{{Infobox person | name = Helge Gaarder | image = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1953|11|25|df=y}} | birth_place = Oslo, Norway | death_date = {{Death date and age|2004|4|15|1953|11|25|df=y}} | death_place = | monuments = | nationality = | other_names = | education = | alma_mater = | occupation = Singer, composer, journalist and producer | years_active = | employer = | organization = | agent = | known_for = | notable_works = | style = | television = | spouse = | partner = | children = | parents = Inger Margrethe Gaarder | relatives = Jostein Gaarder (brother) | awards = }}
'''Helge Gaarder''' (25 November 1953 – 15 April 2004) was a Norwegian singer, composer, journalist and producer.
Gaarder was born in Oslo to children's writer Inger Margrethe Gaarder, and was a brother of Jostein Gaarder. He was a member of various musical groups, including the anarchist band Geitost, the punk band {{ill|Kjøtt|no|Kjøtt (band)}}, the experimental band Montasje, and the rock band {{ill|Cirkus Modern|no}}. In 1984 he issued the solo album ''Eine keine Angst Musik''. Gaarder was also journalist for the music magazine ''{{ill|Puls (magazine)|lt=Puls|no|Puls (avis)}}'', was part of the project Forente Artister, and worked as producer for Concerts Norway.<ref name=snl>{{cite encyclopedia|title=Helge Gaarder |first=Jon Vidar |last=Bergan |encyclopedia=Store norske leksikon |editor-last=Bolstad | editor-first=Erik | editor-link= |publisher=Norsk nettleksikon |location=Oslo |url=https://snl.no/Helge_Gaarder |language=Norwegian |access-date=10 May 2017}}</ref>
== Musical career ==
Gaarder joined several bands, one of them being the anarchist band ''Geitost'', for which he played guitar, piano and provided vocals. In 1979, the band released the single ''Parkalåt''/''Imorra'' ''Babylon'', which sold 500 copies. Two Norwegian companies refused to press the album, so it was released in Sweden.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Willy_b |date=2004-03-26 |title=Helge Gaarder: Diskografi 1979 – 1986 |url=https://www.ballade.no/populaermusikk/helge-gaarder-diskografi-1979-1986/ |access-date=2025-10-02 |website=ballade.no |language=nb-NO}}</ref>
The same year, Gaarder also become a member of the new wave band ''Kjøtt.'' Considered to be one of the first Norwegian new wave bands, ''Kjøtt'' released one album (Op., 1981) alongside several EPs and singles in their lifetime. Despise the band's short life span, they are widely considered one of the most influential Norwegian bands of all time, due to both the music itself and the fact that their lyrics were exclusively in Norwegian, which was unusual among local bands at the time.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kjøtt |url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/374292-Kj%C3%B8tt |access-date=2025-10-02 |website=Discogs |language=en}}</ref>
After leaving ''Kjøtt,'' Garrder formed the experimental band ''Montasje.'' The band released one album, ''Presence!'' in 1982. In 1983, Garrder and the band's drummer, Ola Snortheim, left ''Montasje'' to form the rock band ''Cirkus Modern.'' They released three albums from 1984-1986 to generally positive acclaim.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cirkus Modern |url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/542486-Cirkus-Modern |access-date=2025-10-02 |website=Discogs |language=en}}</ref>
In 1984, Gaarder released his first and only solo album, ''Eine Keine Angst Musik.''
In 1985, he participated in Forente Artister, a collection of artists who together released the charity single ''Sammen for livet.'' The song and the project received a special award in the 1985 Spellemannsprisen.
==References== {{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Gaarder, Helge}} Category:Musicians from Oslo Category:1953 births Category:2004 deaths Category:Journalists from Oslo Category:20th-century Norwegian journalists
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