Biography
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Years Active
1981 – present (43 years)
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Members
- Dirk Ivens (1985 – 1991)
- Eric Van Wonterghem (1985 – 1987)
- Marc Verhaeghen (1981 – present)
- Nickanor (2002 – 2002)
- Peter Mastbooms
The Klinik (1985-1990 // 2003 // 2009-now) are Belgian ebm / minimal / synth / post-punk / electro / industrial / power electronic pioneers.
In 1985, Marc Verhaeghen (X10, D-Sign, Noise Unit, Para) joined forces with two other bands: Absolute Body Control - Dirk Ivens (Dive, Sonar, Blok 57), Eric van Wonterghem (Insekt, Sonar, Monolith) // and The Maniacs - Sandy Nys (Hybryds) to form one “super group” Absolute Controlled Clinical Maniacs. This rather unwieldy name was soon dropped in favour of the shorter name "The Klinik". Nys soon left the band to form Hybryds, followed in 1987 by van Wonterghem, leaving The Klinik as the "classic" duo of Dirk Ivens and Marc Verhaeghen.
The Klinik soon made a name for themselves with their cold and harsh EBM sound and their live shows, where both Ivens and Verhaeghen performed with their heads wrapped in gauze, wearing long black leather coats. Ivens' hissing vocals and minimalist lyrics were complemented by Verhaeghen's synthesizer skills and distorted trombone playing (the latter giving the music a slightly feverish sound). This however, did not last forever; after Time, an album neither member was fully pleased with, musical differences became too great, and they decided to go their separate ways.
Ivens concentrated on his own project Dive, and Verhaeghen continued as Klinik; sometimes as a solo project, sometimes with various other members. Recently, Klinik is a Verhaeghen solo project, making mostly instrumental dark ambient techno.
Most Klinik members have also been active outside the band. Ivens has been in bands such as Absolute Body Control, Dive, Sonar, and Blok 57; Eric van Wonterghem played with Ivens in Absolute Body Control, and has later been part of or collaborating with bands such as Insekt, Monolith, Dive and Sonar. Sandy Nys formed Hybryds around his departure in 1986, a project which is still active.
Verhaeghen has been involved in several projects outside Klinik, including Noise Unit (with Bill Leeb and Rhys Fulber of Front Line Assembly), D.Sign (with Philippe and Eliane Fichot of Die Form), X10 (with Niki Mono, Marc Ickx of A Split-Second and Vidna Obmana), and Para (with his own wife Sabine Voss).
In December 2003, the duo reunited for a one-shot celebrative performance at the BIM Festival in Belgium. The huge success and overwhelming requests from fans led to the appearance of The Klinik in the original line up at the Wave Gotik Treffen in Leipzig the following year. Other festival appearances followed.
In 2009, The Klinik are back as a full time band, with a new studio work to be released in the future. Because of continuing health problems of Marc Verhaegen, it's not sure that he can join The Klinik live on stage in the near future. Therefore, he will concentrate on creating music in his homestudio. The Klinik members anno 2009 are Dirk Ivens (Voice/Lyrics), Marc Verhaegen (Studio Music) and Peter Mastbooms (Live Sounds and Video Images)
In 01 Mar 2013, after more then 20 years, Dirc and Marc (+ new member Peter Mastbooms) are finally got back together with new album - Eat Your Heart Out
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