- The Spotnicks Biography -
The years 1957 - 2020
Summary of major events year by year
(with some reservation for incorrect
source data)
50’s
1957 - 1959
The Frazers was formed in
1958 in Gothenburg by Bo Winberg together with Bo Starander, Björn Thelin and
Ove Johansson.
Bo Winberg lead
guitar
Bo Starander rhythm guitar and vocals
Björn Thelin bass
Ove Johansson drums
Before that,
already in 1957, they worked together in the rock band Rock-Teddy & The Blue Caps.
Bo Winberg
Claes-Göran Nestor
Björn "Rock-Teddy" Thelin
Bo Wahlberg
Bo Starander
Bo Starander
and Björn Thelin had also formed a duo called The Rebels.
Bo Starander
guitar and vocals
Björn Thelin guitar and vocals
The Frazers played mostly
in clubs, youth centers and smaller events in the Gothenburg area.
Rehearsals took
place in the later so famous plastic factory in Gothenburg.
60’s
1960
The Frazers make their first recordings.
Home On The Range is the
only song released on record by those who played in the rehearsal room at the
plastic factory in Gothenburg.
The recordings of My Old Kentucky
Home, Ghostriders In The Sky, The Old Spinning Wheel, Ol'
Man River and Swing Low Sweet Chariot were made at Bo Winberg's
residence,
Among other things, they used an ordinary Tandberg tape player to make
the recordings.
Bo Winberg lead guitar
Bo Starander rhythm guitar and vocals
Björn Thelin bass
Ove Johansson drums
1961
The group is contracted by the record company Karussell
with Stickan Andersson as manager (he became later the manager for ABBA).
When Karussell in March 1961 publish their first
single has the name of the group changed to The Spotnicks and Bo Starander got his
artist alias Bob Lander.
It continues
with recordings at the plastic factory of songs as Orange Blossom Special, The Spotnicks Theme (working title Cheyenne), Galloping
Guitars, The Rocket Man (working title Gagarin Boogie), Endless
Walk, Old Clock At Home, High Flying Scotsman, Thundernest, Johnny Guitar and Moonshot.
Bo Winberg lead guitar
Bob Lander rhythm guitar and vocals
Björn Thelin bass
Ove Johansson drums
This year, the
first records with The Spotnicks came out on the market.
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In 1960, Bo
Winberg together with Peter Winsnes recorded Kontiki,
Theme From Leningrad, Ajomies (Karelia) and Two
Guitars for Finnish record company Philips, who the following year publish
them on singles under the group name The Feenades.
Peter plays
drums, Bo all other instruments.
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1962
This year, I
heard The Spotnicks
for the first time. It was on Radio Luxembourg. The performance and the sound
was something completely new to me. The song was Moonshot but I didn’t
know then it was a Swedish band performing it.
It dawned on me later. From this moment, I'm "stuck" and I still
think Moonshot is a highlight. Roland Ferneborg tackles the group
after an appearance in the spring in Stockholm. He arranges for The Spotnicks
perform a longer session at Casa Leon in Berlin.
On the cover of
an EP, the group wearing space suits that have been borrowed from a varity show as The Spotnicks would appear in the TV program "New
Faces."
When the group later implements an extended tour in England "forced"
them to that gimmic, wearing space suits and this
prank they had to live with for many years. Even today demanded why The Spotnicks
not wearing space suits during their performances.
The Spotnicks
made performances also in France and Spain.
The group recording more new songs like Hava Nagila, Midnight Special, My
Bonny, Hey Good Looking and What
Did I Say and multiple vinyl records are issued.
In September 9 The Spotnicks recorded their first LP; The Spotnicks In
London, Out -a-space.
The entire LP was recorded in 17 hours! Single editions from this LP reaches
pretty high on the English charts.
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This year, Just
Listen To My Heart and Pony Express are recorded in
London.
Trambone and Western Guitar are recorded in a
French studio and from this session there are also alternative recordings of Midnight
Special, Hey Good Looking, Hava Nagila and The Old Spinning Wheel
which, however, will not be available on the market until they are added as
bonus tracks when SweDisc reissues released their
albums on CD in 1989.
A single with
the songs Telstar and Carry Me Back is released as The Shy Ones, a name Bo Winberg uses
the pseudonym when he alone does the trick recordings.
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Back home in
Sweden they started a tour at “Folkets Parks” and
other dance venues.
In Karlsborg (the village where I grew up), I had the opportunity to see The Spotnicks
live for the first time, an unforgettable night for me.
It will turn out that they return to Karlsborg many times during his career.
1963
Several long
foreign tours were conducted this year, among others in Spain, England and
France.
The Spotnicks ranks high on
the charts in France, England and the USA.
Amapola
is in Swedish Ten top for 8 weeks, followed later by Just Lsten
To My Heart and the Spanish Gypsy Dance .
The single with
Hava
Nagila reaches a meritorious high bar placement in England and also LP
placed high New Musical Express LP list.
The Spotnicks are involved
in the music movie Just For Fun, and
appears in several television and radio shows.
The Spotnicks are also on
the show Musicorama from the world-famous scene
Olympia in Paris.
During
rehearsals for this show turn the transmitter on Bo Winberg wireless guitar
through the Paris police's own radio frequency, creating a stir. The event was
enlarged and was struck up with the headlines.
In France, they
recorded the rest of the songs for their second LP The Spotnicks In Paris plus Buttons
And Bows and a new version of Johnny Guitar.
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They also
published an LP Denevez Soliste Des Spotnicks
and a single Devenez Chanteur Des Spotnicks
in France where it had solo guitar or vocals excluded to let fans play and sing
along with The Spotnicks.
On these discs are different versions of Galloping Guitars and The Spotnicks
Theme.
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Tons of records
with The Spotnicks
starts this year to spread around the world.
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Orange Blossom
Special reaches the # 1 spot on the hit list in Australia:
The Spotnicks
switch from Karusell to SweDisc.
In the summer
of this year Ove Johansson is replaced of Englishman Derek Skinner on drums.
Bo Winberg lead guitar
Bob Lander rhythm guitar and vocals
Björn Thelin bass
drums Derek Skinner
The first recording with Derek Skinner is Dave Brubeck’s 5/4-beat Take
Five.
Then follow Git
It, Spanish Gypsy Dance, Deep In The Heart Of Texas, She, She Little Sheila, Be
Bop A Lula and Habanera.
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New trick
recordings by Bo Winberg are issued on an EP as The Shy Ones with songs La Route, Bye Bye
Birdie, Swedish Polka Pig and Susanna.
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The Spotnicks are recording
their third LP The Spotnicks
In Spain, wich is released in several countries,
plus the songs Lovesick Blues, Space Creatures, Merry Elephant, Pense A Moi and
Doctor
Feelgood.
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1964
Back home again
after a long tour in France they make plans for a tour in the U.S. in the
spring and during the summer.
Unfortunately, this project is not carried out to poor preparations, delayed
launch and problems with work permits.
The Spotnicks
recording their fourth LP The Spotnicks In Stockholm as with somewhat different
contents, except for Sweden, published in, among others Germany and Japan.
Some argue that
it is Bruce Baxter who plays solo guitar at Cape Kennedy on this LP.
Bruce is in all cases a substitute for Bo Winberg at some gigs.
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Later that year
played songs for the fifth LP in Europe Films studio in Stockholm; The Spotnicks In
Berlin.
Bo Winberg is for some reason not satisfied with the result and makes the mixes
himself for the Swedish edition of this album which is reproduced in mono.
The German version, however, published in 1965, contains some of the original
recordings in stereo, plus I Got A Baby and Nahmenlos mixed
with previously recorded material.
I
Got A Baby and Nahmenlos are in Sweden
published on a Six-P along with the songs Big Boss Man, Great Balls Of Fire, Memphis
and Shine.
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In the Swedish
folk parks implement the numerous stage shows and Papa Ooh Mow Mow
lands on the Swedish hit list.
Peter Winsnes takes part in The Spotnicks on some of these concerts.
On September 9 The Spotnicks
performs in a TV program called Drop-In.
England,
Finland and Greece will this year be visited by The Spotnicks.
1965
In May this
year Peter Winsnes becomes a regular member of The Spotnicks which again sets out on
tour in Sweden.
Bo Winberg lead guitar
Bob Lander rhythm guitar and vocals
Peter Winsnes keyboard and vocals
Björn Thelin bass
Derek Skinner drums
The group's sixth LP The Spotnicks At Home In Gothenburg is recorded.
This album is published under the name Spotlight
On The Spotnicks in other countries such as
Germany and Japan and others and contains then also Alabamy
Bound and I've Lost You which in Sweden are published on a separate
single.
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In Bo Winberg's
home in Gothenburg The Spotnicks and The Shadows meets for a long time talked
jam session.
