Gisburns formed in September 1992 from the remnants of a4472498, bringing in newcomer Wiebe, who had previously played with Silicone Madonna.
By November 1992, just two months into their formation, the band found themselves unexpectedly headlining at the punk club Parkhof in Alkmaar. Initially anticipating a casual jam session, they were surprised to be given the opportunity to showcase their talents. Reflecting on the experience, the band remarked, "It was a great moment to find out what we were worth." After a four-year hiatus from performing, during which they had been rehearsing in their shed, Gisburns decided to enter a band contest not out of enthusiasm for competitions, but to revitalize their activity. Their efforts paid off when they secured first place at the "Waardse Glorie" final on March 6, 1993, at Complex in Heerhugowaard, winning a trophy that would remain unchallenged due to the venue's closure later that year, along with 150.00 guilders.
A review from Mark Minnema in the Alkmaarse Courant on March 8, 1993, noted, "Only Gisburns were convincing musically and as a stage act. Guitar, bass, and drums kept it simple, but tight and effective. The trashy songs had enough nice turns and time changes so as not to become boring. And the band holds a trump-card in the singer and part-time guitarist, who draws all attention with his wailing voice and elastic body."
Winning the Waardse Glorie contest allowed Gisburns to compete in the "Noord-Hollands Glorie" final on May 16, 1993, at the Melkweg in Amsterdam, where they contended against eleven other bands. They finished in third place. A review by Martin Ottens in MUG in June 1993 described them: "The band that gave the impression of being the most experienced was the last band, who have gained experience in the squat circuit. Their music is made of sturdy rock with a prominent role for the singer, who sometimes also plays guitar solos with an intensity and feedback like Sonic Youth and Dinosaur Jr. The drummer and bass-player lay a heavy foundation, to which the other guitarist contributes seamlessly."
In an interview with Joop Reurink in Kul magazine in June 1993, Muis expressed, "I played fucking great, it's a big kick to play the Melkweg. In fact, everybody tipped us as the winner. There were a lot of bookers of small youth club stages in there, and they were required to book one of the three winners, but we haven't heard anything of them yet." Discussing their influences, Wiebe cited, "A lot from the sixties and seventies, guitarists like Jimi Hendrix, Angus Young (AC/DC), and Eric Clapton in his good days, those kind of things," summarizing their sound as "fat seventies rock." Muis added that "the strongest point of Gisburns is the vocals by Martijn; when he is on stage he gives all and he knows how to attract all attention." The band humorously noted that their lyrics were largely improvised and often about "absolutely nothing," focusing instead on the sound.
Following their appearance in the Noord-Hollands Glorie final, the band continued to perform primarily at student parties and within the alternative circuit, playing at squats, small stages, and bars throughout Noord-Holland and Amsterdam. At the squat house Emma in Wijk aan Zee, they were compensated with free drinks and accommodation in a haystack. They described their sound in a press release as a "concentrate," characterized as muscled and contrasting sharply with their appearance. They likened their music to a blend of Seattle's sound and the "Palingsound," a style associated with bands from Volendam like The George Baker Selection and The Cats, notable in 1993, a few years before The George Baker Selection regained popularity due to "Little Green Bag" featured in Quentin Tarantino's film Reservoir Dogs.
By 1994, Wiebe and Martijn were living in Amsterdam while Robert pursued studies there, enabling them to join GRAP, a subsidized organization for Amsterdam-based bands. This affiliation led to performances at respected venues such as Melkweg (December 28, 1993), the Arena (August 26, 1994, and September 9, 1995), and Paradiso (the last week of 1994), where they played to a full house.
Their first and only CD was announced in a newspaper article, highlighting the new material developed over three years, showcasing deeper songwriting and the band’s evolution. A review in Alkmaarsche Courant on October 24, 1995, described their self-financed CD as embodying "emotion, passion, and power," with guitarist Wiebe van Ginkel remarking on the expressive nature of their music.
Martijn reflected on the creative process, stating, "I don't feel like I'm a musician. As far as I'm concerned, it's about expression. It is the extension of a certain passion within you, an anger that you must get rid of in order not to become very unhappy." Wiebe added that their songs often emerged from jamming, capturing moments of connection.
However, they acknowledged challenges within the club circuit, citing difficulties in securing gigs due to noise restrictions and financial constraints, stating, "The problem lies not with the audience, but with the club circuit that's in a state of crisis." Despite these obstacles, they maintained a steady performance schedule, averaging roughly 25 gigs a year.
On October 5, 1997, Gisburns performed at Atlantis in Alkmaar, with Sil Baak of Ripping Ohio stepping in for Martijn, who had been absent for several months. The band had performed infrequently during this time and hoped this new lineup would facilitate more opportunities.
The name "Gisburns" was inspired by Guy of Gisburn, a character from "The New Adventures of Robin Hood" TV series, as well as a village in England, with the Robin Hood character said to have originated from there.
