Nim Vind Explained

Nim Vind
Origin:Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Label:FiendForce
Silverdust
BEEF
Nv Music
Current Members:Nim Vind
Anthony Kilz
Other members
Robbie K
Howie Wowie
Ian Josephson
Joseph Blood

Nim Vind (born Chris Kirkham) is a Canadian solo musician/artist and songwriter, who has also played in Mr. Underhill and The Vincent Black Shadow. He describes his sound as "Music for Outsiders".[1] His music has no specific genre but is sometimes referred to as horror punk.[2] [3] [4]

Nim Vind has been compared to the Misfits[5] [6] [7] Social Distortion and Volbeat in the press.[8] [9] He often mentions David Bowie as a major influence.[10] [11]

He has released three albums: The Fashion of Fear (2005) on Fiendforce Records and Nv Music, The Stillness Illness (2009) on Silverdust Records and Soulfood Distro/Nv Music, and Saturday Night Seance Songs on House of Vind with Allegro USA distro. Seance features mixes from Jay Ruston and producer Todd Rundgren. Saturday Night Seance Songs was "Album of the Year" in Rue Morgue magazine.[12]

Nim Vind was managed by Jon Zazula[13] [10] and also Eric Gardner – Panacea Entertainment.[14]

"Nim Vind" meaning

Nim Vind is a made up name[15] out of a combination of sounds and symbols. Specifically it is to be thought of as a character's name. A definition of "Nim Vind" is freedom by insanity. "Nim" borrows symbolism from the acronym for the National Institute of Mental Health or N.I.M.H. "Vind" borrows symbolism from the word "vindication", representing justification against denial or censure. The strange name is meant to sound alien or somewhat Extra-Terrestrial representing being outside the norm. Another definition is "aNIMal VINDication".

Career and recordings as Nim Vind

Chris Kirkham recorded the first Nim Vind album The Fashion of Fear and signed with Germany's Fiendforce Records in 2005. He completed tour cycles in Europe in 2005, 2006, 2007. He released his second album "Stillness Illness" in 2009 with Silverdust Records Europe and played on the "Pain Stage" at the Sold Out Summer Breeze Open Air festival in Germany.[16] [17] 2009 included club touring with Creepshow, Blitzkid, a second appearance with New Model Army,[18] SNFU and more.

2010 and 2011 saw more European club touring including a tour with American band Filter,[19] and second appearance at the Wave-Gottik-Treffen at Work 2 with the Misfits in Leipzig, Germany.

Touring in America in 2013 included Tiger Army's October Flame Festival Anaheim USA,[20] Steel Panther at House of Blues in Hollywood and more.

In 2014 Nim released the "Saturday Night Seance Songs" album. "Astronomicon" was premiered worldwide by Alternative Press Magazine.[21] The track "Master Spider" was premiered worldwide by BloodDisgusting.com, a horror entertainment website.[22] The album was named "Album of the Year" by Rue Morgue Magazine, a world wide print horror entertainment magazine.[23]

Touring for Saturday Night Seance Songs included a Halloween tour with Gary Numan,[24] [25] Canadian dates with Green Jelly,[26] Doyle from Misfits,[27] European dates with 69 Eyes,[28] European dates with goth legends Christian Death[29],and Multiple European club tours going through to 2017.[30]

Nim did a Europe festival run including his second appearance at Summer Breeze in 2016.[31] [32] [33] In 2017 he made his third appearance at The Wave Gotik Treffen[34] and released an official video for "Renegades of the End Times". It was shot in Canada and Los Angeles USA.

In 2017 Nim performed in Russia for the first time, visiting Moscow[35] and St.Petersburg[36] during a European club touring. The "War of the Worlds" video included tour footage from Russia and Europe. A fan video for "That Girl" was posted as a tribute to power girls of horror movies.

2018 Nim completed a full North American Tour with Michale Graves and Argyle Goolsby.[37]

In August 2018, Nim Vind collaborated with writer/director Jeff Frumess to produce a video for the song "Fear O Fear." The video features scenes from Frumess' feature length Gothic-Thriller, Romeo's Distress.[38]

In 2019 Nim released "White Magic", a tribute combining David Bowie's songs Magic Dance" and Dead Man Walking.[39] The single "Sagittarius" was released in 2019, inspired by the Black Hole of Sagittarius A*. The accompanying video was shot in Canada and edited by LA Photographer Michelle Xstar.

