Empire
Imperiet ( Swedish for The Imperium ) was a Swedish rock band that existed from 1983 to 1988.
history
Imperiet started out as Rymdimperiet (The Space Empire ) and was initially a side project of three members of the Swedish punk band Ebba Grön . Ebba Grön broke up in 1983, whereupon Joakim Thåström (vocals, guitar), Anders "Stry" Sjöholm (vocals, guitar) and Gunnar "Gurra" Ljungstedt (drums) decided to continue the band as the main project under the name Imperiet . The trio was complemented by Christian Falk (bass) and Per Hägglund (saxophone, keyboards). The first single released the new band in the spring of 1983; She gave her first concert on April 7, 1983 in the alternative club Kolingsborg in Stockholm 's Södermalm district .
Successful were Imperiet particularly in Scandinavia. The band toured overseas as well, playing in the United States, Cuba, Nicaragua and Mexico, among others. Several times she was involved in the African National Congress . Over the years there were several line-up changes until the band split up in 1988.
style
The group's musical style was influenced by punk , rock and synth pop . Her texts were predominantly politically left and anti-imperialist; Songs like " CC Cowboys ", " Alltid Rött, alltid Rätt " (Always Red, Always Right) and " Var e Vargen ?" (Where's the Wolf?) Were inspired by the Russian poet Vladimir Mayakovsky .
In 1988 they released the album Imperiet exclusively in English. It consisted of translated versions of their old songs. The album was presented on an intensive tour through Europe, but remained without major success. Among other things, the band performed at the Rock am Ring festival . Ultimately, the band only achieved great popularity in Sweden and neighboring countries.
The original name of the band, Rymdimperiet , was borrowed from the Star Wars film The Empire Strikes Back (1980) (Swedish title Rymdimperiet slår tillbaka ).
Musician
Band members
- Christian Falk († 2014) - e-bass , background vocals (1983–1988)
- Joakim Thåström - vocals , guitar (1983–1988)
- Per Hägglund - synthesizer , saxophone (1983–1987)
- Gunnar Ljungstedt - drums (1983–1985)
- Anders Sjöholm ("Stry Terrarie") - vocals, organ , guitar (1983–1984)
- Fred Asp - drums (1985–1988)
Line ups
| 1983-1984 | 1984-1985 | 1985-1987 | 1987-1988 |
|---|---|---|---|
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|
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Discography
Albums
| year | title |
Top ranking, total weeks, awardChartsChart placements (Year, title, rankings, weeks, awards, notes) |
Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
 SE
|
|||
| 1983 | Rasera |
SE11 (4 weeks) SE |
|
| 1984 | Empire |
SE20 (8 weeks) SE |
|
| 1985 | Blå Himlen Blues |
SE5 (9 weeks) SE |
|
| 2: a august 1985 |
SE6 (11 weeks) SE |
Live album
|
|
| 1986 | Synd |
SE4 (6 weeks) SE |
|
| 1988 | Tiggaren's valley |
SE4 (5 weeks) SE |
|
| 1990 | Kickar 1981-1987 |
SE33 (3 weeks) SE |
compilation
|
| 1995 | Greatest hits |
SE29 (8 weeks) SE |
compilation
|
| 2009 | Silver, gold & miserable |
SE10 (3 weeks) SE |
compilation
|
More albums
- 1988: Imperiet
- 1988: Live / Studio (live album / compilation)
- 2002: Alltid rött alltid rätt (compilation)
Singles
| year | Title album |
Top ranking, total weeks, awardChartsChart placements (Year, title, album , rankings, weeks, awards, notes) |
Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
|
SE
|
|||
| 1981 | Vod pojkar vill ha |
SE5 (6 weeks) SE |
as Rymdimperiet
|
| 1983 | Felratsnettheltfelratsnett |
SE17 (1 week) SE |
as Rymdimperiet
|
| 1984 | You ska va president |
SE15 (3 weeks) SE |
|
| Fred Blå Himlen Blues |
SE17 (2 weeks) SE |
||
| 1986 | Var e vargen |
SE6 (5 weeks) SE |
|
| Peace |
SE11 (2 weeks) SE |
||
| 1987 | 19hundra80sju |
SE8 (3 weeks) SE |
|
| 1988 | ... som eld Tiggaren's valley |
SE8 (3 weeks) SE |
More singles
- 1982: Alltid attack (as Rymdimperiet)
- 1983: Alltid rött alltid rätt
- 1985: Märk hur vår skugga
- 1985: CC Cowboys
- 1986: Österns röda ros
- 1987: Saker som hon brat
- 1988: Be the President
- 1988: I hennes sovrum
swell
- ↑ a b Chart sources: Imperiet Rymdimperiet