A single with
the name Bo Winberg x 4 + 2 is
published by Watermelon Man and Sequence 007.
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Derek Skinner ends up as drummer and is replaced by the Englishman Jimmy Nicol
who among other things is known to have replaced Ringo Starr in the Beatles
during a tour of Australia in spring 1964.
Jimmy had also played drums behind Cliff Richard, Gene Vincent, Georgie Fame
among others.
Bo Winberg lead guitar
Bob Lander rhythm guitar and vocals
Peter Winsnes keyboard and vocals
Björn Thelin bass
Jimmy Nicol drums
The day after their arrival in Sweden, on October 7, plays Jimmy with The Spotnicks
in Oslo and a bit later, the Sweden premiere in Kungälv
where attendance record lock .
The Spotnicks
quickly publish a single The Spotnicks Introducing Jimmy Nicol with the two songs Husky
and Drum Diddley.
Meanwhile Karelia begins to climb the charts in Japan.
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In November The Spotnicks
starts a world tour that will run until March 1966. They visit USA, Mexico and
Japan among others.
Shortly before the departure they make an acclaimed performance in Gothenburg
Concert Hall.
The group celebrates Christmas and New Year in Mexico.
1966
Karelia with The Spotnicks
reached in January the highest position on Japan's charts in competition with
among others The Feenades
recording Ajomies, ie
the same song and basically the same orchestra ...!
On the way home
from Japan they make stops in Hong Kong, Bangkok, Beirut and Rome for TV and
radio appearances and gigs.
Back home in
Sweden again it will be as usual with several gigs around the country.
First venue is in Karlsborg on March 19 and I'm in place this evening when The Spotnicks
are both responsible for dance music and stage show.
Almost at the
same time are the LP’s The Spotnicks In Tokyo and The Spotnicks Around The World produced.
In Germany is
an LP The Spotnicks
Around Tthe World released by Polydor which
contains a mix of those two albums.
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During this
year also the songs Manxman Island and Augustine are recorded as a new
version of Karelia.
Augustine
is first published on a roller tape and not until 1986 published on a vinyl
record from Triola. In 1992 it is included on a compilation CD from King
Records.
Jimmy Nicol launched on a single under the name James George with the songs Stagger Lee and C’mon Everybody. It is of
course no secession. The songs are later included on various compilation albums
in the name of The Spotnicks.
In autumn
implements The Spotnicks
a short tour in Germany.
Just in time for Christmas is next LP released in Sweden, Japan and Mexico; The Spotnicks In
Winterland.
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In December The Spotnicks
once again are out on a world tour, visiting Mexico and Japan among other
countries.
Now is
Karlsborg honored at November 26 where they make their last concert in Sweden before
leaving. Also this evening, it is both dance music and a stage show.
1967
Jimmy Nicol
leaves The Spotnicks
in February, in the midst of the recording works for the album The Spotnicks In
Acapulco.
As a quick called replacement becomes Tommy Tausis
which many (not least myself) consider to be the best drummer of all time in The Spotnicks!
Bo Winberg lead guitar
Bob Lander rhythm guitar and vocals
Peter Winsnes keyboard and vocals
Björn Thelin bass
Tommy Tausis drums
They made their first live album The Spotnicks Live In Japan which is recorded during the
tour that took place the year before.
The Swedish
version of the album is slightly different than the Japanese one.
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The Spotnicks played along
with Frank Zappa & Mothers of Invention at Liseberg
in Gothenburg.
During the summer they participates also in the Swedish movie Drra på ... en kul grej på
väg till Göteborg
together with many other popular groups and artists at that time - a so called
turkey film that has become a cult ...
The performed What A Fool I Was among others in the movie. The song was at
that time only published on a compilation LP called Popligan.
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Magnus
Hellsberg replaces Björn Thelin as bassist in the group.
Bo Winberg lead guitar
Bob Lander rhythm guitar and vocals
Peter Winsnes keyboard and vocals
Magnus Hellsberg base
Tommy Tausis drums
This year they record an album with only original material, totally different
from what they had previously produced; The
Spotnicks In The Groove.
Many diehard fans consider this to be the group's worst LP. Personally, I think
there are many good songs on this odd and understated album, I’m Gonna Make You Love Me, You Don’t Have To Be Pretty
and Enchanted
Elusive for example.
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Another tour is
being conducted in Sweden.
On October 7
they are visiting one Karlsborg again.
In December it is time for departure to Japan and Thailand among other
countries.
1968
During the
group's many performances in Sweden this year, Bo Winberg trying to record a
good live recording but he decides later to record an LP The Spotnicks By Request in the studio
instead, with live character.
The album includes songs which the group had made popular during its stage
performances.
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Recent visits
to Karlsborg are made on October 26 and November 30 this year.
This year are Tapiola, Jupiter Special, High Noon, Romance D'Amour and Everybody's Talking At Me recorded.
1969
Also this year
the The Spotnicks make
several gigs in Sweden.
Their
appearances in Karlsborg occur this year on January 11 and February 8.
Göran
"Sam" Samuelson who has contributed to The Spotnicks By Request and The Spotnicks In
The Groove takes this year over the keyboard after Peter Winsnes leaving
the group.
Bo Winberg lead guitar
Bob Lander rhythm guitar and vocals
Göran "Sam" Samuelson keyboard and vocals
Magnus Hellsberg bass
Tommy Tausis drums
The Spotnicks records Diamonds,
Lumpy Gravy, Gentle On My Mind and I'm Gonna Knock On
Your Door which are released on two singles and they begin the work for
a new LP.
A Swedish version of Gentle on my mind is "put on
ice" and will not come out on the market until 1994.
70s
1970
The group
publishes its fifteenth album, The Spotnicks Back In The Race, a very live LP, not made
with as much perfection as before, but still very good!
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It has for some
time been in the air that the members of The
Spotnicks are getting tired of each other and on
the tour life and want to pursue other things, and sure enough, after giving
out a few more singles it is announced in the autumn that the group will break
up.
On one of singles, the B-side of Balladen Om
Ephraim Killer, the song Käre Lars
i Afrika is considered as an inside joke.
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1971
On request from
Japan Bo Winberg was back in the studio together with some new musicians to
record some Japanese compositions which are published on the album Ame No Ballad plus a single with Rosaria
In Blue and Winter Story.
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A single with
the disc label MBC Music with two songs Go Go Frölunda and Iskrigarnas Inmarsch/Western Blue Star is sold as a souvenir to
the supporters of the hockey team Västra Frölunda in Gothenburg.
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1972
Bo Winberg's
fingers “have an itch” again and he records the LP Something Like Country.
Besides Bo and Magnus Hellsberg on bass he has involved Juri Wijk, Lennart
Hermansson, Bernt Andersson, Claes " Frosti "Pettersson, Calle Åhrman , His Jenbratt , Leif
Nyström and Janne "Lukas" Persson for this album, considered by many
to be one of the better ones as The Spotnicks have made.
Bo Winberg lead guitar
Magnus Hellsberg base
Juri Wijk solo / rhythm guitar and vocals
, Lennart Hermansson rhythm guitar
Bernt Andersson keyboards, accordion and harmonica
Claes " Frosti "Pettersson drums
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Some of these
musicians also record additional 13 pieces specially commissioned Japanese
compositions.
Bo Winberg
becomes part of the orchestra in the Swedish set in Gothenburg of the musical
Jesus Christ Superstar where Peter Winsnes plays the role of Jesus, and there
is also a man named Peter Wiberg included in the ensemble.
During the Summer Olympics in Munich is If You Could Read My Mind as the
theme song to a daily, German TV magazine about the Olympics. The song become
immensely popular in Germany and is probably The Spotnicks biggest hit in Europe of
all times.
1973
12 of the
Japanese songs recorded 1971-72 are published an LP The Spotnicks in Japan.
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The Spotnicks are awarded
the Bronze Lion by RTL for If You Could Read My Mind.
Together with
Peter Wiberg and Bo Maniette, Matz Nilsson and Johann
Dielemans Bo Winberg to Dortmund to perform the song
on March 3 in Westfalenhalle in Dortmund and to
receive the honour.
Bo Winberg sologitarr
Bo Maniette kompgitarr
Peter Wiberg keyboard
Matz Nilsson bass
Johann Dielemans trummor
The group above
then made a few recordings as first issued as singles and then
supplemented by a new LP Bo Winberg And
The Spotnicks Today.
This album also involved Lennart Hermansson and Anders Kjellberg.
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Late this year
Bo Winberg puts a new group together to perform a concert in Berlin.
Bo Winberg lead guitar
Håkan Mjörnheim solo and rhythm guitar
Mats Björklund solo and rhythm guitar
Peter Wiberg keyboard
Matz Nilsson bass
drums Anders Kjellberg
The group
recorded Wichita Lineman and Theme From For A few Dollars More.
