Flying Norwegians
| Flying Norwegians | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Bergen, Norway |
| Genres | Rock, country rock |
| Years active | 1974–1981 1994–1997 2005 (reunion) |
| Labels | Sonet |
| Associated acts | Saft, Teddy Nelson |
| Members | Cato Sanden Rune Walle Gunnar Bergstrøm Jarle Zimmermann Johannes Torkelsen |
| Past members | Egil Skjelnes Jan Ove Hommel Ronald Jensen Bjørn Tore Aasheim Atle Mjørhaug |
Flying Norwegians (occasionally Flyvende Nordmenn) were a Norwegian country rock group formed in 1974, who became highly successful and popular during the 1970s.
In the late 1960s, guitarist Rune Walle (b. 1951) and drummer Gunnar Bergstrøm (b. 1952) became acquainted. They were both highly sought after musicians in the Bergen music scene, due to their young age and high musical skill level. In 1973, both of them were recruited for the second line-up of popular rock group Saft, with whom they recorded their award-winning album "Stev, sull, rock & roll", which also included violinist and folk musician Sigbjørn Bernhoft Osa. Wanting to create a more country-driven sound, heavily inspired by bands such as the Eagles and the Flying Burrito Brothers, Walle and Bergstrøm left the band to form their own, titled "Flying Norwegians", in January 1974.
To complete the line-up they recruited several other known musicians in the area; Cato Sanden (b. 1954) on guitars, keyboard player Jarle Zimmerman (b. Jarle Fjellanger, 1950) and bass guitarist Johannes Torkelsen (b. 1952). Sanden and Zimmermann shared vocal duties, with Sanden providing the lead vocals on most occasions.
With a line-up with all-experienced and well known musicians, the band was given a record deal nearly instantly, and entered the studio to record their first album, "New Day". Met with high praise it sold fairly by Norwegian standards, selling 50 000 copies during 1974–75, and the band was dubbed "The Norwegian Eagles" by several news outlets.
Following a popular tour to support the album, the band returned to the studio in late 1975 to record their second, and best known album, "Wounded Bird", released in 1976 to rave reviews and impressive sales, reaching No. 12 on the Norwegian album charts.
Whilst writing and recording their own material in 1975, the band was asked by their fellow musician and friend, Teddy Nelson, to be his supporting band for his debut album, Diggy Liggy. For this the band recruited another friend, steel guitarist Egil Skjelnes, to give the band the needed sound. In order to keep their own studio career as a separate venture, they translated their name to Norwegian; recording under the name "Flyvende Nordmenn". This alternative line-up remained with Nelson for his first four albums (except Walle and Torkelsen, who only appeared on the first album). Three of these were in Norwegian, while the fourth was a venture into English country-rock songs, released under the name "Teddy Nelson and the Flying Norwegians". The album, entitled Point of Departure, is today considered part of both artists main catalogue.
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