Steampacket’s bad luck

They won a prestigous pop contest in the Swedish television show Hylands hörna (Hylands corner). But when they were performing their two songs “Bara ett par dar” and “Viva l’amour” the main televisions transmitter broke and no one could see the band as they went on. New years eve 1966 became a disaster for the band. The clip above is probably from early 1967. Steampacket are back, a second chance to play their songs and get things right in Önskeprogrammet. This is their chance for success. But now in another show, and their is no more popular show than Hylands Hörna in those days. Mikael Ramel plays Hollies song “Fifi the flea” and after that they do their very melodic but kind of flat “Viva L’Amour”. But the success didn’t come and the band never came over their bad luck. It was as they where hunted by misfortunes. For example as they toured England, with high hopes, they soon came back to Sweden impoverished and dissatisfied. Steampacket had lots of debts and later they splitted apart trying to pay back what they owed. But nevertheless the band left behind fabulous songs as “Fruitseller Oldman’s song”, “Take her anytime”, “Only in her hometown” and “Bluebird”. Steampacket created a colorful pattern between the beat and psych.

Lots of more about Steampacket at Mikael Ramel’s own site.