The band with the odd name is a really good
norwegian band. I´m happy that they sent med
their new record and that they answered a lot of
questions from me. November 2025
Please tell me a little history of the group,
when you started to play , when and why?
-Les Faux Coupes started about a year ago. Out
of pure frustration and boredom I made 10 songs
and recorded them in my studio. They turned out
pretty good, and I got some old friends and
bandmates to play on them. We all liked the
results, so we decided to give it a full go.
Tell me a little about every member, age, name,
what you play and bands before and on the side
of Les faux Coupes?
-We’re all men in peak shape and age (midlife
crisis)!
Robert plays the bass. As every other bassist
he’s the steady anchor. Calm, cool and
collected.
Other bands: Deleted Waveform Gatherings/The
Sound Syndicate/Thrush
Freddy is the drummer. No band is worth anything
without a good drummer, and Freddy is the master
of time and rhythm.
Other bands: Deleted Waveform Gatherings/The
Sound Syndicate/Blood Red Throne.
Sverre is the guitarplayer. The virtuoso, who
colours the songs with noise and attitude. A
Renaissance man.
Other bands: Hedge Hog/Ranheim
Morten is the singer. The songwriter and
restless creative artist, who whips the band in
shape to be the best they can be.
Les Faux Coupes, please tell me a little about
the name? How did it came foreward? It´s a
different name that it is hard to say which
style you play
-The name is sort of a joke. Like many other
bandnames, I guess!
It's the french equivalent of The Fuckups. It
looks kind of classy written like it is, but if
you say it a bit faster, it sounds like “Le
Fuckups”.
And then it sounds more punkish, I guess….
Is this your first LP?, was it important to get
out them on vinyl?
-This is indeed our first album! We’ve have
always been releasing vinyl with almost every
band we’ve played with, so for us it’s quite
important.
We all love the format, and are avid collectors
of rare and exotic albums.
Form is Temporrary, fuzz is forever,….explain a
little about that?
-This is our take on the old slogan; form is
temporary - class is forever.
If you’re a footballsupporter, you might know
that it stems from the old Liverpool
manager Bill Shankly. It’s just a funny
rewriting I guess….
Westergaard Records is the label, are they good?
Any other bands on the label?
-Westergaard is a really cool local record
label! Kari and Robert are releasing records
almost every week. They’re doing a really
fantastic job for underground and alternative
acts in Norway. They have several record labels,
but Westergaard is dedicated to garage rock,
psychedelic pop, surf, fuzz and fun.
Impossible Green is a really good 70s rock kind
of band, really well played, and a fantastic
live-band. Shallow Riverbanks is another band,
which dwells more in the Americana territory,
high on feelings. And not to be forgotten; White
Trash Blues Band - stone cold groovy R ‘n R!!
Catch them in concert if you can!
Is it impoortant to have a record cover that
shows which type of music you play?
-No, not necessarily. I know people disagree on
this. Perhaps it’s easier to sell it to the
right people if you have a cover which
symbolizes the music you’re playing?
I value the cover as much as a piece of art as
the music, and I think it’s more to do with what
the cover ignites in you, does it resonate with
you? is it stylish ?and sofort.
Do you have any favorite record cover?
-I’m really fond of the artwork for The
Cramps!!
But also Roxy Music and Talking Heads.
To play punk/garage like this in Norway, how is
it nowadays?
-Hm. It’s not exactly a huge scene, but we
thrive on each other. We help promote other
bands and labels, release records together and
play shows together.
Norway have always have a lot of good bands,
favorites from the past and favorites nowadays?
-I would say Sweden has more!
But local heroes Motorpsycho is still going
strong after 30-odd years, the same with
Turbonegro. Of newer acts I’d mention Murder
Maids, King Husky; Honningbarna and Daufødt. We
also have a great jazz/rock scene with bands
like Needlepoint, Elephant 9 and Bushman’s
Revenge.
What does punk mean to you, is it only a word, a
music style or is it a lifestyle for you?
-For us the word punk is more of an attitude and
perhaps political view, than musical or
clothing style. Most of us spent our teens
around the independent scene at UFFA in
Trondheim, were we got to see acts like Fugazi,
NoMeansNo, So Much Hate and others, and fell in
with the DIY aspect of dealing with music.
Since then it’s been some sort of a moral and
cultural compass to work after.
But I nowadays I think jazz might be more punk
than punk, ifyouknowhatImean…
Your lyrics what inspires you?
-Ah. Different and sometimes very random
topics.
But I guess in general it’s often mounted in
frustration over relationships, politics and
ethics.
Please tell me a little about following lyrics
All bitches die
Moth to a flame
Chasing tails
-Hm. I’d rather not say to much about what they
mean to me. I think the lyrics are an integral
aspect of the song, and should be open for
interpretation by the listener. Sorry, mate.