1974
The songs above
are released on a single in Germany.
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Tommy Tausis reinstated in January as a drummer when the next
tour starts in Germany.
Bo Winberg lead guitar
Håkan Mjörnheim solo and rhythm guitar
Mats Björklund solo and rhythm guitar, vocals
Peter Wiberg keyboard
Matz Nilsson base
Tommy Tausis drums
During the tour (in February) the bassist Mats Nilsson is leaving group and is
replaced by Leif Paulsén.
Bo Winberg lead guitar
Håkan Mjörnheim solo and rhythm guitar
Mats Björklund solo and rhythm guitar, vocals
Peter Wiberg keyboard
Leif Paulsen bass
Tommy Tausis drums
At the disco Badewanne in Berlin, on March 6 and 7,
the songs for The Spotnicks
second (!) live album are recorded; The Spotnicks Live In Berlin '74.
13 other songs
or alternate versions of this recording are later issued in 1988 on an LP of
the same name by the Star-Club Records.
The group is making another tour in Germany later in the spring.
During the summer The Spotnicks are touring in Swedish folk parks and they
also record the single with Maple Leaf Rag and Daydream.
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The guitarist
Håkan Mjörnheim is in August replaced by Torgny " Todde
" Stoor who in 1963 was substitute for Bo Winberg at some gigs in Sweden.
In the autumn The Spotnicks
makes another tour in Germany.
Bo Winberg lead guitar
Todde Stoor solo and rhythm guitar, vocals
Mats Björklund solo and rhythm guitar
Peter Wiberg keyboard
Leif Paulsen bass
Tommy Tausis drums
1975
Early this year
The Spotnicks once
again goes to Japan for a month long tour with several TV appearances followed
by a bunch of concerts in Germany and then a tour in Sweden.
In May, they released a new single with Love Said Goodbye and The
Taste Of Your Love and begin the work on a new album.
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In the autumn
once again a tour to Germany and in November they go into the Olympic Studios
in Munich to finish the work of the new LP.
1976
In February is
the LP Feelings released, one of The Spotnicks
better albums.
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During March / April takes another tour in Germany and now the group is reduced
to four men.
Bo Winberg lead guitar
Todde Stoor solo and rhythm guitar, vocals
Leif Paulsen bass
Tommy Tausis drums
Back home again Bo Winberg splits up the group.
During the Olympic Games, this year in Canada, Germany is once again using If
You Could Read My Mind as the theme song to their Olympic magazine on
television.
Again launched this track hard and in Germany gives in August a compilation LP
with just the name of If You Could Read
My Mind followed by two additional compilation albums.
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During the
autumn Bo Winberg, Bob Lander, Björn Thelin and Tommy Tausis
meets to discuss a new collaboration.
They begin by recording a new album and perform later one of those countless
tours in Germany.
Bo Winberg lead guitar
Bob Lander rhythm guitar, vocals
Björn Thelin bass
Tommy Tausis drums
1977
The Spotnicks complete
recording work on the new LP in January and then split up the group again.
Bob Lander
processes the recorded material in his studio, mix and adds in a way which Bo
Winberg doesn’t like. The publication, which will be released by Marianne
Records, is delayed.
In Germany they
show no interest in the latest tracks but instead re-issuing The Spotnicks In
Spain and in France earlier recordings are also released.
Bo Winberg and
Björn Thelin, along with drummer Peter Milefors,
makes in June recordings of old hits that later this year is published on the
LP Charttoppers Recorded 1977.
Bo Winberg lead guitar
Björn Thelin bass
Peter Milefors
This LP is published also in England where the name is The Very Best Of The Spotnicks.
It becomes the first album by The Spotnicks published there in 12 years!
From Polydor in
Germany there are a series of compilations from various groups, among others, a
double-LP called The Story Of The Spotnicks.
Later in the year is the LP The Spotnicks In Winterland available in Germany where it
not has been on the market before.
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In August, it's time for the next visit to Germany and alongside Bo Winberg and
Björn Thelin is now Gunnar Winald and Anders Erixon.
Bo Winberg lead guitar
Gunnar Winald rhythm guitar, vocals
Björn Thelin bass
Anders Erixon drums
1978
In January
release Marianne Records finally the LP The
Great Snowman, ie the songs that were recorded
during the winter of 1976/77.
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In May it is time again for a tour in Germany, this time with Tommy Tausis back behind the drum kit.
Bo Winberg lead guitar
Gunnar Winald rhythm guitar, vocals
Björn Thelin bass
Tommy Tausis drums
Bo Winberg went to France and record Never
Trust Robots with specially written material on the space theme along with
French studio musicians.
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Bo Winberg lead guitar
Jean-Louis Bucchi, synthesizer
Jean Claude Charvier, rhythm
guiitar
”Jo”, drums
In October the "original members" are reunited to record the LP Saturday Night Music.
Bo Winberg lead guitar
Bob Lander vocals and rhythm guitar
Björn Thelin bass
Tommy Tausis drums
And in November
the album Pink Lady Super Hits is
recoded by new staffing of the orchestra.
Bo Winberg lead guitar
George "Sam" Samuelson keyboard
Kenth Andersson bass
Stefan Möller drums
1979
This year the
albums Saturday Night Music and Pink Lady Superhits are published in
Sweden respectively in Japan.
In Germany is an LP named Indigo out
on the market with the two songs Bonanza and Indigo which were
recorded in 1978.
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In autumn Bob
Lander returns to The Spotnicks which are involved in several German TV
shows.
Bo Winberg lead guitar
Bob Lander vocals and rhythm guitar
Ove Lindell vocals and solo / rhythm guitar
Kenth Andersson bass
Lasse Öhberg drums
80s
1980
During spring The Spotnicks
again are back in Germany and on German TV.
Bo Winberg lead guitar
Ove Lindell vocals and rhythm guitar
Kenth Andersson bass
Lasse Öhberg drums
The next time it is time for Germany is Arne Österlindh
connected to The Spotnicks
for the first time and he is also involved in the recording of the LP The Spotnicks
20th Anniversary which is issued later this year.
Bo Winberg lead guitar
Bob Lander vocals and rhythm guitar
Ove Lindell vocals and solo / rhythm guitar
Arne Österlindh pedal steel guitar
Kenth Andersson bass
Lasse Öhberg drums
They also
record songs as Ghostriders In The Sky, Gyros Pitta and Guitars On 45 but they
are not on the market until next year.
On a German compilation LP called Happy
Guitar are the songs Bilitis, El
Lute and Maybe, recorded the 1979, included.
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1981
From this year
comes the songs Noise From The Attic, Heartstrings ( ver
2), C'est La Vie, Johnny Blue and Just
Another Boy. The latter is used in an advertising campaign for the
Swedish Post Office.
Bo Winberg lead guitar
Bob Lander vocals and rhythm guitar
John Kincade vocals
Arne Österlindh pedal steel guitar
Peter Wiberg keyboard
Kenth Andersson bass
Lasse Öhberg drums
Stefan Möller drums
In the autumn The Spotnicks
returns to Germany again for a number of gigs.
Bo Winberg lead guitar
Bob Lander vocals and rhythm guitar
Ove Lindell vocals and solo / rhythm guitar
Arne Österlindh pedal steel guitar
Kenth Andersson bass
Lasse Öhberg drums
Bob Lander and
Peter Wiberg, who now works with music production, got an order of covers with
"Trucker songs."
Together with Juri Wiik, Magnus Hellsberg, Arne Österlindh
and Benkt Andersson they recorded a number of songs and this is the start of
the group The Viking Truckers.
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1982
During the
summer The Spotnicks
record a number of songs which, along with recordings from 1980 and 1981,
forming the LP We Don’t Wanna Play
Amapola No More.
Additionally two songs for the Japanese market; Lonesome City Sadness and
The
Silky Way.
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On the first Germany tour this year, which took place in May, the group has a
new, but temporary, composition.
Bo Winberg lead guitar
Lars "Lim" Moberg solo / rhythm guitar
Stefan Ericsson vocals and bass
Arne Österlindh pedal steel guitar
Lasse Öhberg drums
In August, The Spotnicks
goes to Japan on a tour, along with The Ventures . The idea was that also The
Shadows should be involved, but it could not be arranged.
Bo Winberg lead guitar
Bob Lander vocals and rhythm guitar
Ove Lindell vocals and solo / rhythm guitar
Arne Österlindh pedal steel guitar
Kenth Andersson bass
Lasse Öhberg drums
The Viking Truckers made their first recording, I Eat
Concrete / Ich Fress Beton for the German
market and on this single is also Bo Winberg participates
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In the autumn Bo Winberg shapes a new composition by The Spotnicks which will get a lot of
attention and success. Almost immediately they went to Germany.
