1991
BIRMINGHAM 6 was formed in autumn 1991 by KIM LØHDE PETERSEN & MICHAEL HILLERUP. Both long-time musicians and friends from the prolific Danish Underground Scene.
After having played in several bands over the years, both together and apart, and having tried out different alternative musical styles, they both found themselves working with electronic music prior to forming BIRMINGHAM 6.
After a break from working with each other for almost 10 years, they decided to work together again. By then one of their biggest motivations for forming a band was a big lack of conscious awareness in the Danish music scene.
At the same time the story of the original Birmingham Six came to the band’s knowledge, as they were finally being released from years of incarceration. The story of Birmingham Six affected the band considerable, and they decided to take on the name for their band.
The name BIRMINGHAM 6 was a monument for all the injustices that had taken place, and still does in in a modern democratic society, and was an apt choice for a moniker for the bands musical ideas.
1992
March
BIRMINGHAM 6 records the tracks;
- Israel
- Mindhallucination (Brain mix)
at Humdrum Studio, Copenhagen – Denmark. Engineer: Eddie Simonsen.
April
BIRMINGHAM 6 records the tracks;
- This Girl
- Sweet 17
- Dance 17
at 6 Inc. Studio, Copenhagen – Denmark. Engineer: Michael Hillerup.
July
BIRMINGHAM 6 signs a contract with the Danish label Slop Pail / Transfixion, after having turned down offers from the Belgian label KK Records, and the German labels Boy Records and Kick-In Records.
Shortly after, a license deal was made with Neo Ego/Music Research for the first European release, the MCD “Israel“.
The track Israel dealt with the problems between the Palestinians and the Jews, and became a summerhit at the legendary club Dorian Gray in Frankfurt same year.
Israel eventually became a much aired song, and appeared on several playlists all over Europe.
December
BIRMINGHAM 6 records the tracks:
- Assassinate
- Lovechild
- Birmingham 6
- 6794700
- Radicals
- Contagious
- Contagious (Virus)
- Contagious (We Are)
- Who Do You Love?
- Who Do You Love? (Evil)
- Dance 17
- This Girl (remix)
- Mindhallucination
- Mindhallucination II
- Israel (remix)
- All Around The Watchtower
for the forthcoming 2nd single & debut album, at Hipcat Studio, Kolding – Denmark. Engineer: Longhorn.
1993
February
BIRMINGHAM 6 performs at “Rytmeposten” in Odense (Denmark) with the bands IN ABSENTIA & MENTAL GENERATION.
March
BIRMINGHAM 6 performs at “Barbue” in Copenhagen (Denmark) with supporting act GODHEADS.
May
BIRMINGHAM 6 performs at the “Sound & Vision” festival in Copenhagen (Denmark), in front of 3000 people.
June
BIRMINGHAM 6 releases the 12″ whitelabel “Contagious” on Transfixion Records.
July
BIRMINGHAM 6 performs at “Kennedy Club” in Copenhagen (Denmark).
September
BIRMINGHAM 6 headlines a show at “Petofi Hall” in Budapest (Hungary) in front of 2300 people.
BIRMINGHAM 6 releases the MCD “Contagious” on Transfixion Records.
The tracks on “Contagious” dealt among other issues with the question of AIDS.
The lyrics for the title track raised the hypothetical questions; Is AIDS a disease created by Man? Is it a weapon to destroy unwanted and for the state uncomfortable minorities like black africans and gay males?
Another track Who Do You Love? described the difficulties in telling good from evil. The drug addict taking an OD of his/her own “free” will, is it good or bad? Is it an act from God or The Devil? – the difference is hard to spot.
With the release of “Contagious” BIRMINGHAM 6 enjoyed success in their native country Denmark. Also Germany, France, Netherlands, Belgium and Slovakia became with this release established as BIRMINGHAM 6 territory.
December
BIRMINGHAM 6 re-records the tracks;
- Lovechild
- 6794700
for the debut album “Mindhallucination“, at Hipcat Studio, Kolding – Denmark. Engineer: Longhorn.
1994
March
BIRMINGHAM 6 supports DIE KRUPPS at “Pumpehuset” in Copenhagen (Denmark) in front of 600 people.
April
BIRMINGHAM 6 remixes the tracks:
- War Of Violence
- War Of Violence (M.I.A. mix)
for Danish act GODHEADS, at Grooveyard Studio, Copenhagen – Denmark. Engineer: Tom East.
BIRMINGHAM 6 releases their long awaited debut album “Mindhallucination” on Transfixion Records. This album presents the band as a very progressive and dance orientated electroband, not unlike acts like KMFDM & DIE KRUPPS.
Prior to the release of the album, a few songs had to be deleted in their original form, and had to be re-recorded due to copyrights on a few samples used in the songs.
The song 6794700, which originally included a sample from the EURYTHMICS song 1984, describes the hypocrisy of the church – It’s attitude towards abortion, especially after a rape.
Annie Lennox eventually banned BIRMINGHAM 6 from using the sample. She stated, that if EURYTHMICS in any way were associated with the band BIRMINGHAM 6 – and their lyrics – legal action would be taken against them.
