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Swedish Dance Bands of The 70’s

Posted by Scott

swedish-dance-bands-031.jpg swedish-dance-bands-042.jpg swedish-dance-bands-021.jpg swedish-dance-bands-025.jpgswedish-dance-bands-003.jpg swedish-dance-bands-002.jpgOk, 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.

20 Comments Leave A Comment

2

David says:

November 18, 2008 at 8:29 pm

Typography….not bad.

Clothing……well If they were to run fast enough, I think their collars would generate enough lift for them to fly.

4

NAVIS says:

November 18, 2008 at 10:44 pm

“…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.

6

Jakub says:

November 19, 2008 at 2:49 am

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

7

M72 says:

November 19, 2008 at 3:22 am

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

8

Tomas says:

November 19, 2008 at 5:53 am

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”

9

Ramune says:

November 19, 2008 at 7:34 am

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.

16

Pedro Oliveira says:

November 20, 2008 at 7:51 pm

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.

18

Mike Lekström says:

November 24, 2008 at 5:37 am

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

20

peter samuelson says:

November 26, 2008 at 2:13 am

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!