Formed: 1988.
On Hiatus: 2000-2007.
Reformed: 2008.
KONG is an instrumental four-piece outfit from Amsterdam, formed as a side project for Dutch musicians Dirk De Vries, Mark Drillich, Rob Smits and Aldo Sprenger. The band combines loud guitars, heavy drums, electronic beats, weird samples and melds elements of heavy metal, progressive rock, electronics and the avantgarde.
KONG are notable for their use of "Quadraphony" whilst performing live, where each individual bandmember performs on individual stages with independent P.A. stacks in each corner of each respective venue to create a "three dimensional" and "moving" sound-scape.
In 1999 the group decided to go on hiatus, leaving the future of the band unclear. Seven years later bassist Mark Drillich expressed interest in reviving the project, he was eventually joined by new members Tijs Keverkamp (guitar), Mandy Hopman (drums) and David Kox (guitar). This lineup yielded the album 1748383 and directly after its release KONG began touring and performing live once more.
At the beginning of 2013 Mandy Hopman has left the group and has been replaced later that year by Oscar Alblas, who has already played the drums on the 2014 album 6126152.