishing with all the military obligations bull, they came back full force, devoting themselves to the band. The Fuzztones demanded the boys again and again, they participated in
Gagarins 205 battle of the bands showing Athenian crowd what Thessalonicas garage is all about, and their 10 on Misty Lane Records was reviewed various times in magazines , zines, played in radio stations and television and all that crappy things that were of no interest! A superb gig was in order supporting the Fuzztones and Mark Lindsay during the Psychorama Festival, and the boys presented the L.P. to be recorded to their loyal fans and new friends. An invitation to Italys Festival Beat rushed the boys over Adriatic Sea where they performed their music together with bands such as Los Banditos, Sick Rose, Curlee Wurlee (hi Cecile & guys!) establishing their sound abroad.
The band has a bunch of releases in various labels across the globe (Greece, Australia, Italy, UK,Germany) and has participated in numerous compilations. The Frantic Five have been on stage countless times and they also have been touring outside the borders of Greece in countries such as Germany, Italy,UK and Turkey since 2003. The Frantics where honored to open for bands such as the Sonics (2009), the Fuzztones (2001,2003), ? and The Mysterians (1999), Sky Saxon and The Seeds (2006), Fleshtones (2006), Sick Rose (2006) and others and they have also shared the stage with all the Greek rock n roll bands.
In 2003, the boys went in the studio to record their first 12 of sonic pleasure! "A Long Play With the Frantic V" was what came out on ON STAGE RECORDS and is being reprinted even as you go across these lines. Next year, an invasion in Germany was in the agenda and it happened in late October, late enough for the boys to miss Oktoberfest, but just in time for Germans to enjoy some frantic tracks in full volume, screams, farfisa and fuzz!
Former members:
• Μαρία Ζιαμπάκα (Maria Ziampaka) (Organ, 1994-95)
• Χάρης Καπετανάκης (Haris Kapetanakis) (Saxophone, 1995-97)
• Σάκης Κυριαζής (Sakis Kyriazis) (Farfisa, 1995-2000)
• Χρήστος Κυριαζής (Chris Kyriazis) (Vocals, Tambourine) (1995-2004)
Members:
Alex Klimentopoulos, Alex O' Right, Chris Kiriazis, Dr. Organ, Kostas Kapetanakis, Manolis Hatzidakis, Sakis Kiriazis, Μαρία Ζιαμπάκα
Ως μίας από τις μακροβιότερες μπάντες της Θεσσαλονίκης, οι The Frantic Five τιμούν πλήρως τον τίτλο που κατείχε κάποτε η πόλη ως «πρωτεύουσα του rock». Σχηματίστηκαν το 1994 και σήμερα,
μετά από αρκετές αλλαγές στο lineup, αποτελούνται από τους: Alex O’ Right (φωνή, κρουστά), Captain K (κιθάρες, φωνητικά, φυσαρμόνικα), Μανώλη Χατζηδάκη (μπάσο, κρουστά, φωνητικά), Dr. Organ (φαρφίσα) και Αλέξη Κλημεντόπουλο (ντραμς). Από την πρώτη στιγμή η μπάντα δεν έκρυψε την αγάπη της για την garage rock των ’60s, μία garage rock όπου το fuzz της κιθάρας συναντά τον ιδιαίτερο ήχο της φαρφίσας, οδηγώντας από garage punk… εξάρσεις σε πιο blues μελωδίες.
Μέχρι στιγμής οι The Frantic Five έχουν κυκλοφορήσει τέσσερα άλμπουμ και δώδεκα singles/EPs. Η αρχή έγινε ήδη από το 1995 και το EP The Frantic V Play Zoe’s Stomp!. To EP επρόκειτο να
κυκλοφορήσει μαζί με κάποιο τεύχος του θρυλικού fanzine Gew Gaw, αλλά τελικά κατέληξαν να το κυκλοφορήσουν μόνοι τους. Έκτοτε έχουν μεσολαβήσει πολλές άλλες κυκλοφορίες κάτω από την ομπρέλα ελληνικών, αυστραλιανών, ιταλικών, βρετανικών και γερμανικών labels. Τελευταία προσθήκη το επτάιντσο βινύλιο με τα singles I Need You Mine και The Very First Day. Η παραγωγή και το mastering έγιναν από το Νίκο Νικολόπουλο στα Jam Studios.
