Darude

. Lauren St John, Hardcore Toubadour: The Life and Near Death of Steve Earle, Fourth Estate, 2002 ISBN 1-84115-6116. Today, Darude is considered a strong trance/electronic artist by many, and Sandstorm can still be heard at dance clubs worldwide. He is also the subject of a biography:. This album was less of a success than his previous works, but is still considered relatively good. Steve is the subject of a documentary film entitled Just An American Boy (http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/e/earlesteve-justanamericandvd.shtml), directed by Amos Poe. In 2002 he released his second album Rush. In February 2005 he recieved a Grammy Award for best contemporary folk album for the album The Revolution Starts Now.

Darude toured the world for nine months in 2001. In 2004 he was given a Lifetime Achievement Award for songwriting by the UK's BBC Radio 2. The second single Feel the Beat followed in Sandstorm's success, becoming a #1 hit in Finland before becoming a worldwide smash. The controversy did however manage to raise Earle's profile in the media and didn't seem to damage his record sales in the slightest. The song was the worldwide number one selling vinyl record in the year 2000, a record of sorts for a trance number. Some critics had trouble comprehending that a songwriter is not necessarily the character they're describing and branded Earle a traitor and a Taliban supporter. In June 2000 Darude became the first Finnish artist ever to reach top 3 position on UK's single chart. In 2002, Earle managed to land himself in trouble by writing a song about John Walker Lindh ("John Walker's Blues" on Jerusalem) written from Lindh's perspective (lyrics (http://www.cowboylyrics.com/lyrics/earle-steve/john-walkers-blues-2206.html)).

The song first conquered the Finnish and other European charts before creeping onto the UK charts (via the Internet at first, getting airplay in discos and clubs before it was officially released to a waiting audience), and finally taking the world by storm. He is also a supporter of and regular participant in the Concerts for a Landmine Free World, benefitting the Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation. His first hit single Sandstorm, was a result of a collaboration with Finnish producer and artist JS16 or Jaakko Salovaara, the man behind successful artists like Bomfunk MC's and Dallas Superstars. Darude landed a deal with JS16's 16 Inch Records, and co produced the song with him. From 1990, Earle also worked to educate the public about, and abolish, the death penalty. Hoping his tracks would be big hits someday, Darude started making his music on a PC first, and then moved on to samplers and decks. Steve was named Country Artist of the year for 1986 by Rolling Stone magazine. The name evolved to the Rude, da Rude, and finally Darude. It was a critical success and sold over 300,000 copies.

His friends started calling him Rude Boy after the track. He had to wait until 1986 before his first album Guitar Town was released. At a party with some friends, he played Swedish artist Leila K's track Rudeboys several times in a row. However, despite his early success in gaining a job as a songwriter it was not until 1981 that he achieved a top ten cut with "When You Fall in Love" recorded by Johnny Lee. His artist name Darude comes from the start of his career. Steve was one of the backing vocals on Guy's, "Desperados Waiting For A Train" together with Emmylou Harris on Guy's first album Old No 1. Darude (Ville Virtanen) is a Finnish DJ. Guy was instrumental in Steve being employed as a songwriter by the Sunburry Dunbar publishing division of RCA.

Official JS16 site (http://www.js16.com/). In 1975 he moved to Nashville where he met and worked with fellow Texans Guy Clark and his wife Susanna Clark. 16 Inch Records (http://www.16inchrecords.com/). There he met Townes van Zandt (who became a mentor) and other artists like Jerry Jeff Walker, Lucinda Williams and Nanci Griffith. Blue Chip Records (http://www.bluechiprecords.com/). He dropped out of school in 8th grade to move to Austin, Texas and learn more about the music business. Official Darude site (http://www.darude.com/). He was born in Ft. Monroe, Virginia and was the eldest son of an air traffic controller.

Steve Earle (born January 17, 1955) is a country musician who grew up in Schertz, Texas. Revolution Starts Now - 2004. Just An American Boy (live) - 2004. Jerusalem - 2002.

Side Tracks - 2002. Transcendental Blues - 2000. The Mountain - 1999. El Corazon - 1997.

I Feel Alright - 1996. Train A-Comin' - 1995. Shut Up And Die Like An Aviator - 1991. The Hard Way - 1990.

Copperhead Road - 1988. Exit 0 - 1987. Early Tracks - 1987. Guitar Town - 1986.