Band members
Paul Waaktaar-Savoy
Guitar, vocals, keyboard, bass.
Paul grew up at Manglerud in Oslo. In the late 70s he formed the band Bridges, which included his childhood friend Magne Furuholmen, and they released an album called Fakkeltog in 1980. Paul and Magne later teamed up with singer Morten Harket to form a-ha in 1982. And the rest is history…
When a-ha took a break in 1994, he formed Savoy together with his wife Lauren Savoy and drummer Frode Unneland. Since a-ha started again in 1998, he’s been touring and recording with both a-ha and Savoy.
Lauren Waaktaar-Savoy
Guitar, vocals.
Lauren grew up in Boston, USA. She met Paul when she was studying in England in 1984. They married in 1991 and have one son together. Lauren is a talented director and has made music videos for artists like a-ha, Diva, The September When, Flava To Da Bone and Saybia, in addition to the videos she has made for Savoy. She has also made several TV-commercials and short films. In 1996 she made a documentary about Savoy together with Paul. Lauren has also provided guest vocals on Anneli Drecker's solo albums.
Frode Unneland
Drums, backing vocals.
Frode comes from Åsane, near Bergen. He started out playing guitar, but gradually changed over to drums. Since the mid-80s he’s been a member of many different bands from the Bergen area, including The Rub, Pompel & The Pilts, Unge Frustrerte Menn, Chocolate Overdose and Popium. It was through Chocolate Overdose that Paul and Lauren first heard him play. Frode is also a much-used session drummer, having played on albums by Ulf Lundell, Johanna Demker and Sondre Lerche, among others.
Guest musicians
Preben Grieg-Halvorsen
Keyboard, programming.
Preben has played keyboard for Savoy at many of their concerts and TV-appearances since 1997. He has also worked with the band in the studio.
His own band is called Fountainheads, and they released their debut album Album Of The Day in August 2006. Among other things, Fountainheads has supported artists like Fish and Bryan Adams.
Preben also works with TV and movies as a film music composer and sound designer.
Jørun Bøgeberg
Bass guitar.
Jørun Bøgeberg played bass for Savoy at the 5 concerts in Oslo and London in May 2008. He has previously played bass for Savoy on 3 of their albums, and at several TV-show appearances.
Bøgeberg is a veteran of the Norwegian music scene, and has played with lots of well-known bands, including a-ha (1990-94). He has also released two critically acclaimed solo albums, Songs From The Pocket and Basstard.
Hågen Rørmark
Guitar, backing vocals.
Hågen Rørmark played guitar with Savoy at the concerts in Oslo and London in 2008. He also played harmonica on "Is My Confidence Reeling?" on the Savoy album in 2004. Although he is from Norway, Hågen has been based in the US and UK for many years. And Paul often turns to him for reactions to new song material. Hågen has recorded several EPs, and his latest album Signs & Songs was released in 2008.
Erin Hill
Harp, backing vocals.
Erin Hill from New York played harp and sang backing vocals at the concerts in Oslo and London in 2008. She is also a composer and plays many other different instruments. Some of the artists she has performed with are Enya, Cyndi Lauper, Kanye West, Joan Osborne, Randy Newman, Martha Wainwright and Julee Cruise. Erin has released the solo album Frost as Desired and has her own band called The Space Rats.
May Britt "Maya" Vik
Bass guitar.
Maya played bass on the 2004 Norwegian tour. She also appeared in two Savoy music videos; "Whalebone" (version 2) and "Empty of Feeling".
Maya has been a member of the all-girl rock band Furia since 1999. Their second album Piece Of Paradise, released in November 2006, featured Paul as guest vocalist on the song "Goodbye Sweet Sorrow".
Her new band Montée released their first album Isle Of Now in March 2009.
Greg Calvert
Bass guitar.
Greg Calvert joined Savoy in late 1995, without knowing anything about Paul's background from a-ha. He later said: "When I look back, I'm glad that it happened that way. Because it meant that the focus was on the music. I like a-ha as well, but that's something completely different. So for me, it was really OK to go for something that I felt was completely new."
Greg toured with Savoy in 1996 and played bass on Lackluster Me, but left the band in 1997.
Geir Luedy
Bass guitar.
Geir Luedy played bass for Savoy at some concerts in 1997 and 1998. Luedy has been in the bands Unge Frustrerte Menn and Chocolate Overdose together with Frode Unneland.
He is also known as a producer for artists such as Poor Rich Ones and Robert Post, and most recently the Norwegian Idol winner Aleksander With.
He also has his own label called Your Favourite Records.