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Discography
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1989 Electric Boys - Funk-o-metal Carpet Ride
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TrackList:
01. Psychedelic Eyes
02. All Lips n' Hips
03. Who Are You
04. Electrified
05. Freaky Funksters
06. Hallelujah (I'm on Fire)
07. Cheek To Cheek
08. Get Nasty
09. Party Up
10. Funk-o-Metal Carpet Ride
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What do you think about your debut album?
'It's good. Ahead of it's time.'
- Favourite Song(and why)?
'Impossible to say.'
- Any anecdotes/special memories from the recording sessions?
'Can't think of anything special. We were very focused. I had all the
arrangements/ overdubs written out on paper to make sure we didn't forget
anything. Remember digging some of Prince's & Bootsy Collins productions at
the time.'
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1990 Electric Boys - Funk-o-metal Carpet Ride(US-Version)
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TrackList:
01. Psychedelic Eyes
02. All Lips n' Hips
03. The Change
04. If I Had A Car
05. Captain Of My Soul
06. Rags To Riches
07. Cheek To Cheek
08. Electrified
09. Who Are You
10. Into The Woods
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For the Us-release the band made 5 new songs which replaced 5 old ones.
- Why didn't you release the original record, as it was, in the US?
'I felt we had moved on, especially lyrically.
In hindsight, I think we should have just released that first album as it
was & then moved on.'
- Any anecdotes/speciell memories from the recording sessions with Bob Rock?
'It was pretty hard. I wasn't very good at letting people get involved in my
songs at the time. Nowadays, it's quite the opposite; I like the idea of
throwing a idea at someone and see what comes back.'
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1992 Electric Boys - Groovus Maximus
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TrackList:
01. Groovus Maximus
02. Knee Deep In You
03. Mary In The Mystery World
04. Fire In The House
05. The Sky Is Crying
06. Bed Of Roses
07. She's Into Something Heavy
08. Dying To Be Loved
09. Bad Mother Funker
10. When Love Explodes
11. Tambourine
12. Tear It Up
13. March Of The Spirits
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What do you think about your second album, "Groovus Maximus"?
'It's got some good songs & cool riffs on it. A bit more straight forward
hard rock. We were getting tired of all the bands jumping on the "funk/rock band wagon.'
- Favourite Song(and why)?
'Maybe the obvious singles "Mary in the mystery world" & "Dying to be loved"?
And "Sky is crying".. "Fire in the house"... "Bed of roses".'
- Any anecdotes /special memories from the recording sessions?
'Loved working in Abbey Road! Lived there during the recording.
Had trouble with the mixing though, when we came back to sthlm.. It was
terrible. The speakers had been EQ'd all wrong.'
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1994 Electric Boys - FreeWheelin'
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TrackList:
01. Ready To Believe
02. Straight No Chaser
03. Groover
04. Mountains And Sunsets
05. Sad Day
06. Nothing For Nothing
07. Sleeping In The World's Smallest Bed
08. My Knuckles In Your Face
09. Not My Cross To Bear
10. Sharp Shooter
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What do you think about your third effort?
'It's a good pre-stoner rock album. Good sounding record. Once again, Abbey Road.'
- Favourite Song(and why)?
'Maybe "Groover" & "Mountains & sunsets".'
- Any anecdotes /special memories from the recording sessions?
'Mixing hell once again. Memories? The taste of english beer & the smell of sweet herbs.'
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1996 Titanic Truth - Titanic Truth
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TrackList:
01. She's So Inventive
02. Walk Away Free
03. Last True Love
04. Spinning Wheel
05. Broadway
06. Flowers Of Evil
07. Good Time Coming
08. Dance
09. Nights In Marrakesh
10. Song For Rory
11. Spirit Child
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- In general what do you think about the album?
'There's some cool shit on that. Like my guitar playing & the sounds, using
mainly a Japanese Strat, a tele and a Peavey Classic 50w amp.'
- Favourite Songs(and why)?
"Good time coming" is cool. "Dance" & "Last true love" (with Tony singing
lead) I like also. Broadway builds up nice to, although I would have done it
differently today.'
