Loopy and Vas Kallas fixated on a machine approach to music that has since popularized the infamous HANZEL UND GRETYL quote, "Machines Good, People Bad."As the human element of musicians fell apart from former band projects, Vas and Loopy were left in the deep black forest, and it was only natural to take on the dual persona of the fairy tale "Hanzel und Gretyl."
On their first demo "Kindermusik" in 1994, HUG worked along with Bryce Goggin (The Ramones, Spacehog), and when it was finished they distributed it to various recording labels.
They received a great response back, but the music industry was not daring enough to sign an act that sang in German and fringed on experimental ideas.
At that time, Vas and Loopy were living in a rehearsal studio in Manhattan on the same floor that Madonna occupied back in her struggling artist days.
Conveniently, across the street from their studio was Energy Records, where HuG deposited a demo and were immediately signed.
In 1995 their first album "Ausgeflippt" was released.
The duo then formed a live band, recruiting Ginger Bread on bass and Pat 5000 on drums.
Having only five live shows under their belt, Marilyn Manson took an interest in HuG and invited them on tour as an opening act for his 1995 and 1996 tours.
This opportunity catapulted HuG into the public's eye with great admiration.
At the same time "Ausgeflippt" (which translates to "flipped-out" in German), received nothing but great reviews, while their dance single "Shine 2001" reached the #1 position on the Alternative Press Dance chart.
Immediately following the success of "Ausgeflippt," HuG returned to Kinderland Studios to create their next opus, "Transmissions from Uranus" which was subsequently released in 1997.
This CD focused on Astrological, Sci-Fi, and futuristic influences incorporated more of a Techno/Metal vibe this time around.
Once again -- receiving a great deal of positive reviews -- HuG were coined as an Industrial band with a great sense of humor who stood out amongst all the rest.
'9D Galactic Center' not only played on K-Rock Radio Stations during station ID's, but was also used in the movie Mortal Combat-Annihilation, as well as during the 1997 MTV Music Awards.
During HuG's 1997 "Transmissions..." tour, Seven was inducted as their live drummer.
The tour took them through the US as both a headliner in the smaller venues, as well as an opener for bands such as Prong, Sister Machine Gun, Slipknot, and Judas Priest/Fight/Halford singer Rob Halford.
Also around this time HuG played with US newcomers Rammstein at the CMJ music Festival in NYC, solidifying the "Deutsch-American Fruendshaft," which opened the doors for them to tour successfully in tandem with Rammstein in 1998.
Shortly afterwards, Energy Records went out of business and closed its doors.
This gave way to a long legal situation which unfortunately halted the progression of HuG.
Finally in 2002, a new day dawned for HUG leaving them legally free and signed with Metropolis Records.
For 2003, their much-anticipated third album, "Uber Alles" has finally seen the light of day, as well as an entirely new live band line-up.
"Uber Alles" is served up in the style of a misplaced Wagnerian space-metal opera lost in time -- chewed up by distorted synth filters and pummeled by a million homicidal robot drum machines manipulated by the reclusive (but lovable) scatterbrain mastermind known as Loopy, and the much feared (but also very loveable) Vas Kallas.
This year, HuG has once again created the epic of all possibilities.
No longer innocent in the deep black forest -- but powerful and sturdy in sound and message -- HANZEL UND GRETYL continue to bring pleasure and pain to a HuG World.
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