The musical history of Jan Leonard Borgh

Louisville, Kentucky 2006

Please allow me to introduce myself, I'm a man of average income and exquisite taste!
I've been around for many a long years, known to most people as Janne. Born in Kalmar, Sweden, raised in Malmö.
These days I enjoy myself immensly playing, singing and writing for The Repeatles, a retro-tastic 60's tributeband from Stockholm. Please read on for some background...

Switch to 1971 and first guitar, which happened to be a semi-acoustic Harmony, and first amp which was 10 watts
 and had small legs!!! First band was called The Pearlwinkles and played only two "gigs".
 Setlist contained "If I Fell" and "Proud Mary". This was probably early 1972.
The reason for picking up a guitar in the first place was without a doubt thanks to the Beatles
and Paul McCartney in particular, which is why I later switched to bass.

Silver in 1973 (Stefan, Janne, Ziggy & Henke)

Formed glamrock band Silver in 1973. Very Iggy-Dolls-Bowie influenced. Singer called Ziggy, ha! Silver actually kept going as far as 1976 in different incarnations, until the drummer, Henke, brought Trolle Rhodin jr (of Cirkus Brazil Jack fame) to a rehearsal. He was looking for a backing band to cut an album with. This project became a fantastic 60s coverband called The Buddyboys , who cut one album and taught me how to sing in harmony with two other singers. Played a tremendous amount of gigs between 76-79, and went on National TV in 1977*.  Absolute highlight was supporting The Kinks at Olympen, Lund 11 October 1978!!! Briefly became The Shake in mid -79 before disbanding. I wanted to write songs and play them with the band but they wouldn't let me. Either the songs were crap, or the guys couldn't understand my vision. Incidentally, Mats (guitar. vocals) became a member of my next band, which was based on my songs.

Playing in these bands made me realise the importance of looking good and dressing up for the show. For good or bad, my passion for clothes, hairstyles and fashion, not neccessarily in the order, has stayed with me all my life. And in my defence, I would rather look silly than not look at all. But the most important rule is this: whatever you do or wear has to be honest, and for yourself, not for anyone else. Rule doesn't apply to funerals and London City!

* I've been on TV a number of times in different countries and I have always performed live! Never mimed! Me & Joe Strummer!!!

  The Buddyboys, Sverige Radio, Malmö 23 November 1977
  Teenage me far right,  with my trusty 4001. Note all-Fender backline...

Spent a lot of time in Brighton, UK during the mid-to-late 70s. Studied briefly at Brighton university... which may or may not be a fabrication. I apparently took some kind of degree there in '74 beginning with the letter G. Always been one for words not numbers.

The Moderns in Malmö 1979 (Janne, Mats, Tony & Pär)

Started The Moderns, a pop/punk band with heavy Mod influences, playing original material penned mostly by me. We toured the UK and then moved to Stockholm and signed to EMI. A couple of 7" and one LP released (1981). A cultband in Germany these days! The good thing about the Moderns was that we were mates from school and we did this just for fun. A compilation CD was released in Japan in 2003. Available on 1977 records. Still waiting for an invitation to come and play 

The Moderns on 7". 1979 and 1980 respectively. 


After hooking up with Neon Leon (yes THE Neon Leon, two singles released) and various former punks and rockers, I formed Strindbergs, seminal punk/pop trio with Johan Johansson in late 1981. Toured relentlessly and released 3 albums and 1 CD. We achieved so much together and all is well documented on Johan's homepage. Disbanded in March 1985 without really knowing why.  However, we are still good friends, and play together now and then!

 
Janne Borgh in 1984 (by Eva-Maria Svensson) Johan & Janne of Strindbergs in 1984

Performing at Ritz, Stockholm in 1984

Played briefly with Django's Coming for about a year and released one maxi-single. Formed and joined several bands with no real success during the late 80s and early 90s. Among them were Bongo Fury, House Of Dolls, Änglar & Demoner, Love Junkies (with Pete whom I met in 1992), and Captain Bomb.

