In the latest post we could forward the joy in reading the world class drummer Anders Johansson in his book ‘Trumslagarpojken (BokFab, 2017, freely translated: The Drummer boy) describing a colorful time touring and living together with Yngwie Malmsteen. Yngwie, born June 30, 1963, was elected into the Swedish Music Hall of Fame in 2015.

Yngwies excellent guitar playing leads us Swedes further on to Janne Schaffer, who turns 75 years today, Happy Birthday!! Janne is indeed still active as a solo artist and a stable band member in bands like Electric Banana Band. Janne has played with ABBA, Dexter Gordon, Stan Getz and members from Toto. As the ikon and the super skilled guitar player he is young artist like Leslie Tay and Daniel Adams-Ray want Janne to play on their albums. Janne has also played together with Ted Gärdestad and Björn J:son Lindh. Janne and Björn had the band Hörselmat (freely translated: ‘Hearing foods’) together and co-operated on each others albums (source: Helsingborgs Dagblad, Malin Eijde, Sept. 24, 2020).

Björn J:son Lindh, flute-and keyboard player and a strong song writer, took a great part in my upbringing. His very particular flute playing became his brand and who can forget his composed film music in the police thriller ‘The Man On The Roof’ (SF, 1976). A great movie, by the way, based upon the book ‘Den Vedervärdige Mannen från Säffle’ by Sjöwall/Wahlöö, whose 10 police thrillers formed the base and inspiration of todays Nordic Noir.

Säffle is not far from Karlstad, which is the biggest town in the Värmland district in Sweden. According to my dear mother Björn J:son Lindh (born Oct. 25, 1944, dead Dec. 21, 2013) and family lived in the same apartment house and even in the same entrance in Karlstad, as the newly born undersigned and parents. Björn must have been 17-18 years old and probably set his plans of becoming one of Swedens most appreciated musicians. The undersigned was too young to become friends with Björn, but is lifelong starstruck!

metalsouth takes the opportunity to pay tribute to these fantastic Swedish musicians by offering their work in the form of used, but good quality records (LPs, vinyl) at:

http://www.discogs.com/seller/metalsouth/profile

We also congratulate Discogs for passing 13 million releases in the database of which metalsouth contributes with 150…but there is more to come!