Vazelina bilopphøggers
Encyclopedia
Vazelina Bilopphøggers is a Norwegian
band founded in 1980, in Gjøvik
, Norway
. They are known for their comedic re-interpretations of old rockabilly
songs, where they re-write the lyrics in their own dialect. They have had several hits in Norway
and have worked with many of the most important Norwegian
stage artists and comedians. They have also been interpreted through comic books and computer games. In December 2000 they starred in a Christmas revue on TV 2
.
They are one of the active groups in Norway
that have been playing the longest. The name, as the myth goes, was improvised on the phone, when they needed a band name in their first competition, where they went and won. Bilopphøggers is the Norwegian
name for auto wreckers
and one of the members runs a wrecking yard
on the side.
Lately the "høggers" have earned great status in Norway
, first and foremost as a revue group
.
Their singer and trumpet
er Viggo Sandvik, quit in January 2006, after being an important band member for 25 years. He was then replaced by 34 year old Kjetil Foseid.
Besides playing in the band, the drummer
, Arnulf Paulsen, A.K.A. "Høgger'n" ("The Chopper"), also runs a wrecking yard
and used automotive spare parts shop in Hunndalen, a few miles west of Gjøvik
.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
band founded in 1980, in Gjøvik
Gjøvik
is a town and a municipality in Oppland county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Gjøvik.In 1861, the village of Gjøvik in the municipality of Vardal was granted town status and was separated from Vardal to form a separate municipality...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. They are known for their comedic re-interpretations of old rockabilly
Rockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, dating to the early 1950s.The term rockabilly is a portmanteau of rock and hillbilly, the latter a reference to the country music that contributed strongly to the style's development...
songs, where they re-write the lyrics in their own dialect. They have had several hits in Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
and have worked with many of the most important Norwegian
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
stage artists and comedians. They have also been interpreted through comic books and computer games. In December 2000 they starred in a Christmas revue on TV 2
TV 2 (Norway)
TV 2 is the largest commercial television station in Norway. Over 30% of the time Norwegians spend watching TV is spent watching TV 2. The station has 65% of the market for TV commercials in Norway....
.
They are one of the active groups in Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
that have been playing the longest. The name, as the myth goes, was improvised on the phone, when they needed a band name in their first competition, where they went and won. Bilopphøggers is the Norwegian
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
name for auto wreckers
Wrecking yard
A scrapyard or junkyard is the location of a dismantling business where wrecked or decommissioned vehicles are brought, their usable parts are sold for use in operating vehicles, while the unusable metal parts, known as scrap metal parts, are sold to metal-recycling companies...
and one of the members runs a wrecking yard
Wrecking yard
A scrapyard or junkyard is the location of a dismantling business where wrecked or decommissioned vehicles are brought, their usable parts are sold for use in operating vehicles, while the unusable metal parts, known as scrap metal parts, are sold to metal-recycling companies...
on the side.
Lately the "høggers" have earned great status in Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, first and foremost as a revue group
Revue
A revue is a type of multi-act popular theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance and sketches. The revue has its roots in 19th century American popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural presence of its own during its golden years from 1916 to 1932...
.
Current members
- Kjetil Foseid – singer (2006-)
- Eldar VåganEldar VåganEldar Vågan is best known as the song-writer and guitarist in Vazelina Bilopphøggers. Vågan is also a published illustrator and has acted in many Norwegian films and television productions.-Baiage:...
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, accordionAccordionThe accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
(1980-) - Jan Einar Johnsen – saxophoneSaxophoneThe saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
, organOrgan (music)The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
(1980-) - Arnulf Paulsen – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(1980-)
Live members
- Tor Welo – piano and keyboard (1990-)
- Terje Methi – bass guitar (1991-)
Former members
- Asgeir Hoel – bass guitar (1980)
- Hallvard Høynes – choir (1980)
- Torbjørn Nicolaysen – bass guitar (1980–1981)
- Bjørn Bogetvedt – choir (1980–1981)
- Bjørn Berg – vocalist (1980–1981)
- Espen Røed – bass guitar (1981)
- Rune Endal – bass guitar and double bass (1981–1991)
- Viggo Sandvik – trumpet accordion vocalist (1981–2006)
Former live members
- Lasse Hafreager – piano and keyboard (1980–1989)¨
- Tom Berg – saxophone and flute (1988–2008)
Their singer and trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
er Viggo Sandvik, quit in January 2006, after being an important band member for 25 years. He was then replaced by 34 year old Kjetil Foseid.
Besides playing in the band, the drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
, Arnulf Paulsen, A.K.A. "Høgger'n" ("The Chopper"), also runs a wrecking yard
Wrecking yard
A scrapyard or junkyard is the location of a dismantling business where wrecked or decommissioned vehicles are brought, their usable parts are sold for use in operating vehicles, while the unusable metal parts, known as scrap metal parts, are sold to metal-recycling companies...
and used automotive spare parts shop in Hunndalen, a few miles west of Gjøvik
Gjøvik
is a town and a municipality in Oppland county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Gjøvik.In 1861, the village of Gjøvik in the municipality of Vardal was granted town status and was separated from Vardal to form a separate municipality...
.
Discography
- 1980: 24 timers service
- 1981: Slitin i knea
- 1982: Blålys
- 1983: På Tur
- 1984: Fem fyrer med ved
- 1985: 5 års jubileum
- 1986: Musikk tel arbe
- 1987: Gå for gull
- 1989: Tempo
- 1990: Full behandling
- 1992: 11 år uten kvinnfolk
- 1994: Rock-a-doodle
- 1994: Gammel Oppland
- 1996: Hææærli' på toppen ta væla
- 2000: Hjulkalender
- 2005: Bedre hell' all medisin!
- 2007: Bensin på bålet!
Allusions
- The album Gammel Oppland is named after a Norwegian aquavitAkvavitAkvavit or aquavit is a traditional flavoured spirit that is principally produced in Scandinavia, where it has been produced since the 15th century....
by the same name. The original cover of the record was a mock-up of the beverage's Gammel Oppland's label, but was later changed, due to protests.
- The cover of their album Hææærli' på toppen ta væla is a mock-up of the cover of The BeatlesThe BeatlesThe Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
' album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club BandSgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club BandSgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band is the eighth studio album by the English rock band The Beatles, released on 1 June 1967 on the Parlophone label and produced by George Martin...
.