Not too far away from Östersund (Jämtland County), we have one of the best preserved fortifications (Brunflo Kastal, built around 1180) in Sweden. A big battle raged at this site in 1644 when Swedish forces attacked what was then a part of Norway. The Swedish army won the battle and villages around this place were burned down without mercy. More wars would follow but Jämtland was never retaken by the Norwegians. The Kastal now stands close to a church that was built 1770-1775. I published a spread about this fort and its history in Retrofuture (issue 6) back in 2013.
I quite enjoyed reading Classics Illustrated 63, “Buffalo Bill” (second printing 2025), it is really nice to see these UK reprints. Not even sure if I have owned a copy of this title before (it has been 50+ years). Cover by Mort Kunstler, inside art by Maurice del Bourgo.
(Said reprint seen here with my 2013 Retrofuture publication, issue 6 western edition)
It has been a full decade since I published the final fanzine publication (Retrofuture 8) and I am quite happy that it ended on a high note. It was a wonderful hobby.
(My shot of man cave article plus cover, lovely model Nina in focus)
As I work on the Deep Purple Family collection (adding stuff to binders), I keep finding stuff from the past. I just located a press thing from Swedish publication Nostalgia Rock´n´Roll Magazine (issue 2 2012) in which I was called “The Fanzine King”. Nice. This was written by Jörgen Holmstedt, whom also made an interview with me about fanzines for Sweden Rock Magazine a while ago that is likely to pop up soon. He has mentioned that an article about fanzines is coming up in the magazine on his facebook page quite recently. Jörgen is no stranger to fanzines himself, as he started out with a Thin Lizzy fan club publication back in the day. So he is definitely the right guy for writing an article on the subject.
The statistics for the blog has been awesome in the last week, with an additional daily traffic of 300 to 600%. I just do what I do and every now and again I can see these peaks. Not sure where the boost is coming from but somebody out there has been kind enough to link to the blog. In fact, if you appreciate this blog, maybe you can mention it (perhaps this post?) on your social media. Having done this now since back in 2012 (the fanzine operation ended in 2015), I am pretty confident that I will keep this going for a long time. I enjoy the freedom, to highlight the cool stuff out there. I try not to be negative, I much prefer to keep it all positive. Every now and then I see interesting feedback. I see quotes from interviews in books, I hear people discuss bands that I have introduced early on, I even get press releases sent to me from different bands and record companies (not bad for a personal blog). I have been thinking about collecting the best stuff from this blog in a book, just for fun. We shall see. It would be a first I guess. Today I will add a tag for Japanese rockers Lovebites to the blog. They deserve it and it should be up and running within a few hours. Keep rocking!
(My shot of cool stuff that represents this blog well)
I recently mentioned the Ronnie James Dio tribute concert set up by the Stargazer Alliance and the star packed show that is coming up in Stockholm (Sweden) on May 15. I mentioned that ex-Rainbow singer Ronnie Romero was going to take part in this then but I was not aware that Doogie White (also ex-Rainbow vocalist) is also taking part (and so is Jorn Lande). So I correct this blunder with this post since I think that the team behind this is putting together a tremendous show and they do deserve some love for what they are doing here. And the fact that it is for Cancer research, for charity. Respect. I also noted that Tallee Savage (one of the coolest people in Sweden, and also one of the best photographers) is deeply involved in this. We actually cooperated on a thing back in the Retrofuture (fanzine) days that I truly look back on with joy. As for Doogie White, I knew him when he was in Rainbow and I interviewed him for the Deep Purple Forever! fanzine on several occasions (you can find a few of these chats on the Classic Rock Interviews tag). Lovely chap. As for Ronnie, I only ever met him once, and we did an interview back in 2001 that we (myself and photographer Michael Johansson, whom captured it on video; search for “Ronnie James Dio + UFO” and you will find a clip from this on YouTube – the interview can also be found on this blog) were lucky enough to get. I just loved the guy. And he was doing charity himself (quietly), and we talked about that as well. The tribute concert on May 15 is such a cool thing, if any man deserves it it is him. I am sure that he is smiling in heaven. May his legacy live on forever.
