1997
Richard Saure forms the band which evolves to be the Paradise in Bloom we know today. Even though the band first come together in 1996, they don't actually start playing until early 1997.
During 1997 they jam and write the songs which are featured on their self-financed debut album. In April 1997 the album Paradise in Bloom is recorded. Besides Richard, the undisputed main character of the band, the line up includes Willy Eikeland (guitar), Christian Watkins (bass) and Arve Dale (drums).
Throughout 1997 they promote their album by playing at clubs in Bergen, and also get playtime on Norwegian national radio.
The first contact with David Redford at Good Company 99.7 FM in Brisbane, Australia is established. The radio station proves to be a valuable contributor in spreading the sound of Paradise in Bloom by playing songs from both the debut and the two forthcoming albums.
1998
Paradise in Bloom continues rehearsing for their second album. The musici s turning towards a more heavy attitude, strongly influenced by the sound of Black Sabbath. Willy Eikeland and Christian Watkins is being replaced by Leo Preston (guitar) and Rolf Oldeide (bass), the latter also being responsible for the cover art on the band's debut album.
In June 1998 the band find their way back to the studio and records Heavens Die. The album is distributed through sub-channels and is today, like the debut album, pretty much unavailable anywhere.
Paradise in Bloom continues rehearsing, writing more music and doing more gigs in Bergen.
1999
As the world worries about the millenium bug Paradise in Bloom faces their most successful year so far. Christian Watkins, the original bass player, finds his way back to the band. So does new guitar player, Ragnar Skaalevik and new drummer Birthe Hatlem. In March Betwixt & Between is recorded in Bergen. Betwixt & Between shows Paradise in Bloom from a new angle, now exposing influences both from Irish folk music and Nick Cave.
The album demonstrates great development in the band's songwriting, which this time also includes strings. Co-operation with the string trio da Strung Fiddelation results in two amazingly beautiful songs. The album is by far their best to date, including brand new versions of Wax Tears and Shallow Grave.
In September the live album Live in Limbo is released. The album contains recordings from the band's gig at Det Akademiske Kvarter in Bergen on August 16th. Featured on the album is Sigrid Lunde from da Strung Fiddelation and Rolf Oldeide doing a one-night only stand in on guitar.
2000
The year 2000 brings with it Paradise in Bloom's fourth studio album, Sub Zero. The album is released in April, and a limited edition single containing the tracks Under my Skin and Bones is released at the same time. Featured on the album is Sigrid Lunde, the band's semi-associated member from da Strung Fiddelation.
During the spring the band playes numerous gigs to support the new album, and Sigrid Lunde becomes a full time member of the band. She is followed by her husband Hallvard Lunde on guitar, which in turn replaces Tore Sponland. Additionally the band is supplied by Marianne Lundberg on live appearances.
The best of album The Beast in Bloom - The Ultimate Paradise in Bloom Collection is released. New fans from exotic destinations like Yugoslavia, Slovenia, Russia, and Indonesia starts spreading the word about the band.
2001
Paradise in Bloom reallocates again. Hallvard and Sigrid Lunde decides to leave the band, and Birthe Hatlem also takes a break from the rocking and rolling in order to care for her newborn child. Her hard-drumming replacement is Svein Nedregård, and the one and only Rolf Oldeide tunes his guitar into PiB-key once more, this time as his alter ego Schreck.
The band finds itself in an experimental vibe adding samples and knob-turned soundscapes handled by bass player Christian Watkins and drummer Svein Nedregård. The EP Death, Slavery & the Pursuit of Emptiness is released late August.
2002
The year 2002 is charactherized by numerous side projects for the members of Paradise in Bloom. Christian Watkins has great success with electronica band Slowpho and their album Hi-Fi Sounds for Young Norwegians.
Rolf Oldeide and Tore Sponland is doing the metal project Karloff, the name being a tribute to the famous horror-actor Boris Karloff.
Furor Plutonicus, an industrial happening in the hands of Roald Larsen, achieves strong contributions from the PiB-trio Richard Saure, Christian Watkins and Rolf Oldeide. They all do their share with the synthesizers to create the horror-mood found on the albums Muzak fur Kz und Gulag and Misantropia.
2003
P.I.B.-related project Karloff splits into two; Boa in the hands of Rolf Oldeide, and Weltschmerz, featuring Tore Sponland, Richard Saure, Chris Watkins, followed by Even Håvold on lead guitar and Bernt Bjørkevåg on the drums.
The material of Weltschmerz is perhaps slightly heavier, darker and more aggressive than P.I.B.s previous efforts, but still, this is P.I.B. in all but name only.
2004
Weltschmerz turns into No Redemption, the rhythm section of Christian Watkins and Bernt Bjørkevåg is replaced by Max Wilson aka Mactabilis (ex-Frozen Cries) on the bass and Georg Rønhovde on drums.
Live-bootlegs are in circulation, and a full studio album consisting of ten songs, including re-recordings of two P.I.B.-songs, two Karloff songs and the rest brand new material, is recorded and as good as finished in the mix when the band splits, and the project is simply and sadly shelved. As a result no material is ever released.
The same year sees Rolf Oldeide - aka Rolf Royce - starting HellHikers, the most awesome horrorpunk band you are ever likely to hear, soon featuring among others Max Wilson under alias Judas Reborn on lead guitar. The idea of Hellhikers actually predates this, but now the twisted dream takes the form of a four-headed monster, eventually over the years doing quite extensive touring and gigs with among others great names like Thulsa Doom and The Carburetors.
An effort to make a new P.I.B.-album is started, but abandoned, and the band is put on ice for a few years. Richard, Chris and Svein Nedregård are constituting the band at this point.
2005
Ex-Karloff/Weltschmerz/No Redemption-guitarist Even Håvold starts the mean doom metal outfit Funerapolis, initially recycling a couple of his genius riffs from No Redemption for the new band.
2009
P.I.B. gets mentioned in the history book “Rock & sprell mellom syv fjell”, a book tracing the history of rock n’ roll in Bergen through the last 50 years.
2010
The band reunites, with core members Richard and Chris being joined by classic era-members Ragnar Skaalevik (guitar) and Svein Nedregaard (drums) for the resurrection.
This line-up performs a couple of well received gigs.
2011
Line-up changes: Ragnar and Svein leave the band, Lars Killingberg, Jarle “Ace” Swahn (ex-Firehouse) and P.C. Dalmo enter. More concerts follow.
2012
The new line-up enters the studio and a promo-EP, simply entitled “Promo EP 2012” is recorded, the recording is somewhat raw and primitive, but is merely meant as a taster of things to come.
Shortly after, P.C. Dalmo and Jarle Swahn leave the band. Lars will now handle all guitar duties, and Bjarne Økland, a true veteran, eagerly joins on drums, and it looks like the band has finally settled on a steady line-up.
Ex-member and drummer in the original line-up, Arve Dale, tragically dies at 39 in late July, and the current band perform a tribute to him.
2013
P.I.B. continue playing live, as well as working on their ultimate recording.
2014
P.I.B. is signed to No Pride In Life Records.