The Act (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | February 1983 |
| Founder | Bjørn Kulseth |
| Headquarters | Oslo , Norway |
| Products | Rock music, Albums, Singles |
Number of employees | 6 |
The Act was a Norwegian rock ensemble active during the mid-1980s, recognized for their extensive touring schedule and the release of the album September Field.
History
Originally established as Wham Bam! in February 1983, the band was founded by Bjørn Kulseth (b. 1962) after his move to Oslo, where he assembled members through advertisements in the music publication Nye Takter. Kulseth and Rune Krogseth (b. 1963) shared responsibilities for lead vocals, guitar, and songwriting. The lineup was completed by bassist Trond Ihlen (b. 1956) and drummer Dag Bøgeberg (b. 1957), both experienced musicians within the Oslo music scene.
The group initially performed a mix of original compositions and covers from artists such as Elvis Costello and Nick Lowe. To avoid confusion with the British duo Wham!, they adopted the name The Act in November 1983. Early in 1984, keyboardist and guitarist Stein Ramberg (b. 1961), who had played with local bands including Kollaps and Saturday Cowboys, joined the band.
The Act gained a solid reputation through headlining tours across Norway and supporting acts like Green on Red and R.E.M. In December 1984, readers of Nye Takter voted them "Best Unsigned Band," placing them ahead of emerging acts such as DumDum Boys.
Releases
In March 1985, The Act independently issued their first single "Dream Talk" via their own label, distributed by Sonet Records. The track was recorded in Oslo and mixed in London by producer Henry Padovani—former guitarist for The Police and then European VP at I.R.S. Records. This single garnered significant sales and radio play for an independent release, leading to a live performance slot on Norway’s national TV pop program Zting.
Attracted by multiple label offers, The Act signed a contract for three albums with EMI in spring 1985 and commenced work on their debut album. Although drummer Bøgeberg initially intended to depart due to personal reasons, he remained temporarily following unsuccessful attempts to find a replacement.
Recording sessions began in August 1985 at Oslo’s Bel studio with producer Steve Berlin, known for his work with Los Lobos, alongside engineer Ingar Helgesen. Berlin brought experience from Los Angeles bands such as the Plugz and the Blasters, having recently participated in Paul Simon’s Graceland recordings.
Due to scheduling conflicts, session drummer Per Hillestad played on approximately half of the tracks instead of Bøgeberg. Additional session guitarists contributed parts that shaped a more refined and somber album atmosphere, focusing on dramatic elements rather than the band's earlier energetic "pop 'n' roll" sound; only one track written by Krogseth was included.
September Field
On August 31, 1985, The Act appeared at Rock on the Dock, Norway's equivalent of Band Aid, marking their debut performance with new drummer Bjørn Juliusson (known for associations with The Young Lords, Saturday Cowboys, Ghostriders, Fra Lippo Lippi, the Monroes, among others).
By January 1986, when the album September Field and its single "Coming Closer" were released, the band had shortened its name to Act.
Anticipation was significant; both Puls (now BEAT) and Nye Takter music magazines featured Act on their covers accompanied by favorable critiques.
A promotional video for "When You Find Love," sponsored by Levi Strauss Norway, was produced. In February, Act embarked on a ten-day tour of the Netherlands, performing concerts and making appearances on television and radio.
As their Norwegian tour commenced, drummer Bjørn Juliusson faced scheduling conflicts. Totto Hansen (from the Monroes and Marius Müller's Funhouse) promptly filled in, enhancing the band's live tightness.
Three months after its release, September Field sold around 10,000 copies within Norway and an additional 2,000 throughout Scandinavia and the Benelux countries. Although modest compared to current standards, these figures fell short of breaking even, disappointing both the band and their label.
Despite limited international exposure for Norwegian artists at that time, there remained some optimism. Representatives from EMI America attended a showcase in Oslo, resulting in a contract with a Swedish booking agency.
In June 1986, Act headlined a club show in Stockholm and supported Eldkvarn during an event at The Museum of Modern Art's garden.
By autumn 1986, they began recording demos for new material aimed at capturing their live sound more effectively.
A two-week tour across northern Norway in December proved difficult; multiple cancellations combined with long journeys under harsh weather conditions negatively affected their performances.
Disbandment
Following their return to Oslo and a period of recuperation during the Christmas season, Bjørn Kulseth chose to dissolve Act in order to explore individual artistic ventures.
In the subsequent year, Kulseth launched a solo album titled Away under the alias Hi-Yo Silver! and went on to establish the roots rock ensemble the Contenders, which produced three albums from 1989 through 1994.
Band members
- Bjørn Kulseth – lead vocals, guitars
- Rune Krogseth – vocals, guitars
- Trond Ihlen – bass guitar
- Dag Bøgeberg – drums (1983–1985)
Contributing members
- Stein Ramberg – keyboards and guitars (1984)
- Bjørn "Julle" Juliusson – drums (1985–1986)
- Totto Hansen – drums (1986–1987)
Albums
- September Field (1986), EMI Odeon
Singles
- "Dream Talk" b/w "When You Find Love" (1985), Tarted Up
- "Coming Closer" b/w "Storyteller" (1986), EMI Odeon