(My shot of one of the old Deep Purple Forever! fanzines, inserted Stargazer Alliance Doogie White ad is from official platforms)
I am glad to be able to present a brand new interview with Swedish singer Martina Edoff on the blog today. This is the second interview that is added to this blog, we did a few things back in 2008-2009 when I was printing magazines (one of which you can see above and others in the second image below – photographer Michael Johansson had a huge part in this), so this kicks off in 2010. Enjoy!
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I published our last chat in my publication Top Secret 2009 (archived on this blog on December 4 2014) and prior to that you had a picture on the back of SLICE 2008 (Global edition) and then there was the Rockweekend 2010 review in Retrofuture 3 in which I highlighted your performance with Cougars. So lets go back to 2010 and the band Cougars. Did that band ever record anything, demos maybe? I thought it was an excellent band.
– “I came up with the idea (and the name) to have a band with just women. I found the most talented musicians and we started to play at several stages. It was fun, but we never reached a level to go further due to other commitments that the girls had. It was just for fun”.
What happened to the band, where are they now?
– “I’m sure all of them are doing great at what they’re doing. It’s such a long time ago”.
There was this magical moment during that festival performance when you lost the electricity for a few minutes and guitarist Åsa Karlsson started to strum on a AC/DC riff and you immediately got the crowd going. That was a memorable incident and it is not like artists prepares for such things. Do you recall that moment still?
– “You have a brilliant memory. Things like that can happen when you are doing live performances. Every single person who works on a stage knows what to do in a moment like that and we just did what was expected of us. Same thing happened when me and my band played in New York in front of a huge audience. Then it was the base drum that broke down. We had to improvise but luckily the other band offered their drums in a hurry for us to continue”.
We covered your pre-2010 history in the first interview, but I really have to ask if you ever recorded anything with your first band Mandrake Root? Anything in the vaults?
– “No. That was a coverband I sang with in the 1980s”.
In 2014 we had your first solo album released under your name (no title). It was produced by Robert Wellerfors and released on the MRM Production banner. How did it all come together?
– “At that time I had decided to give up on music and start a career as a life coach. During my training to get certified we were given study buddies to go through our education together. I was so determined to reach my goal and become the best so I found a classmate who was there merely to get help from the therapy program. A win win situation. A year of training for me and a year of therapy for him. When we finished the course we became friends and he knew I was a former singer at that point. Like a blessing from the sky he wanted me to continue with music and offered me to record an album. Imagine my surprise when he said “Let’s do it”! I gathered all my old demos and contacted an old friend in the music business who knew Wellerfors and the first album was made”.
For a debut album, it is incredibly strong, well produced, well played and very happy and positive sounding. There is a lot of positive energy in your music.
– “Thank you. I usually write the melodies and the lyrics and for me it’s important to give the listener a feeling of hope and high vibes”.
In what territories was it released and what kind of promotion were you able to do for this album?
– “We had a German record label that did a great job and spread the album to many countries around the world. I did a lot of radio interviews as well as magazines. It was well received and my audience was mostly outside of Sweden”.
In 2015 we had album number two, “Unity”, produced by Tobias Lindell and co-produced by Jona Tee with Robert Jansson and yourself credited as executive producers. Again, an incredibly good AOR rock album that I loved to listen to in cars on long journeys. It seems that you had your own thing going and I thought it was very international in nature. How do you look back on this album today?
– “I was given the opportunity to start writing new songs, that made me very happy. I already had a few songs with me when I met Jona for the first time. We wrote some songs together and I felt it was a perfect match. He is a great producer as I told him back then. To get the privilege to work with the one and only Tobias is also a huge success. The “Unity” album has a special place in my heart”.
A friend of mine, drummer Björn Höglund popped up on your third album “We Will Align” (2017) and this time you had the backing of AOR Heaven. Did that make any difference?
– “Björn is a fantastic drummer! And my long term friend Nalle got the job to find musicians for the North American tour in 2016. We continued to play in other countries as well and when it was time for my third album to be recorded I asked the guys in the band to play on the album. Jona did a fantastic job as a producer and I was a side kick all along”.
