Band Bio / Lineups / Discography
Formed: Hagsätra, Stockholm, Sweden, 1977
The only Swedish punk band of the late 70's to acquire a major label record deal, these spiky teenagers from Stockholm had run ins with the local rockabilly nutjobs Raggare - a bunch of psychos who drove around in American cars and liked to beat people up - and got attacked by skinheads in 1980 when they played at London's Rock Garden, supporting Madness. Amongst Madness's fans were a contingent of racist arseholes who took exception to the group's paint-stripping punk racket and "Rock Against Racism" T-Shirts.
The band had actually recorded their debut single, the hilarious Raggare Is A Bunch Of Motherfuckers, with money out of their own pockets, before they'd played even one gig and when they were without a label. After being informed by the engineer at the session that some major labels would sign any punk band that moved they took the recording to Polydor and were signed immediately. The resulting single did not make them popular with the Raggare, who consequently singled them out for special treatment. When the group played in the town Mora, it was to an empty room, because Mora was a Raggare stronghold and the owner of the venue decided to switch the gig to a different night at the last moment.
Stranglers (If It's Quiet Why Don't You Play?) followed and was a response to the time The Stranglers were chased out of Sweden by the Raggare, canceling a load of shows in the process. "All is quiet in Sweden you say! / So why, why don't you come here and play? / Soon you are so big that you use laser ray" they sneered. The B-Side, 'Punk Will Never Die!' resorted to listing a load of English and American punk and proto-punk bands.
In 1979 they released two more punk platters: the corking Absolute Ruler 45 and the somewhat disappointing Safe Society LP, an inconsistent and occasionallty downright irritating afafir which showed that whilst they made great singles, they couldn't quite stretch their charm to album length. At any rate it turned out to be their last record for Polydor: It seems that the label had suggested they might be up for releasing 'Raggare Is A Bunch Of Motherfuckers' as a UK single if the band would be so kind as to re-record it without swearing. The band refused and was dropped.
A new addition to the band - second guitarist Nisse - and a move to Sonet also brought about a poppier but still punk sound, as exemplified on the superb novelty single, Next Time I'll Beat Björn Borg! and the accompanying mini-album 1984 Is Here To Stay....
The group had always sung in pidgin English, but for their last two releases they made a switch to the Swedish language and an even greater pop slant, in fact becoming a safe-sounding new wave band. Spådd I Handen / Kroppen Puls and När Sommaren Hittat Till Stan were both actually okay, the latter a version of the anicent 'Palisades Park. (A promo 7" version of the latter song, sung in English, also exists.)
Böna died in a car crash in January 1983, and after a six-month layoff recuited a new vocalist - Johan - and contimued playing pop music for a few more years before deciding to call it a day.
DISCOGRAPHY
Singles / Albums
| Raggare Is A Bunch Of Motherfuckers (7", 1978) |
Stranglers (If It's Quiet Why Don't You Play?) (7", 1978) |
Absolute Ruler (7", 1979) |
Safe Society (LP, 1979) |
Next Time I'll Beat Björn Borg! (7", 1980) |
| 1984 Is Here To Stay.... (12", 1981) |
Spådd I Handen / Kroppen Puls (7", 1982) |
När Sommaren Hittat Till Stan (7", 1982) |
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Extraneous Releases |
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| Worst Of.... The Rude Kids ...A Pardonless Collection (CD, 1998) |
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Promos |
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| Palisades Park (7", 1982) |
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Bootlegs |
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| Punk Rock Will Never Die! (LP) |
Move Over It's... (CDR) |
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Various Artists
Svensk Rock Sweden LP 1981 (Sonet): Next Time I'll Beat Björn Borg
Ståkkålmsjävlar 1978-1981 Sweden LP/CD 1989 (MNW): Raggare Is A Bunch Of Motherfuckers
Killed By Death #2 US LP 1989 (Redrum): Absolute Ruler
Back To Front Vol. 3 Germany LP/CD 1994 (Incognito): Next Time I'll Beat Björn Borg
Bloodstains Across Sweden: The Viking Region US LP/CD 1997 (Bloodstains): Raggare Is A Bunch Of Motherfuckers
Links
PUNKTFJAFS - Photos, bio and disocgraphy - all in Swedish
BLASKAN - Also in Swedish
CHAIRMAN RALPH - Interview with Spaceman. In English!
