Mike Tramp facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mike Tramp
Tramp performing in 2023
Background information
Birth name	Michael Trempenau
Born	(1961-01-14) 14 January 1961 (age 64) Copenhagen, Denmark
Genres	Glam metal, hard rock, pop rock
Occupation(s)	Singer musician songwriter
Instruments	Vocals guitar piano
Years active	1976–present

Michael Trempenau (born on January 14, 1961), known as Mike Tramp, is a singer, songwriter, and musician from Denmark. He is most famous for being the lead singer of the glam metal band White Lion.

Mike Tramp started his solo music career in 1996. He took a break from 2004 to 2009 to bring White Lion back together for a short time. Since then, he has released many solo albums and toured a lot. Since 2023, Mike Tramp has been releasing "Songs of White Lion" albums. He also tours as Mike Tramp's White Lion with guitarist Marcus Nand and other band members. He has also released solo albums in Danish since 2022.

Biography

Early Music Journey (1976–1982)

Mike Tramp grew up in Vesterbro, Copenhagen, Denmark. He lived with his mother and two brothers. He began singing in a youth group club in Copenhagen. He even appeared on their first album in 1974.

In 1976, Michael Trempenau became known as Mike Tramp. He joined a pop band called Mabel as their lead singer. Mabel released five albums and was very popular in Denmark and Spain. Mike became a "teen idol" during this time. In 1978, Mabel won the Danish Song Contest with their song "Boom Boom." They represented Denmark in the Eurovision Song Contest 1978 that same year.

Later, Mabel moved to Spain and changed their name to Studs. They released an album in 1981. Then, they moved to New York City and became Danish Lions in 1982. After recording some demo songs, the band went back to Denmark. However, Mike Tramp decided to stay in America.

White Lion Success (1983–1991)

In 1983, Mike Tramp met Vito Bratta and they formed the band White Lion. The band became very successful in the mid-1980s and early 1990s. White Lion released their first album, Fight to Survive, in 1985.

The band became famous with their hit songs "Wait" (which reached number 8) and "When the Children Cry" (which reached number 3). These songs were from their second album, Pride, which sold over three million copies. White Lion continued their success with their third album, Big Game, which also sold well. Their fourth album, Mane Attraction, was supported by a tour. White Lion broke up in 1991. Their first collection of best songs, The Best of White Lion, was released soon after.

Freak of Nature (1992–1995)

After White Lion, Tramp formed a hard rock band called Freak of Nature. This band's music was heavier and darker than White Lion's. They released three albums between 1993 and 1998: Freak of Nature, Gathering of Freaks, and Outcasts. The band performed with other famous bands like Helloween and Dio in Europe in 1993. Freak of Nature eventually broke up in 1996.

Starting a Solo Career (1996–2004)

After Freak of Nature, Mike Tramp began his solo career. His first solo album, Capricorn, came out in 1998. This album featured his former Freak of Nature bandmates, guitarist Kenny Korade and bass player Jerry Best. James LoMenzo, who was the bass guitarist for White Lion, sang backing vocals on the album.

The song "Better Off" was Mike Tramp's first solo single and had his first solo music video. Other singles from the album included "Already Gone," "If I Live Tomorrow," and "Take a Little Time."

It took five years for Tramp to record his next album, Recovering the Wasted Years. During this time, he moved to Australia to raise his son away from busy city life and plan his next career steps. Recovering the Wasted Years was released in 2002. It included the singles "Living a Lie" and "Endless Highway," both with live music videos. "Do It All Over" was released as a promotional single.

In 2003, Tramp released his third album, More to Life Than This. He produced it himself, but Flemming Rasmussen (who worked with Metallica) engineered and mixed the songs. The album's main song, "More to Life Than This," and "Don't Want to Say Good Night" were released as singles. A music video for "Lay Down My Life for You" was made in Australia.

Also in 2003, Tramp released a double live album called Rock 'N' Roll Alive. This album featured Tramp performing live versions of songs from White Lion, Freak of Nature, and his solo albums. In 2004, Tramp released another solo album, Songs I Left Behind.

