B E A T I N S T R U M E N T A L
S W E D E N
S W E D E N
THE SPACEMEN were launched in 1988 when guitarist Sandor Hajosi and drummer Birger Callerholm met brothers Lennart (Lenny) and Hans Clerwall at Lenny's studio in Osmo, Sweden. All were keen Spotnicks fans and this prompted Sandor to demonstrate his 'Spotnicks' guitar sound which he had perfected over a 15 year period using a specially adapted Fender Strat. They decided to put it to the test and record an album in the Spotnicks' style, the result of which was 'Space Hunter'. With its tight production and space-age guitar it was a stunning debut from the newly-formed Spacemen (Sandor Hajosi - lead, Hans Clerwall - rhythm guitar, Lennart Clerwall - bass and Birger Callerholm - drums) and was embraced with open arms by instro and Spotnicks fans alike.
Lenny Clerwall is a gifted composer of songs & guitar instrumentals and wrote several of the originals that appear on 'Space Hunter'. The album remains my favourite Spacemen release.
Lenny Clerwall is a gifted composer of songs & guitar instrumentals and wrote several of the originals that appear on 'Space Hunter'. The album remains my favourite Spacemen release.
The Spacemen's Theme / Cosmos Riders / Lonely Tears / Western Express / Rumba I Balders Hage / Humpty Dumpty / Mark Of Zorro / Space Hunter / Spanish Gypsy Dance / Cherry Blossoms / Indians / Rosie / Gamla Nordsjon / Russian Dreams.
A second album, 'Lost In The Wind', was soon in orbit and the band wisely kept the echo-drenched spacey sound intact. The overall quality of the album was somewhat let-down by the inclusion of three vocal tracks, a practice that continued with the third album.
The instrumentals were top notch though including a decent stab at Hava Nagila.
'Entry Of Jupiter' was the Spacemen's third album (1989) but by then Sandor and Birger had moved on leaving Lenny and Hans to find replacements. These came in the form of Lars Haggstrom (bass) and Roger Palm (drums). Lenny switched to lead guitar and employing his own Strat cleverly re-created the 'Spacemen's' guitar sound in such a way that it was difficult to tell that Sandor Hajosi was no longer part of the team.
A second album, 'Lost In The Wind', was soon in orbit and the band wisely kept the echo-drenched spacey sound intact. The overall quality of the album was somewhat let-down by the inclusion of three vocal tracks, a practice that continued with the third album.
The instrumentals were top notch though including a decent stab at Hava Nagila.
'Entry Of Jupiter' was the Spacemen's third album (1989) but by then Sandor and Birger had moved on leaving Lenny and Hans to find replacements. These came in the form of Lars Haggstrom (bass) and Roger Palm (drums). Lenny switched to lead guitar and employing his own Strat cleverly re-created the 'Spacemen's' guitar sound in such a way that it was difficult to tell that Sandor Hajosi was no longer part of the team.
In 1990 The Spacemen issued their fourth album, 'Magic Planet'. This time there were no vocals to skip over, just high quality guitar instros. 21 tracks in all offering a varied selection of covers and Hans/Lenny Clerwall originals. Roger Palm was also a busy session drummer (he played on a few ABBA records) and had left the band prior to the sessions for 'Magic Planet' so Michael Borgstrom became the Spacemen's latest recruit.
After four albums in quick succession there was a lengthy gap of three years before the group's fifth album surfaced in 1993.
'Cosmic Guitar' was another fine collection of guitar faves performed with great style and taste and featured yet another new drummer in the form of Tomas Ericsson. Original Spacemen's guitarist Sandor Hajosi returned to the fold for two numbers; The Cruel Sea and You're The One That I Want.
With Sandor back onboard The Spacemen released the superbly crafted 'In The Wild West' CD in 1994. Eighteen western-themed instros mixing originals with decent cover versions of well-known tunes like Pony Express, Apache and Hang 'em High.
Next came the self-explanatory 'In A Christmas Mood' LP in 1995 and following on from the success of a Swedish television appearance the Spacemen embarked on a short tour of their homeland.
Sandor and Tomas then decided to form their own group leaving Lenny and Hans to once again go in search of new band members.
The drum chair became the responsibility of Per-Olof Alm (a familiar name to instro fans as he was the drummer in the highly respected Swedish Shadows tribute outfit '1961') and for the next release, 'Back Home In Sweden', Lennart doubled up on bass and lead guitar on a pleasant set of Swedish folk songs, recorded at Lennart's Rainbow Studios in March 1996.
