Siger was born in 1972. His connection with Groningen started twenty years ago when he started high school there. In 1998 he got his masters degree in History at the University of Groningen with no real plans for the future. All he knew was that he didn’t want to be a teacher. After trying some different jobs he applied for University again and in 2002 he got his second masters degree. This time in teaching history (oh, the irony of it all) ;-) So in the end he made a career out of his first hobby, history, and playing music eats up much of the rest of his time.
Siger taught himself how to play the guitar. His dad bought him an electric guitar in 1991 but it just sat in his room for two years before he realized what he wanted to play. In 1993 he started playing seriously and in 1994 he got some old high school friends together to form his first band, called Modesty. His friends didn’t share his ambitions about writing your own music so Siger got out. He asked Modesty’s drummer Maarten to join a new band. A second guitarist was found in Guus and the three have formed the core of Awake ever since.
Siger likes all types of music. Ranging from 80’s pop band A-ha to fellow Norwegians Dimmu Borgir. Common denominator is that it has a full sound. Firm foundation became bands like Eagles, Def Leppard and Yngwie Malmsteen. Lately he listens to more modern metal bands like In Flames, Children of Bodom, Lostprophets, Filter and Mnemic but you can also hear a classical symphony (Mozart!) coming from his car. The bottom line is: Siger likes to play his music loud!
On this web site you find five band members and three former band members who have remained close friends. There are however two more “band members”. These are Guus’ girlfriend Jolanda and Siger’s girlfriend (since 2003 his wife even) Sia. Siger and Sia met in 1993 and have been an item ever since. Sia and Siger share their taste in music and travel around the country to go to concerts. Sia has played an important role in the history of Awake and we can always count on her to give honest critique about the music of Awake.
Awake has always been Siger’s baby. Now that the band has a new singer again after two years, Awake is picking up speed again. The new cds are being recorded at Siger’s place using his home computer. Siger founded a second band with singer Daan Romein. Daan had auditioned to sing in Awake in 2004 but he didn’t fit the music. The chemistry was there however and so Siger asked him if he wanted to start a new band together. Tarball came into being in August 2004 and played it’s first gig in February 2005. The band has been going very strong ever since. Getting very good reviews. Right now Tarball is recording their first real demo and plans to conquer Holland in 2006!
I don’t have a list like Danny. If you want to see me on stage you just have to check the giglist of Awake and Tarball.