Eddie Meduza

Eddie Meduza
Birth name	Errol Leonard Norstedt
Also known as	Eddie Meduza
Born	June 17, 1948(1948-06-17)
Died	January 17, 2002(2002-01-17) (aged 53)
Genres	Rockabilly, Dansband music
Occupations	Singer, guitarist
Years active	1964–2002
Website	http://www.eddiemeduza.se

Eddie Meduza (real name Errol Leonard Norstedt) (June 17, 1948–January 17, 2002) was a Swedish composer and musician working mainly in the rockabilly genre. Many of his songs were about alcohol, women, and cars, quite often with obscene lyrics. Sometimes they were also politically oriented, many aimed at the Swedish Social Democrats. He was also a popular performer of Raggare music. Norstedt's other identity was the far more vulgar E. Hitler.^[1] In this guise he generally recorded more sexually explicit material.

He is remembered now mostly for his more explicit work, but many of his songs are very ironic and some contain clever, albeit unpolished, social commentary, and earn his music something of a cult following. Norstedt also recorded serious rockabilly songs with a distinct 1950s flavour in his own studio, called Studio Ronka^[2] (ronka or runka is Swedish slang for masturbation, similar to wanking in English.). He played most of the instruments himself. He often got bad reviews from the press, notably Expressen journalist Mats Olsson, to which Norstedt replied by writing even more offensive songs, such as Kuken står på Mats Olsson (The cock stands on Mats Olsson), Mats Olsson är en jävla bög (Mats Olsson is a damn fag) and Mats Olsson runkar kuken (Mats Olsson is wanking his cock). He reportedly said that no matter what he did it was never good enough for the critics.^[3]

Despite this he was considered an accomplished musician and songwriter, in particular by Swedish record company executive Bert Karlsson who, with mixed results, tried to foster that talent in Norstedt. He never had a major breakthrough and this is commonly attributed to his increasingly obscene songwriting. According to himself, he developed alcoholism in the late 1970s during periods of intensive touring. After collapsing on his way to a show he changed his lifestyle completely.^[4] He sobered up and started working out. However, despite his efforts the years of alcohol abuse eventually took their toll and he died in his home. He is survived by his wife and children.

Discography

Albums

• 1975 - Errol
• 1979 - Eddie Meduza & The Roaring Cadillacs
• 1980 - Garagetaper
• 1981 - Gasen I Botten
• 1982 - För Jaevle Braa!
• 1982 - 21 Värsta !!!
• 1983 - Dåren E Lös
• 1984 - West A Fool Away
• 1985 - Ain't Got No Cadillac
• 1986 - Collection (2 LP)
• 1989 - Dom Dåraktigaste Dumheterna Digitalt (Röven 1)
• 1989 - Dom Dåraktigaste Dumheterna Digitalt (Röven 2)
• 1990 - På begäran
• 1990 - You Ain't My Friend
• 1991 - Collection (CD)
• 1995 - Harley Davidson
• 1997 - Silver Wheels
• 1998 - Värsting Hits
• 1999 - Väg 13
• 1999 - Dance Mix
• 1999 - Alla Tiders Fyllekalas Vol. 1
• 1999 - Alla Tiders Fyllekalas Vol. 2
• 1999 - Alla Tiders Fyllekalas Vol. 3
• 2000 - Alla Tiders Fyllekalas Vol. 4
• 2000 - Alla Tiders Fyllekalas Vol. 5
• 2000 - Alla Tiders Fyllekalas Vol. 6
• 2001 - Scoop
• 2001 - Alla Tiders Fyllekalas Vol. 7
• 2001 - Alla Tiders Fyllekalas Vol. 8
• 2001 - Alla Tiders Fyllekalas Vol. 9
• 2002 - Just Like An Eagle
• 2002 - Alla Tiders Fyllekalas Vol. 10
• 2002 - Alla Tiders Fyllekalas Vol. 11
• 2002 - Alla Tiders Fyllekalas Vol. 12
• 2003 - Live(s)! CD+DVD
• 2003 - 100% Eddie Meduza
• 2003 - Live(s)! CD
• 2004 - Rock'n Rebel
• 2005 - Alla Tiders Fyllekalas Vol. 13
• 2005 - Alla Tiders Fyllekalas Vol. 14
• 2005 - Alla Tiders Fyllekalas Vol. 15
• 2005 - Alla Tiders Fyllekalas Vol. 16
• 2005 - Raggare
• 2006 - Dragspelsrock
• 2006 - Dubbelidioterna

Singles

• 1975 - Tretton År / Här Hemma
• 1978 - Punkjävlar / Oh What A Cadillac
• 1979 - Yea Yea Yea / Honey B
• 1979 - Såssialdemokraterna / Norwegian Boogie / Roll Over Beethoven
• 1981 - Volvo / 34:an
• 1981 - Gasen I Botten / Mera Brännvin
• 1982 - Han Eller Jag, Vem Ska Du Ha / Tonight
• 1982 - Jätteparty I Kväll / Tonight
• 1982 - Jätteparty I Kväll / Han Eller Jag, Vem Ska Du Ha
• 1982 - Sverige / Stupid Cupid
• 1983 - Fruntimmer Ska En Ha...
• 1983 - Fruntimmer Ska En Ha... / Han Eller Jag, Vem Ska Du Ha?
• 1983 - Jag Vill Ha En Brud Med Stora Bröst / Leader Of The Rockers
• 1983 - Jag Vill Ha En Brud Med Stora Pattar / Leader Of The Rockers
• 1984 - Sveriges Kompani (Militärpolka) / Dunder Å Snus
• 1984 - Punkar'n Å Raggar'n / Hej På Dig Evert
• 1984 - Fisdisco / California Sun
• 1985 - The Wanderer / It's All Over Now
• 1988 - Småländsk Sommarnatt / Birds And Bees
• 1990 - Sweet Linda Boogie / Heart Don't Be A Fool

See also

List of Swedes in music

External links

• Official Web page (Swedish)
• John-Johns fan-site (Swedish)

References

1. ^ Stefan Johansson's interview with Meduza, Okej 22/1984
2. ^ Stefan Johansson's interview with Meduza, Okej 22/1984
3. ^ Bodil Furu's interview with Meduza, 2001
4. ^ Johan T Lundwall, GT 7 October 1993

Persondata
Name	Meduza, Eddie
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1948-06-17
Place of birth
Date of death	2002-01-16
Place of death