The Monroes (Norwegian band)
| Company type | Musical duo |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1982 |
| Founder | Lage Fosheim, Eivind Rølles |
| Defunct | 2005 |
| Headquarters | Norway |
Area served | Norway, United States |
| Products | Studio albums, singles |
The Monroes were a Norwegian duo blending pop and ska, featuring vocalist Lage Fosheim alongside guitarist Eivind Rølles. Between 1983 and 1993, they produced four well-received studio albums before parting ways. Their initial sound drew heavily from the English ska group Madness, with their debut single "Sunday People" reaching the top of the Norwegian charts in 1983. Over time, their music transitioned toward a smoother, melodic pop style, leading to another chart-topping hit in Norway with "Cheerio" in 1985, which also gained traction in the United States. The 1985 release Face Another Day is often regarded as one of Norway’s premier pop/rock records.
The Monroes earned acclaim for their memorable melodies, refined production, and Fosheim’s distinct vocals characterized by a British-influenced accent.
Tragically, both members succumbed to cancer in 2013.
History
After their former group "Broadway News" dissolved, Rølles and Fosheim established The Monroes in 1982, opting to continue as a duo to preserve artistic autonomy. Their debut album Sunday People (1983), inspired by Madness’s style, achieved platinum certification with sales exceeding 130,000 copies; its title track secured the number one spot on the VG-Lista singles chart.
Their sophomore effort Face Another Day (1985) marked a stylistic shift from ska toward a more relaxed pop sound. This album sold over 250,000 units domestically, earning double platinum status and producing another number one single, "Cheerio." The Monroes also attained international exposure when "Cheerio" entered the top 10 of the U.S. pop singles chart.
The third album, Everything's Forgiven (1987), garnered favorable critiques and respectable sales but did not replicate earlier commercial achievements. Their last studio work, The Long Way Home (1993), was released shortly before they disbanded. In subsequent years, they reunited occasionally for live performances but refrained from producing new recordings.
In 2004, the pop-rap duo Ravi & DJ Løv issued "Tsjeriåu," incorporating the chorus from "Cheerio" with newly recorded vocals by Fosheim. This collaboration prompted a brief reunion tour and festival appearances through 2006, though no fresh material emerged.
Rølles received a cancer diagnosis in 2008 yet continued contributing to the music industry behind the scenes. Fosheim was diagnosed in 2012. Both artists passed away in 2013: Rølles on March 18 at age 54 and Fosheim on October 19 at age 55.
Members
- Lage Fosheim – lead vocals (1982–1993, 2004–2005)
- Eivind Rølles – guitar (1982–1993, 2004–2005)
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Sales | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOR | ||||||||||||||
| Sunday People |
|
1 |
| |||||||||||
| Face Another Day |
|
1 |
| |||||||||||
| Everything's Forgiven |
|
5 | ||||||||||||
| Long Way Home |
|
5 | ||||||||||||
| "—" indicates releases that did not chart or were unavailable in that market. | ||||||||||||||
Compilation albums
| Album Title | Release Information | Highest Chart Positions | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOR | ||||||||||||||
| Absolute Monroes |
|
11 | ||||||||||||
| "—" indicates no chart entry or release in that market. | ||||||||||||||
Singles
| Year | Single Title | Highest Chart Rankings | Associated Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOR | SWE | |||
| 1983 | "Sunday People" | 1 | — | Sunday People |
| 1984 | "On the Bus" | 3 | — | Template:N/A |
| 1985 | "Let's Go" | — | — | Face Another Day |
| "Cheerio" | 1 | 11 | ||
| 1986 | "(Stay with Me) Jeanette" | — | — | |
| 1987 | "I Call It Love" | 3 | — | Everything's Forgiven |
| 1993 | "Just Another Normal Day" | 2 | — | Long Way Home |
| 2005 | "Tsjeriåu" (featuring Ravi & DJ Løv) | 1 | — | |
External links
- The Monroes at NRK