Musikkavisen Puls: What a memory book for Kjaperud!
On 24 September 2016, Kjell «Kjaperud» Asperud turned 70 years old. It is thus high time that he gets his memoirs told between to binders.
The book ends like this:
“I look at Arvid and say:
You, this title you want, «Norway’s first rock star»…
– Yes?
– Shouldn’t we also call it «Norway’s biggest rock star»?
Arvid laughs, and says:
– Yes, maybe it? Or we come up with something else.
And we did. »
Arvid Skancke-Knutsen has a past in long and faithful service as a journalist here in PULS-from the time when the 80s became the 90s. Now he is active as a writer in Klassekampen’s weekly «Musikkmagasinet», and is becoming increasingly relevant as a rock historian.
Skancke-Knutsen leads to everyday and language of types of conservative Bokmål. It is therefore impressive how in this book he leads telling language. Kjaperud grew up on Carl Berners Plass, in the middle of the thickest Oslo east, Vålerenga supporter. He is fortunately allowed to keep his linguistic expression, throughout the book.
Kjaperud began his career in earnest in The Beatniks (The Beatnicks, The New Beatnicks). When he describes in wikipedia as a «congass player», it gets a little wrong. He is also a good vocalist, but had to give way to an Englishman Roy Robinson (!) As they could really go through pop musicians. Titanic became number 1 on the European top with «Sultana»!
Before that, he had wandered on Youngstorget, and spilled on the popular restaurant and bathing places Hvervenbukta and Ingierstrand deep in the Oslo Fjord. Her famous people like Ray Davies in The Kinks decide to take the guitar with them.
However, it all started at the youth clubs – hey! Oslo Municipality! – but soon it became the top of the world in Norway – Beatnicks (where Kjaperud started as a roadie), The Vanguards (w / Terje Rypdal), The Pussycats. Kjaperud certainly keeps his word: “Rich in music, rich in nice ladies.” He frequented and played at Kongen / Club 7, and belonged to a kind of nobility in the poor musician community. The pop guys had money, the jazz people were rock solid.
Kjaperud fled to Denmark to escape the military: «Delicious Copenhagen! The town where we did concerts with Led Zeppelin, Jeff Beck, Steppenwolf, Canned Heat, Colosseum, Deep Purple, John Mayall, Ansley Dunbar, Anisette and Savage Rose, and many more. What a music school we went to! »
Titanic went on tour with Jethro Tull and The Jeff Beck Group. So: «One day the Israeli band came back from Denmark and England, with their new vocalist. And who was it? None other than our dear Jahn Teigen, who had now become a singer in Lions Of Judea. »Then we are talking gigs on the Golan Heights, in Tel Aviv and by the Sea of Galilee!
Towards the end of his active career, Kjaperud operated as a tour leader for Emerson, Lake & Palmer; he frequented clubs where Mick Jagger, Bette Midler, Chrissie Hynde and Maria Schneider (“Last Tango in Paris”) were regulars; he dragged the globe around Bob Marley’s crew. “Bob Marley smoked like a chimney during the whole tour, but there was never any raid during the concerts. He was like-like freda. »
He must have done very well, because soon he was also in the management around The Police and Frank Zappa.
The Beatniks are going on a tour this fall to celebrate their 60th anniversary on stage. The band now consists of Tom-Arild Andersson, Per Bakkelund, Svein Finjarn, Bjørn Jensen, Per Fredrik Kjølner and Bjørnar Strøm. Guest artists: Kjell «Kjaperud» Asperud and Eigil Berg (New Jordal Swingers). Kjaperud:
“I look forward to being on stage with the band, tell a little stories, and not least to meet as many of my friends from Facebook and Insta as possible. »
It’s definitely going to be fine concerts. Whether you get to see them live or not – here you have a nice book to enjoy.
KJELL ASPERUD / ARVID SKANCKE-KNUTSEN
A rock star’s memories
Shameless self-promotion for Ballistic Products
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