"Live at the Red Dog Inn" CD now available      06.03.08

The newest Eric and the Norsemen CD is a live recording from 1968 at the legendary Red Dog Inn in Lawrence, Kansas. This show was by the band's final line-up, with Frank Berrier (bass, guitar and vocals) and Mitch Bible (Hammond organ, guitar and vocals), joining Roger, Mike and Jim. The CD is priced at $15.00 and contains 24 songs, including "Purple Haze" and "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band." It was released by Amber Waves in November 2007 and has just been made available for purchase on our website. Proceeds from sales of the CD go to the Kansas Music Hall of Fame.

Click here for a complete list of tracks and ordering information.

 

  

A magical night at Marty's     11.08.07

Wow!

November 3 was a magical night as Eric and the Norsemen reunited to play a benefit concert for KKFI community radio at Marty's Blues Cafe. It was only the second public performance by the band in the last 40 years (the other was 2 years ago when they were inducted into the Kansas Music Hall of Fame). With several newspaper articles and radio spots leading up to the show, the club was packed shoulder to shoulder and butt to butt. Marty brought in extra tables and chairs, but it was still standing room only, and even more people were turned away at the door.

The party at Marty's!

Roger, Mike, Frank, Tree and Jimmy were joined by special guests Dennis Frans from King Midas on keyboards and Kansas City's sensational Allen Blasco (during the last set) on lead guitar. If you were there, you know how much fun it was. It was hard to believe that these guys have only played twice in the last 40 years! They rocked the house!

Check out these wonderful photos by John Caulfield ...

From the band ...

"It's amazing that so many still remember, care and get excited about us and our music." -- Mike

"We were blown away by the crowd – some had heard us forty-some years ago, some were hearing us for the first time. They clapped, cheered, screamed and danced their butts off – we had to play three encores before they finally let us quit – thank you to everyone who was there - it was amazing!" -- Jim

From the crowd ...

"What a terrific show last night!"

"I just sent Marty's an e-mail asking them to have you back there."

"Please keep playing together ..."

"... definitely brought back wonderful memories"

"I hope you guys had as much fun as your audience did."

"... absolutely outstanding"

"... more fun than we've had in decades"

Some of the newspaper articles ...

Kansas City Star article – “It's a small, small world …”

Kansas City Star article – “Veteran bands will play KKFI benefit”

 

 

Norsemen announce special benefit performance     10.16.07

Norsemen Set to Reunite Once Again!

2006 Kansas Music Hall of Fame Inductees Eric and the Norsemen are getting back together for one very special evening.

Saturday, November 3, 2007

8 p.m. until 1 a.m.

Marty's Blues Café

5240 Merriam Drive

Merriam, KS

A Benefit for KKFI Community Radio

Join friends, fans and family when the “Ship Hits the Sand” for an evening of 60s rock ‘n roll, classic rock and blues. Original band members will recreate what was once called “The Wildest Show in the Midwest.”

Roger Johnson – Vocals, Guitar

Forrest “Tree” Cloud – Bass Guitar, Vocals

Mike Willman – Lead Guitar, Vocals

Frank Berrier – Rhythm Guitar, Vocals

Jim Kocher – Drums

Special Guest: Dennis Frans of King Midas & the Mufflers
on keyboards and vocals.

Also performing will be The Blackouts , a new local group also featuring Mike Willman on guitar that serve up hard-driving, danceable rock and blues.

Admission will be just $5.00 at the door and all proceeds will benefit KKFI 90.1 FM, Kansas City's Community Radio. Seating is limited so come early. You won't want to miss what may be Eric and the Norsemen's final Midwest appearance. 

New videos added to our site     05.01.06

We've added two new videos to our website!

"Shake a Tail Feather" was recorded live at the Kansas Music Hall of Fame on March 18, 2006.

"Road to the Hall of Fame" has excerpts from the band's 1965-68 home movies and clips from the Kansas Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony accompanied by the band's 1967 recording of "Get It On."

The Norsemen rock the Hall of Fame!     03.22.06

In a triumphant return to the stage for the first time since 1968, Eric and the Norsemen blew the roof off the Kansas Music Hall of Fame at the 2006 Induction Ceremony on March 18. When the ship hit the sand at Liberty Hall, the Hall of Fame rocked on like never before. (Click here for photos)

Playing before a packed audience which included Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius and her husband, Gary Sebelius, the band known as "The Wildest Show in the Midwest" made people jump from their seats and run to the dance floor. "You couldn't sit down...Everybody was left wanting more," said honorary Norseman Dennis Frans.

Roger "Eric" Johnson, Mike Willman, Forrest "Tree" Cloud, Frank Berrier and Jim Kocher were joined by honorary Norsemen Frans and Allen Blasco for the induction ceremony performance. "It was really fun to see the governor dance," Tree said afterward.

The crowd included scores of family and friends wearing Norsemen t-shirts and plastic horned helmets. While the band performed, videos of their 1965-1968 home movies were projected onto a huge screen beside the stage.

"They put on a good show the other night," said Bill Lee, president of the Kansas Music Hall of Fame. "They filled the dance floor and did what they used to do in the old days."

Prior to their performance, the Norsemen were inducted to the Hall of Fame, and each band member received an engraved cd case. Roger thanked the fans for making it all possible.

After the ceremony, Jim talked about the induction. "We are so grateful to the Hall of Fame for this honor and for giving us an opportunity to get together one more time. We never dreamed of anything like this, and it was thrilling to be on stage with so many wonderful musicians."

The entire ceremony lasted over five hours, with great performances by Kai Clark in honor of his late father Gene Clark, members of the Jerms, King Midas & the Muflers and Spider & the Crabs. The show closed with a fabulous set by Rhythm and Blues star Kelley Hunt.

Related Story -- "Their Place in Fame," by Ling Mei-Wong of the Kansas City Star

Photos -- Eric and the Norsemen at the Kansas Music Hall of Fame

Spider & the Crabs join the list of performers for March 18     02.28.06

The 2006 Induction Ceremony of the Kansas Music Hall of Fame will begin at 7:00 p.m. on March 18, 2006 at Liberty Hall in Lawrence, Kansas. The line-up of inductees who will be performing at the ceremony on March 18 looks like this:

• sons of the late Gene Clark
• Eric and the Norsemen
• Kelley Hunt
• King Midas & the Muflers
• Spider & the Crabs

Tickets are still available at Liberty Hall in Lawrence or from any Ticketmaster outlet.

General admission tickets are still available     02.04.06

All of the tickets for reserved table seating have sold out in just one week. General admission tickets are still available. Ticketmaster is now selling general admission.