Bo Winberg lead guitar
Juri Wiik vocals and solo / rhythm guitar
Arne Österlingh pedal steel guitar
Kenth Andersson bass
Benkt Andersson drums
1983
The new Spotnicks begin in the spring a sensational tour through
Sweden which in september and October continues in
Germany and Belgium with 22 concerts (!) and lots of TV appearances.
Norway is also cut down on the fly.
In December is the release of the LP In
The Middle Of Universe which was recorded during the year with the new
setting were also Peter Wiberg is involved.
Bo Winberg lead guitar
Juri Wiik vocals and solo / rhythm guitar
Arne Österlingh pedal steel guitar
Peter Wiberg keyboard
Kenth Andersson base
Benkt Andersson drums
Previously there were two songs released on a numbered, limited and special
edition for The Spotnicks Swedish fanclub:
Don’t
Stop and Time Is Tight, which are also found on the album, but in a
slightly different versions.
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On December 22
a long program about The Spotnicks is broadcasted by Swedish television which
among others includes a studio concert live from the TV building in Gothenburg.
Bo Winberg lead guitar
Juri Wiik vocals and solo / rhythm guitar
Arne Österlingh pedal steel guitar
Peter Wiberg keyboard
Kenth Andersson bass
Benkt Andersson drums
Bo Winberg
receives a “Golden tie" on Swedish television for his merits as a musician
and ambassador for Sweden and Gothenburg.
Because of the success the old albums The
Spotnicks In London and The Spotnicks In Paris are reissued on SweDisc.
The Viking Truckers publish the LPn Love On The Road
and participates also in a Country Gala in Gothenburg.
The Viking Truckers
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1984
The Spotnicks new LP is
published in many European countries, among others a picture-LP in Germany, a
sought-after collectibles.
In Sweden is the cover changed at the second edition because Arne Österlindh was missing at the first envelope.
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During the
whole year The Spotnicks
are on tour in Sweden, Germany, Belgium, Denmark and other places.
In March they performed in Jönköping, in May a well-attended fanclub meeting took place in Södertälje during a gig
there.
In April the group performed live directly at a lunchtime concert on Swedish
radio and on June 29 they came to Karlsborg.
Unfortunately this successful composition of The Spotnicks split up already in
November due to disagreements and cooperation problems.
Bo Winberg,
together with Bob Lander, Björn Thelin, Arne Österlindh,
Lasse Öhberg and Ove Lindell, record the LP Highway Boogie.
Bo Winberg lead guitar
Bob Lander vocals and rhythm guitar
Ove Lindell solo / rhythm guitar
Arne Österlindh pedal steel guitar
Björn Thelin bass
Lasse Öhberg drums
Björn and Bob
are both taking parts on Let It Roll, Roll, Roll and Truck
Drivers Dream, Bob also on Could It Be Love.
Ove is involved only on Highway Boogie.
Bo’s mother-in-law Berit, known as Dolly, plays accordion on the catchy song Dolly
H (H as in her surname Håkansson).
1985
Highway Boogie is issued and on this can be found,
in addition to the newly recorded material, Just Another Boy from
1981.
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The Spotnicks performed on
June 15 at a live TV program “Aveny'n right up and
down” from Gothenburg and then Tommy Tausis once
again joined the group, replacing Lasse Öhberg behind
the drums.
Bo Winberg lead guitar
Bob Lander vocals and rhythm guitar
Ove Lindell vocals and solo / rhythm guitar
Arne Österlindh pedal steel guitar
Björn Thelin bass
Tommy Tausis drums
On September 4
there is the great show at restaurant Trägårn in
Gothenburg, along with the Swedish pop group The Hep Stars with Svenne &
Lotta.
Previously they had once again visit in Karlsborg on August 30.
Bo Winberg is interviewed in the Swedish TV program “Svar direk”
(Direct answer).
1986
The Spotnicks performs again
in Karlsborg, on August 2.
Together with Arne Österlindh and Nils Nordin (on
drums) Bo Winberg records LP The Spotnicks In Time which among others includes the song Theme
From Simon And Simon (the detective series) which involved a female
saxophone soloist named Elisabeth (?) This song, I have personally asked Bo
Winberg to record...
Bo Winberg lead guitar
Arne Österlindh pedal steel guitar
Nils Nordin drums
The very first
the CD with The Spotnicks
is released in Germany; it is the album Highway
Boogie, from 1985, along with five bonus tracks from The Spotnicks In Time.
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1987
The Spotnicks made a number
of gigs around Sweden.
On July 3 Karlsborg was honored again.
The Spotnicks
also get a longer engagement in the autumn on the passenger boat plying the
route between Gothenburg and Kiel.
Bo Winberg lead guitar
Ove Lindell solo / rhythm guitar and vocals
Arne Österlindh pedal steel guitar
Alf Brink bass
Mats Bengtsson drums
Bo Winberg recorded materials on order for the German market with, among
others, Lars "Lim" Moberg. The recordings were made at
Studio Bohus in Kungälv.
Of 39 recorded songs will 34 st on the German CD
later this year. Another 4 songs comes out other compilations following year.
The 39th is Så Skimrande Var Aldrig Havet - Everlasting Brightness it is named
in English – is published many years later.
The song selections, arrangements and the musical quality is rather heavily
criticized by several faithful Spotnicks fans.
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Bo Winberg lead guitar
Lars "Lim" Moberg lead- & rhythm guitar
Arne Österlindh pedal steel guitar
Charles Falk keybord
Jan Guner bass
Måns Abrahamsson drums
1988
Now, Bob Lander
returns back to The Spotnicks.
Bo Winberg lead guitar
Bob Lander rhythm guitar and vocals
Ove Lindell solo / rhythm guitar and vocals
Arne Österlindh pedal steel guitar
Alf Brink bass
Mats Bengtsson drums
In April, The Spotnicks
have a two-day engagement at a motor show in Jönköping and I organized a fan
club meeting together with the whole group.
Bo Winberg was in a very good mood and we get to hear some good stories about The Spotnicks.
The group tours
extensively this year and visiting among others Hungary for the first time in
its career.
Immediately after their return, The Spotnicks, on August 26, are back in Karlsborg (for the
umpteenth time ..?).
To this event even Roland Ferneborg showed up and it was extra fun to sit and
hear him, Bob and Bo talk about old Spotnicks
Memories.
Roland Ferneborg,
Bob Lander, Bo Winberg and Arne Österlindh
The Spotnicks plays on a
live broadcasted radio show called Lunch Music from Örebro
on December 20.
Among the
releases is this year you may notice a "new" edition by The Spotnicks
Live In Berlin -74 containing alternate takes to those found on the
original release.
On October 1,
the The Spotnicks Swedish
fan-club arranged a real celebration of Hindås Hotels
near Gothenburg gathering about 300 fans to a double bill with the appearance
on the stage of The Spotnicks.
In an open
letter, published in fanklubbtidningen Spotnews, Bo Winberg dissociate himself from the
Bohus-production and explains why it was as it become to be...
With the help
of a large number of invited guest musicians produced the new album The Spotnicks
Unlimited , a very diverse and inspired album.
Bo Winberg lead guitar
Bob Lander rhythm guitar and vocals
Ove Lindell lead / rhythm guitar and vocals
Bengt "Bengan" Blomgren guitar
Ulf Wakenius guitar
Peter Wiberg keyboards
Bernt Andersson keyboards
Lars Andreasson keyboards
Sven-Erik Dahlberg keyboards
Arne Österlindh pedal steel guitar
Peps Persson harmonica
Solomon Helperin trumpets
Eric Norstrom saxophone
Alf Brink bass
Thomas Fanto bass
Nicke Power sass
Mats Bengtsson drums
Lasse Öhberg drums
Kent Helgesson drums
Tomas Olsson drums
1989
It is still
great interest in The Spotnicks and the demand for them continues, both in
Sweden and in Denmark and Germany.
The group made a short tour in Denmark in February for TV recordings and other
gigs.
Bo Winberg lead guitar
Bob Lander rhythm guitar and vocals
Ove Lindell solo / rhythm guitar and vocals
Arne Österlindh pedal steel guitar
Alf Brink bass
Mats Bengtsson drums
The album The Spotnicks
Unlimited is out on the market. Bo Winberg and Bob Lander get the chance to
promote the album on various radio programs.
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Gary Moore
meets Bo Winberg and he receives a signed copy of the new album. Gary is a huge
fan of Bo Winberg and his guitar playing style.
Gary Moore and Bo Winberg
Another great
event this year was of course the celebration of Bo Winberg's 50th birthday.
I have the pleasure to participate in this unprecedented celebration on March
27 at the restaurant Gamle Port in Gothenburg.
Faced with this anniversary, I have made a request to Liseberg
for a Spotnicks Concert at the main stage and in
connection therewith a hand cast from Bo Winberg be placed in the park.
