Per Bergersen
| Per Bergersen | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Per Natrud Bergersen |
| Born |
October 1, 1960 Australia |
| Origin | Røros, Norway |
| Died | June 28, 1990 (aged 29) |
| Occupations | Musician |
Per Natrud Bergersen (1 October 1960 in Australia – 28 June 1990) was a musician from Røros, Norway. He was killed by a friend in 1990, 29 years old, with a shotgun. According to news reports this happened at Bergersen's request, as he wanted help committing suicide.
Musical career
Prior to his untimely death Per Bergersen had published a demo tape, Redrum Psychosis, in 1985, and he also contributed a song, "Duejakt", to a flexi single released by the anarchist journal Gateavisa. After his death, the LP PB was released by Røros fritidsklubb (a local youth club). 1000 copies were released, which quickly sold out. This LP has gained cult status in various milieux, and is sold used for more than $100. PB is mainly based on Redrum Psychosis and live recordings from Thomasgaarden, Røros, in 1990, the night before he was killed. The lyrics of his song "Kyssing" was used as the theme song of the Norwegian movie, Store gutter gråter ikke. There the song had the title "Skyter meg på julaften" which directly translated means "I'll shoot myself on Christmas Eve", which is the opening line of the song. Bergersen's version was not included on PB.
Per Bergersen wrote most of his songs in Norwegian, although he also had a couple in English, and much of his material was very dark and sad, probably because of his own depressions and problems, having grown up with his mother until she died when he was fifteen. Some, however, also had a humorous and grotesque edge, whereas still others were social commentaries. Per Bergersen is considered among many people as the greatest (undiscovered) Norwegian song writer to ever have lived, and in 2010 the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation broadcast a half hour long documentary on Bergersen. Most of his material would also classify as pretty strong comments towards society and social structures like the song "Sachsenhausen" which have a line that directly translated means something like, "They will fire up the ovens for you or me, they don't really care who they burn". Which must be seen in relation to how Per Bergersen probably felt as an outsider in society and being neither able nor welcome to participate on his own terms.
Per N. Bergersen Online have many of his songs in MP3 format for download which probably is not illegal since he never signed a record contract before his death, and in fact was almost unpublished before he was shot by one of his friends in a "kind of suicide" in 1990.
Discography
- PB
- Redrum Psychosis
- Live Røros Fritidsklubb, 1990
- Live Thomasgaarden, Røros