The Spotnicks were an instrumental rock group from

Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden,The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom of SwedenUNGEGN World Geographical Names, Sweden./ref> is a Nordic country located on ...

that formed in 1961. They were known for wearing " space suit" costumes on stage and for their innovative electronic guitar sound. They released 43 albums and sold more than 18 million records.

History

The Spotnicks originated from a duo, "The Rebels" (1956), formed by Bo Starander (11 March 1942 – 3 May 2020

rhythm guitar In music performances, rhythm guitar is a technique and role that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with other instruments from the rhythm section (e.g., drum kit, bass guitar ...

, vocals), and Björn Thelin (27 June 1942 – 24 January 2017; bass guitar). They were joined by lead guitarist Bo Winberg (born in

Gothenburg Gothenburg (; abbreviated Gbg; sv, Göteborg ) is the second-largest city in Sweden, fifth-largest in the Nordic countries, and capital of the Västra Götaland County. It is situated by the Kattegat, on the west coast of Sweden, and has ...

; 27 March 1939 – 3 January 2020), and became "Rock-Teddy and the Blue Caps" in 1957 in

. In 1958 they added Ove Johansson (

drum The drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments. In the Hornbostel-Sachs classification system, it is a membranophone. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a she ...

s) (born 30 March 1940), changed their name to "The Frazers", and began playing regularly in local

clubs Club may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * ''Club'' (magazine) * Club, a ''Yie Ar Kung-Fu'' character * Clubs (suit), a suit of playing cards * Club music * "Club", by Kelsea Ballerini from the album ''kelsea'' Brands and enterprises ...

. They signed a

recording contract A recording contract (commonly called a record contract or record deal) is a legal agreement between a record label and a recording artist (or group), where the artist makes a record (or series of records) for the label to sell and promote. Artists ...

in 1961, and changed their name to "The Spotnicks", a play on the Russian satellite

Sputnik Sputnik 1 (; see § Etymology) was the first artificial Earth satellite. It was launched into an elliptical low Earth orbit by the Soviet Union on 4 October 1957 as part of the Soviet space program. It sent a radio signal back to Earth for t ...

as suggested by their

manager Management (or managing) is the administration of an organization, whether it is a business, a nonprofit organization, or a government body. It is the art and science of managing resources of the business. Management includes the activities o ...

, Roland Ferneborg. Starander was later known as Bob Lander. They soon became the first Swedish group to have significant international success, in a similar style to The Shadows and The Ventures. They toured Europe, and one of their early records, "Orange Blossom Special", became their first big international hit, making the Top 30 in the UK Singles Chart in 1962 on the

Oriole Oriole or Orioles may refer to: Animals * Old World oriole, colorful passerine birds in the family Oriolidae * New World oriole, a group of birds in the family Icteridae Music * The Orioles, an R&B and doo-wop group of the late 1940s and earl ...

label, and reaching No. 1 in

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

. Around this time they began wearing their trademark "space suits" on stage. They recorded their first album, ''The Spotnicks in London, Out-a Space'', in 1962. Further hits included "Rocket Man" (based on the Soviet/Russian folk march " Polyushko-polye"), and "

Hava Nagila Hava Nagila ( he, הָבָה נָגִילָה, ''Hāvā Nāgīlā'', "Let us rejoice") is a Jewish folk song. It is traditionally sung at celebrations, such as weddings. Written in 1918, it quickly spread through the Jewish diaspora. History ...

" (their biggest UK hit, where it made No. 13). Winberg also recorded solo, credited as 'The Shy Ones'. In 1963, "Amapola" became one of their most successful

singles Singles are people not in a committed relationship. Singles may also refer to: Film and television * ''Singles'' (miniseries), a 1984 Australian television series * ''Singles'' (1992 film), written and directed by Cameron Crowe * ''Singles'' ...

in their home country, staying at No. 1 in Sweden for eight weeks. They appeared in the

film A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmosphere ...

''Just for Fun'', continued to tour widely, and recorded their second album, ''The Spotnicks in Paris''. That year, drummer Ove Johansson left and was replaced by an Englishman, Derek Skinner (born 5 March 1942, London). Two years later, Skinner was replaced briefly by

Jimmie Nicol James George Nicol (born 3 August 1939) is an English drummer and business entrepreneur. He is best known for replacing Ringo Starr in the Beatles for eight concerts of the Beatles' 1964 world tour during the height of Beatlemania, elevating h ...

, who had drummed with The Beatles on the Danish, Dutch and Australian leg of their 1964 tour, while

Ringo Starr Sir Richard Starkey (born 7 July 1940), known professionally as Ringo Starr, is an English musician, singer, songwriter and actor who achieved international fame as the drummer for the Beatles. Starr occasionally sang lead vocals with the ...

recovered from having his tonsils removed. In 1964 and 1965, The Spotnicks expanded their popularity in Germany and

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

, reaching No. 1 in Japan in 1966 with "Karelia". Elsewhere, however, they became less successful as popular music tastes changed. In 1965 the band was joined by organist, vocalist Peter Winsnes (born 9 March 1944, Molndal, Sweden). Nicol left in February 1967 and was replaced by Tommy Tausis (22 March 1946–30 March 2022). Thelin also left in 1967 and was replaced by Magnus Hellsberg (born 6 November 1944). Winsnes left in 1968 and organist Goran Samuelsson joined in 1969. The group, having undergone many personnel changes, split up in 1970 after releasing their fifteenth album, ''The Spotnicks Back in the Race''. Yet the band was still popular in Japan, and it soon reformed under Winberg's control in 1971 at the request of a Japanese record label. Winberg continued to lead versions of The Spotnicks, occasionally including Lander and/or Thelin, on tour and in recordings. In 2013, Winberg and Lander announced that they would be undertaking a final tour, finishing in May 2014. The Spotnicks played their very last concert on 30 March 2019, at Musikens Hus, Gothenburg. Winberg died on 3 January 2020. Lander died on 3 May 2020. Tommy Tausis died on 30 March 2022.Tommy Tausis
Retrieved 21 September 2022