Previous band: Mr. Underhill

Chris Kirkham a.k.a. Nim Vind started his first band called Mr. Underhill. The idea for the sound of the band was to mix the dark art of Bauhaus with the catchy melodies and angst of the Misfits. It originally featured Nim Vind and two other players, but Nim's real life brothers Robbie and Anthony would both soon join. There are three Mr.Underhill EPs that were only sold at shows and speciality stores. The first was "Vamp", which leaned towards the Bauhaus/Bowie side of their sound. That was followed shortly after by the third EP "Phantasm Drive-In", which leaned more in a Misfits direction and was the beginning of Nim and his brothers finding their sound. Mr.Underhill gained a strong cult following thanks largely to word of mouth and websites like the original Mp3.com in which they were a prominently featured band.[40] They were especially known for their eccentric outfits made up of giant black hair, long black coats and smeared black make-up, as well as their underground hit "Phantasm Drive-In".[41] Mr.Underhill ended and two bands were formed being Nim Vind (Chris's band) and The Vincent Black Shadow (Rob's).

A 3rd album of lost material was recorded but never released. However, as of Dec 25th 2013 it was restored, remixed, and released as "Nim Vind and Mr.Underhill - The World through X-ray Eyes.[42]

The Vincent Black Shadow

Rob's band The Vincent Black Shadow incorporated the brothers and enjoyed success at major American radio with the single "Metro".[43] TVBS, as it is referred to by fans, was managed by Jonny Z who signed Metallica,[44] [45] and completed back to back full summers of "The Vans Warped Tour", Joan Jett dates including sold-out shows at Irving Plaza NY, a sold out Euro tour with Kosheen, a sold out Euro tour with fellow Canadian band Silverstein as well as live performances on Much Music, FUSE TV USA and others.[46]

Discography

Artist:Nim Vind
Studio:3
Singles:5
Music Videos:11

Studio albums

YearAlbum details
2005Fashion Of Fear
  • Released: Summer 2005 and 2008 on iTunes
  • Label: FiendForce Records and Nv Music
    1. The Fashion of Fear – 3:20
    2. Saturday Night Creepers – 2:29
    3. Killer Creature Double Feature – 2:00
    4. Outsiders – 3:18
    5. Blue Movies – 2:58
    6. In the Night – 2:40
    7. The Midnight Croon – 1:48
    8. Like a Guilloteen – 4:01
    9. Into the Sphere We Go – 3:08
    10. The Bitter End – 3:29
2009The Stillness Illness
  • Released: June 2009
  • Label: Silverdust Records and Nim Vind Music
    1. Killing Saturday Night
    2. Character Assassination
    3. Hadron Collider
    4. Jackknife
    5. The 21st Century
    6. Suicide Pact
    7. The Radio Active Man
    8. Revenge
    9. Blood Clots...Rise of the Police State
    10. The Clawed Bat
    11. Shango Nitra
    12. The Message
    13. The Still Blue - This track is only on the Euro version
2014Saturday Night Seance Songs
  • Released: October 14, 2014
  • Label: House of Vind
    1. ESP
    2. Where I'm From
    3. Renegades of the End Times
    4. That Girl
    5. Electric Countershock Resuscitation
    6. Master Spider
    7. Astronomicon - mixed by Todd Rundgren
    8. The Philistine Beat
    9. War of the Worlds
    10. Fear O Fear
    11. The 21st Century LIVE in Germany
    12. Wolfsbane Blues

Singles

YearSingle
2008"Killing Saturday Night Single"
2017"Jackknife" - Mixed by Andreas Frank
2019"ESP" - Mixed by Nic Kartchner
"White Magic" - Cover of David Bowie's "Magic Dance" and "Dead Man Walking"
"Sagittarius"
2020"Killing Jokes"
"Astronomicon"
"Radioactive Man"
"Hadron Collider: Multiverse"
2021"Folsom Prison Blues"
2022"Mack the Knife"
"Down the Roads of a Wrecked Mind"
2023"U F O (feat. The Psychic Rhythm"