Αντίστοιχα πλούσια με τη δισκογραφία τους είναι και η συναυλιακή πορεία των The Frantic Five. Από τα μέσα των ’90s ως σήμερα το συγκρότημα έχει παίξει σε Γερμανία, Ιταλία, Ηνωμένο Βασίλειο, Τουρκία και, φυσικά, απ’ άκρη σ’ άκρη στην Ελλάδα. Έχουν εμφανιστεί μεταξύ άλλων στο πλευρό των Sonics, των The Fuzztones, των The Mysterians, των Sky Saxon, των The Seeds, των Fleshtones και των Sick Rose.
Κώστας "Captain K" Καπετανάκης [Kostas "Captain K" Kapetanakis] (guitar, vocals), Αλέξανδρος Κλημεντόπουλος [Alexandros “Alex” Klimentopoulos] (drums), Χρήστος Κυριαζής [Chris Kyriazis] (vocals, tambourine), Μανώλης "Rayman" Χατζιδάκης [Manolis "Rayman" Hatzidakis] (bass), Μαρία Ζιαμπάκα [Maria Ziampaka] (organ, 1994-95), Χάρης Καπετανάκης [Haris Kapetanakis] (saxophone, 1995-97), Σάκης Κυριαζής [Sakis Kyriazis (farfisa, 1995-2000), Γιάννης "Dr. Organ" Τσιάμης [Yiannis "Dr. Organ" Tsiamis] (organ , 2000-present), George Zenetos (vocals, farfisa, guitar, maracas, tambourine, 2010-present), George Pappas (organ, guitar, vocals, 2010-present).
Δισκογραφία / Discography:
1. La Fin – 10” Mini LP, 2016 Back To Beat Records (NORWAY)
2. Love Beat – 10” Mini LP, 2011 On Stage Records (GR)
3. Can’t Get Away – 7” EP, 2009 Fuzz Overdose Records (GR)
4. A Night Out With… – 7” EP, 2008 Belle Vue 45 Series w/Fanzine Belle Vue (GR)
5. On The Move – 12” LP, 2007 On Stage Records (GR)
6. A Go Go At A Cave Near You CD Live & Unreleased Recordings – 2006 INKA Records (UK)
7. I’m Asking Why – 7” Split Single w/The Fanman, 2004 Swamp Room Records (DE)
8. A Long Play With… – 12” LP, 2004 On Stage Records (GR)
9. Good Lovin/Hang Up – 7” Single, 2003 Loser Records (UK)
10. It’s Frantic Time – 10” Mini LP, 2001 Teen Sound Records (IT)
11. Feeling Sad/Why Did You Lie – 7” Single, 1998 Corduroy Records (AUSTRALIA)
12. In The Bradford Mist – 7” EP, 1997 Goblin Records (GR)
13. Quinta – 7” EP, 1996 Teen Sound Records (IT)
14. Zoe’s Stomp – 7” EP, 1995 Ugh Recs (GR) w/Fanzine Gew Gaw
15. The Fugitive – 7’’ EP, 1995 Corduroy Records (AUSTRALIA)
16. Surf Spyder – 7” Single 2003 On Stage Records (GR) (as The Overtones)
The Frantic V – A Long Play With...
Label: On Stage Records – OSR 006
Format: CD, Album
Country: Greece
Released: Jan 15, 2005
Genre: Rock
Style: Garage Rock
TRAXS
01. Room 409 2:29
02. She Lied 2:11
03. Close Your Eyes 2:04
04. I'm Blue 3:05
05. Girl Don't Play (With Me) 2:19
06. Hang Up 3:23
07. Quinta (Saxorgasmic Version) 1:39
08. I'm Asking Why 1:58
09. Good Lovin' 2:50
10. You're Gonna Be Mine 2:58
11. Tomorrow Not Tonight 3:04
12. It's Been So Long 3:43
