Back to the roots…
Michael has been around in his musical career, which started back in 1980.
When Michael was 8 years old, the family moved from Copenhagen to Jutland. After a few months his stepfather started the music project “Vildbjerg Garden” and Michael became the first member of this – it was the beginning of a long musical journey.
After “Vildbjerg Garden” it was the rock music that drew and Michael started up the band “Way Up”, which after a few years won a music talent contest at nightclub Jacob’s in Aarhus. The victory in the music contest gave “Way Up” a record contract, which the band never exploited. Some of the band members wanted to follow their education instead of believing in a music career, and soon after the band vanished.
Soon after the split up of “Way Up” a couple of the members formed “Northern Affairs” as Michael quickly joined in. For more than a year the three bandmembers recorded songs and worked on a album, unfortunally the energy ran out of the band, and the album never hit the streets.
Then it was time to seek new challenges and Michael joined the band “Main Event”, which played Fussion and instrumental heavy rock.
“Main Event” had a several live jobs and was also supporting act to Kim Larsen. Unfortunately, the bass player was killed in a traffic accident, and “Main Event” stopped thereafter.
On the side of the rock career, Michael Kratz worked as studio musician recording with many of the most popular acts in the Danish pop genre. Furthermore also played live with several artists and the last 8 years as drummer in “Kandis”, one of the best selling acts in this genre in Denmark.
Now it os time to get back to the roots, and start from square one and have started to realize his old dream of a career as a rock musician.
– I’ve always had a crazy urge to challenge myself and since I was a teenager, I’ve promised myself to go after my dreams. To test myself as a solo artist is one of them, and it is time for it, says Michael Kratz.
This illustrates just Michael Kratz ‘thoroughness and ambition to really have something to say before he makes an album. On “Cross That Line” he presents his own compositions and English texts – and not least his vocals, scratchy as Bruce Springsteen’s. Names like just Springsteen and Danish Big Fat Snake echoes in Kratz ‘songs, were the drums is also changed out with the guitar.
Read more at the official Michael Kratz website.
Discography
City Life
Hypnotized Records 2022
Tracks: City Life.
Musicians to the City Life single: Michael Kratz, Kasper Viinberg and others.
Too Close To The Edge
Hypnotized Records 2021
Tracks: Too Close To The Edge.
Musicians to the Too Close To The Edge single: Michael Kratz, Kasper Viinberg, Davide Gilardino, Luca Carlomagno and others.
Without Your Love
Hypnotized Records 2021
Tracks: Without Your Love.
Musicians to the Without Your Love single: Michael Kratz, Kasper Viinberg and others.
TAFKATNO
Art Of Melody Music 2021
Tracks: Too Close To The Edge, The Highway, A Way To The Future, Without Your Love, You’re The One, Let’s Do Something Good, Someday, Everlasting Love, 10 minutes (00.37 / 00.47), How Can A Man & Broken Souls (Bonus Track).
Musicians to the TAFKATNO album: Michael Kratz, Kasper Viinberg, Janey Clewer, Davide Gilardino, Torben Lysholm, Christian Warburg, Bruce Gaitsch, Luca Carlomagno, Mikkel Risum & Kenneth Bremer.
TAFKATNO Limited Edition
Art Of Melody Music 2021
Tracks: Too Close To The Edge, The Highway, A Way To The Future, Without Your Love, You’re The One, Let’s Do Something Good, Someday, Everlasting Love, 10 minutes (00.37 / 00.47), How Can A Man & Broken Souls (Bonus Track).
Musicians to the TAFKATNO album: Michael Kratz, Kasper Viinberg, Janey Clewer, Davide Gilardino, Torben Lysholm, Christian Warburg, Bruce Gaitsch, Luca Carlomagno, Mikkel Risum & Kenneth Bremer.
My Guitar
Hypnotized Records 2019
Tracks: My Guitar.
Musicians to the My Guitar single: Michael Kratz, Bruce Gaitsch & Kasper Viinberg:
Cry For You
Jolly Good Junk 2019
Tracks: Cry For You.
Musicians on the Cry For You single: Michael Kratz & Fletch.
De-Electrified
Hypnotized Records 2019
Tracks: I Dont Know How [Acoustic Version], This Town Is Lost Without You [Acoustic Version], Holding On Again (Anni) [Acoustic Version] & We All Live In This Nation [Acoustic Version].
Musicians on the De-Electrified album: Michael Kratz, Kasper Viinberg, Ida Lohmann, Janus Bachmann and others.
This Town Is Lost Without You
Hypnotized Records 2018
Tracks: This Town Is Lost Without You.
Musicians to the This Town Is Lost Without You single: Michael Kratz, Kasper Viinberg, Ole Kibsgaard, David Garfield & Steve Lukather.
Never Take Us Alive
Hypnotized Records 2018
Tracks: Never Take Us Alive.
Musicians to the Never Take Us Alive single: Michael Kratz, Kasper Viinberg & Dom Brown.