You have never thought of singing in norwegian?
Or do you have any songs in norwegian already?
-I have been thinking about it, but then you
guys in Sweden wouldn’t understand it, so…..
Any swedish favorites?
-We really like a lot of the emo/punkbands form
mid 90s; Starmarket/Fireside/Kevlar/Breach, but
of course The Hives, Union Carbide Productions,
Entombed, The Hellacopters, Ebba Grön.
I’m also quite fond of Dungen and vintage
psych/prog bands like Träd, Gräs och Stenar.
To live in Norway today, how is it politically
with racists, high prices , not to be in the EU
etc?
-Well, politically I would say it’s like it’s
been for years. We change our government every
other election, but the difference between the
two biggest parties who run the show, isn’t that
big. I guess a bit like in Sweden.
But I guess you can say that the international
tendencies of polarization is also visible in
Norway. More people tend to go to the right, but
also towards the left.
The public discussions are turning a bit harder,
but still not like in the US.
We definitely have high prices, and that’s a
huge challenge for a lot of people in Norway.
The richer getting richer, the poorer ….
Is it many place sto play live for you in
Norway?
-As a punk/rock band, it’s not that many places
to play in Norway,
but I guess you can manage a small tour with a
combination of
rockclubs and more cafe/pub-like places. It’s
mostly centered around the
big cities.
What is the best with livegigs and what is the
worst?
-I guess the best thing would be the adrenaline
rush you get, the cameraderie with the band and
the communication with the audience.
The worst might be the long drives, and the
logistics of it.
Have you only played in Norway or have you
played anything outside Norway?
-With this band we’ve so far only played in
Norway, but we’d like to play in Sweden?!
Most of us have been around Europe with other
bands, and Freddy the drummer plays all over the
world with his metal-band.
Please write down your ten favorite records
all-time?
-Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation
Fugazi - In On The Killtaker
Led Zeppelin - Houses Of The Holy
John Coltrane - Impressions
Kiss - Destroyer
My Bloody Valentine - Loveless
The Stooges - Funhouse
MC5 - Kick Out The Jams
Television - Marquee Moon
Wire - Pink Flag
Which type of people comes to your concerts?
-I guess you can say it’s a mixture of friends
and just people being
interested in alternative music.
What is the most chaotic thing which ever have
happened during a Les Faux Coupes-concert?
-Last weekend a woman suddenly told everyone
that she had to pee during a pause in our set!
Horrendous!
Whichs is your favoritesong to play live? And
which is the song is most popular in the
audience?
-I think it differs from concert to concert, but
at the moment it’s a song called “Moth To A
Flame”, I just like the steady groove of it and
the way the melody goes. I reckon it’s the same
with the audience; some like the faster, more
punky stuff we play, and others the more dark,
groovy songs.
Do you do any covers live if you do , which
songs?
-Yeah, we try to challenge ourselves, and put a
new song in every set we play.
So far we’ve done covers of Ramones, Kiss, The
Schizophonics, Jim Jones and the Righteous Mind
and Buzzcocks.
I love beer and do my own brew. Any thoughts of
doing a Les Faux Coupes-beer, if you do , what
type of beer will do and what would you call it?
-We love beer! Our bassplayer actually does his
own brew, so we’ve been talking about doing a
Les Faux Beer! It would perhaps be a chili IPA?
I support Arsenal i England and GAIS in Sweden,
do you have any favoriteteam in football? And
congratulations to your qualification to World
Championship in football
-Thanks! For the first time in years!!! We’re so
excited, and really looking forward to next
years world cup. We have a really good team
going at the moment, so I hope they’ll prove
what they’re worth next summer.
Not so good times for you, I guess? But I hope
you’ll make it through the playoff!
In Trondheim we have Rosenborg, which at the
time is not doing that great, but rank among the
normally greatest teams in Norway. They had a
really long and good run in the 90s (Champions
league!), but have since struggled to do the
same again. As for Premier league I guess we
have different teams.
How do you listen to music, is it vinyl, CD
Spotify, what is the perfect format?
-When I’m at home I mostly listen to vinyl. I’m
a collector, so my house is full of old and new
records I’m listening to. I have a lot of CDs as
well, but I’m not shure what to do with them.
Some say that the cd is the best format for
sound, and that it might get its renaissance, I
don’t know…
When I’m other places I listen to music through
my mobile. I prefer Apple Music to Spotify.
Several artist in Norway have pulled their music
from Spotify because of Mr Eks political
actions.
Do you buy much records yourself?
-Not as much as I used to, but when I travel I
usually go to record stores to see if I can find
some old gems. Trondheim also have a couple of
good record shops, so I guess you can say I’m a
frequent customer.
Wisdomword?
-Be kind.
Something to add?
-Sugar.