Imperiet
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1981 in Stockholm, Sweden |
| Founder | Joakim Thåström, Anders "Stry" Sjöholm, Gunnar "Gurra" Ljungstedt (original members from Rymdimperiet) |
| Defunct | December 1988 |
| Headquarters | Stockholm , Sweden |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
Imperiet was a Swedish post-punk ensemble established in Stockholm in 1981 initially under the name Rymdimperiet. The group adopted the name Imperiet during spring 1983 and continued their activities until December 1988.
History
originated as , a side venture involving three members from the Swedish punk outfit . Following ’s breakup in 1983, the band took on the name , featuring Joakim Thåström (lead vocals, guitar), Anders "Stry" Sjöholm (vocals, guitar), and Gunnar "Gurra" Ljungstedt (drums), all previously part of . They expanded their lineup with Christian Falk on bass and Per Hägglund handling saxophone and keyboards. Stry exited in 1984, Gurra departed in 1985 and was succeeded by Fred Asp, while Per Hägglund left in 1987. The band ceased operations in 1988.
blended elements of punk, rock, and synthpop with politically charged, leftist, anti-imperialist themes. Tracks such as "C. C. Cowboys", "" (Always Red, Always Right), and "" (Where's the wolf) were influenced by the works of Russian Communist poet Vladimir Mayakovsky.
While their primary success was concentrated in Sweden and the broader Scandinavian region, also embarked on international tours including destinations like the United States, Cuba, and countries across Central and South America. Their only album recorded entirely in English, [Imperiet (1988 album)] Error: {{Lang}}: invalid parameter: |3= (help), presented translated versions of previous songs and was promoted through a comprehensive European tour. Despite these efforts, the album achieved modest recognition beyond Sweden, which curtailed their ambitions for further international growth.
The original moniker ("The Galactic Empire") drew inspiration from the Swedish title of the Star Wars film Rymdimperiet slår tillbaka (The Empire Strikes Back).
Members
- Christian Falk – bass guitar, backing vocals (1983–1988; deceased 2014)
- Joakim Thåström – lead vocals, lead guitar (1983–1988)
- Per Hägglund – synthesizer, saxophone (1983–1987)
- Gunnar Ljungstedt – drums (1983–1985)
- Stry Terrarie – lead vocals, organ, guitar (1983–1984)
- Fred Asp – drums (1985–1988)
Line-ups
| 1983–1984 | 1984–1985 | 1985–1987 | 1987–1988 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
Albums
- 1983 – Rasera
- 1984 – Imperiet (EP)
- 1985 – Blå himlen blues
- 1985 – 2:a augusti 1985 (Live recording)
- 1986 – Synd
- 1988 – Imperiet
- 1988 – Tiggarens tal
- 1988 – Live/Studio (Live and compilation)
- 1990 – Kickar (Compilation album)
- 1995 – Greatest Hits (Compilation)
- 2002 – Alltid rött alltid rätt (Compilation)
- 2009 – Silver, guld & misär (Compilation)
Singles
- 1981 – "" (released as Rymdimperiet)
- 1982 – "" (released as Rymdimperiet)
- 1983 – "" (released as Rymdimperiet)
- 1983 – ""
- 1984 – ""
- 1984 – ""
- 1985 – ""
- 1985 – ""
- 1986 – ""
- 1986 – ""
- 1986 – ""
- 1987 – ""
- 1987 – ""
- 1988 – "Be the President"
- 1988 – ""
- 1988 – ""