This time Jona Tee was credited as producer and you were co-producing. Did you feel more and more confidence in the studio as time went by?
– “There has never been a lack of confidence it was a question of being allowed into the studio. I love being a part of it all. I have lots of ideas and sometimes they’re good and sometimes they’re bad. But to be a part of the progress is so important to me. I thank Jona for letting me in”.
Again, a very powerful album with a lot of beautiful moments on it. As a trilogy, your albums are hard to beat when one looks at what you put out during these years. Looking back, are you happy with the catologue so far?
– “Yes very happy!! I look forward to more music some day”.
I know you did some gigs, was anything ever recorded live?
– “We did lots of gigs during those years. UK, Czech Republic, Poland, Germany, Sweden, Canada, US, Argentina. All I’ve seen recorded was from the people in the audience”.
What were the highlights during these years?
– “The laughter in the bus. The audience of course, the places we saw and all the wonderful people we met. The music binds people together. Wonderful memories”.
You also made some videos for your albums, is there anyone in particular that you are happy about and that you would like people to check out?
– “It was much fun doing these. Check them all”.
I know that you have had health issues and then there was the Covid period. I also know that you wrote a book and that you released your first music in years in early 2024 with the single “New Town”. Can you see the light at the end of the tunnel?
– “Yes I can finally see the light in the tunnel. For six years I was very ill. Bedridden for two years. It was a slow process to heal. I was contacted and asked to sing on a song that was sent to me. I wanted to write the lyrics so I said yes. “New Town” is one of three songs we did”.
You told me that you may want to explore some country music in the mix, which sounds interesting. Have you been listening to more country music in recent years?
– “I have a friend of mine who have been telling me for years I should try to do some country music. I did. I think it’s fun to try new things. What I do next I don’t know. But I believe that melodic rock is my genre”.
I am looking forward to your next project. When I added your song “On The Top” (first track on your first album) in the January 31 2025 Trinkelbonker post “10 Amazing Rock Songs From Sweden”, it was obvious to me that you had to be on that list. Your voice and your positive spirit it something to appreciate. Is there anything that you would like to add to this interview?
– “Thank you for being so kind. All I can say is that I’m not finished yet. I have so much more to give when it comes to music and singing. To write music and books as I also do, makes me happy. To inspire and give hope is something I love to do”.
(End of interview)
By Mike Eriksson (if quoted let me know about it) / Trinkelbonker (2025)
(Image one: my shot of SLICE 2008 – back and front covers by Michael Johansson / Image 2: my shot of Martina stuff in Top Secret 2009 and Retrofuture 3, all images with Martina holding a Xena chakram was shot by Michael Johansson, Martina CDs can be seen on both)
