Urrke has been in the punkmovement for a very
long time and is a really nice guy. He has been
playing around in various music styles over the
years but has always been the punk faithful.
This long interview was released in October 2018
Tell me a little about you, where you are born
and when, family etc?
Urrke: I was born in Kiruna, spring 1967 (67,
where have you gone now?). In 1969 I got a
little sister. My dad died a few years ago. Mom
lives with her husband, whom she has been
married for 35 years. My sister currently has
three grown children. Everyone in my closest
family lives in Gävle, where we moved into 1976.
I also have cousins and relatives in Kiruna. I
myself have lived in southern Halland with my
cats for 11 years.
Before that, I lived in Stockholm for about 10
years
How did you get into punk from the beginning?
Urrke: I was interested in music early. As a
kid. Already when I was 8-9 years 75-76 I had
records with Rod Stewart, Kiss, Sweet .. etc.
Then I heard Sex Pistol's "Good Save The Queen"
in the radio in the summer of 1977. It made that
the most of my life progressively take a new
turn. Especially when I was in a hurry after
that heard Clash, Ramones, The Damned, and
others also been heard. The Kiss records went
into the wardrobe and the Kiss posters in the
boys room were exchanged for Pistols & Co. Then
the Swedish bands came. The first I heard and
liked were Kriminella Gitarrer, Ebba Grön, Noise
(Skånska), PF Commando and Massmedia. I become
involved in the whole thing. Shaved my hair,
sewed purple trousers in the school and took a
hole in the ear with a safety needle. These
three things were extremely radical then. Today
you can laugh at it all because it's not even
close to be "weird" for example. have stubborn
hair, purple pants and holes in the ear
nowadays. 40 years later, ha ha. Then, on the
other hand, people became so angry that they
would give a fight in every corner corner.
Especially raggare. However, I've always been a
rebellious little devil who did not want to
follow standards and rules and conventions at
all if they did not matchy my feelings and
opinions. Which they don´t so often. AS soon as
the punk arrived, it became like a kind of fuel
injection in my already rebellious young blood.
My mom had trouble with me from that time, ha
ha.
You may have been the punk faithful all the
time, but you have made some runaways to other
styles ... what styles has this been?
Urrke: I have been musically out there with all
kinds of bands and styles. It has been Heavy
Metal, Glamrock, Sleazerock, Bluesrock, etc. But
all I've done has always been and has some sort
of punk attitude. And I do not like when Punk
becomes another source of conventions and rules.
People who will dictate what is punk and what is
not. It can be stuck against the whole thing.
Rule number one: "No rules". Or as Freddie
Wadling said when he got criticism for using
synthesizer in Cortex . People told him that
"It's not Punk with Synths". Then Freddie said,
"Why should I go from a prison to instantly put
me in a new one?" That's just the way I look at
the matter.
What does punk mean to you? Is it just a word or
is it a lifestyle and what's the difference
today if you compare how you saw on punk then
and now?
Urrke: Yes, I was quite touching in all that in
the answer to the last question. I think Punk is
a well-watered word today, in 2018. There has
been some water under the bridges. I was a child
when I discovered the so-called "Punk". Today I
am over 50 years old. But to me, Punk is a kind
of "fuck you attitude". Kind of.
You took a position to stop drinking a few years
ago? How did this happen?
Urrke: I had enough of all the catastrophic
consequences that my abuse caused. Absolutely
primarily for myself, but also for others. But I
was totally destroying my life. There are so
many aspects in this so it would really need a
whole book to deal with everything. I started
drinking when I was 13 years old and from that
day I just drank my whole growth every weekend.
When I moved to Stockholm in the late 90's, I
started drinking several days a week. Not just
the weekends. The last few years before I
dropped down I drank every day. A bottle of
whiskey and 12 beers every day, 7 days a week.
The doctor told me that I could get a stroke
every second because I had a blood pressure that
was too high to express it a little.
And all my money went to alcohol and my bills to
the enforcement.