White Lion Returns (2004–2008)

Tramp in 2008

Mike Tramp also brought White Lion back together with new band members. They called themselves "Tramp's White Lion" at first, then "White Lion II," and later just White Lion. This was because of legal issues with former members. The band played and re-recorded White Lion songs. They released an album called Last Roar in 2004, which had new versions of classic White Lion songs. They also released a box set called "The Bootleg Series" in 2004, followed by a double-live CD called Rocking the USA in 2005.

In 2006, Tramp's White Lion toured Europe. In 2007, a White Lion collection called The Definitive Rock Collection was released. The band planned a summer tour with Poison and Ratt. However, the tour promoter dropped them after former White Lion guitarist Vito Bratta threatened legal action over the band name. Eventually, Tramp was able to use the original band name again.

White Lion recorded a new studio album called Return of the Pride, which was released on March 14, 2008. The band was once again known simply as White Lion.

New Solo Music (2009–2011)

After Return of the Pride, Tramp had to decide whether to continue his solo career or focus on White Lion. In October 2009, Tramp released a new solo album called Mike Tramp & The Rock 'N' Roll Circuz. This was also the name of his new solo band. The album was originally meant to be the next White Lion album, but he decided to form a new solo band instead. The album reached number 16 on the Danish top 40 album chart. It included the singles "All of My Life" and "Come On," which also had a music video.

In April 2011, Tramp released the solo album Stand Your Ground. This album featured the singles "Distance" and "Hymn to Ronnie." "Hymn to Ronnie" was a tribute song to Ronnie James Dio, a famous singer from bands like Heaven & Hell and Black Sabbath, who passed away in 2010.

Acoustic Tours and Albums (2012–2014)

In 2012, Tramp started recording another solo album. The album, Cobblestone Street, was released on April 8, 2013. This followed a successful acoustic tour in Europe in late 2012. During that tour, Tramp played 40 shows across Europe, doing everything himself.

The album reached number 21 on the Danish album chart. Its first single, "New Day," was released on February 18, 2013. "Revolution" was the second single from the album. In March 2013, Tramp supported Beth Hart for several concerts in France. To promote Cobblestone Street, Mike toured many countries in Europe.

Tramp also went on a US tour, his first acoustic tour in that country, in the summer of 2013. While promoting his solo album, Tramp announced that there would be no more White Lion, in any form.

Mike Tramp in Idaho Falls, ID (2013)

To end 2013, Tramp released the Christmas single "The Way It Was Before." This song was more serious than most holiday songs and was inspired by events from 9/11. It was released in Europe on November 11.

Mike Tramp returned to the US for a tour in the spring of 2014. The tour started on March 19 in Hollywood, California. It also included a long stay on the Monsters Of Rock Cruise 2014.

In June 2014, Tramp released the single "Trust in Yourself." It had a music video directed by his son, Dylan. This song was the first single from his new solo album, Museum.

The album Museum was released on August 18, 2014. It continued the musical style of his previous album, Cobblestone Street. The album reached number 3 on the Danish album chart. The song "Freedom" was the second single from the album.

Tramp played four sold-out concerts in Copenhagen to celebrate the album's release. He then started a big European tour in Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, and the UK.

Band of Brothers and New Albums (2015–2018)

In February 2015, Tramp signed a worldwide album deal. He also confirmed that White Lion would not be returning. In March 2015, Tramp confirmed he was working on his next album after Museum. He said the new music would be classic rock, more like his 1997 album Capricorn, without the acoustic parts from his recent work. He returned to a full band lineup, working with producer Soren Andersen, drummer Morten Hellborn, keyboardist Morten Buchholz, and bassist Jesper Haugaard.

Tramp went on another acoustic solo tour across the US in the spring of 2015 and visited Canada for the first time. He also played on the Monsters of Rock Cruise.

Tramp announced that his studio album Nomad would be released internationally on August 28, 2015. He said, "Each previous album gave me the freedom to follow the songs wherever they wanted to go, and with 'Nomad' my vision was clear as a bell, once again I just had to be who I am."

In July 2015, Tramp released the single "High Like a Mountain." In August, he released the radio single and music video "Give It All You Got." Both songs were from his album Nomad.

Nomad was released on August 28, 2015. It reached number 21 on the Danish album chart. After the album, Tramp toured Europe with the Danish band Lucer.

In 2016, Tramp announced more solo and band shows in Denmark. In March 2016, Tramp played a benefit show for people with cancer in Lingen, Germany.