The song Lovechild also had to be deleted in it’s original form, because of it’s use of a guitar sample from the song 21st Century Boy by T.REX. The song describes the desire of the western male – especially the Scandinavian – for a child whore from Thailand, and how the travel agencies guide the way with the municipal authorities approval.
The representatives for the owners of the copyright to the music of Marc Bolan didn’t feel it would be suitable for their “client” to be associated with the lyrics of BIRMINGHAM 6, and banned the band from using the sample.
Eventually a major radiostation in Birmingham blacklisted the band because of their name, without listening to the music or the will to understand their reason for taking the name BIRMINGHAM 6.
June
BIRMINGHAM 6 remixes the track:
- Deal In Sex (B6 remix)
for German act LIGHTS OF EUPHORIA, at 6 Inc. Studio, Copenhagen – Denmark. Engineer: Michael Hillerup.
July
BIRMINGHAM 6 performs at “Barbue” in Copenhagen (Denmark) at the release party for the compilation “Cyberworld Vol.2” by Hard Records.
BIRMINGHAM 6 records the track:
- Birmingham 6 (Retaliation)
For the compilation “The Digital Space Between Vol.2”, to be released by Hard Records, at Hipcat Studio, Kolding – Denmark. Engineer: Longhorn.
1995
January
BIRMINGHAM 6 remixes the track;
- Let Your Body Die (Convulsive Dance mix)
for British/Belgian act CYBER-TEC, at Hipcat Studio, Kolding – Denmark. Engineer: Longhorn.
BIRMINGHAM 6 records the tracks;
- Policestate (Demonstration)
- Policestate (Confrontation)
- Policestate (Under Siege)
- Policestate (Exposed)
- Godlike (Sinner)
- Godlike (Prayer)
- Let Your Body Die (B6 version)
for the forthcoming EP “Policestate“, at Hipcat Studio, Kolding – Denmark. Engineer: Longhorn.
March
BIRMINGHAM 6 remixes the track;
- Death Wish (Wishful Death mix)
for American act CHRISTIAN DEATH, at Hardware Recording, Copenhagen – Denmark. Engineer: Henrik Jensen.
BIRMINGHAM 6 releases their American debut album “Assassinate” on Cleopatra Records, through a license deal with Hard Records.
“Assassinate” features a compilation of tracks taken off the European releases “Contagious” & “Mindhallucination“.
July
BIRMINGHAM 6 signs a new contract with the Danish label Hard Records, and is thereby guaranteed future releases in the U.S. through a distribution deal with Cleopatra Records.
August
BIRMINGHAM 6 records the tracks;
- Ouverture
- Finale
at Hipcat Studio, Kolding – Denmark. Engineer: Longhorn.
BIRMINGHAM 6 remixes the tracks;
- Heretic’s Fork (Belief mix)
- Heretic’s Fork (Belief instrumental)
for American act SPAHN RANCH, at Hipcat Studio, Kolding – Denmark. Engineer: Longhorn.
BIRMINGHAM 6 remixes the track;
- Body Factory (Die-Cast Metal mix)
for Danish act GODHEADS, at Hipcat Studio, Kolding – Denmark. Engineer: Longhorn.
BIRMINGHAM 6 releases the EP “Policestate” on Hard Records/ Cleopatra Records.
The song Policestate describes the riots which took place in Copenhagen May 1993, during the re-voting for the European Union. The riots involved demonstraters against the Union and the police.
Due to incompetent leadership by the police, the situation got completely out of hand, when demonstraters started throwing bricks at the police. The police acted with great violence and fired shots into the mob, resulting in several casualties. Even innocent people passing the scene got arrested without reason.
This EP also features 2 cover versions of KMFDM’s Godlike.
October
BIRMINGHAM 6 remixes the tracks;
- Cyberium (Endurance mix)
- What’s Fair? (Agony mix)
for Hawaiin act RAZED IN BLACK, at Hipcat Studio, Kolding – Denmark. Engineer: Longhorn.
BIRMINGHAM 6 remixes the tracks;
- Wreck (Shameless Groove mix)
- Wreck (Shameless Groove edit)
for Swiss act SWAMP TERRORISTS, at Hipcat Studio, Kolding – Denmark. Engineer: Longhorn.
BIRMINGHAM 6 remixes the track:
- Let Your Body Die (Catatonic Dance mix)
for British/Belgian act CYBER-TEC, at Hipcat Studio, Kolding – Denmark. Engineer: Longhorn.
1996
March
BIRMINGHAM 6 releases the remix mini-album “To Protect And To Serve” on Hard Records/Cleopatra Records. This album features remixes of the track Policestate by members of the following bands; NERVE, SWAMP TERRORISTS, BIGOD 20, T.H.D., RAZED IN BLACK, LIGHTS OF EUPHORIA, NEW MIND, BARBAQUE, JOYWORX and of course BIRMINGHAM 6.
