Sindre Langhelle (; born August 3, 1990), known professionally as Rocky Kramer (), is a Norwegian-American guitarist, singer, songwriter, composer and bandleader from Trondheim who is now based in Los Angeles. In 2018, Kramer became more widely known when he headlined the Seattle Hempfest. The next year, he released the single "Rock Star" from his debut album Firestorm, together with a well-received animation over live-action music video, exceeding a million views on Facebook. "Rock Star" reached number 1 on the Global DRT Chart and was nominated for a Hollywood Music in Media Award. Following release of Firestorm, Kramer performed at the 2019 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in Sturgis, South Dakota, before joining Buckcherry's tour throughout the United Kingdom. Kramer has been described as "[o]ne of the strongest and most poignant guitarists since [Jimi] Hendrix." In 2021, it was announced that Kramer had been cast to play the character "Lars Olsen" in the Aaron Lee Lopez directed feature film Rockin' in Time, due in theaters in 2023. Kramer plays and endorses Fender Stratocaster guitars.
Early life
Kramer was born to Bjørn Langhelle and Ingjerd Langhelle (née Andresen) in Trondheim, Norway. He grew up in a musical family, as his mother was a skilled pianist and vocalist, while his father was first violinist in the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra. Kramer's older brother is Norwegian Jazz musician Ståle Langhelle. When Kramer was five, his mother died of cancer. Kramer began his musical career playing the piano and violin, before switching to guitar after listening to KISS and AC/DC. He cites Yngwie Malmsteen as a key guitar influence and Pink Floyd for general inspiration. As a teenager he was a member of the band Armed Science, which reached the final of the Ungdommens kulturmønstring or UKM talent show.
Career
After his teenage years, Kramer moved to Los Angeles, California, to pursue music. During this time he perfected his already good English. He was soon signed by the Allied Artists Music Group. Kramer was granted word and trade marks for his stage name "ROCKY KRAMER", as well as a logo bearing the same name on June 11, 2013. Working together with his band and noted producer Kim Richards, he released his debut album Firestorm on August 9, 2019, celebrated with a "star-studded" red carpet release party, held on a sound stage in Los Angeles on July 30, 2019, that was catered by In & Out Burger. On April 23, 2019, it was announced that Kramer had signed with TKO Booking Agency. Immediately after the 2019 album release party, Kramer played August 4, 5 and 6 at the 2019 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in Sturgis, South Dakota, followed by a tour of the United Kingdom with Buckcherry, playing at venues such as the O2. Kramer's first single "Rock Star," from the Firestorm album reached No. 1 on the Global DRT Chart on October 5, 2019. Prior to releasing the "Rock Star" single, Kramer released "a humorous music video that pokes fun at 1980's era MTV style productions, as seen through the eyes of an animated 13-year-old "Little Rocky," dreaming of becoming a 'Rock Star!'"
On April 7, 2020, the weekly Kramer-hosted live broadcast, "Rock & Roll Tuesdays with Rocky Kramer", premiered on Twitch. During the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, Kramer looked for ways to entertain from home. He had previously released a video of Comfortably Numb from Pink Floyd's The Wall, a tribute to David Gilmour. Kramer chose Twitch because it was a "great way to stay in touch with fans and ... develop new fans" During Kramer's October 13, 2020, Rock & Roll Tuesdays program, he premiered a cover video tribute to Yngwie Malmsteen, of the "Baroque & Roll" instrumental from Malmsteen's fourteenth studio album, Attack!!. Throughout the Pandemic Lockdown, Kramer has released additional cover videos of Foo Fighters "The Pretender", Linkin Park "Breaking The Habit," Edwyn Collins "A Girl Like You," CHVRCHES "Keep You on My Side," Queen "The Show Must Go On," and Genesis "Mama."
On November 19, 2020, organizers of the "'Let Me Help' Celebrity Benefit Concert" announced that Kramer would join Steve Vai, Slash, Verdine White (Earth, Wind & Fire), Suzy Quatro, Martha Davis (The Motels), Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne and many others, in a concert "to benefit those devastated by COVID-19, bullying, and prostate cancer" to be aired on November 24, 2020.