In May 2016, after Nomad's success, Tramp released the single "Stay." This song was played a lot on Danish national radio. The video for "Stay" showed Tramp living alone as a forest worker in the Scandinavian woods.

Tramp played at several festivals in 2016, including Nordic Noise Festival, Esbjerg Rock Festival, Sweden Rock Festival, and Väsby Rock Festival. In the summer of 2016, Tramp toured the USA with an acoustic tour to promote his album "Nomad." He also took part in the Monster of Rock Cruise in October.

In October 2016, Mike Tramp announced his 10th solo album, Maybe Tomorrow. This album followed his successful album Nomad from 2015.

The album Maybe Tomorrow was released worldwide on February 24, 2017.

In January 2017, Tramp released a music video for the single "Coming Home" from Maybe Tomorrow. In February 2017, "Would I Lie to You" was released as the second single, followed by "Spring" in May 2017.

Mike and his "Band of Brothers" (Soren Andersen, Claus Langeskov, and Kenny Andy) began a tour in March 2017. They played sold-out concerts in Denmark and also performed for audiences in France, Italy, and Ireland. The tour also visited Germany, Belgium, and the UK.

Mike Tramp's album, Maybe Tomorrow, reached number 1 on the vinyl chart and number 2 on the physical album chart in Denmark.

In September 2017, Mike Tramp released a music video for a new single called "Work It All Out." This song was from his new box set, This & That (But A Whole Lot More), which was released on December 1, 2017.

In February 2018, Tramp sang lead vocals for a friend's project in Indonesia for the single "One More Chance," which also had a music video.

Mike Tramp toured Europe in the spring of 2018 with his Band of Brothers. In October 2018, Tramp announced he was working on a new album for 2019. He also played some acoustic shows in Denmark. On November 1, Tramp's first solo album "Capricorn" was re-released as a special vinyl version. He played two shows in Copenhagen to celebrate this.

Recent Years (2019-Present)

On January 8, 2019, Mike Tramp announced his new solo album, Stray From The Flock, would be released on March 1. His record company stated that over 100 shows were planned for 2019 to support the album, starting in the US in February and March. A first single, "Dead End Ride," was released on January 25 with a music video. The song quickly reached number 1 on iTunes in Peru.

Stray From The Flock was officially released on March 1, 2019. A second single, "Homesick," was released on March 29. Tramp also released a third single, "Best Days Of My Life," which had a lyric video. This was released for his European tour in the fall of 2019.

In 2019, Mike Tramp toured the US, the UK, played summer festivals in Denmark, and had the "Dos Amigos Tour" with Marcus Nand in Denmark, Belgium, France, and Spain. He also toured with his "Band of Brothers."

On May 1, 2020, Mike Tramp released the album "Second Time Around." This album had ten new recordings of songs from his 2009 album, "The Rock 'N' Roll Circuz." The new versions were produced by Mike Tramp and Soren Anderson.

"The Road" (with a new music video) and "Between Good and Bad" (a radio single) were released before the album. A new version of "When She Cries" was also released as a single after the album came out, dedicated to his daughter.

Mike Tramp had planned a big North American tour in 2020 with Marcus Nand, called the "Songs of White Lion" tour. However, it had to be canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2020, Mike Tramp celebrated 25 years as a solo artist. He released a "best-of" album called "Trampthology" on December 18, 2020. This album featured 16 of his biggest solo hits plus four brand new songs, including the single "Take Me Away" with a lyric video.

In February 2021, Tramp released a new single, "Everything Is Alright." This song was his entry for the Eurovision Song Contest representing Denmark. He also released the official music video for "Everything Is Alright" on February 18, 2021. Another compilation album, also titled "Everything Is Alright", was released in May 2021.

In January 2022, Tramp released a new single, "You Only Get To Do It Once." This song was a personal reflection.

In September 2022, Tramp released his first album entirely in Danish, called "For Første Gang." This was followed by a Danish tour in the fall. The album featured music videos for three singles: "Min By," "For Første Gang For Altid," and "Vejkort."

In October 2022, Tramp announced he would be touring Europe and the US in 2023. He released another single, "What You Got Left," with a video directed by his son. This song featured former White Lion Bassist James Lomenzo.

