| 1961 |
Jan-Olof Eriksson and his close neighbours, brothers Jan and Lars Hofverberg,
in swedish town of Umea, start a band which they call The Lightnings. Instruments
are two guitars and drum. Jan-Olof and Lars also sing. First song is "What
you´ve done to me". First picture of The Lightnings in january 1962. From left Jan-Olof Eriksson, Jan Hofverberg and Lars Hofverberg. Photo: Helge Hofverberg. |
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| 1962 | Jan build his own bass
guitar and both Jan-Olof and Lars have got electric guitars. At Jan´s
twelfth birthday The Lightnings participate in a local rock band competiton
and plays instrumental tunes "Plattlaggen" and "Dark eyes" but comes last.
The band have no drummer. |
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| 1963 |
Early this year The Lightnings have 90 instrumental tunes on their repertoire,
12 of them written by Jan-Olof. In march drummer Gosta Lindh is recruited
and he stays in the band for six months before leaving Umea with his family.
In september the band splits.
The Lightnings in may 1963. From left Jan-Olof Eriksson, Gosta Lindh, Jan Hofverberg and Lars Hofverberg. Photo: Gosta Eriksson. |
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| 1987 | In december Jan-Olof
Eriksson, KG Johansson, Jan Sandstrom (bass) and Sven-Erik Omberg (drums)
perform sixties music for their students at the School of Music in Pitea,
Sweden, including instrumental numbers Apache, FBI and Walk don´t
run. This leads Jan-Olof to take up his forgotten interest in instrumental
music in the tradition of The Shadows. He starts to buy records and makes
transcriptions of all the parts for many classic instrumental tunes.
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| 1989 |
In june the all instrumental band Blue Shadows make the debut at an open
air concert in a park in Pitea. Jan-Olof´s son, 15 year old John Eriksson,
is the drummer in the band.
First public appearance of what is to become Joe´s Combo. Blue Shadows in Pitea in 1989. From left KG Johansson, John Eriksson, Jan-Olof Eriksson and Jan Sandstrom. Photo: Inga-Lill Eriksson. |
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| 1990 | Blue Shadows, which
soon will be renamed Apache, play two concerts in Pitea. Line up is Jan-Olof
Eriksson, KG Johansson, John Eriksson and bass guitarist Anders Lofgren.
The band is augmented with singers Anna Wedin and Kerstin Larsson at the
first concert. |
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| 1991 |
Keyboardplayer Micke Langs and vocalist Olle Strandberg are doing the
first concert with the band in Lulea in december.
The Lightnings get together after a long break. The Lightnings, at New Year´s Eve 1991, playing together for the first time since 1963. From left Jan-Olof Eriksson, John Eriksson, Jan Hofverberg and Lars Hofverberg. Photo: Karin Lundstrom. |
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| 1992 | In may The Lightnings
are back after 29 years with a concert in Umea.
Apache change the name to Joe´s Combo and records in june. Bass guitarist at the sessions is Jimmy Kallqvist. Some of the songs appear on "Portrait of Joe´s Combo". Jan-Olof´s old
mate from The Lightnings, Jan Hofverberg, will be the permanent bassplayer
in Joe´s Combo.
|
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| 1994 |
Joe´s Combo records the band´s first full-length CD in january.
9 out of 18 songs are self-penned by Jan-Olof and KG. Olle Strandberg and
David Myhr are doing the vocals.
"Time out with Joe´s
Combo" is released in june. Joe´s Combo in the studio in january 1994. From left John Eriksson, KG Johansson, Jan-Olof Eriksson, Micke Langs and Jan Hofverberg. Photo: Jan Hofverberg. |
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| 1995 | Back in
the studio in january to record 21 songs, all composed by Jan-Olof, KG or
Micke Langs.
Concert in Rosfors
in july 1995. From left Micke Langs, Jan Hofverberg, John Eriksson, Jan-Olof
Eriksson and KG Johansson. Photo: Karin Lundstrom.
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| 1996 |
Some liveconcerts but also frustration - when will the record be released?
Joe´s Combo before a concert in Hortlax, february 1996. From left John Eriksson, Jan-Olof Eriksson, Jan Hofverberg, KG Johansson, Olle Strandberg (vocals) and Micke Langs. Photo: David Eriksson. |
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| 2000 |
The first live gig since november 1996 takes place at the prestigious
Shadowsfestival in Oslo, Norway, june 3, where the boys play alongside
legends Bruce Welch and Jet Harris of The Shadows. The successful concert
also marks the debut of drummer Esbjorn Mortzell.
At last the recordings
from 1995 will be released by dutch company Rarity Records.
The Shadowsfestival in Oslo, 3 june. From left KG Johansson, Jan Hofverberg and Jan-Olof Eriksson. Photo: Goran Ulfstedt. |
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| 2002 2003 |
Joe´s Combo performs both years at "Stora Rockfesten" in Umeå.
Singer is Jan Svensson, who also plays together with Jan Hofverberg and
Esbjörn Mörtzell in Ford Cortina. |