Summing up the journey so far

An English retelling from Kjell Moberg's manuscript.

The bands on my record shelves shaped the music I wanted to make. Before the band story goes on, I want to go back to the punk, pop, reggae and heavier records that stayed with me, from borrowed albums to Norwegian releases we could hear close to home.

Borrowed records helped change the direction of my listening: Ramones, Thin Lizzy and Stiff Little Fingers opened up a different world. Blondie became a lasting favourite, especially Eat To The Beat. The Clash brought punk together with ska and reggae, while the guitars, voice and attitude of Never Mind the Bollocks made an enormous impression on me.

The listening kept widening. UK Subs, GBH and The Exploited sat alongside Motörhead, Iron Maiden and AC/DC. There was room for Madness and Stray Cats too. Norwegian records by bands such as Svart Framtid, Hærverk and Elektrisk Regn mattered just as much, along with the Bergen compilation Ingenting for Norge. These were sounds we carried into rehearsal rooms, and examples that made us want to find our own way of playing.