Double Faced Eels

Double Faced Eels (DFE) is a four- member alternative pop – rock band from Riga, Latvia formed in 1999.

Biography

The band's debut single To Take Breath reached the number one position in Radio SWH Top 40 which guaranteed them a place in one of the most competitive music shows in Latvia – Radio SWH Top of The Year (2004), starting off their road to success.

In the same year DFE participated in several competitions involving new bands, and collected a succession of prizes : 2nd place in the well known Liepājas Dzintars (Amber Of Liepaja) festival; Best Vocal, Best Guitar, Best Drummer and The Best Band at the Tu Esi Pamanīts (You Have Been Noticed) talent festival. Thus, they quickly gained recognition in the Latvian music scene. Their next single Prasīt Aizmirsto (2005) also reached the spot in most of the radio charts in Latvia. But the biggest breakthrough was when they released their single Zilais Valis which went straight to the number one position in every chart it was played in 2005. It became a true number one hit in Latvian music.

In Summer 2005, the most popular band from Latvia, Brainstorm, offered DFE to be the warm–up band for their Four Shores album tour. Subsequently, DFE played in 3 Brainstorm shows one of which was in Riga, Mežaparks in front of 40,000 people.

DFE released their debut album in Winter 2005 having a very successful tour in Latvia and success in several TV music shows and competitions.

In 2007, the band released their second album Kurš gribēja nogalināt Džūliju? Nezinu, bet trāpīja mums (Who wanted to kill Julia? I don't know, but they hit us).

In 2009, Briģis, Čikijs and Ķesteris left the band. After that, Darius Petrauskas and Viktors Maslovs joined the band. To round up the roster, Double Faced Eels held a guitarist competition. Out of the 100+ competitors, Reinis Straume (previously of Disfunk, New Old) was chosen as the band's new guitarist. Shortly after, Ronalds Briežkalns joined the band in Petrauskas' stead.

The band released their third album Vēl patiesāk in 2010.

In May 2014, the band has started work on their fourth studio album.

Current lineup

• Marka (Mārtiņš Gailītis) (lead vocals and guitar),
• Reinis Straume (rhythm guitar and vocals),
• Viktors Maslovs (bass guitar),
• Ronalds Briežkalns (drums)

Past members:

• Reinis Briģis(rhythm guitar and backing vocals),
• Chiky (bass guitar),
• Pauls Kesteris (drums),
• Darius Petrauskas (drums),
• Kristaps Ērglis (bass guitar).

Bands Green Day, Blink 182, Hoobastank, Foo Fighters, Rage Against the Machine, Fall Out Boy, Reel Big Fish are among their biggest influences.

Discography