I also play bass in Scratch, a rock'n'roll combo led by guitarist Peder Brink of Brinks Musik fame. Several singles and 1 CD album released so far. More in the can. Check out the homepage on Http://www.scratchtrax.com 


Scratch in 1996 and from the "...from Scratch to You" sessions the same year in Maty Willson-Piper's studio in Stockholm. Far right: this Rickenbacker has been with me since 1976!

In the Repeatles I play guitar, piano (very little these days), harmonica and sing. I do mainly the Lennon songs from the Beatles vast repertoire, but have taken on the stupid task of singing solo Macca stuff. Other artist's songs are normally sung by the person who is best suited for it. Usually if I bring in a song, I end up singing it, and the same goes for Peter and Steve. Arnie sings lead when we force him to!. I always insist on adding The Who songs to the setlists, and a dream is to do Tommy live!!! I am still writing, and consider songwriting my main hobby. Still looking for that elusive hit...

 

all you need to be happy according to our friends from Chacago
 

At the time of writing I work as an IT specialist in the City of London. Have been here on and off since June 2007. Will move back to Sweden in November 2008. Future plans involve having a haircut, finish a couple of tattoos, recording the 12 or so songs I have written over the past two years and get back to rehearsing with the Repeatles.

The story continues... with or without me!

Good band name in the Ramones-tradition. Saving it for a possible solo career (opportunities, the ones that never knock)
 

Some suggestions for listening, reading and other pleasures:

Bands:
The Beatles
The Rolling Stones
The Kinks
The Who
Thin Lizzy
Rush
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Pearl Jam
Télephone
The Clash
The Jam
The Records
Jellyfish
Oasis



Donovan & Jan in 2006

Solo artists:

Lucinda Williams
Paul McCartney
Lenny Kravitz

 

Writers:
Douglas Coupland
Philip José Farmer - Riverworld
Christopher Fowler
Joe R Landsdale
Steven King
William Gibson
John Aivide Lindqvist
Ray Bradbury
Graham Greene
J.R.R.Tolkien
Antoine De Saint-Exupery


Art & Artists
Sebastian Horsley
Tracey Emin
Francis Bacon
Salvador Dali
Esher
Kandinsky
Lindström
H.R. Geiger

...a true dandy or just someone living life to the fullest

Bassists:

Paul McCartney
Geddy Lee
John Entwhistle
Phil Lynott
Bruce Foxton
Janne Borgh
Den Pugsley
 

Guitarists:

Pete Townshend
Doug Pettibone
Keef & Ron
Brian & Scott
Alex Lifeson
Graham Coxon
Mike Campbell
Joe & Brad
Paul Weller
The guy from The Hold Steady
Craig Ross

Drummers:

Keith Moon
Neil Peart
Topper Headon
Lenny Kravitz
Abe Laboriel Jr
Jon Farriss



Louisville, KY singing "It Won't Be Long"

Incense & Candles
Sandalwood, Patchouli
Nag Champra

Food

Mexican
Indian
Pasta
Sushi
Thai
Julmat
Blodpudding
Frukost

Drink
Red Wine
American Beer (!)
Scotch & Coke
Mineral water
Orange Juice (Californian)
Jack Daniels

Tattoos
Doc Forest
Jens at Heavenly Ink, Åkerberga Sweden

 
Strindbergs live in Malmö early 1985

Persons, Places & Highs:

Susanna, Nikki & John
John, Paul, George & Ringo
Joe, Paul, Mick & Topper
Arnie, Pete & Steve
Paul, Bruce & Rick
Pete Townshend
San Francisco
Roger Daltrey
Blue Jay Way
Caffe Trieste
Mick & Keith
The Moderns
Ray Davies
Strindbergs
Phil Lynott
Tom Petty
Liverpool
The  Who
Barbican
Brighton
London
Mother
Cyprus
Malmö
Rush
God
Me


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