The King Bees

Eugen Pernkopf (voc.)

Born 1968 in the Dambach-Teichl-Delta in Upper Austria, he learned to play the drums at a boy’s age. As a young Rolling Stones Fan he first gets in touch with Muddy Waters’ music and the blues itself which turns out to be his personal musical heaven. In 1988 he made Vienna his new home which he never intends to leave, mostly because of it’s fabulous music scene.

Hannes Durst (guit., voc.)

Born in 1958 in Vienna, Floridsdorf and in a certain sense inspired by his Grandfather Hans Jordan, who was a traditional Viennese singer and painter he picks up the guitar at the age of twelve, together with a schoolmate and a guitar tutorial. In 1973 he gains experience as a local gigging musician with bands like "Hot Velvet", "Ocean", "Lead Country", "Target", "United" or "UNO City Blues Band". In 1996 he is co founder of the blues and boogie band “Big Ten Inch”. His love for traditional blues and an open mind for all its babies lead him directly to the King Bees which he joins as a permanent member in 2003.

Herby Dunkel (guit., voc.)

Born in 1970 started to teach himself how to play the guitar at the age of 14. Mostly inspired by traditional Chicago and West Coast blues acts like T-Bone Walker, Muddy Waters, Hollywood Fats, Kim Wilson, B.B. King and many others he is always on the look out for new ways to express himself. Aside from his reputation as a skilled guitarist and singer he has made himself a name as one of the most creative and productive blues songwriters of the national blues scene.

Reinhard Dlapa (drums)

Inspired by his father he began to discover the drums at the tender age of 12. After some years of drumming and playing sessions with pal Oliver Humer he decided to attend the Vienna Academy of Music to study jazz drums. At that time his love for blues and swing jazz has awakened. He gained his first live and studio experiences with blues and jazz bands like The Jive Giants, Peter Kern and the Rythmgangsters, Katie Kerns Blue Orange and Hannes Kasehs Blues & Minus. He also toured throughout many parts of Europe with Christian Dozzler & the Blueswave and backed up various international artists like Katie Webester, Henry Gray, Ashton Savoy, Johnnie Allen and many others.

Ali Nebel (bass)

At the age of 14 he starts playing the bass guitar with his local school band. His idols of the time were Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Winter and Deep Purple. After the band split up after three years he put the bass aside for a whole 18 years until he finally reunited with his old band mates. After the tragic death of their guitarist they finally disbanded for good. In 1994 Mojo Blues Band drummer Peter Müller puts him in touch with the Bees, who are still searching for a permanent bass player at that time. This completed the their line up and ever since Ali picks the bass for the Bees.

THE KING BEES HISTORY

The early ‘90s
The two guitar players HERBY DUNKEL and ROLAND ULLRAM played regularly at Vienna’s renowned live club “Roter Engel” with the “Stingray Blues Band”. It was then and there when they met blues drummer EUGEN PERNKOPF. Together with harmonica player STEPHAN RAUSCH they put together a new band. Mojo Blues Band drummer Peter Müller helped to find the last missing musician – bass player ALI NEBEL. The band aimed to create its own sound and style. Therefore they intentionally omitted the use of the phrase “blues band” in their name. Instead they chose to name themselves after an old Slim Harpo tune HERBY & THE KING BEES.

1994
Their first public appearance takes place at the “Tunnel”. Other performances in Vienna’s finest blues clubs like “Otto”, “Hooker Blues Café”, “Papa’s Tapas” and in other parts of Austria soon follow. A definite highlight of that area is their stage work with Rhythm & Blues saxophone legend Big Jay McNeely.

1995
STEHAN RAUSCH leaves the band and is replaced by harp virtuoso GERRY LÜLIK. In Andreas Wingert’s KOKA Studio they start recording their first CD.

1996
In April they present their debut CD “TASTE THAT HONEY”. Big Jay McNeely and Peter Müller also have guest appearances on this CD. In October Eugen Pernkopf follows his military draft and is replaced by REINHARD DLAPA.

1997/1998
REINHARD DLAPA is now a permanent member of the band. EUGEN PERNKOPF returns and takes over the singing part. The band’s name is shortened to THE KING BEES. Meanwhile most of the songs on the BEES’ set list are self penned. A majority of them is composed by HERBY DUNKEL. The BLUES MAN CAFÉ run by BENJIE MARIAN starts to become one of the foremost blues clubs in Vienna and the BEES play there once a month. Those appearances quickly start to turn into blues parties and many of the local heroes like PETER KERN, HANNES KASEHS or Mojo Blues Band leader, ERIK TRAUNER can be seen onstage quite often.

1999/2000
After a devastating fire the Blues Man Café has to close its doors for good. The KING BEES return to the KOKA Studio to record a couple of tracks. REINHARD DLAPA and GERRY LÜLIK leave the band to concentrate on different projects. Fellow blues harp player ERICH METZENBAUER helps to fill GERRY’s spot for a while. Their new drummer is RAINER GARTNER.

2001
REINHARD DLAPA celebrates his comeback to the BEES in March at the “Café Amadeus”. ROLAND ULLRAM leaves the band to accept a job offer in Switzerland. He is replaced by guitarist extraordinaire EDI „FENZL“ RACZKÖVY. CHRISTIAN SANDERA can be seen playing the harp with the BEES more often.

2002
The year’s concert highlight is their appearance at the Super Bowl Party. Many of their former members and new friends like GERRY LÜLIK, ERICH METZENBAUER, CHRISTIAN SANDERA or young piano player FRANCIS SCHEIDL can be seen jamming with the bees.

2003
EDI FENZL leaves the band and is replaced by ARNOLD VIELGUT for a short period of time before he moves to Carinthia in the South of Austria. In July HANNES DURST takes his place.

2004
This year’s concert highlights are an apen air at Hungary’s Balaton and another one at Windischgarsten’s annual fair where the BEES are a regular guest.

2005
With a little delay THE KING BEES celebrate their 10th anniversary. The event turns out to be much appreciated by the audience and the venue can barely handle the run of fans. The house is rocking and some guest musician support the BEES with all their might.

2006
Concert highlights are the KING BEES’ appearance at the “Vienna Blues Spring” and Erik Trauner’s “Mojo Blues Parade”

2007
Again the BEES play in front of a crowded house at the “Vienna Blues Spring” while they share the stage with Memo Gonzales and the Blues Casters. They also have the honour of opening the ’07 “Planet Music Blues Event”. In July the very first „THE KING BEES’ BLUE BAR-B-Q“ takes place an turns out to be a great success.

2008
Once again the BEES return to the KOKA Studio to record their CD “Stingin’”. For the third year in a row the BEES perform at the „Vienna Blues Spring“ on April 11th. At this occasion they present their brand new CD which is released under the Styx label.
Still THE KING BEES refuse to stand still and keep focused on new projects in the future.
Watch out for THE KING BEES and have some fun.