-Any anecdotes/special memories from the recording sessions?
'Enjoyed playing guitar, but my voice wasn't in it's best shape at the time.
Tony nailed the bed tracks with lots of fever.'
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1999 Conny Bloom - Psychonaut
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TrackList:
01. Last Mistake
02. Wickid
03. Dragster
04. Star
05. I'll Be Fine
06. Hook, Line And Sinker
07. Neon Delta Blues
08. Perfect Crime
09. Bury Me Standing
10. Eyes On U
11. (Hidden track)
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If "Titanic Truth" from 1996 was a sort of debut solo album then "Psychonaut" from 1999 WAS your solo debut album, if you know what I mean.
-In general what do you think about the album?
'Really good & different at the time. It's a bit distorted production/
mastering wise, but there's some really cool ideas & songs there, I think.'
- Favourite Songs(and why)?
'Maybe "Neon Delta Blues".. "Perfect Crime" (like the lyrics), "Hook, line &
Sinker", "Bury me standing"....'
- Any anecdotes /special memories from the recording sessions?
'I was in a terrible state of my life.. I didn't know who I was, had no money
& had just had become a father, which confused me even more at the time. I'm
forever thankful that Jonas Åkerlund (the video director) convinced me to
hold on tight to the family, which I luckily did. Got 2 great kids now.'
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2003 Conny Bloom - Been There, Done What? - Live
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TrackList:
01. Frankenstein
02. Groovus Maximus
03. Neon Delta Blues
04. Mary In The Mystery World
05. Snortin Whiskey
06. Dying To Be Loved
07. Some Kind Of Voodoo
08. Knee Deep In You
09. Walk Away Free
10. Rags To Riches
11. Straight No Chaser
12. Captain Of My Soul
13. Bury Me Standing
14. All Lips & Hips (inc. Spirit Child)
15. I'm Going Home
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- What about your live album?
'The idea was to make a "guitar" album.. I often find myself producing, singing,
thinking about the other instruments in the studio, and I think some of my best
playing has happened live, when there's no turning back. I seem to play good
under "jump and see where you land" conditions...'
The concert (record) includes some non Electric Boys songs like EDGAR WINTER's
'Frankenstein', PAT TRAVERS 'Snortin' Whiskey' and TEN YEARS AFTER's 'I'm Going
Home`.
- Any other favourites among other artists songs that you like to play?'.
'I like singing Beatle's "Don't let me down"'.
- Any anecdotes /special memories from the concert?
'We recorded about 5-6 gigs and took the best from them. It wasn't very well
recorded from a technical point of view, so Tomas Jansson who mixed it had to
work hard.. "I'm going home" was only played 1 night I think, so that's what's
on the album. I re-did some vocals due to leakage and stuff but all the playing
is just the way it was on the night.'
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..and a last question:
- When will we see Electric Boys back on stage?
'We were talking about it last year, me & A.C..
However, I'm not so sure about
who else would have been in the band, apart from me & A.C.
When Andy (McCoy)
phoned, I felt that this one will be hard to beat. We've got 4 songwriters
in the band & 5 characters that knows how to take a big stage. If we can
keep this together, I think we're in for a helluva ride.'
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Conny Bloom Links
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Conny
Bloom interview April 2005
by Claes Hassel
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| General
Questions:
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| How did
you get into the music business?
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'I had music around me through my whole youth. Beatles, Little
Richard, Stones, Fats Domino etc...
When I heard " Ballroom Blitz" by The Sweet,
"Purple Haze" & the early Alice Cooper
stuff, there was no turning back.' |
| What was
your first music instrument?
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'I was banging away
on books with knitting sticks when I was a kid, then flute, like everyone else
in Sweden.
Started taking guitar lessons at 11-12, after having fooled around with it on
my own for a few years.' |
| Who has
been your main influences?
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'All these above
& many more. Too many to mention.. Just songs here & there.' |
| List five
albums of the bands/artists that you like the most and why!