But it did not stop or deter me from continuing
to drink. But the consequences only got worser
and worser and when I started hit people and
being taken by the police
and
ending trial for all sorts of reasons, I came to
a limit where I did not recognize myself anymore.
I was ashamed of myself and felt badly bad. Felt
like either I stop drinking or I'm going to hang
myself, kind of. I quit drinking 3 and a half
years ago.
Playing rock n roll and not partying can be a
difficult combination I understand?
Urrke: Not at all actually.
I also thought so before I finished. But it
turned out I was ridiculously wrong. It's just
about fear and insecurity. Going well to be
sober and play rock n roll. You may be a bit
tougher only. Without alcohol you get the right
nudity. If there is anything else in life that
can be harder to go through without drinking I
can feel. Have with idiots to do for example.
And there are quite a few, unfortunately, ha ha.
You was on the cover of MNW's Punkklassiker with
an old picture, tell the story of it?
Urrke: I worked at MNW for a couple of years at
this time. And Micke Gustavsson, the old Topper
bassist, who also worked on MNW then compiled
this collection CD with old Swedish Punk and he
had seen that old picture of me in an old photo
album. He thought it was the perfect picture as
a cover picture. He asked if he could use it and
I said "sure".
That's it.
You, like I try to propagate the brown ones
(read SD) on FB. What has it rendered for you.
Get rid of many "friends"? Do you think it helps
or we only talk to those who already think the
same as us?
Urrke: I do not see it as I'm trying to
propagate. I just see that in this, like
everything else, I say what I think. I do not
think I've "got rid of many friends". But "things
happen" on Facebook. To take a few examples: A
girl I was together with during the punkdays in
Gävle in the early 80's. When "everyone was
anarchists and liked Crass". She is active SD
politician today and removed and blocked me on
Facebook without comment. I clearly understand
why. Another is a singer who sang in a band I
played drums with in Gävle in the 90's. He wrote
one pm to me: "Look! You're thinking like a
Muslim! You're not my friend!" Poff, so I was
blocked there too. "Funny", so are some who are
angry on me because I criticize fundamentalist
Salafist Islamists too. And calls me racist (!).
So that's the way it is now for some apparently.
Either one is "Muslim" or you are "racist". And
I'm apparently both. According to some, then.
Black or white. I am neither "Islamist" or
racist I can say. I just dislike fascists.
Whether it's religious or political fascists.
I've never wondered where people are from or
what they look like. Just about how people
behave and are like people.
Was it more important than ever to vote this
year?
Urrke: Yes, probably. It's blowing dangerous
winds all over the world right now. From all
sides and edges.
Do you think politics and music belong? What is
the most political song you've been with and
recorded?
Urrke: I do not think it's either that or not.
It's like movie and theater. It can be
political. But that depends on what the purpose
of the music, the movie, the theater is. What
you want to say. Or if you just want to
entertain. Or "rock a little" just. We made a
lot of political songs with both Destruktiva Liv
and Fosgen in the early 80's. There is also a
political song on my last solo single from this
year ("Stopp och halt"). But what is the MOST
political I can not say.
Best Politicial artist/band?
Urrke: Hmm .. I have actually never thought of
this before. So now I have to think a bit. Who
are political
and
who are not? Feels weird to answer eg Ebba Grön.
Which was often political. But not always. I can
not put a label on them and arbitrarily call
them "a political band". Same thing with Clash.
Not even Crass was always political. Songs like
"So what" or "Banned from the Roxy" were
rebellious. But "political"? Naahh ... I do not
know.
MIDLIFE CRISIS from the left Urrke, Måns, Robban, Dregen
You will release a new single, including an USCH
member and an USCH song. How did the choice of
this song fall?
