Yes, we did it! we managed to get a hold on Torstein Flakne, lead singer/guitarplayer for Stage Dolls. One of the leading musicaly exports from Norway.
We sendt in the questions 2 days ago, and he sendt them back this morning. Not only was Torstein cool enough to answer all our questions and sendt them back so fast, he did a helluva good job answering them too. Thanks Torstein!
Our questions are in white and Torsteins answers are in gold.

So here it is Enjoy!

Hi Torstein, thanks for agreeing to do this.
You are the first Norwegian rock star to be interviewed by us, how does that feel?

You made a good choice hehe....

What’s new and exiting in the world of you and the Stage Dolls?

Right now we have a quiet period after 3 years of heavy touring.
We will probably do some songwriting next year and maybe start working on another album.

You put out a “best of” album a few years back, and scored great success on the charts. Do you think the main buyers were old fans, or do you think you recruited a new fan base of younger people?

It seems like a new generation discovered our music,people that were'nt even born in 1988.We have even gotten questions like: what a great album,have you done more?To us that proves that our music has the ability to live a little longer than just the average "chart"-life of a record.

Old school picture of Stage Dolls

You played in a band called “The Kids” with former T.N.T lead singer Dag Ingebrigtsen. Tell us some of your memories from that, and why you broke up? Was there any rivalry between you guys and T.N.T when you both got big in the US?

As you know the Kids were huge in Norway in 1980,and we were just 18-19 years old. This was the entry into the business for both Dag and me.One day we were just some ordinary guys from Trondheim,the next we were in every magazine and newspaper.We had a lot of fun together that period,but at that time in life people start to shape and I guess we had different musical ideas.There was never any rivalry between the two bands,we always wanted the best for them and the same the other way.Besides,there's a difference musically.

You released an album in 2004 “Get A Life”, and you have been touring and recording since the beginning of the band, are you going to continue releasing albums and touring for years to come or do you see a retirement coming soon?

It's difficult to stop when you like what you're doing.As you know,we've always been a live-band,and as long as fans show up we will continue.

You are currently on tour, how has the tour been going so far? How is it different on tour now than it was back in the 80s’?

this year has been very good.We did a few festivals in the summer and a unplugged tour this fall.
Playing in front of a 2006-audience is just the same as it was in 1988 except that people had higher hair back then hehe...The biggest difference
is that life offstage is better: Hotel-rooms,food and travelling has become better for the bands.

Are you going tour the US or Europe anytime soon?

We have no plans at the time being,that depends of course on the offers we get,but it would have been great to do some showa abroad.We know we have a lot of fans both in Europe and the US.

The band in 2005, they dont look much difference than they did back in the 80's do they?

In the band Hot Lips, you played mainly rock covers. Which were your favourite to play, and do you ever think of throwing a few of them into a Stage Dolls setlist?

hehe...that right! One of my favorites were Dancing in the moonlight (Lizzy),I love that guitarsolo and it was great to do it.

Norway have had a lot of good rock n roll bands, but none of them have made an impact on the outside world as the new black metal bands, why do you think this happened?

I have'nt thought about that but those bands have been very innovative careerwise.Still I think that both we and TNT have inspired and motivated a lot of other bands both in Norway and abroad

Is there any band you always dreamed about touring with? Norwegian or Foreign?

I've been a Cheap Trick-fan since their first album so a tour with them would be great!! Rick Nielsen is one of my all time favorites.

In late 1984, you toured with T.N.T to huge success, tell us some of your favourite moments of that tour, and who was the biggest band on that tour?

This was a great tour,we played all over Norway.Stage Dolls were the opening act as it was TNT's release of "KNights"-albumTour but they gave us enough sound and light to do a proper set.Besides we were old buddies from Trondheim..
We had a lot of fun together,both on and offstage!!

You had some lineup changes over the years, basically drummers, could you tells us why these guys left the band and whether this is your “Spinal Tap moment”?

hehe...you could say that even if me and Terje have had a lot of other 'Tap'-moments hehe...
Erlend left in 1985 to do more business with PA/sound,Steinar joined Vagabond in 1992.Morten has stuck with us for 14 years and being the kind of outstanding musician he is we have no plans to change.