Discography

Albums

#1962, Karusell KALP 1012 (Mono)/KALPS1012 (electronisk stereo/electronical stereo), ''The Spotnicks in London, Out-a Space'' (LP): re-released, 2014, on CD: Hallmark 715542. #1962, Karusell KSEP 3272 (Mono), The Spotnicks on the Air (EP) #1963, Karusell KALP 1014 (Mono)/KALPS1014 (Stereo), The Spotnicks in Paris, Dansons avec les Spotnicks (LP) #1963, SweDisc SWELP 1 (Mono) SWELPS1 (Stereo), The Spotnicks in Spain "Bailemos con los Spotnicks" (LP) #1963, President KVP 162, Devenez soliste des Spotnicks (LP) #1964, SweDisc SWELP 20 (Mono) SWELPS20 (Stereo), The Spotnicks in Stockholm (LP) #1964, SweDisc SWELP 22 (Mono), The Spotnicks in Berlin (LP) #1965, SweDisc SWELP 33 (Mono) SWELPS33 (Stereo), The Spotnicks at Home in Gothenburg (LP) #1966, SweDisc SWELP 38 (Mono) SWELPS38 (Stereo), The Spotnicks in Tokyo (LP) #1966, SweDisc SWELP C 42, The Spotnicks Around the World (LP) #1966, SweDisc SWELP C 48, The Spotnicks in Winterland (LP) #1967, Karusell KP 3001, The Spotnicks (LP) #1967, SweDisc SWELP C 53, The Spotnicks Live in Japan (LP) #1967, SweDisc SWLS 501, The Spotnicks (LP) #1967, SweDisc SWLS 502, The Spotnicks (LP) #1967, SweDisc SWELP C 54, Den Röda Brandbilen (LP) #1967, SweDisc SWELP C 60, The Spotnicks in Acapulco Mexico (LP) #1968, SweDisc SWELP C 63, The Spotnicks in the Groove (LP) #1968, SweDisc SWELP C 67, The Spotnicks By Request (LP) #1970, Polydor 2379 005, The Spotnicks "Back in the Race"(LP) #1971, Canyon Y-1005, The Spotnicks "Ame no ballad" (LP) #1972, Polydor 2379 032, The Spotnicks "Something Like Country" (LP) #1973, Karusell 2499 056, The Spotnicks in Japan (LP) #1973, Polydor 2379 060, Bo Winberg & The Spotnicks "Today" (LP) #1973, "Okänt bolag" MC 12 CPP 227, The Spotnicks Plays Great Hits of Japanese Tunes" (LP) #1974, Polydor 2480 201, The Spotnicks Live in Berlin '74 (LP) #1976, Polydor 2480 328, The Spotnicks "Feelings - 12 Brandnew Songs" (LP) #1977, Polydor 2310 568, The Spotnicks "Charttoppers Recorded 77" (LP) #1978, Marianne Records MILP 1300, The Spotnicks "The Great Snowman" (LP) #1978, Polydor 2344 116, The Spotnicks "Never Trust Robots" (LP) #1979, Marianne Records MILP 1304, The Spotnicks " Saturday Night Music" (LP) #1979, SweDisc SW25-6005, The Spotnicks "Pink Lady Super Hits" (LP) #1980, Polydor 2344 156, The Spotnicks "20th Anniversary Album" (LP) #1982, Mill Records MILL 5004, The Spotnicks "We Don't Wanna Play Amapola No More" (LP) #1983, Mill Records MILL 5019, The Spotnicks "In the Middle of Universe" (LP) #1985, Mill Records MILL 5028, The Spotnicks "Highway Boogie" (LP) #1986, Mill Records MILL 5036, The Spotnicks "In Time" (LP) #1987, Europa 100 423.9, The Spotnicks "Love Is Blue" (CD) #1987, Imtrat IMT CD 100.052, The Spotnicks "Happy Guitar" (CD) #1987, Koch Records H 321 859, The Spotnicks "16 Golden World Hits" (CD) #1989, Mill Records MILL 5040, MICD 5040, The Spotnicks "Unlimited" (LP),(CD) #1993, RCA/BMG 74321 12590 2, The Spotnicks/Bo Winberg #1 (CD) #1995, RCA/BMG 74321 26465 2, The Spotnicks "Tracks" (CD) #1997, Riverside Records RRCD 101, The Spotnicks 1997 (CD) #1999, WISTA & The Spotnicks Records TSRCD 001, The Spotnicks Live 1999 (CD) #2002, WISTA & The Spotnicks Records TSRCD 002, The Otherside (Of the Moon) (CD) #2003, WISTA TSRCD 003, Back to the Roots (CD) #2006, WISTA TSRCD 004, Still on Tour (CD) #2009, Riverside Records RRCD 130, Bo Winberg / My Own Favorites (CD) #2011, WISTA TSRCD 005 The 'Real' Amapola (CD)

Chart singles

References

External links

Official website
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Spotnicks, The Swedish rock music groups Musical groups established in 1961 Instrumental rock musical groups Musical groups from Gothenburg 1961 establishments in Sweden