Urrke: Always wanted to make a cover on that
song ("Ditt eget liv"). I loved everything Usch
did. Especially the debut, but also the second
and the third (where they suddenly changed their
name to Enola Gay). I lived in Gävle and was a
12-13 year old little spunk and secretly in love
with Irre on distance, haha. And now she's on
the record and do background vocals on my record
It´s fun when I´m today is a friend with many
heroes from the past. People you looked up to.
Everything from Usch and Bitch Boys to people
who played in Joan Jett & The Blackhearts. "Ditt
eget Liv" has always been my absolute favorite
song with Usch! The text on it met me so
clockwise when I heard it the first time. That
was just how I felt. And the fact is that I
still do it today. So far I have come on the
development scale after 40 years, ha ha ha. In
addition, it begins with the bass and is purely
tough musical as well.
If you have to rank the five most important
albums in your life.
Which will it be then?
Urrke: Not simply when you like one billion
records and music is the most important thing in
one's life in addition to cats, relatives and
friends. Almost impossible actually. But above
this, then I say::
1: Sex Pistols "Never Mind The Bollocks"
2: Kiss "Destroyer"
3: Rod Stewart "Atlantic Crossing"
4: Status Quo "Quo"
5: UK Subs "Another Kind Of Blues"
Is there any disc that you really miss and want
in your collection? Which?
Urrke: The first thing I think is that in the
90's I sold a lot of records to a disc shop in
Gävle, because I needed to quickly get money for
a US-trip. Some of them have I never been
missed, but some have been rebought. A pair that
I have not yet managed to recover is the debut
LP with GLO and single "Goo goo muck" with The
Cramps in yellow vinyl. Had been fond of having
Sex Pistol's "Good save the queen" on A & M
original. But on the other hand, what would I do
with it? Chips (Kiesbye) joked about it once and
said (at fun) that he had two. "You have to have
one at home and one in the summer house", Ha ha
ha!
Do you know all the records you have been to? If
so, write down these? What are the bands you've
been involved in through the ages?
Urrke: Yes, there are a few. These I remember
directly from memory in any case:
2 singles with Glamrock band King Size.
1 album with Mora Träsk ("Träskliv")
4 albums and a bunch of singles and
collectionrecords and tribute records with
Maryslim.
2 albums with Bizex-B.
1 single with Jacob Gordin.
4 singles / EP with Midlife Crisis.
2 singles like Urrke (solo).
Then I have played with a lot of bands and
artists without releasing any discs. Sometimes
there were cassettes and other recordings. And
live-gig. Among other things, Fosgen,
Destruktiva Liv, Bugs, Dusty Brains, Simon Ådahl,
Kitty & The Kowalskis, Plantfood (with Danny
Furious from the Avengers on Drums), etc
Which part of your rock n roll life has been the
funniest?
Urrke: All "parts" have been fun in their own
way. For almost 10 years with Maryslim, many
funny memories of course. It spans a very long
while very intensive and productive time.
Playing at CBGBs in New York was a bit cool. And
the tours we made around Europe together with
Hanoi Rocks, Marky Ramone, Nomads, Backyard
Babies, 69 eyes. Everything we've done with
Midlife Crisis has been "a bit extra fun", it
also feels like.
Tell me something really crazy that has happened
during your music career?
Urrke: There have been a lot of really crazy
things. But most of the crazy is unfortunately
just a lot of drug and alcoholstories and not so
funny stories, either, I can remember. Apart
from basses whcih I have forgetten when I became
drunk and missed Finnish boats, etc., it is not
particularly fun for example. Then there are
other things that may be very crazy and fun, but
too private hanging out in public. One should
keep in mind that involved may not want to be
mentioned at all times either. Or, I can feel
that there is an humor who does not amuse anyone
but me, ha ha. I may write a book sometime. If I
can. Then we'll see how fun it was ;-)
Tell me more about your new single, who have
been on it etc and the new Mid-Life Crisis
single, tell me about it too?