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'Impossible, but
these means a lot cuz I got them when I was young:
1) "Killer" by Alice Cooper (my first album)
2) "Pinups" by David Bowie (another of my first
self bought albums)
3) "Live at the Lyceum" by Bob Marley ( a
masterpiece)
4) "Nasty Gal" by Betty Davis (sexiest funk
ever made)
5) "Smash hits" by Jimi Hendrix
I'd like to fit in a Beatles album here too but I
can't decide which! I liked them when they went psycedelic :-) ' |
| What
time was/is the most interesting for the rock music, in your opinion and why -
60s, 70s, 80s, 90s or 00s?
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'60s & 70s.
80s was horrible & the 90s was recycling. 50s was good too.'
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| Your
dream band (living or dead ;), who would they be,
vocal/bass/drums/keyboard/lead guitar/rythm guitar/producer? |
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'Hehe... Since a
band is about chemistry, it doesn't work just putting the best individuals
together.
If we DO look at individuals, this line up could be fun:
Vocals: Betty Davis
Bass: Bootsy Collins
Drums: John Bonham
Keys: Billy Preston
Git 1: Jimi Hendrix
Git 2: Jimmy Page
Producer: Lee Scratch Perry
And Miles Davis on trumpet!'
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| Of the
songs that you have composed, which of them are your favourites?
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'Wow, that's
impossible to say..
Depends on the mood. There's also different favourites as far as playing live
compared to what I like listening too. '
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| What kind
of equipment/gear are you using on the road and in the studio?
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'Mainly Fender
Strats.
I use a Boss Chorus Ensemble too fatten up the sound.
Big Muff fuzz. Octavibe & Small Stone
& some booster.
Amps: Marshall. '
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| What
are you doing in your spare time outside of music?
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'I
have a wife & 2 kids that keep me busy.'
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| If you
don't have been in the music business what have you been doing then?
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'I
would be a DJ at a 70's disco.'
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| What are
you currently up to?
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'Coming
down from the Hanoi Rocks tour, trying to figure out how this
bloody computer works.'
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| Artist/album
related questions:
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The
Beginning
Your first band, name and when did it begun??
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'Can't remember out
of all the names we had, but it was Andy "A.C." Christell and me, in school.' |
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The Music, the sort of music?..Influences?
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'Too intricate &
complicated to listen too. Like Rush on swedish mushrooms. ' |
| Roadrats/Rolene:
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The band Roadrats was formed in the early 80´s and included Andy Christell
and Gyp Casino from Hanoi Rocks, they
released a single: Satisfaction in jeans/Smoking in the boys room.
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The Music, the sort of music?..Influences?
'I was into Rory Gallagher & blues rock.
Gyp was very pop.
We ended up somewhere between the two with Roadrats. Rolene
was heavily influenced by Gyps pop records and Cheap Trick.
I liked Roadrats better, cuz it was more rock.'
- What was your connection with Gyp Casino?
'We looked alike! We were the curly kids. I wanted to get a hold of
him and one day on the street, a girl shouted after me: -"Hey Gyp"! I said:
-"It's not me, but do you know him"? She did, and then she gave me his phone
number.'
- Both Road Rats and Rolene
was more popular in Finland, was it because of the Hanoi connection?
'Yep.'
The band, Rolene, released a couple of singles and an album,
1985 Rollin´ with Rolene
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- In
general what do you think about the album any favourite Songs(and why)?
'My main memory is the terrible cover. We had many pictures taken that looked
really good and then someone picked a picture (without asking us) that looked
really stupid.
We saw it when the album was already out and they had put a pink background to
it.
It might have some musical ideas that are good, like the "That's all"
chorus and the Cheap Trick type riff on "Yeah, yeah, yeah".
I didn't sing very well & I didn't know how to write good lyrics yet. I was
so young and unexperienced. '
- Any special memories from the recording sessions?
'None that I can remember.'
Hanoi Rocks seems to be an Rock connection that has lasted
through the years. In the mid 80´s you made an EP with Sam Yaffa
(Hanoi Rocks).
- Any special memories from the time with Yaffa?
