Ok, chalk this one up as random-camp-kitsch, but I just couldn’t resist posting. Pedro Oliveira sent this link in response to my assertion that “everything was cooler in 70’s Sweden” in the Vint post. As the images above make painfully clear, that certainly was not always the case. As infinitely lame as most of the stylistic choices going in in these photos are, some of the typography isn’t half bad. I don’t know what they were eating in Sweden back in those days, but this is one unhealthy looking bunch of people, Toreson look like they hid out in an ice cave for 3 years before taking their big promo shot. Which is probably what really happened, they then emerged from the cave, decided on Cooper Black and the rest is history. There are a lot more over here.
Swedish Dance Bands of The 70’s
11.18.2008
Completely amazing man. What ridicious photos. Someone should get all of those guys back together for a reunion photo shoot.
Typography….not bad.
Clothing……well If they were to run fast enough, I think their collars would generate enough lift for them to fly.
Oh swede Jesus! Yes that was on purpose.
“…they then emerged from the cave, decided on Cooper Black and the rest is history.”
hahahahahaha
I bet at least one of these dudes is a manager at an Ikea right now.
Tommy Elfs…creepiest guys on the planet
If you would of put a bear next to the Scandanavians in the same outfit as the other 5 I would of probably not blinked once. As for Curt Mortenz I dont see one issue there i’m rockin’ that Hartford Whalers outfit this weekend with no shame but do they really need to be that close to each other?! I mean come on the photographer has the option to move back guys
Wow they really are cave mens and some of them look like a walrus like that guy on the right in Toreson.
Well this is definetely scary post
I read an recent interview with one of those spaced-out band members, he said something in the lines of “it was a tough competition back then, and you had to be seen by any means, and the bands drove each other to more and more extreme clothing.. even the musicians didn’t like the clothes often but they had to wear it, to get the publics attention”
Wow. This made my day. Hilarious. Although it was ugly, I am so glad those bands existed and these photos were taken. It will provide great amusement for ages.
Have a look at http://www.svenskadansband.se/database.php for a huge photo collection of swedish dance bands… it’s like taste didn’t exist for a while 🙂
Scary stuff!! … There is some bad in the 1970’s, I’m happy I missed that part!!
Just curious, which one of these guys is Scott??
Pail skin & poor health aside. The hair and side burns are OFF THE CHARTS!
That’s my favourite post yet Scott. Brilliant
ha!
thanks for mentioning, Scott! I still can’t stop laughing about it!
and yeah, when I saw these photos the only thing I could think about it was: “ok, at least their typographic choices were quite good”.
Cooper Black always rocks.
Also check out the Katastrofala Omslag blog at http://katastrofalaomslag.blogspot.com/
Thanks a lot Scott.
The Dansband Scene has never been cool
and is mostly about gettign drunk and have sex
next to the stage. The fun part is that this kind of
music is VERY big in Norway, the country next to sweden.
So if you whant to find out why these people can make a living
have a look at Norway+70´s.
http://www.therealmikelove.com
http://www.svenskadansband.se/data/media/619/D2709-Ole-Ivars.jpg
Sweden & Norway is amazing!
The scariest part of all this is that there hasn´t been much change in the clothing department of this type of bands i sweden. They have trimmed the sideburns but the silly clothing are the same. There is a big tv-show in swedish public service at the time which reminds of american idol but only these dance bands are allowed. funny stuff!