Swedish crosswords magazine Nostalgikryss, published by newspaper Aftonbladet. This edition focuses on the 1970s, so nice nostalgia. Singer Björn Skifs on the cover. He was the first Swede to have a #1 hit in America back in the day.
(My shot of said publication)
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Found an article on me and the Deep Purple Freak Society club that saw print back on October 6 1979 in a local newspaper called LT. I was interviewed by Annika Engman and the shot of me holding a couple of fanzines was taken by Jan Andersson. I wrote a few words on Purple that they added to it, which was cool. This might have been my first little story ever in print, outside of my own publications and a letter that was published in a POSTER magazine before this. I will create one of my nostalgia posters with this being at the center of it. It was around this time that I started to write for newspaper Helsingborgs Dagblad as well (in the south of Sweden, my first article for them was published on October 12 that same year, just days after this). I was 18 and things were about to kick off. Good times.
(My shot of said presentation, the Purple image was a promotional shot by Fin Costello sent out by EMI Records)
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Got to save an old article about comics that I had in print back in November 1988 (newspaper LT, Jämtland County) with this one that I am rather fond of, so this nostalgia poster has a lot of related stuff on it (and some Purple and other things, naturally). Saving old articles in this way is just good fun. This is actually costing me some serious money, but as a project it is going to be worth it. Poster one can be viewed on April 5 on this blog, poster two was highlighted yesterday and the fourth and the fifth is being framed right now.
(My shot of said poster project)
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The classic Rainbow “Rising” album has now been around for 50 years. That album was a game changer, as Ritchie Blackmore took his band into uncharted territory, and then some. As luck would have it, he had a great band with him. Not least singer Ronnie James Dio and drummer Cozy Powell. And then there were the younger faces that had recently been recruited (Tony Carey and Jimmy Bain), perhaps especially young Carey whom managed to create a reputation for himself as he did some amazing keyboard work on this record. I would argue that Metallica borrowed the riff from opening track “Tarot Woman” years later and turned it into a classic song of their own (I might send you a cookie if you can spot it). Power metal also pretty much started here, with “A Light In The Black”. Half the guitar slingers of note from the late 1970s and 1980s were inspired by this (and by Deep Purple). Then there is the lyrical content, with wizards, rainbows, magical things. Again, pretty cool imagery that inspired singers for generations (and gave Dio a nice career that would last). When I interviewed the man in 2001, we talked about books, television and films (among other things, the interview is archived on this blog back in August 2012) but sadly not too much of comics. If I had asked him more specifically on what comics he enjoyed (and he said he did), it would have been quite interesting to hear his take on this. A picture has actually surfaced of him on facebook (a shot from an unknown rock publication) from back in 1977, reading the then newly published Asterix album “The Mansions Of The Gods”. Why am I not surprised? Of course he would enjoy Asterix. Knowing what I do know, it would be right down his alley. After all, Asterix was in the world of comics what Rainbow was in the world of rock. Untouchable, awesome and magical. When I spotted that image of him reading that Asterix book, I felt joy. Maybe rock journalists should ask rockers about their favourite books, comics, hobbies etc more often? I would be all for that. Could make the feeling of having things in common even stronger.
(My shot of my old copy of “Rising” and signed More Black Than Purple fan club magazine spread – Asterix comics inserted)
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German nostalgia publication Good Times, issue 3 2026/202. Deep Purple on the cover. The first video from the upcoming album, “Arrogant Boy”, notched up over 1,000,000 views on YouTube in the first week. Much higher profile than 10 years ago.
(Cover seen here is from official platforms, my background shot)
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Picked up the newly framed nostalgia posters from my go to place (Svensson Ramar, Jämtland County) yesterday and here is the second one (first was showcased on April 5). I have just had a bit of fun with my own history, and with stuff that I have loved over the years. The idea is to have a bunch of them in the same space, creating a bit of a time travelling experience. The 1974 live shot of Deep Purple is signed by David Coverdale, it is actually a compilation album cover that I sacrificed for the cause). I think there will be seven of them all in all. I will showcase the third tomorrow on this blog. As you may know, posters four and five is being framed as we speak.
(My shot of said nostalgia project)
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Still waiting for the new Lovebites album to pop up (both LP and CD). Best case scenario for this delay is that it is selling well elsewhere, more than expected. And getting it into the charts in certain territories is probably a priority. Or I could be wrong, it could just be that the industry has not quite yet recovered from what took place in this world five years ago. I have noticed that deadlines are a bit uncertain in recent times. Still, nothing wrong with a bit of yearning. It is coming.
(My shot of Napalm Records ad on the back of Powerplay magazine 287)
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Handed in these home made hobby posters to my go to place in the city today, so these will be framed within a few weeks. I will pick up the two that are ready this week on friday and I will showcase those on this blog within a few days. Having a lot of fun with this ongoing project of mine.
(My shot of said works)
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Kerrang! has issued one of their rare magazines (available online) covering Iron Maiden, which is nice to see. And in Powerplay Rock & Metal magazine (issue 287) we have got Samantha Fish on the cover along with Tarja and Lovebites, so that looks like a good read for sure. Then there is the German edition of Classic Rock (June issue) that sports the first cover that we have seen for the new Deep Purple album. There will be loads more Purple covers coming up soon. They have put out a video for the song “Arrogant Boy” (some great playing on that one) now.
(Covers seen here are from official platforms)
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I have added a new tag on the blog, “UFO/Paranormal”, for easy access to older posts. The timing is good, now that the Pentagon is dropping loads of declassified files. The truth is out there.
(My shot of some related stuff in my old collections)
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