Onkel Kånkel

Onkel Kånkel and his Kånkelbär ("kånkelbär", English: dingleberries), commonly referred to as just Onkel Kånkel, was a Swedish könsrock/punk rock band known for provocative lyrics dealing with subjects such as handicapped people, disorders and diseases, nazism, homosexuality, pedophilia, and coprophilia, often with elements of toilet humor. Many songs reference Swedish TV and radio personalities. Onkel Kånkel is often considered to have created the könsrock genre.

While well known for their shock value, Onkel Kånkel's music has never entered the mainstream, though the band managed to get the 46th placement on the Swedish top-50 chart in 1994.^[1] One of their albums, Kalle Anka Suger Pung (English: Donald Duck Sucks Scrotum), briefly had some radio airplay, but was pulled off the air due to perceived inappropriate content. More recently, the Internet has spread Onkel Kånkel to a younger generation.

Onkel Kånkel has been compared to Eddie Meduza and Johnny Bode.^[2]

Håkan Florå, Onkel Kånkel's frontman and singer/guitarist, wore a mask while performing, so as to "not take away the mystery".^[1]

Håkan Florå died of a heart attack aged 47 on the 15th of August 2009.^[3]

Controversies

In 1995 Inge Carlsson, a social democratic party member of parliament, sent a written inquiry to then current Minister of Justice Laila Freivalds, requesting a ban on "offensive musical lyrics", after having been contacted by a school teacher upset by Onkel Kånkel's songs. The minister denied the request on grounds of freedom of speech, adding that such lyrics are "repulsive and sad", but not illegal.^[1]

At the 1993 Hultsfred festival, during the first of the few live shows the band performed, an intellectually disabled man not part of the band was invited on stage, singing along to choruses and telling jokes between songs. This caused some controversy, as some people considered it wrong to make fun of people with disabilities. When interviewed about the accusations, Onkel Kånkel answered "That is bullshit. The concert was among the most fun things he has ever experienced. He is a really fun guy. It is not wrong to laugh at disabled people, what's wrong is to ignore them, to treat them as if they did not exist."^[1]

Members

The number of band members and their degree of involvement has never been firmly established. Only Håkan Florå has had his identity as the band's frontman revealed to the general public, after his death. While some have speculated that he was the only member, he stated in interviews that they really were a band. These are the officially credited members:

• Onkel Kånkel - Song, Guitar
• Epilepsi Kurt - Drums, Percussion
• Arne Tammer - Special Effects, Song
• CP Sven - Bass, Song
• Stomi Bertil - Guitar, Song
• Tobias Forge - Guitar, Song

Discography

• Svenska Tonårsgrupper Vol 3 (1981 12" LP, Konkurens Rekårdz) The first appearance of Onkel Kånkel on vinyl, with the song "Nazzepenis i Führerns anus". More information about this album is available at http://www.punktipset.se/band.asp?id=505&bID=660.
• Onkel Kånkels Gyllene Tider (1983 12" LP, Konkurens Rekårdz, remastered version released on CD with bonus tracks in 1993)
• Kalle Anka Suger Pung (1990 12" LP, Tjockfet Records)
• Onkel Kånkels Underbara Värld (1993 CD, Konkurrens Records)
• Gammeldags Jul (1994 CD, Konkurrens Records)
• Onkel Kånkels fantastiska äfventyr (1999 CD, Konkurrens Records)
• Blitzkrieg Blepp (2003 CD, Konkurrens Records)

Three bootleg compilations with songs from early tape recordings were unofficially released on the internet in 2001:

• Sälla Toner Vol. 1 (2001)
• Sälla Toner Vol. 2 (2001)
• Sälla Toner Vol. 3 (2001)

In 1992, a tribute album called Kånkelmania was released, featuring Onkel Kånkel covers. Participating bands and artists were Stig Vig, Charta 77 and Union Carbide Productions.

References