If not, which is your biggest “Spinal Tap moment”?

hehe....well we actually did the 'Hello Cleveland'-tour backstage in Wales once.....:)

On your tour in the states and Europe, you played with a lot of bands, which was the biggest, and how was it to tour with acts like that?

I guess touring with Mr.Big in Europe was the finest tour.They were very nice to us and we really felt they liked to have us on the tour.This was just after their hit-single 'Be with you' and every night was sold out.

What is the biggest difference between the crowds in Norway and the crowds you played for in the US?

There's really not that much difference,'having a good time' is a universal state of mind!

What is the biggest crowd you ever played in front of and where?

We did the NEC in Birmingham with Magnum,I guess around 10000 indoors.
Outdoors probably Bergen Norway in 1986,I would guess around 20000.

Tell us some of your memories of writing the following songs:

Soldiers Gun

this was written after we finished our first album,but we realised the potential of the song and went straight back into the studio to do it.

Love Don’t Bother Me

Originally,I didnt think this was gonna be a Stage Dolls-song because it has some strange chord-progressions but after
rehearsing it with the band I think it turned out nice.

Forelska I Lærern

Written in half an hour,nice piece of work!

Commandos

We wanted to do a song that had a little epic feel.Worked hard on the arrangements,nice one.

Queen of Hearts

This was one of our first songs, and to me a typical Stage Dolls-song.

Don’t Fight It

I really like the guitar-riff on this one

Hallelujah Preachers

A little story about the big things in life,nice work by Sven and Per.

Rate the following Guitarists from 1 to 10, 1 being a complete hack, and 10 being to ultimate shredder. (Feel free to add comments)

hehe...it's not possible..:)
what I can say though is that I've listened a lot to Joe Perry and Angus' brother!!
I was also a friend of Marius and deeply regretted that we lost him so early,great musician and a warm person.

Joe Perry
Petter Baarli
Jay Jay French
Ronnie Le Tekroe
Dimebag Darrell
Angus Young
Mick Mars
CC Deville
Marius Müller

Kids of the outside world, mainly the US, might have gotten the impression that Norwegian bands are all about the drama, and the extreme, like Mayhem, with the murders, suicide, and church burnings. Has there ever been any drama at all in Stage Dolls, or do you guys always get along?

We've had musical quarrels but never personally.Over the years you get to know each other so you know when to stop hehe..:)

You put out a solo album in 95 and your fans loved it. Do you think you will ever release another solo album, and what musicians would you like to bring into the studio for it?

As for now I have no plans but we''ll see in the future.

Torstein at some streetcorner, looks like he is waiting for the bus.

Do you still get a lot of groupies, or are they all grown up to be old fat housewives?

hehe...wrong band I'm afraid.

You have been called the greatest songwriter in Norway. What do you think about that statement, and who is your “mentor” when it comes to songwriting?

I guess in music you can never say the best of so and so,
But I see that some of my songs tends to outlive different trends and still be popular.
I listened to different artists and bands earlier,Tom Petty Cheap Trick Aerosmith Stones
those were my inspirations

What was the last good concert you went to as an audience member?

I just saw Ralph Myers & the Jack Herren Band in Trondheim and that was one hell of a gig!

Lately there's been a lot of talk about what rockstars ask for on their riders (demands from the promotors) before shows. What's one thing that you must have on yours before going onstage?

Lots of water!!

recent live photo, man that guitar looks beat up..

A lot of 80s bands changed their style in the 90s and 00s to get to a wider audience, but you always stayed true to your roots. What do you think about bands that jumped on the grunge wagon, and what do you think of today's new rock genres, like nu-metal, and opera-metal (Nightwish, etc)

I think it's good to hear new genres come along because it shows that one can express oneself with music different ways.
For me it's impossible to write and play music that I can't relate to and it seldom works when people try it.

What is the biggest music related check you ever received?

hehe...20 x 7 cm

Why didn’t you try harder to “make it” over in the US?

To 'make it' is often a question of luck,being at the right place at the right time.
Looking back I think for a small band from Trondheim,Norway to get in the US-charts,tour for almost a year and such was a big achievement by us and we're glad we 'made' that!!

Special question from Linda from CA – How tall are you?

last time I checked I was 186 cm.. something like 6'2?

For more info about Stage Dolls, go to http://www.stagedolls.com/