Shu•bi•dua or Shu-bi-dua is a Danishpop group that was formed in 1973 in Copenhagen, as an expansion of the group Passport. Throughout their 40-year history, Shu-bi-dua changed their lineup many times, however their lead singer was with the band throughout, except for the gap between 1984 and 1987. They have produced many well-known hits in Denmark, like Vuffeli-vov, Hvalen Hvalborg, Står på en Alpetop, Stærk Tobak, Familien kom til Kaffe, Sex Chikane, We wanna be free, and many more. Their musical style owed much to folk and Central Europeanschlager. They are the Danish band with most selling albums in Denmark.
History
Passport, which in the beginning of 1973 released the single Tomorrow/Everything's Wrong, consisted of the guitarists and, the drummer, and bass guitarist. The group was extended with the singer Michael Bundesen and keyboard player, and under the name Shu-bi-dua released the single Fed Rock/Tynd Blues, before the group again as Passport released the single Change of the Guard/Highway of Living. Shu-bi-dua was originally thought of as a one-off group, but when the debut single produced the hit Fed Rock, they chose to keep it. As Shu-bi-dua they quickly gained success, and the name Passport was dropped. In 1974 they released their first self-titled albumShu-bi-dua. After the first album, Poul Meyendorf left the group and was replaced by Claus Asmussen, who was a sound engineer on the first. Since then the group has had numerous changes in its lineup. Claus Asmussen replaced Poul Meyendorff in 1975, replaced Niels Grønbech in 1977, replaced Jens Tage Nielsen, and replaced Bosse Hall Christensen in 1981. In 1984 Michael Bundesen left the group to become station chief on the Copenhagen TV stationKanal 2, and simultaneously Kasper Winding left to be replaced by Paul Callaby. In 1987 was made a permanent member in the group when Willy Pedersen left. Thorup had been singing backup vocals since Shu-bi-dua 11 in 1985. In 1987 Michael Bundesen returned as lead singer, while also joined the band. In 1988 replaced Paul Callaby as drummer, and shortly thereafter Søren Jacobsen left the band again. After having made the film Den røde tråd in 1989, they went on a sabbatical until their return in 1992 with the hit singleSexchikane. In the intervening years their back catalog was rereleased on CD in 1990, and in 1991 a Best Of album by the name Stærk Tobak was released. In connection to this they played live in front of 50,000 people on Bellevue Beach. In 1997 Michael Hardinger left the band after 24 years. He was replaced by, and in 2001Jørgen Thorup left the band to be replaced by. In 2003 their 30th anniversary was celebrated with a 10-CD set called Shu-bi-dua 200. In 2005 Claus Asmussen left Shu-bi-dua having been the only original continuous member in the group's 30-year history. The group has, since 2011, been on an indefinite hiatus, since lead singer Michael Bundesen suffered a brain embolism, from which he is still recovering.
