Galloping Coroners

Galloping Coroners
Vágtázó Halottkémek
Galloping CoronersVágtázó Halottkémek
	Vágtázó Halottkémek in 1991. From left to right: Balatoni Endre, Sidoó Attila, Soós Lajos, Grandpierre Atilla, Ipacs László, Németh László
Background information
Origin	Budapest, Hungary
Genres	Hardcore punk; punk rock; shaman punk; psychedelic rock;
Years active	1975–2001, 2009–present
Members	Grandpierre Attila – singer (1975–); Soós Lajos Szónusz – bass, violin (1980–1994, 2008–); Király Zoltán – drums (2010–); Köles Vazul - timpani, vocal (2012–); Földi Tomy - guitar (2016–); Szűcs Antal Mór - guitar (2017–); Sánta Kristóf - bass (2018–)
Past members	Czakó Sándor – guitar (1975–1990); Ipacs László – drums (1975–2001); Molnár György – guitar (1975–1980); Simon Miklós – bass (1975); Orbán Ottó – bass (1976–1980); Pócs Tamás – bass (1978–1981); Szabó István – guitar (1980–1981); Németh László Fritz – guitar (1982–2016); Árvai Viktor – timpani (1983–1986); Balatoni Endre Boli – timpani (1986–2012); Fidó Béla – guitar (1988); Balázsfalvi Gábor – guitar (1990); Sidoó Attila (Fidó) – guitar (1990–1995); Ludányi László – bass (1994–1995); Korona Levente – bass (1995–1996); Mestyán Ádám – bass (1996–2015); Molnár Lajos Lujó – guitar (1996–2017); Borsay Levente – timpani (1997); Szabó Kristóf – drums (2009–2010); Vécsi Tibor – singer (2001); Tóth Csenge - bass (2015–2018)
Website	vhk.mediastorm.hu

Galloping Coroners (Hungarian: Vágtázó Halottkémek, [ˈvaːɡtaːzoːˈhɒlotːkeːmɛk] , also known as VHK and Rasende Leichenbeschauer) is a Hungarian original shamanic band active between 1975–2001, and since 2009. The band established a unique "shaman punk" or "psychedelic hardcore" sound, and is regarded as one of the most important alternative bands of the 1980s from the Eastern European bloc. Permanent restrictions by Hungarian authorities made worldwide tours difficult for the band, but its ecstatic concerts garnered surprising success across Western Europe. Though relatively obscure and commercially limited outside of Eastern Europe, Maximumrocknroll described the band as "equal in spirit and grit to faves like Sonic Youth or Big Black but with an identity all its own". VHK has been praised as a highly important band by Iggy Pop, Henry Rollins, Jello Biafra and Einstürzende Neubauten.

The band played repetitive, wild, yet melodic music, combining tribal shamanic music with rock guitars and drumming to form a uniquely pulsating and obsessive sound. Songs regularly feature ritualistic improvisation, and live shows were often accompanied by ecstatic on-stage actions. The New York Times described their music as "basic and elemental and filled with obsessive, galvanizing passion."

The band's musical philosophy was shaped and influenced by its frontman, Attila Grandpierre. Beginning in 2005, Grandpierre continued VHK's concept with Vágtázó Csodaszarvas on solely acoustic instruments.