The latter is realized is largely Bo Maniette’s merit
but I still takes me some credit... Representatives from Liseberg
presents this gift during courtship.
In Sweden, The Spotnicks
are the main attraction on the live TV show “Svenska nöjen”
(Swedish entertainment) from Norrköping on April 9.
The studio audience was composed exclusively of invited fan club members and
their families.
On April 15 The Spotnicks
are guest artists during a dance gala in Jönköping and perform before a very
large audience.
Bo Winberg lead guitar
Bob Lander rhythm guitar and vocals
Ove Lindell solo / rhythm guitar and vocals
Arne Österlindh pedal steel guitar
Thomas Fanto bass
Mats Bengtsson drums
On August 19
they shall come again to Karlsborg and on September 16 they made the promised
stage show at Liseberg main stage!
SweDisk starts to release CD versions of previously
released LP albums. At The Spotnicks In London are the four previous unreleased
songs from 1962.
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90s
1990
In the end of
April it is time for the traditional tour to Germany again and then follows a
number of gigs in Sweden.
Bo Winberg lead guitar
Bob Lander rhythm guitar and vocals
Ove Lindell solo / rhythm guitar and vocals
Arne Österlindh pedal steel guitar
Alf Brink bass
Mats Bengtsson drums
Bo Winberg
records a signature tune for a Swedish soap series Destination Nordsjön
(Destination North Sea) shown on channel TV4.
The song is published in two versions on the single.
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Bo Winberg sologitarr
Tim Norell keyboard
keyboard Anders Hansson
Mats Lindberg A bas
+ trummaskiner
On March 30 the
first drummer in The Spotnicks – Ove Johansson –
becomes 50.
There is not much more to tell about The Spotnicks
this year.
1991
The Spotnicks are
participating in a large rock gala at the Globe Arena in Stockholm and also
makes a number of other gigs in Sweden and Germany.
Stefan Ericsson has now taken over the place after Alf Brink as bassist and
also complements Bob with the vocals.
Bo Winberg lead guitar
Bob Lander vocals and rhythm guitar
Ove Lindell solo / rhythm guitar and vocals
Arne Österlindh pedal steel guitar
Stefan Ericsson vocals and bass
Mats Bengtsson drums
An odd song with The Spotnicks
is out this year at the Star-Club Records Christmas album. It is Tomten Kommer Snart (Santa Claus is coming
soon) which was recorded in 1989 and where Bob Landers daughter with a friend
form a children's choir.
1992
Bob Lander is
celebrating his 50th birthday on March 11 and Björn Thelin his on June 27.
After a few gigs in Sweden and Germany Bo Winberg splits up group again, but
not for good as it will show.
The last gig took place in Degerfors on June 10.
Fairly quickly
the other members decided to continue work together and acquire the name Papa Ó.
Papa Ó
Already this
year Bo Winberg records backgrounds in the Music Mill studio in Kumla for four new songs; AA, My Old Kentucky Home, Red
Sails In The Sunset and Bye Bye Love
which he later brings to California to let Albert Lee (!) make his guitar
overdubs.
On the latter says "Shirley" for background vocal.
Bo Winberg lead guitar
Albert Lee guitar solo
Kenth Larsson pedal steel guitar
+ drum machines
In Kumla is also Stardust recorded.
Bo Winberg lead guitar
Jonas Molbeck guitar and bass
+ drum machines
At the same
time is Summertime produced in Bob Lander’s studio Tal & Ton in
Gothenburg together with musicians from "Tottas."
Bo Winberg lead guitar
Bengt "Bengan" Blomgren guitar
Peter Wiberg keyboard
Bernt Andersson Keyboards
Frank Patrini saxophone
Nicke Power Bass
Johan Norgren drums
Before Bo will
be able to complete a new album with this material must first live up to his
contract for an album on RCA / BMG which will include 12 new songs plus a
remixes version of Destination Nordsjön from 1990, or Helicopter
as it is named now.
Bo Winberg lead guitar
Erik Bärnholm guitar
Ulf Wahlborg keyboard
+ drum machines
After several failed attempts must record company engage Peter Wiberg for the
final album mix before Bo Winberg think this is acceptable.
At this time many reissues of The Spotnicks songs on CDs, mainly from Japan and Germany,
but also from Swedish SweDisk and collectors you have
to open your wallet and keep up.
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1993
The album The Spotnicks /
Bo Winberg # 1 is released and for the first time in many years ranks The Spotnicks on the Swedish charts with a song from this
album; in April the song Kissing In The Moonlight was voted
into place #10 which calls some attention.
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In May the
world's biggest Spotnicks fan Karl-Gustaf
"Sparre" Welin becomes 50.
Bo Winberg has decided that for health reasons to move to warmer climes and on
June 11 he and wife Lenah went to Fuengirola in Spain to settle there.
Before the move
takes place he makes a farewell concert on April 2 at Valand in Gothenburg
followed by another gig at a pub in Gothenburg on May 28.
The very last appearance before departure, however, took place way up in Jämtland on June 5.
Bo Winberg lead guitar
Juri Wiik vocals and solo / rhythm guitar
Glenn Fernblad Keyboards
Magnus Rosén base
Dennis Nybratt drums
Before the move Bo Winberg gets rid of, among others, his Les Paul guitar and
also offered a number of tapes with various interesting recordings for sale.
On the CD 60-talspop Från
Göteborg, Reino Andersson (President of the
Swedish fan club) has put a recording of Crazy ' Bout My Baby from 1969,
which is one of the findings on these tapes, on his own record company Carelia Records.
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In October Bob
Lander and Björn Thelin performs together in Förslöv
in Skåne. It is these two that at the time before The Blue Caps, The Frazer and The Spotnicks
formed duo The Rebels and now,
almost 40 years later, it was time for a " reunion " if only for this
evening.
Papa Ó publishes a cassette tape
with 14 songs which shows that there is a Spotnicks
tradition in this orchestra.
1994
During the year
does not happen so much on Spotnicks-front except
that several newly pressed the CD are released, mainly in Japan. Here you could
find previously non-released studio versions of Hernandos Hideway and Jessica from 1975 as well as the
Swedish version of Gentle On My Mind from 1968.
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Papa Ó continues to play both in Sweden and in Germany and
during the winter they produced a CD for the German market; Back In Space which also includes songs
recorded by The Viking Truckers in
1984-86.
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The two former members Peter Winsnes and Magnus Hellsberg celebrates their 50th
birthdays this year and Roland Ferneborg becomes 70.
In December Bo Winberg go to Stockholm to record the remaining songs to
complete the previously recorded material to the new the CD.
Bo Winberg lead guitar
Lasse Wellander solo / rhythm guitar
Hasse Rosén solo / rhythm guitar
Peter Ljung keyboard
Jesper Lindberg pedal steel guitar
Rutger Gunnarsson bass
Lasse Persson drums
Johan Norgren drums
1995
The CD Tracks is released in Sweden and Bo
Winberg is home in Sweden to promote the disc. Here are 14 pieces of songs
including 6 pieces recorded in 1992 with Albert Lee among others.
The other song was recorded in December 1994.
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Papa Ó keeps going on in true Spotnicks
spirit and make for example two tours in Germany, one in spring and one in
autumn.
Their German CD is remixed and shortened before it is published on the Swedish
market.
They are also engaged by Mitsubishi Motors to record a promotional CD that is
used in the marketing of the new car model Carisma.
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From Spain is
announced that Bo Winberg has started constructing his own exclusive guitar
amplifier according to the old recipe.
1996
On March 22 Bo
Winberg is invited as guest of honour to The Cue
Club's 30th anniversary held at the restaurant Rondo in Gothenburg.
Along with a great many other Gothenburg Musicians from the 60s he plays in
front of a crowded audience.
The Cue Club no longer exists but at one occasion in 1967 Bo Winberg played
along with Jimi Hendrix (!) on this venerable rock club in Gothenburg.
During his visit in Sweden Bo Winberg launches his hand-built amplifiers on the
market.
Papa Ó make another tour in Germany
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1997
In January Bo
Winberg goes from Spain to Stockholm to record a new album.
He does this with essentially the same musicians that appeared on last the CD
led by Lennart Sjöholm.
Bo Winberg lead guitar
Lasse Wellander solo / rhythm guitar
Hasse Rosén solo / rhythm guitar
Lennart Sjöholm keyboard
Jesper Lindberg pedal steel guitar
Rutger Gunnarsson base
Johan Norgren drums
In May the CD The Spotnicks
1997 was released in Sweden and there are plans to publish it also in Japan
, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, England, France and Spain .
The contents are remakes of 15 numbers of "oldies" and it has
basically retained the original arrangements.
