Chris Summers (drummer)

Christer Engen (born 7 November 1974), also known by his stage name Chris Summers, is a Norwegian musician best known as the drummer for rock bands Turbonegro, Bigbang and Euroboys. Engen was a founding member of Bigbang and played with the band from 1992 to 1997. He left Bigbang to join Turbonegro in 1997 and released four studio albums with the band until his departure in 2008. He is currently a member of the soft rock band Lady Friend.

Career

Engen started his musical career when he founded Bigbang together with Øystein Greni while they were in high school. The two shared a common interest in American punk and hardcore bands, as well as classic rock from the 1960s, 70s and 80s. Engen released one album with Bigbang, '' Waxed'', before being asked to join Turbonegro by guitarist Rune Rebellion in 1997. He toured with Turbonegro in support of '' Ass Cobra'' and later recorded the album '' Apocalypse Dudes'' with the band. In 1998, Turbonegro disbanded while on tour due to singer Hank von Hell's drug addiction and mental illness.Sættem, Trond. ''Turbonegro - The ResErection'' (2002). Nordisk Film. The following year, Engen played drums on Bigbang's song "Wild Bird" off their '' Electric Psalmbook'' album. He again contributed drums to Bigbang on their 2000 studio album, '' Clouds Rolling By'', including the hit song "Girl In Oslo".

Unbeknownst to Turbonegro, in the years that followed their break-up, the band would become a cult phenomenon with fan clubs called Turbojugend being established all over the world. Turbonegro reunited in 2002 and released their comeback album, '' Scandinavian Leather'', in 2003. The band toured extensively in support of the album, including a tour of the United States with Queens of the Stone Age. Turbonegro released their next album, '' Party Animals'', in 2005, and toured Europe and the United States throughout the year and the following year. The band released the album '' Retox'' in 2007. Later that year, Engen suffered a foot injury and played several festival shows with a broken foot before getting a stand-in. Engen left Turbonegro in 2008 due to his injury and touring fatigue. He would later reveal in a 2021 interview that it took four years for his foot to fully heal. After leaving Turbonegro, Engen has occasionally featured as a session musician and works as a junior high school teacher. In 2022, he released his first album with Lady Friend, ''Songs From The Guesthouse''. Engen appeared with Bigbang at their 30th anniversary shows in August 2024, performing the ''Waxed'' album in its entirety and select songs from ''Electric Psalmbook'' and ''Clouds Rolling By''.

Personal life

Engen was engaged to singer Elvira Nikolaisen from 2007 to 2011. He married singer, musician and Lady Friend bandmate Anne Mette HÃ¥rdnes in 2023.

Discography

With

Turbonegro

Studio albums

* '' Apocalypse Dudes'' (1998)
* '' Scandinavian Leather'' (2003)
* Party Animals (2005)
* '' Retox'' (2007)

Live albums

* '' Darkness Forever!'' (1999)

Compilation albums

* '' Small Feces'' (2005)

With Bigbang

* '' Waxed'' (1995)

With Oslo Motherfuckers

* ''Greetings From The Big O'' (2002)

With Lady Friend

* ''Songs From The Guesthouse'' (2022)
* ''5 O'Clock Man'' (2024)

Production, instrumental and vocal credits

References

External links

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1970 births
Living people
Norwegian rock drummers
Norwegian male drummers
Turbonegro members
21st-century Norwegian drummers
Bigbang (Norwegian band) members

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