| 18th Dye | |
| Origin: | Germany / Denmark |
| Genre: | Noise rock, alternative rock |
| Years Active: | 1992–2009 |
| Label: | Matador (1994–1995) Cloudland (1995–1999) Crunchy Frog (2007–2009) |
| Current Members: | Sebastian Büttrich Heike Rädeker Piet Breinholm-Bendtsen |
18th Dye was a Berlin-based German/Danish noise rock band formed in 1992 by Sebastian Büttrich (vocals, guitar), Heike Rädeker (vocals, bass) and Piet Breinholm-Bendtsen (drums). They broke up in 1999 after two albums and an EP, but reformed in 2005. A third album, Amorine Queen, was released in 2008 but they split up again in 2009.[1]
Drone-heavy, fuzzed out debut LP Done, produced by Iain Burgess (Naked Raygun, Ministry, Big Black), was released in Germany in 1992 before the band gained a recording and distribution deal with US Independent label Matador Records in 1994, having been championed by Yo La Tengo. The self-produced six song EP Crayon followed in 1994.
In 1995, 18th Dye moved to Danish label Cloudland Records and recorded their second album, Tribute to a Bus, recorded by Steve Albini at Black Box Recording Studio in Noyant-La-Gravoyère, France.[2] More dynamic and diverse than previous recordings, its blend of noise and melody suggest influences such as Sonic Youth, The Wedding Present and Wire. It is characterised by oblique English-as-second-language, maths based lyrics.
The band recorded three Peel sessions: in July 1994, March 1995 and February 1999.[3] [4] [5] They broke up in 1999 with Büttrich and Breinholm-Bendtsen going on to form Kikkert and later Test, while Rädeker has played with the bands Evonike and Wuhling.[6] [7] They reformed in the summer of 2005 and have begun to debut new songs at recent shows around Europe. In November 2007, 18th Dye signed a new recording contract with Danish-based record label Crunchy Frog Records (The Raveonettes, Junior Senior, Heavy Trash, PowerSolo, The Naked, epo-555).
In 2008, a third album Amorine Queen was released and the band toured the US before breaking up again in 2009.[8] [9] A press statement said of the split "It is not possible for us to compose, create and act as a band any more. We have decided to stop the band at this point.
After the split Breinholm-Bendtsen established a company in Copenhagen where he designs leather bags.[10]