In 2023, Mike Tramp announced he was bringing his version of White Lion back. He released ‘Songs of White Lion’ on April 14, 2023. This album featured Tramp re-recording selected songs from White Lion's past. A re-recorded "Cry for Freedom" was the first single, followed by a new version of "Little Fighter."

Mike Tramp toured the USA from May to June 2023 with guitarist Marcus Nand, who also played on ‘Songs of White Lion’. Tramp also played many summer festivals in Europe with a full band. He then had another USA full band tour from September to October. Tramp also supported the band 'Accept (band)' for some shows in December 2023.

On March 15, 2024, Mike Tramp released his second Danish album, Mand Af En Tid. The single "Hvis Du Vil" was released in 2023, followed by "Ham Vi Vill Være" and "Mand Af En Tid" in early 2024. The second and third singles had music videos. All songs on "Mand Af En Tid" were written with Lars Daneskov and produced by Tramp and Søren Andersen. A Danish tour followed the album release.

In summer 2024, Mike Tramp played two rock festivals in Germany and Sweden for "Songs of White Lion." He also played a show in Copenhagen.

In August 2024, Songs of White Lion Volume 2 was released. This album featured Mike Tramp re-recording ten more songs from White Lion's catalog. Volume 2 included the new single and music video for "Lights and Thunder" and new versions of "Lonely Nights," "Out With the Boys," "The Road to Valhalla," and "Till Death Do Us Part."

Mike Tramp's White Lion began a tour supporting Songs of White Lion Volume 2 in mid-August 2024, with dates in Europe and the US. In November 2024, Mike Tramp supported The Dead Daisies on their European tour with his Songs of White Lion guitarist Marcus Nand.

In 2025, Mike Tramp's White Lion performed a tour of Australia and the Philippines. In March 2025, Tramp continued his "Mand Af En Tid" tour in Denmark.

Mike Tramp has finished working on "Songs Of White Lion - Vol. III," which is the final album in the 'Songs Of White Lion' series. In this last album, Tramp re-recorded ten more important songs from the White Lion catalog.

Mike Tramp went on a European tour in April and May 2025, performing as "Mike Tramp's White Lion." The tour, called "Lights And Thunder Over Europe," included a stop at the Frontiers Rock Festival in Italy and shows in Sweden, Netherlands, Germany, Greece, and Turkey. During the tour, Tramp also announced Volume 3 of the Songs of White Lion series, which was released on September 19, 2025. This album features the new single of the re-recorded "Cherokee," which has a music video.

Personal Life

Mike Tramp was married to Indonesian actress Ayu Azhari. They have two children, Isabel and Lennon. Tramp also has a son named Dylan from a previous marriage. Dylan lives in Melbourne, Australia.

Over the years, Tramp has lived in many different places. He was born in Denmark, moved to Spain in the late 1970s, and then to the United States in the 1980s during the White Lion years. In the late 1990s, he moved to Australia, living first in Tasmania and then in Melbourne. He later lived in Indonesia before returning to Denmark, where he built a farm. In 2025, Tramp shared that he had moved back to the United States, settling in New York City, where he remarried.

Discography

With Mabel

• Another Fine Mess! (1977)
• Message From My Heart (1978)
• Mabel 4-Ever (1978)
• We Are The 80's (1979)
• Mabel's Største Successer (compilation album) (1979)
• Extraños (1981)
• Det Sidste Boom (compilation album) (2009)

With Studs

• Studs (1981)

With White Lion

• Fight to Survive (1985)
• Pride (1987)
• Big Game (1989)
• Mane Attraction (1991)
• The Best of White Lion (1992)
• Remembering White Lion (newly recorded versions of previous songs) (1999) (re-released as Last Roar in 2004)
• Rocking The USA (live double album) (2005)
• Anthology 83-89 (demos) (2006)
• The Definitive Rock Collection (2007)
• Return of the Pride (2008)

With Freak of Nature

• Freak of Nature (1993 Re-Issue 2021)
• Gathering of Freaks (1994 Re-Issue 2021)
• Outcasts (compilation album of B-sides, demos, and outtakes) (1998 Re-Issue 2021)
• Freakthology (limited edition box set, featuring all three previous Freak of Nature complete albums) (2003)

Solo Discography

Studio Albums

Live Albums

Compilation Albums

Box Sets

Singles

Music Videos

See also

In Spanish: Mike Tramp para niños