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CLASSIC ROCK INTERVIEWS ON TRINKELBONKER: GEORGE MURASAKI 2025 (January 23 2025), JONAS ÖHLUND 2024 (July 22 2024), MURASAKI 2024 (June 28 2024), METALLIC KITTY/DECADENCE 2007 (May 14 2024), FABIENNE SHINE/SHAKIN`STREET 2008 (May 9 2024), ECHOES OF ETERNITY 2007 (May 6 2024), 220 VOLT 2002 (April 17 2024), THEY WATCH US FROM THE MOON 2024 (March 29 2024), BERNIE MARSDEN 1981 (September 3 2023), BRIDEAR 2023 (June 13 2023), STEVE LUKATHER 1989, Part 2 (May 29 2023), LADIES OF ROCK 2008 (April 25 2023), GLENN HUGHES 1993 (February 23 2023), JON LORD 1983 (June 26 2022), BLIND GOLEM 2022 (April 29 2022), PUBLISHER HANS HATWIG 2015 (Part 2, December 24 2021), MURASAKI 2021 (December 3 2021), PUBLISHER HANS HATWIG 2015 (Part 1, November 22 2021), CARINA LIROLA 2008 (November 9 2021), TOTO 1987 (September 17 2021), HEAVEN & EARTH 2001 (July 25 2021), STUART SMITH 1998 (July 4 2021), RAINBOW 1997 (June 28 2021), MARINA AMMOURI 2021 (February 12 2021), VISIONS OF ATLANTIS 2007 (November 10 2020), RITCHIE BLACKMORE & CANDICE NIGHT 2001 (October 27 2020), JOHN NORUM 1988 (October 18 2020), ACCEPT 1986 (July 17 2020), DEEP PURPLE 1996 (June 27 2020), EUROPE 1986 (June 16 2020), DEEP PURPLE PODCAST 2020 (April 6 2020), KIMBERLY GOSS/SINERGY 2002 (March 31 2020), RAINBOW 1997 (March 9 2020), RAINBOW 1996 (March 6 2020), MICHAEL BRADFORD 2003/MAKING OF DEEP PURPLE´S “BANANAS” (March 2 2020), URIAH HEEP 1988 (February 18 2020), ANNE-LIE RYDÉ 1984 (January 21 2020), CRYSTAL VIPER 2020 (January 16 2020), JOHN NORUM 1988 (January 12 2020), ARTOMUS FRIENDSHIP 2019 (November 10 2019), NAZARETH 1989 (August 26 2019), VELVET INSANE 2018 (September 11 2018), JON LORD 1981 (December 15 2015), DAVID COVERDALE 1981 (November 13 2015), GLENN HUGHES 1996 (May 12 2015), TOTO 1988 (March 31 2015), YNGWIE MALMSTEEN 1990 (March 1 2015), MARTINA EDOFF 2009 (December 4 2014), MICHAEL MOJO NILSSON 2014 (January 21 2014), THE HUGHES TURNER PROJECT 2001 (December 29 2013), JOE LYNN TURNER 1996-1998 (October 9 2013), GLENN HUGHES & JOHN NORUM 1988 (September 21 2013), JOE LYNN TURNER 1994-1995 (September 9 2013), JOE LYNN TURNER 1993 (September 7 2013), STEVE LUKATHER 1989 (September 4 2013), BLACK SABBATH 1983 (August 22 2013), RAINBOW 1995 (July 19 2013), MICK UNDERWOOD/GILLAN 1982 (June 11 2013), DEEP PURPLE 2002 (May 2 2013), DEEP PURPLE 1998 ( February 25 2013), BLACK SABBATH 1986 (February 12 2013), BLACK SABBATH 1987-1989 (December 31 2012), JOHNNIE BOLIN 2012 (December 24 2012), MARTIN POPOFF & RICH GALBRAITH 2009 (November 12 2012), DAVID COVERDALE 2000 (October 14 2012), JON LORD 1984 (September 7 2012), JOE LYNN TURNER 1992 (August 31 2012), JUDAS PRIEST 1986 (August 22 2012), RONNIE JAMES DIO 2001 (August 20 2012), NIGHTWISH 2002 (August 14 2012).
So, another year has passed (well, within hours of writing this). I really do enjoy the blog so expect more of the same in 2025. Back in May, the blog officially passed 500,000 visits, which is not bad. And every year something that I have done or published ends up in books out there (proud to add Poland to the list) and 2024 was not an exception. I know that I am a bit on the eccentric side, but I would not have it any other way. Peace & Love, and thank you for visiting the blog.
(My shot of Legacy spread in my 100th publication, Retrofuture 6 – 12 years ago now – David Coverdale shot by Richard Galbraith, Deep Purple 1976)
Well I am digging into the new Black Sabbath box “Anno Domini 1989-1995” and the buzz that the 1995 album “Forbidden” is quite enjoyable now is all true. The Tony Iommi mix has gone a long way to make this a bonafide Sabbath classic. I am so excited about this that I had to give it a special mention on the blog. I also like that the CD box that I have has a few extra tracks on it.
(Seen here is the back of Fistful Of Metal 15 – nice ad for the box – the “Forbidden” CD and in the back you see a bit of a review of Tony´s book “Iron Man” that I published in Retrofuture 5 back in 2012)
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