Bridges were a Norwegian rock band formed in

Oslo Oslo ( or ; ) is the capital and most populous city of Norway. It constitutes both a county and a municipality. The municipality of Oslo had a population of in 2022, while the city's greater urban area had a population of 1,064,235 in 2022 ...

, Norway, in 1978. It is notable for being the predecessor to synth pop band

a-ha A-ha (often stylised as ''a''-h''a''; ) is a Norwegian synth-pop band formed in Oslo in 1982. Founded by Paul Waaktaar-Savoy (guitars and vocals), Magne Furuholmen (keyboards, guitars and vocals), and Morten Harket (lead vocals), the band ros ...

. The band released their debut album ''Fakkeltog'' in 1980. Their second album ''Våkenatt'' was recorded within the following year, but not released until 2018.

History

Paul Waaktaar-Savoy and Magne Furuholmen both grew up in

Manglerud Manglerud () is a borough in the Østensjø district of Oslo, Norway. Manglerud was built in the 1960s as a suburb to Oslo, connected by the '' Oslo T-bane'' metro system. Sport Ice hockey The suburb is perhaps most known for its ice hockey ...

, a suburb of

Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the archipelago of Svalbard also form part of the Kingdom of ...

. During fifth grade, Waaktaar, then a drummer, recruited Furuholmen as a guitarist and vocalist for his band. Waaktaar later learned to play the guitar and the band briefly changed their name to Spider Empire. After recruiting Viggo Bondi on bass guitar and Erik Hagelien on drums, the band started to record demos. Waaktaar later convinced Furuholmen to play keyboards on their new songs. The band played live several times during 1978 and 1979, including one notable concert where

Morten Harket Morten Harket (; born 14 September 1959) is a Norwegian singer who is the lead vocalist of the synth-pop band A-ha. A-ha has released 11 studio albums as of 2024, and topped the charts internationally after their breakthrough hit "Take On Me" i ...

was in the audience. Harket would later go on to form

with Waaktaar and Furuholmen. Øystein Jevanord replaced Hagelien on drums as the band went into the studio to record their debut album ''Fakkeltog''. The band financed the recording and the publishing of the album, which was released in 1980. The band went into studio again and had finished their second album, ''Våkenatt'', by the summer of 1981. However, the mood within the band had deteriorated during the recording process, and the band played their last concert later that summer, without releasing their newly finished album. Waaktaar and Furuholmen planned to continue their musical careers in

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

, but Bondi and Jevanord declined, and Bridges split up. In August 2018, ''Våkenatt'' was finally released by Rockheim Musical Archives, 38 years after it was recorded.

Discography

*'' Fakkeltog'' (1980) *'' Våkenatt'' (2018)

Band members

* Paul Waaktaar-Savoy – lead vocals, guitars (1978–1981) * Magne Furuholmen – keyboards, vocals (1978–1981) * Viggo Bondi – bass (1978–1981) * Erik Hagelien – drums (1978–1979) * Øystein Jevanord – drums (1979–1981)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bridges Norwegian rock music groups Musical groups from Oslo Musical groups established in 1978 Musical groups disestablished in 1981 1978 establishments in Norway