April
BIRMINGHAM 6 records the tracks;
- The Kill
- Summertime Is Over
- The Deadliest Beat
- Little Demon
- You Cannot Walk Here
- You Cannot Walk Here (Victimized)
- You Cannot Walk Here (Victimized edit)
- Food For Thoughts
- Food For Thoughts (United)
- The Garden
- One Of These Days
- One Of These Days (Unashamed)
- One Of These Days (Revamped)
- Die For Jehovah
- The Scream
- The Trip
- A Good Day
- Thunder Struck
for the 2nd album “Error Of Judgement” together with Jean-Luc De Meyer, at Hipcat Studio, Kolding – Denmark. Engineer: Longhorn.
August
BIRMINGHAM 6 recruits the additional members Claus Vedel & Jesper Lehmkuhl as guitarists for future “live” work.
September
BIRMINGHAM 6 releases their long awaited 2nd album “Error Of Judgement” on Hard Records/Cleopatra Records. A European edition of the album is released by German label Zoth Ommog as well, but with different artwork.
This album shows a natural progression of the sound explored on the “Policestate” EP, but features lyrical and vocal contributions by Jean-Luc De Meyer of the legendary electro pioneers FRONT 242.
The title “Error Of Judgement” was taken from the book about The Birmingham Six. The 6 faces on the cover shows The Birmingham Six; Johnny Walker, Billy Powell, Richard McIlkenny, Gerry Hunter, Patrick Hill and Hugh Callaghan, three days after their admission to prison. The portraits shows clear evidence of injuries inflicted by warders at the prison. 14 warders were put on trial for inflicting the injuries, but of course all of them were found “not guilty” for their crimes.
BIRMINGHAM 6 remixes the track;
- I Need A Life (Resurrected)
for British act THE DAMNED, at Floormob Studio, Copenhagen – Denmark. Engineer: Mickey Billberg.
BIRMINGHAM 6 remixes the track;
- Bikerhead (Metal Club mix)
for Danish act BAAL, at Floormob Studio, Copenhagen – Denmark. Engineer: Mickey Billberg.
– BIRMINGHAM 6 performs at a sold out show at “Metropolis” in Copenhagen (Denmark).
November
BIRMINGHAM 6 remixes the track;
- Taste (Salvation)
for Swiss act HELLSAU, at 6 Inc. Studio, Copenhagen – Denmark. Engineer: Michael Hillerup.
1997
THE FATEFULL YEAR IN THE CAREER OF BIRMINGHAM 6!
January
BIRMINGHAM 6 embarks on a 5 week coast to coast U.S. Tour together with Seattle act RORSCHACH TEST.
Vocalist and original member Kim Løhde Petersen leaves the band during the U.S. Tour after only 4 shows, due to poor Tour organisation, and lack of motivation to continue.
Unable to perform the remaining shows on the tour without Kim, the band breaks up the tour, and returns to Denmark in a state of bankruptcy.
May
BIRMINGHAM 6 releases the remix EP “You Cannot Walk Here (European Edition)” on Zoth Ommog. This EP features 3 songs off the album “Error Of Judgement”, remixed by CARBON 12, HELLSAU and BIRMINGHAM 6.
June
BIRMINGHAM 6 releases the remix EP “You Cannot Walk Here (American Edition)” on Hard Records/Cleopatra Records. Almost identical to the European Edition, it features new artwork and two different remixes not found on the European release by CARBON 12
September
BIRMINGHAM 6 records the track;
- Seek & Destroy
for the Metallica tribute album “The Blackest Album” to be released by Hard Records/Cleopatra Records, at 6 Inc. Studio, Copenhagen – Denmark. Engineer: Michael Hillerup.
1998
January
BIRMINGHAM 6 remixes the track;
- Hate Me! (Infiltrated)
for Danish act LEÆTHER STRIP, at 6 Inc. Studio, Copenhagen – Denmark. Engineer: Michael Hillerup.
March
BIRMINGHAM 6 remixes the track;
- Master (Reconstructed)
for Swiss act HELLSAU, at 6 Inc. Studio, Copenhagen – Denmark. Engineer: Michael Hillerup.
August
BIRMINGHAM 6 & FILTER SECTION remixes the track;
- Headhunter
together for Belgian act FRONT 242, at 6 Inc. Studio, Copenhagen – Denmark. Engineers: Michael Hillerup & Henrik Jensen.
October
BIRMINGHAM 6 remixes the track;
- Body & Mind
for Danish act GODHEADS, at 6 Inc. Studio, Copenhagen – Denmark. Engineer: Michael Hillerup.
2003
As a tribute to the Danish “Club Metropolis”, BIRMINGHAM 6 reunited for one night to play live at the club’s 10 years anniversary party on March 7th 2003. Despite a six years absence from the scene, somebody kicked ass that night!
2008
After their performance at the “BPM Club Zwickau” (Germany), in October 2008, it schould be clear to all, that Birmingham 6 is back, stronger than ever.
2009
Birmingham 6 performs at the “Black Rain 10 years Celebration show” in Copenhagen together with German bands Feindflug and Hioctan.