Isterband
Isterband Biography
Isterband was a school band consisting of students from Vanstaskolan's Middle school in Ösmo, near Nynäshamn in Sweden. It was formed in 1978, when Roland Hermin started to work there as a music teacher. Roland was a guitarist and bassist, who in the 1970s had toured and recorded together with Ted Gärdestad, Magnus Uggla, Harpo and Banana band, among others. Right from the start, Roland asked his students if they wanted to start a band. Isterband performed at speach days at the end of the terms, and the set-up of the band varied as people started and left the school. Anyhow, after three years, the students who had been playing throughout Middle school recorded some songs on tape to keep as a memory.
The tape happened to be played on a local radio station, and in the end of 1981 Isterband was signed by Rixi – an under label to Mariann Records. They released a single which contained the song "Röda skor", that became a hit, even though it was taken down by the critics. Now Isterband consisted of 13 members – most of them born in 1965: Maria Lindberg (vocals on "Johan och jag"), Roger Olkerud (bass, vocals on "Röda skor"), Karin Delvert (vocals on "13 år"), Per (piano on "Unga starka män"), Bengt Johansson (percussion), Lena Martinelle (piano), Mary-Ann Borg (vocals), Maria Gustavsson (vocals on "Superstar"), Katarina Örtlund (vocals on "Femte hjulet"), Maisi (piano, flute and vocals on "Gott nytt år"), Gerhard "Kuno" Kunosson (guitar), Kenneth "Kenta" Söderberg (wrote lyrics), and Johan Tigenius (played drums, and he was the only remaining member from the band's original set-up). In 1982 Isterband released an album of songs that had been written through the years. Roland Hermin had written the music (exept for one song that was written by Kuno), and Kenta Söderberg wrote the lyrics. Jan Svensson (more known as Harpo) did the whistling on "Röda skor". Isterband also wrote a book about their work, which included Music sheets for all songs featured on the album.
Isterband's next single "Johan och jag" was, as well as "Röda skor" played a lot on the radio. In 1984 Mariann started to promote a new teenage band called "The Pinks", and that might explain the sudden absence of Isterband. The Pinks even got a hit with "Helena och jag", which was a retitled cover version of Isterband's "Johan och jag".
Some of the band members have continued their music careers. Johan Tigenius has played drums with Örjan Stenbom (alias Simon Rowe), Janne Bark and Ulf Lundell. Gerhard Kunosson is currently working at Rikskonserter (organizing concerts in Sweden). Roland Hermin is (2010) still working as a music teacher in Nynäshamn.
Isterband Discography
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S NU ÄR DET SOM DET SKA (Promo)
1981 Rixi Trix 002 (Sweden)
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1. Nu är det som det ska (Johan och jag)
S ÄLSKAR DEJ / RÖDA SKOR
1981 Rixi / Mariann Trix 003 (Sweden)
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LP JOHAN OCH JAG I MINA RÖDA SKOR
NU ÄR DET SOM DET SKA!
1982 Rixi Trix-LP 103 (Sweden)JOHAN OCH JAG I MINA RÖDA SKOR
1982 Rixi Trix-LP 103 (Sweden)
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1. Johan och jag S
2. Blyg
3. Älskar dig S
4. 13 år
5. Femte hjulet
6. Röda skor S
7. Walkman
8. Leg.
9. Superstar
10. Äntligen
11. Unga starka män
12. Märta min raring
13. Gott nytt år
BOOK ISTERBAND
– Book with lyrics and music from the LP "Nu är det som det ska" [lyrics: Kenta Söderberg ; music: Roland Hermin] ; [Written by Isterband. Corrected by Swedish Teachers at Vansta middle school]
Sweden Music 1982, 76 pages, ill. (Sweden)
2. Blyg
3. Älskar dig
4. 13 år
5. Femte hjulet
6. Röda skor
7. Walkman
8. Leg.
9. Superstar
10. Äntligen
11. Unga starka män
12. Märta min raring
13. Gott nytt år
Isterband (Photos from the book "Isterband" 1982)
Isterband 1982 (Photo Kristina Cleverborn)
Isterband – Röda skor
Isterband – Johan och jag
