Gasolin

Few Danish rock bands of the early 1970s left a mark as deep as Gasolin', formed in Christianshavn, Copenhagen, in 1969 by Kim Larsen, Franz Beckerlee and Wili Jønsson. Their starting points were foreign: Beckerlee's guitar carried the spirit of Jimi Hendrix, Larsen's writing echoed Bob Dylan, and the rhythm work owed much to The Beatles. They soon moved beyond those models, fusing Larsen's pop instinct with Beckerlee's artistic seriousness and Jønsson's musical skill.

Their first three singles, 'Silky Sally', 'Child of Institution' and 'Johnny The Jackpot', were sung in English and flopped, so Danish lyrics became the rule from the debut album on. From 1972 to 1978 they were the most popular rock band in Denmark, recording with producer Roy Thomas Baker on Gasolin' 3, Gas 5 and Efter endnu en dag. They split at the peak, citing failure to break abroad and personal differences. Larsen later became a major solo star, and the 2006 film Gasolin' 4-ever became Denmark's most popular documentary, though the band have refused to reunite.