From the left: Valdur Viiklepp (bass, backing vocals); Kaur Garšnek (guitars); Edward Krimm (lead vocal, piano, keyboards); Jaagup Tormis (drums, backing vocals). (Photo by Heikki Leis)
The band was brought into existence in 2009, when Edward Krimm started writing some original material and trying it out with his friend Jaagup Tormis. After experimenting with some of the new songs they decided to put together a new group. The idea for the name came from Edward Krimm, who got his name after prince Edward. Now it was being put to use as an inspiration for the concept of the new group. In the beginning musicians such as Madis Viksi (bass guitar), Taavi Paomets (guitar) and Konstantin Tsõbulevski (bass guitar) accompanied the duo in recordings and live performances. But in 2012 Valdur Viiklepp replaced Madis Viksi and Konstantin Tsõbulevski and in 2013 Kaur Garšnek replaced Taavi Paomets.
All the current members have a musical background. Jaagup Tormis is a grandchild of an Estonian composer Veljo Tormis and has been a drummer in bands like Recycle Bin, Pedigree, Oslo Skyline and Sinine. Edward Krimm has studied opera singing in Tallinn Georg Ots Music School and in Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre. Valdur Viiklepp has played bass guitar in bands like Turncoat and took classical guitar lessons and sang in the choir while studying in Collegium Educationis Revaliae. Kaur Garšnek has played guitar in Kreatiivmootor and Muschraum. He has studied in Tallinn Music High School. He is a son of the composer and keyboardist Igor Garšnek.
The Princes has been usually classified as a Progressive rock band but their music includes also genres such as psychedelic rock, blues rock, funk rock, hard rock, symphonic rock, cabaret, opera and folk rock. The music has been influenced by many artists and composers. The progressive side of The Princes has been inspired by Genesis, Dream Theater, Muse, Tool and King Crimson. From the pop rock angle, the band’s harmonic backing vocals are inspired by The Beatles and Queen. Main rock and blues bands that have influenced The Princes are Muddy Waters, The Rolling Stones, Guns n’ Roses, Led Zeppelin, Korn, Pantera, Queens of the stoneage and Metallica. And last, but not least, quite influential have been some classical composers such as Igor Stravinsky, Ludwig van Beethoven and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Edward’s counter tenor register is strongly influenced by Farinelli and The Princes backing vocals style is influenced by choir music from the romantic era.
All the current members have a musical background. Jaagup Tormis is a grandchild of an Estonian composer Veljo Tormis and has been a drummer in bands like Recycle Bin, Pedigree, Oslo Skyline and Sinine. Edward Krimm has studied opera singing in Tallinn Georg Ots Music School and in Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre. Valdur Viiklepp has played bass guitar in bands like Turncoat and took classical guitar lessons and sang in the choir while studying in Collegium Educationis Revaliae. Kaur Garšnek has played guitar in Kreatiivmootor and Muschraum. He has studied in Tallinn Music High School. He is a son of the composer and keyboardist Igor Garšnek.
The Princes has been usually classified as a Progressive rock band but their music includes also genres such as psychedelic rock, blues rock, funk rock, hard rock, symphonic rock, cabaret, opera and folk rock. The music has been influenced by many artists and composers. The progressive side of The Princes has been inspired by Genesis, Dream Theater, Muse, Tool and King Crimson. From the pop rock angle, the band’s harmonic backing vocals are inspired by The Beatles and Queen. Main rock and blues bands that have influenced The Princes are Muddy Waters, The Rolling Stones, Guns n’ Roses, Led Zeppelin, Korn, Pantera, Queens of the stoneage and Metallica. And last, but not least, quite influential have been some classical composers such as Igor Stravinsky, Ludwig van Beethoven and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Edward’s counter tenor register is strongly influenced by Farinelli and The Princes backing vocals style is influenced by choir music from the romantic era.