In March 1997 The Spacemen were invited to headline the fifth Pipeline Convention in London and with guitarist Kurt Froberg performed a lively, heavily Spotnicks influenced set comprising: Pomp And Circumstance / Old Faithfull / Hang On / The Spacemens Theme / Johnny Guitar / Amapola / Wabash Cannonball / Last Date / Cosmos Riders / Pony Express / Mark Of Zorro / Behind The Earth / My Boots / The Golden Sea / Gardebylaten / Gypsy Woman / Alpens Ros / Hava Nagila / Moonshot.
(A DVD of The Spacemen's Pipeline Convention performance is available to buy from: Intec Services, 24 Dalmeny Road, Carshalton, Surrey, SM5 4PP, UK. The DVD also features The Scorpions, The Temebeats and The Silhouets.
Price including P & P is £15 (UK), £18 (Europe and Rep Of Ireland) and £20 (Rest Of The World).
Whilst at the 1997 Convention Lenny and the boys launched their seventh CD, appropriately titled 'The Spacemen In London'. The disc was up to the usual high standard of previous releases and showcased Kurt's guitar skills in a studio environment. Once again a handful of Clerwall brothers originals peppered the album including Hans Clerwall's catchy melody Big Ben.
The following year The Spacemen celebrated their tenth anniversary with a CD entitled '10 Years In Space'. Hans and Lenny submitted thirteen of the seventeen tracks themselves, prolific writers or what?
That was in 1998 and since then I've heard no more about The Spacemen. That's a great shame because they were certainly one of Sweden's greatest instro bands and a new CD is long overdue.
Kurt Froberg is currently lead guitarist with The Ryders.
After four albums in quick succession there was a lengthy gap of three years before the group's fifth album surfaced in 1993.
'Cosmic Guitar' was another fine collection of guitar faves performed with great style and taste and featured yet another new drummer in the form of Tomas Ericsson. Original Spacemen's guitarist Sandor Hajosi returned to the fold for two numbers; The Cruel Sea and You're The One That I Want.
With Sandor back onboard The Spacemen released the superbly crafted 'In The Wild West' CD in 1994. Eighteen western-themed instros mixing originals with decent cover versions of well-known tunes like Pony Express, Apache and Hang 'em High.
Next came the self-explanatory 'In A Christmas Mood' LP in 1995 and following on from the success of a Swedish television appearance the Spacemen embarked on a short tour of their homeland.
Sandor and Tomas then decided to form their own group leaving Lenny and Hans to once again go in search of new band members.
The drum chair became the responsibility of Per-Olof Alm (a familiar name to instro fans as he was the drummer in the highly respected Swedish Shadows tribute outfit '1961') and for the next release, 'Back Home In Sweden', Lennart doubled up on bass and lead guitar on a pleasant set of Swedish folk songs, recorded at Lennart's Rainbow Studios in March 1996.
In March 1997 The Spacemen were invited to headline the fifth Pipeline Convention in London and with guitarist Kurt Froberg performed a lively, heavily Spotnicks influenced set comprising: Pomp And Circumstance / Old Faithfull / Hang On / The Spacemens Theme / Johnny Guitar / Amapola / Wabash Cannonball / Last Date / Cosmos Riders / Pony Express / Mark Of Zorro / Behind The Earth / My Boots / The Golden Sea / Gardebylaten / Gypsy Woman / Alpens Ros / Hava Nagila / Moonshot.
(A DVD of The Spacemen's Pipeline Convention performance is available to buy from: Intec Services, 24 Dalmeny Road, Carshalton, Surrey, SM5 4PP, UK. The DVD also features The Scorpions, The Temebeats and The Silhouets.
Price including P & P is £15 (UK), £18 (Europe and Rep Of Ireland) and £20 (Rest Of The World).
Whilst at the 1997 Convention Lenny and the boys launched their seventh CD, appropriately titled 'The Spacemen In London'. The disc was up to the usual high standard of previous releases and showcased Kurt's guitar skills in a studio environment. Once again a handful of Clerwall brothers originals peppered the album including Hans Clerwall's catchy melody Big Ben.
The following year The Spacemen celebrated their tenth anniversary with a CD entitled '10 Years In Space'. Hans and Lenny submitted thirteen of the seventeen tracks themselves, prolific writers or what?
That was in 1998 and since then I've heard no more about The Spacemen. That's a great shame because they were certainly one of Sweden's greatest instro bands and a new CD is long overdue.
Kurt Froberg is currently lead guitarist with The Ryders.