The album is complemented by a fresh remake of Highway Boogie which in
original came in 1985.
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The Spotnicks
performs in Moers in Germany on May 31 and alongside Bo Winberg this time are
the "old" members Bob Lander and Stefan Ericsson and two new
musicians Ralph Nilsson and Björn Fryklund.
Bo Winberg lead guitar
Bob Lander rhythm guitar and vocals
Stefan Ericsson bass and vocals
Ralph Nilsson guitar
Björn Fryklund drums
Bo Winberg does during summer also two highly acclaimed performances in Sweden.
First time as a guest artist with The Apaches, with
among others Juri Wiik, at Björlanda Kil on June 27.
Bob Lander also turns up on this occation.
The second time
is Bo Winberg playing along with the orchestra Hot'n
Tots, with among others Lasse Wellander, in the town Lysekil.
1998
On January 15
to 17 three gigs are organized with The Spotnicks at Jazzhuset in
Gothenburg.
Bo Winberg lead guitar
Bob Lander rhythm guitar and vocals
Stefan Ericsson bass and vocals
Ralph Nilsson guitar
Björn Fryklund drums
On January 30, they perform in Herrljunga and the
next day in Sävsjö together with the Hep Stars - a
nostalgia evening like the one held in Gothenburg in September 1985.
In March, it's off again to Germany and Austria for a short tour.
In three days -
on 29 - 31 May - The Spotnicks is celebrating its 40th anniversary ( ! ) in Gothenburg.
At Liseberg main stage is held a stage show along
with the Hep Stars (with Svenne & Lotta) in front of up to 10,000
spectators and a experienced, original cast of The Spotnicks is reunited after 35 years!
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Bo Winberg lead guitar |
Bo Winberg lead guitar |
The Swedish Fan
Club is celebrating the 40th anniversary at Jazzhuset
along with The Spotnicks
and a large number of former members and other guest musicians.
Björn Thelin bass
Ove Johansson drums
Derek Skinner drums
Peter Wiberg Keyboards
Most time on
stage this evening is, of course, the latest edition of The Spotnicks.
In October The Spotnicks
makes a tour to Japan (!)
In december The Spotnicks performs for four nights in a row in Malmö.
1999
In the spring The Spotnicks
makes dual shows at Nalen in Stockholm. Original members Björn Thelin and Ove
Johansson are back again for a nostalgic retrospective of Swedish pop history.
In the 60's The Spotnicks
hits the attendance record at Nalen and now even more came to see and hear
their idols.
Bo Winberg lead guitar
Bob Lander rhythm guitar and vocals
Björn Thelin bass
Ove Johansson drums
Ove Johansson publish a booklet which he calls "The first years" in
which he frank write about his career but also other very personal experience.
Bo Winberg become 60 on March 27!
On May 21 a video is recorded at Jössefors Folkets Hus in Arvika where both the orchestral sets are
involved.
The concert is broadcast on Swedish Radio in July and later a live album comes
out from the event.
On the CD there are also two new studio recordings; Fernando and Country
Boy.
During the year a CD single are published for the benefit of refugees from
Kosovo.
It was recorded in Spain and contains the first version of The Other Side Of The Moon,
which later (2002) was remaked.
The single was issued at the label Riverside Records (Owe Midner) where a
number of compilation albums were published during the year, including a double
CD with 53 songs; EP collection.
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The Spotnicks took part in a
TV program about "the Swedish pop industry."
They also performed at the Shadows Festival in Oslo and participated at the
Stockholm Water Festival.
Shortly before their equipment was stolen from their tour bus; three
amplifiers, a guitar (Bob’s), echo, costumes and others (!)
The Spotnicks
does the last appearance before the millennium at the classical night club Amiralen in Malmö on November 27.
This time along with Douglas Möller which later became a regular guitarist in The Spotnicks
for many years.
Bo Winberg lead guitar
Bob Lander rhythm guitar and vocals
Stefan Ericsson bass and vocals
Ralph Nilsson guitar
Douglas Moller guitar
Björn Fryklund drums
The 21th Century
2000
It was probably not many who thought The Spotnicks
would "survive" the millennium. But it turns out that the group's
success in the 90s persist long into the twentifirst
century.
In April a meeting with Bo Winberg and Hank Marvin is
arranged at the Radio House in Gothenburg for an interview. That's when 35
years ago The Spotnicks
and The Shadows jammed together in Bo Winberg's home and the police had to come
and calm down event.
Bo Winberg and
Hank Marvin 2000
Already in 1963 the groups had converged in any context.
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Bo Winberg and Hank Marvin 1965 |
Bob Lander and Bruce Welch
1965 |
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The Spotnicks
night The Shadows 1963 |
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Magic Records
of France renders out lots of old French The EP and LP on CD with some unique
tracks. There is such some alternative recordings that are missing in most
collections. It also publishes a live recording from 1999 with some bonus
tracks, including a studio recording of Jambalaya.
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The group will start a tour that is called "The
Lunar 2000 Tour" with numerous gigs in Sweden and Germany.
Tommy Tausis - probably one of the most respected drummers of all
time - makes a welcome but brief comeback in The Spotnicks and is partly on a small
tour to Germany.
Bo Winberg lead guitar
Bob Lander rhythm guitar and vocals
Stefan Ericsson bass and vocals
Ralph Nilsson guitar
Tommy Tausis drums
As Ove
Johansson last year, Björn Thelin publish a small booklet with his memories
from the very beginning, "Then it was…".
Reissues on CD of previous LP albums are spread and quickly makes vinyl player
expendable.
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2001
The Spotnicks carry out this year a number of gigs in Germany, Holland, Belgium and
Sweden.
The tour plan looked like this:
June 2 Krefelt,
Germany
June 3 Dortmund, Germany
June 9 Västerås, Sweden
July 15 Skövde, Sweden
August 8 Uppsala, Sweden
August 10 Gävle,
Sweden
August 11 Västerås,
Sweden
August 17 Gothenburg, Sweden
September 1 Tranås,
Sweden
October 3 Gothenburg, Sweden
October 4 Jönköping, Sweden
October 5 Karlstad, Sweden
October 19 Maastricht, Netherlands
October 20 Midwoud,
Holland
October 21 Oostende, Belgium
October 26 Uddevalla, Sweden
October 27 Simrishamn,
Sweden
To Germany Tommy Tausis once
again is participating.
Tommy Tausis in Biebricher Saal, Krefelder Rennbahn.
The Spotnicks in Dortmund:
Bo
Winberg lead guitar
Bob Lander rhythm guitar and vocals
Stefan Ericsson bass and vocals
Ralph Nilsson guitar
Tommy Tausis drums
2002
In August this year The Spotnicks perform on the main stage
at the Kings Square during the Gothenburg Festival.
For this evening, the group has increased to a 7-piece band with four
guitarists, two drummers and one bass player.
The Spotnicks in Gothenburg:
Bo
Winberg lead guitar
Bob Lander rhythm guitar and vocals
Stefan Ericsson bass and vocals
Ralph Nilsson guitar
Douglas Moller guitar
Fredrik Oscarsson drums
Stephan Möller drums
In Lerum organized "The Spotnicks
Festival" for the first time and it is obvious who the main attraction of
the evening.
After Lerum May 11 the continuation of the plan looks like this:
May 31 Getskär
June 2 Gothenburg
June 15 Falun
July 6 Mariestad
July 12 Karlskrona
July 21 Skovde
July 25 Mölndal
July 26 Simrishamn
July 27 Malmköping
August 3 Ornskoldsvik
August 9 Gothenburg
Sept 14 Vara
October 4 Stockholm
A newly produced CD named The Other Side (Of The Moon) is issued by Bo Winberg’s and Bob
Lander’s joint record company WISTA & Spotnicks
Records.
The album contains some vocals in Swedish. Bo Winberg sings - which are not
commonplace - two of the songs; Det Var Länge Sen
Jag Plocka Några Blommor (It was a long time I was picking some
flowers) and Gitarren I Himlen (The guitar in the sky).
Magic Records gives the year an amount of CDs with
early recordings and Solna Records has gathered Back In The Race and Something
Like Country on one CD and also Feelings and Today.
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3 |
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2003
In March The Spotnicks returns to London Palladium and do where
their first gig in England since 1963.
Spotnicks in London:
Bo
Winberg lead guitar
Bob Lander rhythm guitar and vocals
Stefan Ericsson bass and vocals
Ralph Nilsson guitar
Fredrik Oscarsson drums
Another new CD is published,
this time with remakes of "old" hits. It is named Back To The Roots and contains also
three so-called "backing tracks" for prospective guitarists to play
along with.
Magic Records are loading more reissues on CD.
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2004
Bo Winberg gets the chance to meet his idol Les Paul
who performs on Mondays in New York at a small club called Iridium Jazz Club in
Manhattan, New York.
