The Getaway People

The Getaway People was a Norwegian alternative rock band best known for their song "Six Pacs" which was used as the theme song for the television series Young Americans.^[1]

The Getaway People
Origin	Stavanger, Norway
Genres	Alternative rock
Years active	1994–2002

History

The Getaway People formed in Stavanger, Norway in 1994 with the intention to "write songs about getting away from everyday pressures through whatever means necessary to give breathing space so we can function better."^[2]

The band's first album The Getaway People was released in 1998. Its first single "She Gave Me Love" received airplay from some alternative radio stations.^[3] The band toured with Dave Matthews Band, Barenaked Ladies and Semisonic during this time.^[2]

After signing with Columbia Records, the band released their second and final album Turnpike Diaries. Its only official single was "Six Pacs", however several tracks from the album made their way onto various soundtrack albums for films and television shows.

• At the request of the show's producers, a modified version of the song "Six Pacs," with lyrical references to cigarettes replaced, was used as the theme song for Young Americans.^[4]
• Three tracks ("Six Pacs", "Good Life", and "There She Goes") were featured in second-season episodes of Malcolm in the Middle.^[5]
• "There She Goes" was featured in the three films: The Sweetest Thing (starring Cameron Diaz), Bring It On (starring Kirsten Dunst) and A Lot Like Love (starring Ashton Kutcher and Amanda Peet).
• "She Gave Me Love" was featured on the soundtrack for the film Crazy/Beautiful (starring Kirsten Dunst).
• "Deceived By An Angel" was featured in series 1 episode 13 of As If.

The band split up in 2002. Aside from an appearance at Rogafest, a large concert that took place in the band's hometown in 2008,^[6] there has been no other known activity.

The band's song "Good Life" was recorded by pop singer Jesse McCartney and released as a hidden track on his debut album Beautiful Soul in 2004. A music video was released for the track in 2005.

Boots Ottestad's solo career

Former lead vocalist "Boots" Ottestad released a solo album in 2004 titled Ottestad.^[6] He has also written and/or produced songs for several artists including Robbie Williams, Tim McGraw, Andy Grammer, Macy Gray, Lena, Katharine McPhee and others. Among his most successful songs are "Come Undone" by Robbie Williams (#4 UK) and "Bee" by Lena (#3 Germany).^[7][8]

Since at least 2011, he has continued to record and release new music from his current hometown of Los Angeles.^[9]

Members

• Per Kristian Ottestad (a.k.a. "Boots"): lead vocals
• Pål Morterud (a.k.a. "Race"): bass guitar
• Arne Hovda (a.k.a. "Honda"): keyboard/vocals
• Espen Noreger (a.k.a. "Leroy"): percussion
• Harald Halle: guitar (1994 - 1996)
• Stein Bjelland (a.k.a. "Stone"): guitar (1996 - early 2000s)

Discography

Studio albums

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions
		NOR [10]
The Getaway People	Released: 7 April 1998 Label: Columbia (#COL489705) Formats: CS, CD	33
Turnpike Diaries	Released: 18 July 2000 Label: Columbia (#COL494931) Formats: CS, CD	19
"—" denotes items that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Singles

• "She Gave Me Love" (1998)
• "Chocolate" (1998)
• "Six Packs" (2000)