Official video singles

YearSingle
2006"In the Night - Live at the Royal Hotel"
2006 "Blue Movies - Live Acoustic for Dark Canada doc."
2010"Live Acoustic Halloween Sessions - Jackknife, Killing Saturday Night, The Radio Active Man
2010"Killing Saturday Night Single" - Filmed and Edited by Thomas Buchan
2010"21st Century.- Live at Summer Breeze Open Air Germany"
2015"ESP" - Edited by Donavyn Peters
2016"Renegades of the End Times" - Edited by Michelle XStar
2017"Where I'm From" - Edited by Michelle XStar
2017"War of the Worlds" - Directed by Jeff Frumess
2018"Fear O Fear" - Directed by Jeff Frumess, featuring scenes from "Romeo's Distress"
2019"Sagittarius" - Edited by Michelle XStar

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Nim Vind Interview . MusicReview . 2009-12-08 . 2011-08-31.
  2. Web site: Nim Vind - The Stillness Illness . ThePunkSite.com . 2011-08-31.
  3. Web site: NIM VIND at Vampirefreaks.com [other music profile ] |publisher=Vampirefreaks.com |accessdate=2011-08-31].
  4. Web site: Interview: Nim Vind . HorrorNews.net . 9 October 2010 . 2011-08-31.
  5. Web site: Nim Vind - Saturday Night Seance Songs . metalkaoz.com . 2015-01-15 . 2015-01-15.
  6. Web site: Five reasons to see: Macabre rocker Nim Vind . The Vancouver Sun . 2014-12-23 . 2014-12-23.
  7. Web site: Nim Vind / Fashion of Fear (Independent) . straight.com . 2006-03-09 . 2006-03-09.
  8. Web site: NIM VIND | THE STILLNESS ILLNESS . Emp-online.co.uk . 2011-08-31.
  9. Web site: The Ultimate Punk Music Store . Interpunk.com . 2009-06-19 . 2011-08-31.
  10. Web site: On The Line with Nim Vind . journeyofafrontman.com . 7 November 2014 . 2014-11-07.
  11. Web site: nim vind-english . underground-navigator.com . 2019-01-07.
  12. Web site: NIM VIND's "Saturday Night Séance Songs" Named Rue Morgue's Best Album of 2014 . planetmosh.com . 2015-01-20 . 2015-01-20.
  13. Web site: THE STIRRINGS OF AN UNQUIET MIND - A CONVERSATION WITH NIM VIND . bloodygoodhorror.com . 2015-01-20 . 2015-01-20.
  14. Web site: Nim Vind Rocks Sunset House Of Blues – Concert Guide Live.com . Concertguidelive.com . 10 September 2020.
  15. Web site: Nim Vind – Canadá » InTeRvEnCi0n PuNk your Webzine and Online Radio!! . 2013-06-19 . 2013-06-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130616060308/http://intervencionpunk.com/nim-vind-canada/ . dead.
  16. Web site: KREATOR, NIM VIND Confirmed For Germany's SUMMER BREEZE Festival . 11 March 2009 . Blabbermouth.net . 10 September 2020.
  17. Web site: Germany's Summer Breeze Open Air 2009 Officially Sold Out . Bravewords.com . 10 September 2020.
  18. Web site: New Model Army, Nim Vind, spectres @ Rickshaw Theatre - Oct 08, 2009 Vancouver BC . Livemusicvancouver.com . 10 September 2020.
  19. Web site: Filter, Nim Vind, Julien-K - Hamburg, Markthalle . Metalinside.de . 10 September 2020.
  20. Web site: KROQ presents Tiger Army with special guests Tim Polecat, Nim Vind at City National Grove of Anaheim on Sat Oct 26, 2013 7:00 PM PDT — Live Nation . 2019-12-13 . 2019-12-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191213132305/https://www.livenation.com/events/261363-oct-26-2013-kroq-presents-tiger-army-with-special-guests-tim-polecat-nim-vind . dead.
  21. Web site: Nim Vind, "Astronomicon" song premiere . Matt . Crane . Alternative Press . 3 October 2014 . 10 September 2020.
  22. Web site: Nim Vind 'Master Spider' Track Premiere (Exclusive) . 18 September 2014 . Bloody-disgusting.com . 10 September 2020.
