Magne takes part in Gumball 3000 rally

Posted by Jakob S on May 21st, 2013
Magne behind the wheel (Picture from

Magne behind the wheel
(Picture from skjervenracing.tumblr.com)

Magne, who is a big car enthusiast, is taking part in the 2013 Gumball 3000 road rally, which started in Copenhagen on May 19th and finishes in Monte Carlo on May 24th.

Magne and Einar Skjerven, CEO of investment company Skjerven Group, will be driving through Europe in a black Ferrari 512 M, followed by a support car with a mechanic and a masseur. The Ferrari has been partly decorated by Magne.

The route: Copenhagen – Stockholm – Helsinki – St Petersburg – Tallinn – Riga – Vilnius – Warsaw – Krakow – Vienna – Verona – Monte Carlo.

Unfortunately, the Ferrari’s gear switch broke down before Helsinki yesterday, and the team has since been searching for spare parts all over Europe. They seem to be continuing in the support car, with the Ferrari following on a truck until it’s fixed.

You can follow all the latest developments on the team’s Tumblr blog (Magne’s updates are written in lower case): skjervenracing.tumblr.com

Other celebrities taking part in the infamous road rally this year include David Hasselhoff, Tony Hawk, Xzibit and The Dudesons.

Prior to the rally, Magne attended hotel tycoon Petter Stordalen’s annual May 16th costume party in Oslo. This year the party had a Swedish theme, and Magne came dressed as Karlsson-on-the-Roof. As you may remember, Magne and Heidi came dressed as the lady and the tramp at last year’s farmer-themed party.

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Morten appears at Billboard Music Awards

Posted by Jakob S on May 20th, 2013
Morten on stage at the Billboard Music Awards, with Pitbull and Christina Aguilera

Morten on stage at the Billboard Music Awards, with Pitbull and Christina Aguilera

Morten appeared as a surprise guest at the 2013 Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas last night, where he joined Pitbull and Christina Aguilera on stage at the end of their hit song “Feel This Moment” to sing the chorus of “Take On Me”.

The 3-hour show, which aired live on ABC in the US, was held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. The performance of “Feel This Moment” can be seen on YouTube.

Morten, Christina Aguilera and Pitbull (Picture from xtina-web.com)

Morten, Christina Aguilera and Pitbull
(Picture from xtina-web.com)

“Feel This Moment”, which borrows the classic riff from “Take On Me”, has been a big hit around the world in 2013. Pitbull was in contact with a-ha manager Harald Wiik over several months last year, to negotiate the use of the riff – which ended with Morten, Magne and Paul all getting songwriting credits on “Feel This Moment”.

“I thought it was fun, essentially. [Take On Me] has been treated to a lot of different versions. What is it, 25 years now, at least, since it was released. So it’s a resilient bugger. It’s been done in punk versions, heavy metal, death metal. All kinds. And now; Pitbull”, Morten said in the press room after the performance.

Morten also briefly talked about the new solo album he’s currently working on:

“I’m doing an album with a Swedish songwriter and producer, Peter Kvint. It’s possibly the best stuff I’ve ever done, actually. And that’s difficult to talk about, because it doesn’t sound true.”

Here is the whole Q&A session from the press room:

Prior to arriving in Las Vegas, Morten spent some time in New York on Friday, where a few select people had a chance to listen to some new demos.

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Magne after heart surgery: “I’m in fantastic shape”

Posted by Jakob S on May 11th, 2013
Cover of Magasinet, May 11th

Cover of Magasinet, May 11th

Magne is on the cover of Dagbladet’s Saturday magazine today. He is also on the front page of the newspaper itself.

In a 6-page interview done in London, he talks about the Norwegian Wood exhibition and the music he’ll be making for the upcoming Beatles movie at Abbey Road Studios.

“I’ll be using the old recording equipment used by The Beatles, and try to rent the old tape reels and microphones. I want to make it as authentic as possible.”

He also says that his heart condition is now much better, following a heart surgery last year.

“I have lived with the diagnosis atrial fibrillation, and there’s no denying that it’s been difficult at times. But after my surgery at Haukeland University Hospital last year I’m in fantastic shape. I have to thank the Norwegian health care system for giving me a new life at the age of 50. The problem is of course, if you ask my wife, that now I can work more than I’ve ever done. I have no limits.”

The journalist asks if he still has to take special considerations in his everyday life.

“No, not anymore. I’m healthy! For the first time in ten years I’m not taking any medication, that’s how it’s been for one year now. It feels really good.”

Magne has previously talked about his heart condition is several interviews, including The Daily Mail in 2009.

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Magne in N Magazine

Posted by Jakob S on May 11th, 2013
Picture from N Magazine

Picture from N Magazine

Magne is profiled in a 5-page article in the May 2013 issue of airline Norwegian’s in-flight magazine N.

The article focuses on Apparatjik and the Apparatjik Suite, his gallery Stolper + Friends, and the other projects he’s involved with in the new Tjuvholmen art district in Oslo, including mentoring young art students.

The whole interview, which was done by UK writer Lucille Howe at The Thief on March 25th, can be found online here (in English).

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Apparatjik in Copenhagen, May 3rd

Posted by Jakob S on May 5th, 2013
Copenhagen, May 3rd

Copenhagen, May 3rd

Magne, Martin and Jonas did their first Apparatjik concert of the year on Friday, May 3rd, with a 14-song set at the National Gallery of Denmark (SMK) in Copenhagen.

A reviewer at Danish music website Gaffa praises the “extremely well planned audiovisual bombardment of the senses” and gives the concert 5 out of 6 stars. Although he feels the music lacks an emotional quality, he says the show “worked incredibly well throughout its compact 49 minutes”.

Guy Berryman attended Magne’s exhibition opening in London on Thursday, but did not join the others for the concert in Copenhagen. The busy Coldplay-bassist last performed with Apparatjik in March 2011, and has been replaced with a stand-in at every performance since then.

Lowell had taken the trip over from Canada, though, and came on stage to do her two songs “Shake Him Off” and “The Birds”.

YouTube videos (by Carlos and others):
Intro / Josie   Do It Myself   Supersonic Sound   Tell The Babes (w/ Magne on vocals)
Shake Him Off   The Birds   Deadbeat

Meanwhile in Oslo, a new sculpture by Apparatjik has apparently been installed outdoors at Tjuvholmen.

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