Les Paul and Bo
Winberg in New York
The Spotnicks takes part also this year at the Gothenburg Festival and now is Ralph
Nilsson replaced by Douglas Möller on guitar and they also carries out a number
of gigs in Germany.
Spotnicks in Gothenburg:
Bo Winberg lead
guitar
Bob Lander rhythm guitar and vocals
Stefan Ericsson bass and vocals
Douglas Moller guitar
Fredrik Oscarsson drums
In October they play two songs
- Last
Date and Ghostriders In The Sky – in a morning show at channel TV4 when
also draws attention to "The Book of Spotnicks",
written by Lars Åkerström and Michael Forslund.
The Book about
The Spotnicks
Ove Midner re-publishes a CD with two classic albums; The Spotnicks In
The Groove and The Spotnicks By Request on his label Solna Records.
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A concert in Katrineholm was recorded on 28 August by Swedish Radio and
broadcasted in the program "P4 Live".
2005
The touring continues with gigs in Dortmund in
Germany, on the Finnish boat Cinderella, at Tyrol and Gloobe
Annex in Stockholm and in places like Nässjö etc.
The Spotnicks at Globen Annexet:
Bo Winberg lead guitar
Bob Lander rhythm guitar and vocals
Stefan Ericsson bass and vocals
Douglas Moller guitar
Fredrik Oscarsson drums
During the spring The
Spotnicks performed at the Spotnicks
Festival in Lerum.
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2006
On March 25, The
Spotnicks is participating at a rock gala in Kaatsheuvel in Netherlands along with Bill Haley and His
Comets Revival, The Clarks, Chris Watson and The Shakin' Arrows.
In total, the group makes about 25 gigs during 2006 of which two was held in
Stockholm’s and Gothenburg’s concert Halls.
Also this year the group was several times playing on
the passenger steamer Cinderella (Finland – Sweden) and made many other gigs
around Sweden.
In September The Spotnicks
participate in a big rock gala in Dombasle-sur-Meurthe
(Nancy) in France.
Bo Winberg lead
guitar
Bob Lander rhythm guitar and vocals
Stefan Ericsson bass and vocals
Douglas Moller guitar
Fredrik Oscarsson drums
The Spotnicks was invited to
the “fair premises” when they for the very first time performed in a church.
On 24 november they made two Advent concerts in Hällestad church outside the town of Finspång
in Sweden.
Stephan Möller
is this time temporarily back behind the drums.
Bo Winberg lead guitar
Bob Lander rhythm guitar and vocals
Stefan Ericsson bass and vocals
Douglas Moller guitar
Stephan Möller drums
Here is the well-filled tour schedule:
January 28 Sävsjö,
Sweden
March 16 Cinderella, Viking
Line
March 19 Concert Hall,
Stockholm, Sweden
March 22 Concert Hall,
Gothenburg, Sweden
March 25 Kaatsheuvel,
Netherlands
April 8 Ronneby, Sweden
April 20 Cinderella, Viking
Line
May 5 Gothenburg, Sweden
May 13 The Spotnicks Festival, Lerum, Sweden
May 20 Stenungsund,
Sweden
June 5 Svedala, Sweden
June 20 Gothenburg, Sweden
July 5 to 6 Varberg, Sweden
July 14 Sköde, Sweden
July 21 Malung, Sweden
July 27 Mölndal, Sweden
August 26 Gothenburg, Sweden
Sept 21 Cinderella, Viking
Line
Sept 22 Jönköping, Sweden
Sept 30 Dombasle-sur-Meurthe,
France
October 7 Degerfors,
Sweden
October 13 Gothenburg, Sweden
October 27 Västerås,
Sweden
Nov 24 Hällestad
church, Sweden
December 9 Kisa, Sweden
During a few days in August they recorded a new album
at Tal & Tons studios in Gothenburg.
Bo Winberg lead
guitar
Bob Lander rhythm guitar and vocals
Stefan Ericsson bass and vocals
Douglas Moller guitar
Fredrik Oscarsson drums
The album is
named Still On Tour.
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2007
The Spotnicks is
relentlessly touring on during most of the year and make more than 30 shows but
now only within the borders of Sweden.
Another church
concert is held, this time in Seljansborgs church in Sandviken in the middle part of Sweden.
This year's tour schedule:
February 5 Lerum
February 16 Grevie
March 9 Karlstad
March 10 Norrkoping
March 11 Gävle
March 24 Solna
March 30 Gothenburg
April 18 Uddevalla
April 19 Cinderella, Viking
Line
April 21 Katrineholm
April 27 Lidköping
May 19 The Spotnicks Festival, Lerum
June 1 Gothenburg
June 2 Smedjebacken
July 4 to 5 Varberg
July 7 Hestra
July 13 Ransäte
july 28 Uddevalla
July 30 Rättvik
August 16 Mölndal
August 18 Björkvik
August 25 Magra
September 1 Taberg, Jönköping
September 6 Silja Line
September 8 Tidan
October 19 Gothenburg
October 26 Solna
October 27 Seljansborgs
Church
November 3 Gothenburg
November 10 Uppala
November 23 Stenungsund
Solna Records
(Owe Midner ) publish a compilation album with only vocals which includes some
previously unpublished recordings and also a new song - Lonely Woman - originally
a demo which was sent in to run for the Eurovision Song Contest this year.
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Magic Records continues their re-releases.
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2008
Unlike last
year The Spotnicks
repeatedly is playing on foreign scenes. Visiting Germany, Norway and Denmark,
and participates in two major galas in France.
Several of the domestic concerts arranged by Hans Edler and performed together
with other groups. In late March six such concerts are done in as many days in
sold-out concert halls around the country.
Bo Winberg lead guitar
Bob Lander rhythm guitar and vocals
Stefan Ericsson bass and vocals
Douglas Moller guitar
Fredrik Oscarsson drums
In Germany, two CD albums are out on the market.
One is Still On Tour but under
another name. The second, which is a double album, has the honorable name
of Guitar Heroes - The Spotnicks And Other Heroes where one of the CD also is Still On Tour and the other contains
songs including Les Paul and Chet Atkins.
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In October announces Bo Winberg that The
Spotnicks will change the crew which means that
Fredrik Oscarsson, Douglas Moller and Stefan Ericsson resigns and are replaced
by Stephan Möller, Kenth Brännlund and Göran Sanfridsson. Their first appearance takes place in
Uddevalla in mid November when also Peter Winsnes
participates. He has been "guest artist" during some of the group’s
appearances during the year.
Bo Winberg lead guitar
Bob Lander rhythm guitar and vocals
Peter Winsnes keyboard and vocals
Kent Brännlund guitar
Göran Sanfridsson bass
Stephan Möller drums
The Spotnicks is playing for
the second time in Hällestad packed church for Advent
and again complements Peter Winsnes group.
This is the very last gigs with the "old" set.
Bo Winberg lead guitar
Bob Lander rhythm guitar and vocals
Peter Winsnes keyboard and vocals
Stefan Ericsson bass and vocals
Douglas Moller guitar
Stephan Möller drums
The “new” Spotnicks get an exclusive invite to the
big rock gala in Antwerp, Belgium. According to Bo Winberg, this is one of the
coolest gigs he has been through. The stadium was filled with 14,000 people in
the audience. The Spotnicks
played Johnny Guitar, Ghostriders In The Sky and Orange
Blossom Special. Other participating bands were Mungo Jerry, Chris
Montez, Billy Joe Royal, Dave Berry, Gerry & The Pacemakers, Dave Dee,
Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich , The Troggs and The Hollies.
Bo Winberg lead guitar
Bob Lander rhythm guitar and vocals
Kent Brännlund guitar
Göran Sanfridsson bass
Stephan Möller drums
The complete game schedule in 2008:
January 12 to 13
Dortmund,
Germany
January 18 to 19 Bodö, Norway
February 2 Borgholm,
Sweden
8 to 9 February Vara,
Sweden
March 1 Gislaved, Sweden
March 7 Gothenburg,
Sweden
March 26 Gävle, Sweden
March 27 Västerås, Sweden
March 28 Norrköping, Sweden
March 29 Jönköping,
Sweden
March 30 Malmö,
Sweden
March 31 Gothenburg,
Sweden
April 3 Trollhättan, Sweden
April 5 Ronneby,
Sweden
May 9 Falkenberg
, Sweden
May 10 Skövde, Sweden
May 24 The
Spotnicks Festival, Lerum, Sweden
June 28 Ronneby,
Sweden
July 17 Orust, Sweden
July 23 Fjärås, Sweden
July 31 Mölndal, Sweden
August 4 Gothenburg,
Sweden
August 16 Calais,
France
August 23 Kumla, Sweden
August 30 Karlskrona,
Sweden
October 4 Nancy,
France
October 31 Ikast,
Denmark
November 19 Uddevalla,
Sweden
November 29 Hällestad church, Sweden
December 13
Antwerp, Belgium
2009
On March 27 Bo
Winberg becomes 70 (!) and he celebrates his birthday abroad.
