Joakim Thastrom

Joakim Thastrom is one of Sweden's best known rock stars. His long and successful career started in 1977 when he formed the band "Ebba Gron" (Ebba Green). The three members of the band came from the suburbs outside the capital of Sweden, Stockholm. They played punk music and sang about living in the suburbs and not having any faith in the future. Ebba Gron became very big in Sweden and is still well known among youths. This spring they released a CD with live performances from the early 80's. It peaked the album list for some weeks. Not bad for a band that hasn't played for 15-16 years. Ebba Gron stopped playing in 1983 after six yeas and three albums. After Ebba Gron, Thastrom formed another band, "Rymdimperiet" (The Space Empire). Later on just "Imperiet" (The Empire). They didn't succeed right away, but in 1985 when the album "Bla Himlen Blues" (Blue Heaven Blues) was released everyone was convinced, Joakim Thastrom had done it again. This time with more "easy-listened" music, but still with a lot of great anarchistic texts. Though they were friendlier now. Imperiet was talked about as one of Sweden's best rock bands, and in 1986 the masterpiece "Synd" (Sin) was released. Imperiet has also released a couple of live albums and a "Greatest Hits"-album. The Imperiet saga stopped in 1988 when Thastrom began his solo career. His first solo album, called "Thastrom", was released in 1989. Yet more commercialistic sound with drum machines (he had no band) and yet more friendly, but good lyrics. The fans of the old Thastrom material started to get worried about him… After a couple of months in Amsterdam Thastrom in late 1990 released his next album, "Xplodera mig 2000". The fans were once again convinced; Thastrom could still do great music. While releasing that album, Thastrom got a stipendiary, but because the money should be taken from the hands of a group of politicians, he didn't want them. After the "Xplodera mig 2000"-album he joined the band PLP, Peace, Love and Pitbulls. They played "European Trashbeat", a mix of bodymusic, industrial rock, punk and a lot of noise! Naturally with English lyrics. In late 1992 their first album was released, called "Peace, Love and Pitbulls". To make it more attractive it said "Thastrom" on the CD cover, though it didn't sound anything like his solo albums. The new CD sold pretty much and was at best on the fifth place on the best selling album list. The next one came in 1994, but it wasn't any success. Their third album, called "3", came in 1997. This one was better. Less noise and better lyrics was the concept. Rumors about Thastrom doing an album with Swedish lyrics again is going around. Otherwise you don't hear or see much of the legend here right now. But if you are waiting for something good...