'Liked him! He told me he was gonna get a pin stripe suit made with
the lines slightly tilted, so it looked like he was leaning... Great character
:-)
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| Electric
Boys:
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In 1987 you formed Electric Boys together
with Andy Christell and released your first single, "All Lips
And Hips/ Cheesecake Funk" which became a significant hit.
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Had you written it before you got together with Andy, or?
'I wrote it when we played together, out of the blue. That's when
things fell into place.'
-The name, Electric Boys?
'Just liked the word "electric"..
At the time, there was "Electric Boogie" too, which was I
guess, our connection to rap/ modern sounds.
Liked "Electric Gypsies" but there was a band called that
already. '
The group completed their lineup with guitarist Franco Santunione
and drummer Niklas Sigegall.
- What was the connection with the other members of the band?
'Got in touch with Niklas via a mutual friend. He was
playing with Franco at the time.'
In 1993 the band went trough some changes, Niclas Sigevall and Franco
Santunione left and was replaced by
"Slim" Martin Thomander(guitar) and Thomas Broman(drums).
- What happened?
'We didn't progress & Niklas wasn't happy touring, I think.. It was either
leave or let's get our shit together.'
- About your concerts with Electric Boys, first one, where/when?
'I don't know what year exactly. New years eve at some restaurant in Sthlm.
My ex-girlfriend poured a drink over my head because I had met someone else.'
- Which songs do/did you like performing live mostly and why?
'I liked them all. "All lips & hips" was fun cuz it was the hit & had the
crowd going crazy. Then a few tracks where I didn't play guitar live, like
"Halleluja, I'm on fire" & "Freaky Funksters"'
- Any anecdotes/speciell memories from your Concerts with Electric Boys?
'Man, it would make a book! I don't know man.. We had a great time and great
fans. Every gig was great in it's own special way, although I had my mood
swings and thought some real good gigs was shit. I couldn't stand when
people said we were great at times when I thought we sucked. But hey! It's
always in the eyes of the beholder.'
In October 16th 1994 the band made their last concert and then split up.
- Is there any recordings from that concert?
'I've got the last gig on video ;-)'
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| Titanic Truth:
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In early 1996 Conny Bloom was back on stage with his new band, Titanic Truth, with Tony Taylor on drums and Nils Festader on bass.
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- What was your intention with the band?
'To do something else & to write & sing with other people.'
- The name, Titanic Truth?
'Because we played from the heart, it was "the big truth". Our truth.'
- What was the connection with the other members of the band?
'We were friends. '
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| Silverginger 5:
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What about the story behind your involvement in the band Silverginger 5.
- When and were did you meet Ginger and "why", perhaps a silly question, was
you invited to play in the group?
Ginger mailed me cuz he didn't wanna tour as a solo artist. He wanted to put a band together with me.
- Great gigs?
'Great!! Fuck yeah! Ginger has great fans.. Really liked touring in Japan although I have to admit most of it is a bit of a blur.'
- Favourite Songs?
"Sonic Shake" probably. See the video: "Sonic Shake Video"
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| Hanoi Rocks:
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..and now in 2005 you have become a member of Hanoi Rocks,
a sort of back to the beginning of your career but twenty years later!
Yeah, it's funny isn't it ? Still it doesn't feel like going back at all cuz
no one in the band is interested in nostalgia. This is what we do, here &
now, and what we sound like today.
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- Feelings about being a member of Hanoi Rocks?
Cant's say nothing but positive stuff so far! I can't see any limits really.
I wouldn't wanna go onstage after us.
Andy (McCoy)'s like "Zippy The
Pinhead", real far out sence of humour & Michael's really a sweet guy, a
real professional. Lacu is always smiling & A.C. is.. well, he's like ma
brother, you know. The brother I never had.
- Touring in Japan in May(2005), would there be any Electric Boys songs in the
repertoire?
No, wouldn't that be strange?? We've talked about making an album as Hanoi
Rocks, but with the best from our solo stuff.. Now THAT could be really interesting!
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Many Thanks to Conny Bloom for this interview!
SG5 in Japan
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