Urrke: My new solo solo is - like the one last
year - published by Erik Axl Sund Records. There
are three songs on clear vinyl, limited edition
300 ex. And it is also released on Spotify. I
sing and play all the instruments myself. Drums,
bass and guitar. Then I have guest musicians as
Chips Kiesbye and Måns Månsson which have add a
couple of guitar solos, Stefan Björk has put on
another small huitar and Irre Terad from Usch do
background vocals as said on "Ditt eget Liv".
The Midlife Crisis single is the fourth record
we released since the debut in 2004. Also this
time, the little Bootleg Booze records in Arvika
are releasing it. And like all other times, it's
Me, Dregen, Robban & Måns. Two songs that I
wrote and UK Sub's old hit "Same Thing", which I
translated to Swedish - "Samma Sak". Charlie
Harper & Paul Slack (who wrote the original)
loves it :-) The first edition is 500 ex on
black vinyl and they are soon set to run out. A
second edition of any other vinyl color will be
released at any time. They are on the pressure
now when I write. 500 more.
What are your future plans with your music? Do
you have new projects going on?
Urrke: I have no "future plans" with my music. I
do what I feel for justright now When I played
with the glamrockband King Size in Gävle in the
80´s, I wanted to be rock star. Then I gave up
those plans when we split. Then I got new air in
the late 90's and wanted to be rock star again.
With Maryslim. That time, I managed to get well
with this plan, you could say. Ha ha .. But then
"it went to hell" with that band as well. We
left the roads in 2008, after almost 10 years
together. Now I'm terribly happy just about
doing what I'm doing and that's what it gets.
I'm don´t give a damn if I do not do any world
tours, if I'm not on the cover of some
newspapers, etc. I am - as one of the songs is
called on my new single - "Satisfied & Free".
I understand you love cats, what's the best with
them? What would a cat vote for do you think?
Urrke: I love animals at all. And I have grown
up with cats since I was a baby. Mum had a
Siames called "Majka" when I was born. She was
my first friend. Where I Was she was.
Inseparably and evenly. There is hardly a single
picture of me as a little where the cat is not
included. What's best with cats, I do not know.
All? There is nothing that is not the best with
them? Cats are totally unpolitical. Their
mentality is enough that they would not vote at
all. In fact, they care about themselves and
their immediate loved ones and do not worry
about everyone else, as long as they are not
threatened. Cats are anarchists
What do you wish for the most of all right now?
Urrke: Mankind have their sense left and make
radical changes NOW. To prevent the insane
development we have, with the climate threat, to
continue escalating, until we have killed all of
our planet, ourselves and everything else that
lives here. And that I and the cats must live in
freedom and be healthy until we die.
Do you prefer CD, vinyl, cassette or digital?
Urrke: I definitely prefer vinyl. It sounds the
best and is the most beautiful feeling. Envelope
and packaging are always best on vinyl as well.
The CD is quite ok. Especially if you're just
listening. Cassettes have a cozy nostalgia
feeling. Digital is the only thing that goes
away for me. I do not even have Spotify.
What was the first record you bought, and the
latest and the most expensive?
Urrke: Kiss "Destroyer" was the first record I
bought for my own money. My last purchased
record was Strängens last album, just released.
The most expensive disc I bought was a very
unusual Kiss single from 1975, which I totally
gave 3500 swedish krona
many years ago. Insane actually.
Which of the records you yourself participated
in is the most expensive one you think?
Urrke: I do not think any of the records I
participated in did any exceptionally collective
values actually. Perhaps some of the limited
vinyl colors on any of the Midlife Crisis single
can be "expensive" if I'm going to guess.
Words of wisdom?
Urrke: There is so much to be angry on , to be
offended, to be sad. If desired, one can be
upset, offended, angry and sad 24 hours a day.
Every day. Every week. Every month. Every year.
Whole life.
But do you want it? ...
Something to add?
I say they said at the end of an old Knäppupp
Revue with Martin Ljung from the 1960s: "No, I
think it's enough for me now". Or I can also say
that I might think that it could stand on my
gravestone. "Well that ends well" ;-)