  23. Web site: NIM VIND's "Saturday Night Séance Songs" Named Rue Morgue's Best Album of 2014 . Saxon . Mosh . Planetmosh.wordpress.com . 20 January 2015 . 10 September 2020.
  24. Web site: Nim Vind Shares Vlog From Tour With Gary Numan [PREMIERE] • Digital Tour Bus ]. 2014-11-25 . Digital Tour Bus . en-US . 2019-12-12.
  25. Web site: Archived copy . 2015-03-28 . 2014-12-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141221221937/http://puregrainaudio.com/news/nim-vind-announces-fall-2014-northwest-us-canadian-tour-dates-with-gary-numan . dead.
  26. Web site: Green Jelly / Nim Vind / Daddy Issues ‹ Not Your Scene . 2 April 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150402182046/https://www.notyourscene.ca/event/green-jelly-apr18/ . 10 September 2020 . 2015-04-02.
  27. Web site: Doyle with Nim Vind @ Seattle, Studio Seven . Wherevent.com . 10 September 2020.
  28. Web site: THE 69 EYES, NIM VIND : Hannover, Musikzentrum . Rockhard.de . 10 September 2020.
  29. Web site: CHRISTIAN DEATH, THE OTHER, Nim Vind, Argyle Goolsby • Tourdaten & Festivals . Vampster.com . 29 April 2015 . 10 September 2020.
  30. Web site: Kultur Palast Live - Hamburg: Konzerte für August und September 2017 . Time-for-metal.eu . 24 August 2017 . 10 September 2020.
  31. Web site: Nim Vind (Summer Breeze 2016) . Summer-breeze.de . 10 September 2020.
  32. Web site: Summer Breeze . Festivalsearcher.com . 10 September 2020.
  33. Web site: metal-festivals.com – your latest festival, open air and concert news… » Summer Breeze . New.metal-festivals.com . 10 September 2020.
  34. Web site: Bands to See at 2019's Wave Gotik Treffen —The World's Largest Goth Festival . Post-punk.com . 4 May 2019 . 10 September 2020.
  35. Web site: Nim Vind - Electrified Heart Beats!! from Vancouver BC . Cowichanculture.ca . 10 September 2020.
  36. Web site: 8.09.17 — Crimson Ghosts(GER), Argyle Goolsby(USA), Nim Vind(CAN) . Zoccoloclub.ru . 10 September 2020.
  37. Web site: KNAC.COM - News - MICHALE GRAVES Continues 'Course Of Empire' Tour . Knac.com . 10 September 2020.
  38. Web site: Nim Vind Premieres 'Fear-O-Fear' Music Video Featuring Scenes from Writer/Director Jeff Frumess' Genre Film, 'Romeo's Distress' - Horror-Punks.net . 2018-08-30 . 2018-08-31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180831035540/http://www.horror-punks.net/news/nim-vind-premieres-fear-o-fear-music-video-romeos-distress . dead.
  39. Web site: Nim Vind english . Underground-navigator.com . 10 September 2020.
  40. Web site: Dr Cyclops Records - The number one source for everything dr cyclops records . Drcyclopsrecords.net . 10 September 2020.
  41. Web site: The Nerve . September 2002 . Thenervemagazine.com . 10 September 2020.
  42. Web site: Nim Vind & Mr Underhill Release 'Lost' Album . Thepunksite.com . 10 September 2020.
  43. Web site: The Vincent Black Shadow Share Fears with the World . 1800-sports.com . 2011-08-31.
  44. Web site: MEGAFORCE RECORDS Founder Talks About METALLICA's Early Days . 29 June 2006 . Blabbermouth.net . 10 September 2020.
  45. Web site: Metallica Forums . Forums.metallica.com . 10 September 2020.
  46. Web site: VFest '07 – The Vincent Black Shadow | MuchMusic.com | Blog . 2007-09-08 . Blog.muchmusic.com . 2011-08-31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120405163317/http://blog.muchmusic.com/vfest-07-the-vincent-black-shadow/ . 2012-04-05 . dead.