Rednex is one of very few artists that has lasted on the charts for 15 years and sold more than 10 million records thanks to a dozen Top 10 hits. The project was created by fluke in 1992 and literally exploded into fame in 1994 just days after its first release – “Cotton Eye Joe”. It became a massive hit, went to No.1 at record speed in 15 countries and is today a party classic which has sent the band repeatedly touring the world
The follow-up releases also achieved significant success, including 4 other million-selling releases, and led to Rednex, for example, spending more weeks (25) at top of the German singles chart than any other act of the last 30 years, thanks to hits such as “Wish You Were Here” and “Spirit Of The Hawk”.
Rednex was created in Stockholm in 1992 by three Swedish music producers – Jan Ericsson, Örjan Öberg and Pat Reiniz. They still own the trademark through the company Rednex AB. Today, Jan Ericsson has, after a 12 year long songwriting break from Rednex, supplied several tracks for the upcoming album including the hit single “Devil's On The Loose”. Örjan Öberg has not been active in Rednex since 2001 and Pat Reiniz (a.k.a. Ranis), who also used to manage the project back in the day, is no longer active as a writer or producer as of 2003, but is still loosely involved in some of the administrative tasks. Neither of them spend much of their lives mingling in the music industry but instead focus on other activities.
In 2010 their 4th album, “Saturday Night Beaver”, is to be released. The first single from the album, “Devil's On The Loose”, will once again propel Rednex into major controversy due to its highly unlikely promotional strategy and underline Rednex's roll as the ugly duckling and black sheep of the music industry. Rednex have always been frowned upon by the artist community and music media for its unconventional methods and appearances, but the alienation felt at being on the fringes of the music business seems to be something that attracts its members.
The band members today are girl singer Scarlet (from UK) and the boys Dagger & Ace Ratclaw (from Sweden), and Joe Cagg (from Netherlands). Since 1994 15 performers featured in the group. By 2001 the band already consisted entirely of members who were not in the original line-up. The awkward set-up of Rednex allows for people to come and go as they please and so several of the performers have done just that. All of the performers in the band today are on their second round.
Rednex defies and despises conventions. Rednex provokes and differs by intention. It is a lifestyle that is almost strategic and it has a strong purpose – because this is how one stays challenged and by doing so keeps growing and expanding. Many people relate this attitude to something destructive and desperate but Rednex have shown that it can be done with a smile and togetherness. There lives a little Rednex in all of you and it probably deserves to be given a lot more room.
