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Article appearing in the Knoxville News Sentinel 2-22-2002
For all those completing their OtR scrapbook :)
By Wayne Bledsoe, News-Sentinel entertainment writer
When Over the Rhine members Linford Detweiler and
Karin Berquist decided to get married in 1996, they
worried marriage might change their music.
"We were afraid we would lose that objectivity," says
Detweiler, "but I haven't seen any changes."
Instead, the world has changed around Over the Rhine.
Detweiler and Berquist formed Over the Rhine in 1989;
the group's name comes from a community in Cincinnati.
Detweiler had been listening to the female-fronted
rock groups the Pretenders and Lone Justice and
decided he would like to start a band with a female
lead singer.
"Karin was the only person I knew who could bring
tears to people's eyes when she sang," says Detweiler.
"People felt something when she sang."
Detweiler gave Berquist a call at her home in
Barnesville, Ohio, to see if she was interested.
"She was packing her bags nearly before we got off the
phone," says Detweiler.
The two became fixtures in the Cincinnati arts scene.
Over the Rhine's early gigs were a long way from rock
hounds like the Pretenders. The two performed classic
pop standards at the piano bar of the Cincinnatian
Hotel. One of the benefits, though, was that most
touring musicians stayed at the hotel.
"It was a real vibey place and lots of people came
through," says Detweiler. "One night Billy Joel came
over and wanted to talk about when he was doing what
we were doing."
Throughout the duo's time at the hotel, Detweiler and
Berquist were writing their own material. Those songs
became the basis of the group's 1991 album, "Till We
Have Faces."
By then a quartet, Over the Rhine landed an
opening-act spot on Adrian Belew's national tour in
1992 and followed by opening for Bob Dylan for several
dates.
"When that happened, I thought, 'Man, we're going
straight to the top!' " says Detweiler with a laugh.
The band signed with I.R.S. Records and released three
albums with the label. But the group fell short of
national stardom. When I.R.S. Records disintegrated in
1995, Over the Rhine was left without a contract. But
Detweiler and Berquist soldiered on, releasing discs
on their own and relying on music to make ends meet.
"We're really fortunate," says Detweiler. "Our fans
have been unbelievably supportive. They're
enthusiastic enough to want everything we put out."
Over the Rhine signed with Virgin Music's Backporch
Records in 2001. The group's latest album, "Films for
Radio," was released in late 2001.
Detweiler says the band has plenty of plans, and being
married to his band-mate makes a career in music
easier.
"It's great having someone to work with and not having
to be away from each other when you go out on the
road," says Detweiler. "Plus, it's just fun to see the
world together."
February 22, 2002
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