Bob become 67 years on March 11.
Bo Winberg
makes his own selection on a CD from Ove Midner’s
Riverside Records - Bo Winberg - My Own Favourites.
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The new gang,
which according to Bo Winberg is the best in many years, has many bookings
throughout the year.
Bo Winberg lead guitar
Bob Lander rhythm guitar and vocals
Kent Brännlund guitar
Göran Sanfridsson bass
Stephan Möller drums
Tour plan is quite extensive this year too:
April 10 Gislaved, Sweden
May 15 Fredensborg,
Denmark
May 23 The
Spotnicks Festival, Lerum, Sweden
June 6 Laholm,
Sweden
June 26 Nävekvarn, Sweden
June 27 Nykvarn, Sweden
July 4 Munkedal,
Sweden
July 8 Varberg,
Sweden
July 11 Tyding, Sweden
July 30 Mölndal, Sweden
August 29 Bjuv, Sweden
September 18 Ikast,
Denmark
October 3 Nynäshamn, Sweden
October 13 to 14 Viking
Line Cinderella
October 24 Mellerud, Sweden
November 4 Uddevalla,
Sweden
November 5 Skövde, Sweden
December 10 Vara,
Sweden
December 28 Nässjö Church, Sweden
2010
This year they have chosen to cut back the number of
performances and make only a few gigs around Sweden.
June 19 Alingsås
July 7 Varberg
July 28 Mölndal
August 27 Stockholm
August 28 Bollnäs
September 4 Jönköping
December 10 Kungälv
2011
In January-February they rehearse and records the songs for the new the
CD The 'Real' Amapola.
Rehearsal room in Jönköping
Recording studio in Gothenburg
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The Spotnicks performs at the TV program
"Bingo Lotto" where they play The
'Real' Amapola and Ghostriders
In The Sky.
TV-studio for “Bingo-Lotto”
During
the year they show up in places like Jönköping, Varberg, Grebbestad,
Nässjö and Säffle, among others.
They also participate on October 25 at the
inauguration of a new roundabout at Rymdtorget (the
Space square) in the Gothenburg suburb Bergsjön.
Illuminated
spaceship in the roundabout in Bergsjön
2012
On January 28 The
Spotnicks is participating in a grand gala in
Duisburg, Germany, and makes an improvised number together with Brian
'Licorice' Locking, who is a former member of The Shadows.
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On March 11,
Bob Lander becomes 70 years.
This year starts "The Final
Tour" concerts in front of a seated audience in packed theater salons
across southern Sweden.
It starts in the town Borås and continues in Jönköping, Kungälv, Vara, Hässleholm, Växjö,
Ystad and Gothenburg to end up the year in Uddevalla.
Spotnicks in Uddevalla
In Malmköping the former
drummer Derek Skinner (1963-1965) meets with The Spotnicks of today.
Derek Skinner, Stephan Möller, Bo
Winberg, Kent Brännlund, Bob Lander and Goran Sanfridsson
2013
In February The Spotnicks performs at
Alando -Palais in Osnabruck in Germany.
The Spotnicks at Alando-Palais in Osnabrück
"The Final
Tour" continues in Köping, Karlstad and Kalmar.
In addition The Spotnicks
participate in a guitar gala in Sastamala in Finland.
In August The Spotnicks is awarded Gothenburg's Cultural Prize for
2013 and honored to have a tram named after the group.
Bob Lander and
Bo Winberg in front of "their" tram in Gothenburg
2014
In February this year The Spotnicks returns to Bakkehuset in Ikast, Denmark, where they have performed
many times over the years.
The Spotnicks in Ikast, Denmark
"The Final Tour" comes this year up in
Karlstad, Varberg and several other places.
2015
In February The
Spotnicks makes a gig on the island Gotland where
they also will return back to in September.
Later in the spring the share the scene at the Fritz-Henssler-Haus
in Dortmund with Albert Lee and together they play an improvised Guitar
Boogie.
The Spotnicks and Albert Lee in Dortmund
The Spotnicks makes in June two very successful performances at rock festivals in
Finland, one in Tampere and the other in Nastola.
Bob Lander and Bo Winberg in Nastola,
Finland
In autumn 2015 a major exhibition opens at the
Gothenburg City Museum which tells the story of popular music life in
Gothenburg from the 50th century until today.
The exhibition presents both individuals and groups which had great importance
for the music scene in Gothenburg. It is a story about the city's sites and
actors who made it possible for Gothenburg to be the live music
city it is.
Here are the listener, musician, arranger, scenes and stadiums presented. You
meet them in pictures, stories, films, objects and music, including some
material that has not been published before.
The Spotnicks
is obviously an important part of the exhibition.
From Toronto in Canada is a TV program called Rockinitis recurrent broadcasted.
In December's program, led by Michael Willmore and Rob Frith, was dedicated to The Spotnicks
and can be seen on YouTube.
Michael Willmore
and Rob Frith
2016
The Spotnicks are busy making several gigs around
Sweden and also took part at the recurring
Nordic Guitar Festival in May.
Bo Winberg had suffered from pneumonia and was refused
to participate at a performance in April in the northern part of Sweden after
the doctor's advice so, on a short notice Ove Lindell became substitute this
evening, which he did with honor.
Fortunately, Bo Winberg recovered fast and could already one week later play as
the front man of The Spotnicks
on the stage at the City Theatre in the town Falkenberg.
On February 24,
The Spotnicks was attracted the attention at the
live radio program "AROUND THE TIME SIXTIES TOWN" on Radiopopolare in Milan, Italy.
The program was led by Ezio Degradi which is an
Italian legend in these contexts, and who himself gave out a lot of pop records
during the 60’s.
In the program was played Save The Last Dance For Me which in The Spotnicks
version was entitled Valentina in honor of the Soviet and
the first female cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova.
The Spotnicks meets Valentina Tereshkova in Stockholm in 1966
On September 2 The Spotnicks
performed at Bakkehuset
in Ikast in Denmark in what was called their farewell concert (which Bo
Winberg, however, denied).
This was the fifth
time they came to this place and had a sold-out venue as the times before (in 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2014).
The Spotnicks in Ikast 2016
2017
On January 24 Björn Thelin
dies after a time of illness. Björn was the one of The Spotnicks four original members and their bassist
during the successful 60's and he is of course mourned by all the fans.
Björn Thelin 1942 - 2017. Photo ©
Michael Hansson
Just a few months later, on April 8, Ove Johansson died.
Ove, who recently turned 77 years, was The Spotnicks first drummer and played on the very earliest recordings with the
group but he decided to quit already in the spring in 1963.
He returned to The Spotnicks when the group celebrated its 40th anniversary when the four original
members performed songs such as Last Date, Johnny Guitar, Havah Nagila and
Amapola together.
Ove was also President of The Spotnicks
Swedish fan club as he began in 1996.
In a short time two of the The Spotnicks original members have passed away, Björn Thelin in January and Ove
Johansson in April.
We mourn them both and remember their importance to the group’s
success.
On August 29th, The Spotnicks performs at the amusement park Bakken in Klampenborg outside Copenhagen at an
event called “Tirsdags-Pigtråd
(Tuesdays-Barbed wire) together with two Danish bands from the 60’s; Lollipops
and The Dreamers.
On October 28th, they performed with "The Final Tour" at the Grand
Theater in Ljungby and on November 10th and 17th in Hällestad’s church (for the third time) respectively in Grästorp’s Concert Hall.
2018
The Spotnicks
continues their tour at Millners in Tibro on March 3, Museiegården in
Eksjö on July 10th and at the old Regiment area in
Uddevalla on August 18th during the “Wild & Crazy” festival.
They have also participated in the "Nordic Guitar Event" at the Apple
Hotel in Gothenburg on May 5th.
The last
performanc this year was at Kungsbacka
Theater on November 4th, where Radio Nostalgia held its “25th anniversary gala”.
2019
The Spotnicks
gave their very last concert on March 30 at Musikens
Hus in Gothenburg.
Thus, a 60 year long, very successful and unique career has come to an end…
2020
On January 3, Bo Winberg dies, who would turn 81 in March.
The funeral takes place on February 7 in Annedal
church in Gothenburg.
On May 3, Bo "Bob Lander"
Starander also dies and thus everyone in the original set of The Spotnicks has left us.
Bob turned 78 on March 11.
Due to restrictions due to Covid-19, Bob's funeral took place outdoors
at Kvastekulla Chapel in Partille
on June 12 in front of a limited crowd.
The Spotnicks music lives on forever…
Sören Alverfeldt