The words come from Åge Aleksandersen. All of Norway’s Åge.
For over fifty years he has traveled around Norway and entertained us with his music.
Next year it’s over. It has been known for a long time. The concerts with “Sambandet” will become history. They won the Spellemannpris together in 1980, and continued for a few years before taking a longer break.
Since 2003, they have kept it going.
Åge and the Association have given many concerts and performances. Here from the annual meeting of the Labor Party in 2007.
Photo: Jarl Fr. Erichsen / NTB
But things do not go smoothly when a rich touring life comes to an end.
On 6 September 2025, the plan is to fill Lerkendal Stadium to the brim.
– My ambitions were smaller, so to speak. I had envisioned a youth center somewhere in the country, but then we ended up with Lerkendal, says Åge.
– I hope many people will come, he says.
There will be room for 25,000 spectators. Noe Åge says he thinks it sounds completely wild.
– I’m looking forward to it, and I’m dreading it. There is sadness and one and the other.
Means a lot
Åge Aleksandersen says Lerkendal means a lot to him as it is the home ground of his favorite team Rosenborg.
There will be room for 25,000 spectators when Åge plays his last concert together with Sambandet.
Photo: Jøte Toftaker / NRK
– In addition, I was never selected for the team. That’s why I now come with my own team and play at Lerkendal.
– Finally, there will be some good “spiel” at Lerkendal too.
Before the final concert in September next year, the band will go on a big Norwegian tour. Åge’s idea was initially to play all the places they have played since they started up again in 2003, but then they would have had to do around 600 concerts.
– It would have been a bit much, laughs Åge.
Excited and dreaded
Åge Aleksandersen admits that he has been sleeping badly lately before this launch. He says he hopes many will come.
– If anyone wonders if I’m sleeping badly, I guess I’m doing it right now.
When asked why he thinks it is time to give up, he says that he feels it is right to give up at the top.
– Everything in its time. I will soon be 75 and will hopefully be 76 next year. If I am delivered with a warranty, I must guarantee that it will not expire before September 6 next year. After that I think I can let the warranty expire. Then maybe I’ll come up with something else, laughs Åge Aleksandersen.
This is what it looked like when Lerkendal was rigged for the A-ha concert in 2010.
Photo: Gorm Kallestad / NTB
Not the first time
Lerkendal has also been used as a concert arena in the past. Here you can see some memories from a selection of these concerts:
“Wow!” shouted, sorry sang, Bjarne Brøndbo and the others in DDE when they held a concert in Lerkendal in 2005.
Photo: Arne Kristian Gansmo / NRK
Later that evening, it was Kaizer’s Orchestra who played the most beautiful notes and the most incomprehensible words from the Lerkendal stage.
Photo: Arne Kristian Gansmo / NRK
In 2007 there was the “Trondheim Rock Festival” in Lerkendal. Ozzy Osbourne was the headliner, but there are no pictures of this that we have promised to use. Here is one of the audience a little earlier in the day. Probably under Immortal or Pagans Mind.
Photo: Jørn Gjersøe / NRK
Although it is not shown that this is in Lerkendal, we can confirm that Bruce Dickinson stands here on the same ground as, for example, Harald Martin Brattbakk and later Nicklas Bendtner have had as their playroom. Without comparison otherwise.
Photo: Jørn Gjersøe / NRK
It didn’t go as well for Kiss. The slow Trønder audience simply could not buy enough tickets to fill the mat. Gene Simmons and the rest of the guys were thus directed to the parking lot.
Photo: Roy Hilmar Svendsen / NRk
Fortunately, things went much better for Morten Harket and his friends. A-ha filled the lawn with the audience in 2010. Surely in one of their many reunion concerts.
Photo: Arne Kristian Gansmo / NRK
There’s a long way to go at the Royal Albert Hall, sang Åge Aleksandersen in 1975. Join us for a historic concert, with a brilliantly composed Åge on and behind the stage.