Ebba Grön
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1977 |
| Defunct | 21 February 1983 |
| Headquarters | Stockholm , Sweden |
| Products | Punk rock music, albums, singles |
Ebba Grön emerged as a Swedish punk ensemble originating from Stockholm in 1977, featuring Joakim Thåström on vocals and guitar, Gunnar Ljungstedt handling drums, and Lennart Eriksson on bass and backing vocals. Following their sophomore album release in 1981, keyboardist Anders Sjöholm (also known as Stry Terrarie) became part of the lineup. The group officially dissolved on 21 February 1983.
One of their most recognized tracks is a rendition of Blå Tåget’s Den ena handen vet vad den andra gör, retitled Staten och kapitalet. The song delivers a critical commentary on capitalism, highlighting the control exerted by the state and corporations over workers.
History
The band’s origins trace back to December 1977 when Thåström, Gurra, and Fjodor formed The Haters in Rågsved, a working-class district of Stockholm. Shortly after, they adopted the name Ebba Grön, inspired by a police code term. Their early provocative piece Skjut en snut was never formally recorded. Their debut single Antirock, released in April 1978, initially sold 500 copies independently before gaining attention from Mistlur Records, which reissued it.
Ebba Grön embarked on extensive tours throughout Sweden and launched two additional singles before unveiling their first album in 1978, We're Only In It For The Drugs. This record featured anarchistic themes reflecting the experiences of working-class youth, with tracks like Beväpna er promoting armed resistance—a message deemed too contentious to appear on the album’s cover. The band gained notoriety for their intense live performances often marked by destruction and altercations, while also defending themselves against assaults by Neo-Nazis.
Their setlist incorporated covers such as The Clash’s White Riot and Steppenwolf’s Born to Be Wild.
In 1980, they released their most iconic single, the politically charged cover Staten och kapitalet. Their second studio album, Kärlek & Uppror (1981), showcased a shift toward a more melodic sound that expanded their audience beyond punk enthusiasts and achieved commercial acclaim.
That same year, Stry joined as keyboardist. Together with Thåström and Gurra, he produced the single Scheisse under the side project name Rymdimperiet, which would later evolve into Imperiet.
Filmmaker Johan Donner documented the band during the recording of their second album and subsequent tour, culminating in the 1982 documentary film Ebba the Movie.
The self-titled third album released in 1982 reflected a stronger influence from Stry’s keyboards and horn arrangements, marking a departure from pure punk towards a style reminiscent of The Rolling Stones. Although they recorded a cover of the Stones’ Happy, it was ultimately left off the album.
The imprisonment of Fjodor for four months due to draft evasion was a catalyst for the band's dissolution. Ebba Grön transitioned into Rymdimperiet, releasing their debut album under the name Imperiet in 1983—signifying a complete move away from punk into mainstream rock territory. This release is occasionally regarded as Ebba Grön’s final output. During the 1980s, Imperiet rose to prominence as one of Sweden’s leading rock acts.
In 2003, following Joe Strummer’s passing, Mick Jones from The Clash collaborated with Ebba Grön in Sweden for a commemorative performance.
LPs
- We're Only in It for the Drugs (1979) Peak position: No. 21 SWE
- Kärlek & uppror (1981) Peak position: No. 5 SWE
- Ebba Grön (1982) Peak position: No. 1 SWE
EPs and Singles
- Antirock (Profit/Ung & Sänkt) (1978)
- Prorock (Tyst För Fan/Mona Tumbas Slim Club) (1978)
- Total-Pop (Vad Ska Du Bli?/Häng Gud) (1979) – Reached No. 18 on the Swedish charts
- Ung & Kåt/Staten & Kapitalet (1980) – Peaked at No. 11 in Sweden
- Scheisse/Tyna bort (1981) – Attained No. 3 on Swedish charts
Compilations
- Samlade singlar (1983) – Charted at No. 17 in Sweden
- Ebba Grön 1978-1982 (1993) – Reached No. 17 on Swedish charts
- Ebba Grön Live (1998) – Climbed to No. 4 in Sweden
- Boxen (1998) – A 4-CD collection encompassing their entire discography
- Ebba Grön samlingen (2005) – Double CD compilation, peaked at No. 14 in Sweden
Film
- Ebba the Movie (1982)
External links
- Official website of Thåström
- notfound.se – Photographs of Ebba Grön from 1979 and 1980
- bildrulle.nu – Images featuring Dag Vag and Ebba Grön dated October 20, 1980
- bildrulle.nu – Pictures of Ebba Grön alongside Raketerna from March 1981