Royal Abuse is among one of the most interesting punkbands right now in Norway. Have released a LP . Here is a short interview with the group and it´s done in november 2025.

Please tell me a little history of the group, when you started to play , when and why?

-We didn't like to play football, so we had to start a band.  We started up as a trio with an appetite for punk rock music.

Tell me a little about every member, age, name, what you play and bands before and on the side of Royal Abuse?

-Fast forward to 2025, we are now 5 members. 

Hans Petter Bjørnstad 46 (guitar) (Fordommer og Hat) (Lutzwaffe)

Rune Røsholt 47(bass) (Dirty Deeds)

Vegard Liverød 38 (drums) (Witchcraft) (Maraton) (The New Death Cult) (Chasing Demons)

Geir Andre Gjerstad 42 (vocals) (Chasing Demons)

Christian Skogly 40 (guitars). (Short on collateral) (The last 24)

Royal Abuse, please tell me a little about the name? How did it came foreward?

-We started as a cover band. We played a cover of Bruce Springsteen actually - The River among others, and we "abused" it with intention. Thereby the name became, Royal Abuse.

This seems to be the first thing you release as a band, why a LP as the first thing?

-Actually we released an EP in 2018 by the name Suck it up! It's on vinyl! We released several  songs digitally as well.

Is it important to get it out physically?

-Yes! It's cool! But very expensive…

The record is called Slagside, any deeper meaning with it?

-Slagside. It's like a ship almost sinking, like some things in the world today.

Is it important to have a record cover that shows which type of music you play?

-Yes, looks like old punk rock records. We like covers with band members

Do you have any favorite record cover?

-The first Ramones record.

To play punk like this in Norway, how is it nowadays?

-The crowd is small but very energetic and we are getting too old.

Norway have always have a lot of good bands, favorites from the past and favorites nowadays?

-Thats right! Many favourites like Kjøtt, Jokke og valentinerne, Raga rockers, Backstreet girls, Flying crap, Turbonegro, The good the bad and the Zugly, The Mansters.

What does punk mean to you, is it only a word, a music style or is it a lifestyle for you?

-We´re modern punkers with day jobs trying to Get through the week. And then hang out and drink beer with other modern punkers in the weekends.

Your lyrics seems to be important to you? Is it important to have lyrics whihc is about something really important and not sing about nothin?

-Yes we like that, its also brings more energy to the songs when there is kind of a meaning to it.

Please tell me a little about following lyrics

Samme båt

Endelig höst

Reparor

Samme båt (shoutout about today's scenery and the troubles caused by few. Wake up and smell the coffee. Make an effort, pull together!)

Reparer (the song is a jab at the material world, the throw away culture.)

Endelig høst ( a song about autumn, a tribute to our favorite season)

You have never thought of singing in english?( I don´t hope so)

-Been there done that.hehe Might do it again though.

Any swedish favorites?

-Yes many! The Hellacopters, Lastkaj 14, Asta kask, Ebba Grön, Millencolin, No fun at all, Sator, The Hives. Many more

To live in Norway today, how is it politically with racists, high prices , not to be in the EU etc?

- It's okay, we get by. Like the Modern punkers we Are .

Is it many places to play live for you in Norway?

-Yes its ok. We end up playing at the same small Clubs/pubs close to where we live. Would be great to get more around.

What is the best with livegigs and what is the worst?

-The worst part is planning, and dealing with equipment. The best part is to play and getting free beer hehe

Have you only played in Norway or have you played anything outside Norway?

-Only Norway

Please write down your ten favorite recrds all-time?

-The Ramones - The Ramones

Hellacopters - high visibility

Turbonegro - ass cobra 

Iron Maiden - Killers

Bad Religion - Stranger than fiction

No fun at all - Out of bounds

Descendents - Everything sucks

The Clash - London calling

Entombed - Left hand path

Death - ...For the whole world to see

What is the most chaotic thing which ever have happened during a Royal Abuse-concert?

-A former drummer drank a bottle of Jagermeister before a show, not smart total chaos! It was more chaos when we were younger.

Whichs is your favoritesong to play live? And which is the song is most popular in the audience?

-We like to play: Vi må slå. For the audience, maybe: Samme båt.

Do you do any covers live if you do , which songs?

-At the time we have one cover song, Joachim Nielsen - Ut av byen.

I love beer and do my own brew. Any thoughts of doing a Royal Abuse-beer, if you do , what type of beer will do and what would you call it?

-We love beer too. Maybe we could do a lager and name it Royal Brew hehe

I support Arsenal i England and GAIS in Sweden, do you have any favoriteteam in football?

-We only support Kodal I.L.

How do you listen to music, is it vinyl, CD Spotify, what is the perfect format?

-The perfect format is vinyl, but the easiest is streaming music.

Do you buy much records yourself?

-Yes. Too much hehe, especially small underground bands. Important to support!

Future plans?  

-Support local music, buy records.