Evil Rumours
Hypnotized Records 2018
Tracks: Evil Rumours.
Musicians to the Evil Rumours single: Michael Kratz, Kasper Viinberg, Claus Reher Langberg, Christian Warburg, Henrik Lynbech & Tony Liotta.
If This Is Christmas
Hypnotized Records 2018
Tracks: If This Is Christmas.
Musicians to the If This Is Christmas single: Michael Kratz, Kasper Langkjær, Christian Warburg, Hans Christian Röder Jessen & Anna Röder Jessen.
Dragging Me Outside
Art Of Melody Music 2018
Tracks: Dragging Me Outside.
Musicians on the Dragging Me Outside single: Michael Kratz, Kasper Viinberg, Davide Gilardino, Luca Carlomagno, Roberto Barazzotto & Italo Graziana.
Live Your Live
Art Of Melody 2018
Track: DISC 1 - LIVE YOUR LIVE (Live In Denmark 2017): Cross That Line, Holding On Again (Anni), Live Your Life, Don't You Know, Until We're Together, Need You To Be Mine, Bye Bye, Like Father Like Son, Lying & Sleeping Mama. DISC 2 - LIVE YOUR LIVE (Live In Denmark 2017): I Don't Know How, This Town Is Lost Without You, What Did I.. ?, Never Take Us Alive, Evil Rumours, You And I Are Meant To Be, Lonely Soldier, We All Live In This Nation & Hypnotized. DISC 3 - CROSS THAT LINE (2018 Remastered Edition): Cross That Line, I Don’t Know How, Need You To Be Mine, Sleeping Mama, Don't You Know, Untill We're Together, Holding On Again (Anni), Lonely Soldier, Hypnotized, You And I Are Meant To Be, Like Father Like Son, Evil Rumours (Bonus track), Dragging Me Outside (feat. Mindfeels - Bonus Track) & If This Is Christmas (Bonus Track).
Musicians the Live Your Live album: Michael Kratz, Christian Warburg, Henrik Lynbech, Claus Nauer Reher-Langberg, Kasper Viinberg, Tony Liotta and others.
Live Your Live "Limited Edition"
Art Of Melody 2018
Track: DISC 1 - LIVE YOUR LIVE (Live In Denmark 2017): Cross That Line, Holding On Again (Anni), Live Your Life, Don't You Know, Until We're Together, Need You To Be Mine, Bye Bye, Like Father Like Son, Lying & Sleeping Mama. DISC 2 - LIVE YOUR LIVE (Live In Denmark 2017): I Don't Know How, This Town Is Lost Without You, What Did I.. ?, Never Take Us Alive, Evil Rumours, You And I Are Meant To Be, Lonely Soldier, We All Live In This Nation & Hypnotized. DISC 3 - CROSS THAT LINE (2018 Remastered Edition): Cross That Line, I Don’t Know How, Need You To Be Mine, Sleeping Mama, Don't You Know, Untill We're Together, Holding On Again (Anni), Lonely Soldier, Hypnotized, You And I Are Meant To Be, Like Father Like Son, Evil Rumours (Bonus track), Dragging Me Outside (feat. Mindfeels - Bonus Track) & If This Is Christmas (Bonus Track).
Musicians the Live Your Live album: Michael Kratz, Christian Warburg, Henrik Lynbech, Claus Nauer Reher-Langberg, Kasper Viinberg, Tony Liotta and others.
Live Your Life "Japanese Version"
AnderStein Music 2018
Musicians on the Live Your Life album: Michael Kratz, Kasper Viinberg, Steve Lukather, Michael Landau, David Garfield, Dom Brown, Christian Warburg, Alessandro Del Vecchio, Mikkel Risum, Janus Bechmann, Ida Lohmann, Ole Kibsgaard, Ole Viinberg, Emma Viinberg, Den Jyske Sangskole & Kenneth Bremer.
Live Your Life "European Version"
Art Of Melody Music / Burning Minds Music Group 2018
Tracks: We All Live In This Nation, Live Your Life, This Town Is Lost Without You, What Did I ..?, Never Take Us Alive, Game Of Love (Over And Over), Lying, Paradise Lost, Shade, Bye Bye, Dying Young, In Between, This Town Is Lost Without You (Acoustic version)* & I Don’t Know How (Acoustic version)*. * Download only.
Musicians on the Live Your Life album: Michael Kratz, Kasper Viinberg, Steve Lukather, Michael Landau, David Garfield, Dom Brown, Christian Warburg, Alessandro Del Vecchio, Mikkel Risum, Janus Bechmann, Ida Lohmann, Ole Kibsgaard, Ole Viinberg, Emma Viinberg, Den Jyske Sangskole & Kenneth Bremer.
Live Your Life "Special Edition"
Art Of Melody Music / Burning Minds Music Group 2018
Tracks: We All Live In This Nation, Live Your Life, This Town Is Lost Without You, What Did I ..?, Never Take Us Alive, Game Of Love (Over And Over), Lying, Paradise Lost, Shade, Bye Bye, Dying Young & In Between.
