Lycka Till

Bio:

Born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1970, the young Lycka spent his first 8 years of life in Giffnock just behind the Police station. This may or may not have contributed to his sense of rebellion against authority. Let's say it did so that gives me an excuse. Him, I mean. -ahem-

He then moved with his family to Slough, England for about 18 months and luckily moved back to Glasgow just before his accent went all English. He remembers little of this period beyond the draconian cruelty of the dinner ladies and being teased in the playground with the name "Scotland Yard". He did point out that Scotland Yard was actually in England but this did little to deter his detractors who then moved on to calling him a "bender". He just agreed, I mean it's easier.

At age 10, then, he moved back to Scotland to Newton Mearns where he learned about the empty-headedness of the affluent and that he had a penchant for climbing trees and making music. He played clarinet in the school orchestra either because of his love for music or because it got him off History lessons.

At age 15 he was getting into Queen (the group, I hasten to add) so his Dad bought him an electric guitar. He showed his eternal gratitude by painting it like Eddie Van Halen's guitar, buying a Queen music book and settling down to learn how to play from listening to the master at work. This would explain why he uses a sixpence for a plectrum like Brian May. It really is much better, I urge you to try it.



Then, well, lots of stuff happened and he became a bit of a hippy after a friend lent him Woodstock on video cassette. He played in a band ("Sprakken Ze Africaans" and then later "Mohican Duck") with his brother as drummer and two school friends on bass and vocals. His brother won the drummer's slot by passing the audition process of being able to play the beginning of "Liar" by Queen. And because the guy who got lumbered with the bass tried it and was unable to get anywhere near, lol. I used to have this moment on tape but alas it has disappeared. Hilarious stuff.

Then the bassist left to work in the bank (they always do, isn't it weird?) so another school friend joined as bassist and became a disciple of Flea and that guy from Primus, Timothy Claypole? No, that was Rentaghost. Well you know who I mean. They became "Frog" and Lycka started collecting frog-related stuff. Why did I do that? I can't remember, it was pretty arbitrary and didn't last long.

Anyway that went for a burton when he went to uni to do French and the others went to Glasgow School of Art.

All the while he'd been tinkering on any passing piano and his nervous fidgeting made a percussionist out of him too. So now he does music and stuff innit. Ecoutez :o)

PS: I forgot that I also played in a sort-of band in France called Déziel which supported Dominique A a couple of times in the PACA region. And I played guitar for a couple of tracks on Dondolo's album "Dondolisme" which was far more my thing. There, actual useful info rather than me just blabbering on. That's me done now!

Member Since:

November 30, 2008

Influences:

Queen, CSN&Y (and all permutations thereof), Tom Waits, The Pixies, Joni Mitchell, The Lovin' Spoonful, Led Zeppelin, Arlo Guthrie, Melanie, The Who, Jimi Hendrix, Butthole Surfers, Fields of the Nephilim, Van Halen and I'm sure a lot of others that escape me at this time of night.

Sounds Like:

The sound of the wind in the trees.

Record Label:

Don't label me, bro'!