Gasolin' facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gasolin'
Gasolin' in the 1970s. From left to right: Franz Beckerlee, Wili Jønsson, Søren Berlev and Kim Larsen.
Background information
Origin	Christianshavn, Copenhagen, Denmark
Genres	Rock
Years active	1969–1978
Labels	CBS, Sonet, Spectator
Past members	Franz Beckerlee Wili Jønsson Kim Larsen (deceased) Bjørn Uglebjerg (deceased) Søren Berlev

Gasolin' was a famous Danish rock band. They formed in 1969 in Christianshavn, Copenhagen, Denmark. The band members were Kim Larsen, Franz Beckerlee, and Wili Jønsson. Their first drummer was Bjørn Uglebjerg, who was later replaced by Søren Berlev in 1971.

At first, their music was inspired by artists like Jimi Hendrix and Bob Dylan. But soon, Gasolin' created their own unique sound. Kim Larsen's catchy pop style, Franz Beckerlee's artistic guitar playing, and Wili Jønsson's strong bass skills made them very successful. The band often wrote their song lyrics together with their friend Mogens Mogensen.

The Story of Gasolin'

How the Band Started

Franz Beckerlee and Wili Jønsson knew each other since they were kids. They both loved music and wanted to start a band. Kim Larsen joined them after seeing an advertisement at Christiania. He quickly became a key part of the group.

The band still needed a drummer. Bjørn Uglebjerg was their first drummer. However, Søren Berlev later took over the drums.

Early Songs and Success

In 1970, Gasolin' released their first song, "Silky Sally." They also released "Child of Institution" and "Johnny The Jackpot." These first three songs were sung in English, but they were not very popular.

After this, the band decided to sing in Danish. Their first album and all the ones that followed were in Danish. These albums became very successful. The band found that they could express themselves best in Danish. Both Danish fans and music critics agreed.

Becoming Denmark's Top Band

From 1972 to 1978, Gasolin' was the most popular rock band in Denmark. They worked with producer Roy Thomas Baker. Together, they created classic albums like Gasolin' 3, Gas 5, and Efter endnu en dag.

Some people even called Gasolin' the "Danish Beatles." Like The Beatles, Gasolin' broke up when they were at the peak of their fame. The band split up because they found it hard to become famous internationally. There were also some personal disagreements among the members.

After Gasolin'

After the band broke up, Kim Larsen became a very successful solo artist. His album Midt om Natten from 1983 is the best-selling album in Denmark ever.

Wili Jønsson and Søren Berlev continued to play music. They worked as session musicians, playing for other artists. They also played in different bands. Franz Beckerlee became an artist, but he sometimes played music with Søren Berlev in Christianhavns Bluesband. In 1979, Franz Beckerlee released his own album called No Kiddin.

Lasting Legacy

Even years later, Gasolin's music remained popular. In 1991, a collection of their songs called Rabalderstræde Forever was a big hit. Another collection, The Black Box, came out in 2003.

In 2006, a movie about the band, Gasolin' 4-ever, became the most popular documentary film in Denmark. Despite their lasting popularity, Gasolin' never reunited. After Kim Larsen passed away in 2018, a reunion became even less likely.

Gasolin's Music Albums

• Gasolin' (1971)
• Gasolin' 2 (1972)
• Gasolin' 3 (1973)
• Gasolin' (1974)
• The Last Jim (1974)
• Stakkels Jim (1974)
• Gas 5 (1975)
• Live sådan (1976 - live album)
• What a Lemon (1976)
• Efter endnu en dag (1976)
• Gør det noget (1977)
• Killin' Time (1978)
• Live i Skandinavien (1978 - live album)
• Rabalderstræde Forever (1991 - collection)
• Derudaf Forever (1993 - live album)
• A Foreign Affair (1997 - collection)
• Gasolin' Forever (1999 - collection)
• The Early Years (2000 - collection)
• A Foreign Affair II (2002 - collection)
• The Black Box (2003 - box set)
• Masser af succes (2009 - collection)

See also

In Spanish: Gasolin' para niños