Musicians on the Live Your Life album: Michael Kratz, Kasper Viinberg, Steve Lukather, Michael Landau, David Garfield, Dom Brown, Christian Warburg, Alessandro Del Vecchio, Mikkel Risum, Janus Bechmann, Ida Lohmann, Ole Kibsgaard, Ole Viinberg, Emma Viinberg, Den Jyske Sangskole & Kenneth Bremer.
What Did I ..?
Hypnotized Records 2017
Tracks: What Did I ..?.
Musicians on the What Did I ..? single: Michael Kratz, Dom Brown, Kasper Viinberg and others.
Cross That Line (Re-Recorded)
Hypnotized Records 2017
Tracks: Cross That Line, I Don’t Know How, Need You To Be Mine, Sleeping Mama, Don’t You Know, Untill We’re Together, Holding On Again (Anni), Lonely Soldier, Hypnotized, You And I Are Meant To Be, Like Father Like Son & Evil Rumours.
Musicians on the Cross That Line (Re-Recorded) album: Michael Kratz, Ole Viinberg, Kasper Viinberg, Kim Eskesen, Lasse Baggenæs, Niels “N.O” Ole Thorning & Janus Bechmann.
Live Your Life
Hypnotized Records 2017
Tracks: Live Your Life.
Musicians on the Life Your Life single: Michael Kratz, Kasper Viinberg and others.
Rock That Line - Pre 2017 CTL Sessions
Hypnotized Records 2017
Tracks: Cross That Line, Holding On Again, Hypnotized & I Don’t Know How.
Musicians on the Rock That Line - Pre 2017 CTL Sessions EP: Michael Kratz, Kasper Viinberg, Ole Viinberg and others.
Lying
Hypnotized Records 2017
Tracks: Lying & Lying (recorded live at Fermaten, Herning, DK).
Musicians on the Lying single: Michael Kratz, Kasper Viinberg, Claus Reher-Langberg Naur, Henrik Lynbech, Lasse Baggenæs, Martin Granum & Tony Liotta.
Never Takes Us Alive
Hypnotized Records 2017
Tracks. Never Takes Us Alive & What Did I...?
Musicians on the Never Takes Us Alive vinyl maxi: Michael Kratz, Dom Brown, Kasper Viinberg, Ole Viinberg and others.
We All Live In This Nation
Hypnotized Records 2016
Tracks: We All Live In This Nation.
Musicians on the We All Live In This Nation single: Michael Kratz, Michael Landau, David Garfield, Kasper Viinberg and others.
This Town Is Lost Without You
Get Hypnotized 2015
Tracks: This Town Is Lost Without You.
Musicians on the This Town Is Lost Without You single: Michael Kratz, Steve Lukather, David Garfield, Tony Liotta, Kasper Viinberg, Ole Kibsgaard, Michael Andersen & Lasse Baggenæs.
Missing
Get Hypnotized 2013
Tracks: Like Father Like Son & Sleeping Mama.
Musicians on the Missing album: Michael Kratz, Ole Viinberg, Kasper Viinberg, Hanna Therasa Henriksen.
Need You To Be Mine
Get Hypnotized 2013
Tracks: Need You To Be Mine.
Musicians on the Need You To Be Mine single: Michael Kratz, Ole Viinberg, Kasper Viinberg, Hanna Therasa Henriksen.
Cross That Line
Get Hypnotized 2013
Tracks: 1: Cross That Line
Musicians on the Need You To Be Mine single: Michael Kratz, Ole Viinberg, Kasper Viinberg, Hanna Therasa Henriksen.
If This Is Christmas
Get Hypnotized 2012
Tracks: If This Is Christmas.
Musicians on the If This Is Christmas single: Michael Kratz, Christian Warburg, Kasper Langkjær, HC Röder Jessen, Anna Röder Jessen.
Hypnotized
Get Hypnotized 2012
Tracks: Hypnotized.
Musicians on the Hypnotized single: Michael Kratz, Ole Viinberg, Kasper Viinberg, Hanna Therasa Henriksen.
Need You To Be Mine
Sony Music 2012
Tracks: Need You To Be Mine.
Musicians on the Need You To Be Mine single: Michael Kratz, Ole Viinberg, Kasper Viinberg, Hanna Therasa Henriksen.
Cross That Line
Sony Music 2012
Tracks: Cross That Line, I Don´t Know How, Need You To Be Mine, Sleeping Mama, Don´t You Know, Until We´re Together, Holding On Again (Anni), Lonely Soldier, Hypnotized, You And I Are Meant To Be & Like Father Like Son.
Musicians on the Cross That Line album: Michael Kratz, Ole Viinberg, Kasper Viinberg, Hanna Therasa Henriksen, Kim Eskesen, Lasse Baggenaes, Niels Ole Thorning & Janus Bechmann.