# Stonefunkers

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**Stonefunkers** is a [Swedish](/source/Swedish_people) [funk](/source/Funk), [go-go](/source/Go-go) and live [hip hop](/source/Hip_hop_music) band started by brothers Emrik and Torsten Larsson that was one of the first Swedish bands to play "urban"-style music.[1]

## Career

Both Larssons spent a year in the US studying American culture and picking up on the soul and funk scene.[2]

Emrik went to high school in [Rochester, New York](/source/Rochester,_New_York) and soon found out that a lot of the hot bands usually stopped to play in Rochester. During his year he got to see artists ranging from [George Clinton](/source/George_Clinton_(funk_musician)) with [Parliament](/source/Parliament_(band)), [D-Train](/source/D_Train_(music_group)), [Tyrone Brunson](/source/Tyrone_Brunson_(musician)), to [Slave](/source/Slave_(band)) and [Steve Arrington](/source/Steve_Arrington) and also witnessed his first hip hop performance by [Double Trouble](/source/Double_Trouble_(band)) (known through the hip hop movie *[Wild Style](/source/Wild_Style)*).[3][4]

Torsten went to [Minneapolis](/source/Minneapolis) and soon got into the rock scene but couldn't get away from [that cities powerful funk movement](/source/Minneapolis_sound) led by [Prince](/source/Prince_(musician)), [The Time](/source/The_Time_(band)), [André Cymone](/source/Andr%C3%A9_Cymone) and others.[2]

Back in Sweden they both felt the urge to start a funk band. Torsten had previously played the bass in various [punk](/source/Punk_rock)/rock bands, and Emrik had done some singing in different choirs and also had a leading part in a musical.[3]

They recruited their old [skateboard](/source/Skateboard) pal Christian on drums, a neighbour on bass, Emrik's friend David on Moog and Prophet synthesizers, and Torsten switched to guitar. Torsten came up with the name during a skate session.[2][4]

In 1987 they became the first Swedish band to be interviewed on the Swedish radio show Soul Corner, a radio program covering African-American music.[5]

The early Stonefunk sound was guitar-driven rock funk influenced by [Jimi Hendrix](/source/Jimi_Hendrix), [Rose Royce](/source/Rose_Royce) and [Sly Stone](/source/Sly_Stone). In 1987 they were considered one of [Gothenburg](/source/Gothenburg)’s most energetic and exciting live bands and they recorded their first single, "Turn it Up", released in May 1988 on small indie label Radium.[3]

In autumn 1989 they started to work on their first full-length album, *Hard as Kryptonite*, with producer [Christian Falk](/source/Christian_Falk)[6] (later known for his work with [Neneh Cherry](/source/Neneh_Cherry), *Blacknuss all-stars* and [Robyn](/source/Robyn)). During the recording of the album, the group was joined by [toastingstyle](/source/Deejay_(Jamaican))-rapper [Papa Dee](/source/Papa_Dee), who brought in more evident [hip hop](/source/Hip_hop_music) influences than there were on the two previous singles.[7] Drummer & percussion player [Jean-Louis Huhta](/source/Jean-Louis_Huhta)[8] also joined the band at this time, which resulted in more inspirations from the [go-go](/source/Go-go) of Washington D.C. (groups like [Trouble Funk](/source/Trouble_Funk) and [EU](/source/Experience_Unlimited)).[2]

Stonefunkers lineup 1989:

- Vocals – Emrik (M-rock) Larsson,
- Guitar – Torsten (Topsteen) Larsson,
- Moog – David (Davono) Selvert
- Keyboards - [Fredrik (Fronkpac) Jahn](https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fredrik_Jahn)
- Drums – Christian (Cheeze) Ekerfors
- Percussion – [Jean-Louis Huhta](/source/Jean-Louis_Huhta)
- Rap – Daniel ([Papa Dee](/source/Papa_Dee)) Wahlgren
- Bass – Magnus (Conan) Corneliusson.

In 1990 the group switched labels to [Warner](/source/Warner_Music_Group), who decided to [remix](/source/Remix) *Hard as Kryptonite* for an international release entitled *Harder than Kryptonite*. This remixed version of the album had a jazz-hip hop/[Native Tongues](/source/Native_Tongues) direction and new added rap verses. [Papa Dee](/source/Papa_Dee) also left the band and embarked on a solo career. The band decided to recruit rapper *MC Cane* (Marc Eastmond), with whom they recorded a brand new [De La Soul](/source/De_La_Soul)-inspired new single entitled "Can U Follow". The song became a huge dance-floor hit and the video was shown on [MTV](/source/MTV) Europe on a regular basis. The album *Harder than Kryptonite* was released all around Europe in 1991 and Stonefunkers also embarked on their first European tour, visiting the Nordic countries and Germany.[3]

With *MC Cane* still the main rapper the band recorded the 12" single *LPC ([Lucky People Center](/source/Lucky_People_Center))*, a celebration of percussionist [Jean-Louis Huhta](/source/Jean-Louis_Huhta) club nights[8] of the same name. The actual [club](/source/Lucky_People_Center) featured [Ambient house](/source/Ambient_house)/[Trance](/source/Trance_music)[9] genres of music but this single was yet another [Native Tongues](/source/Native_Tongues) inspired [hip hop](/source/Hip_hop_music) track. The single was a hit on Swedish radio.[10][11]

In 1992 they started to work on their next album with producer [Henryk Lipp](/source/Henryk_Lipp). By this time MC Cane had left for a career in [graphic design](/source/Graphic_design), and today works for one of Sweden's most prestigious and award-winning advertising agencies, Forsman & Bodenfors.[2][12][13] The band got a new rapper, [ADL](/source/ADL_(rapper)),[14] brother of percussionist [Jean-Louis Huhta](/source/Jean-Louis_Huhta). ADL had previously appeared in the videos for *Bass Race* and *Can U Follow* and added rap verses on two of the tracks on the *Harder than Kryptonite* remixes album. The album *No problem ’94 (non-believers stand back!)* was a huge hit in the spring of ’93 and spawned two big hit singles, "M-rock theory" and "Funkadeena".[2]

The recording stint with Warner came to an end in 1994 and Stonefunkers were signed to [Stockholm Records](/source/Stockholm_Records) subsidiary Breakin’ Bread. They recorded the next album in [Haarlem](/source/Haarlem), the [Netherlands](/source/Netherlands) and also toured the [Benelux](/source/Benelux) countries extensively.[3] The effort made in the Netherlands came out in the form of a *Material*-heavy [P-funk](/source/P-funk)-influenced album. The album contained the singles "Wreck the show" and "Individuality" but never made an impact in [Sweden](/source/Sweden). The response to the album was greater abroad and Stonefunkers embarked on yet another tour that took them to [Austria](/source/Austria), [Switzerland](/source/Switzerland) and other countries.[2]

In 1996 ADL left the band to work on his solo project *Absent Minded*,[15] and the band decided to continue without a rapper and instead put more focus on the vocals of lead singer Emrik "M-rock" Larsson.[3] In 1998 Stonefunkers signed a deal with Swedish label Independent Records and immediately began putting down tracks for the new album. Band member Torsten served as the project's producer and the album *Outststanding*[16] was finished in August 1998.[3]

### Breakup and solo work

Torsten Larsson says, "The Poland tour around 95–96 have been our absolute low point, just a guitar, a bassynt, drums and tons of alcohol!"[17] After a few key members left and a disastrous argument about the lack of sales, the group broke up. The band officially disbanded in 2001, but performed live for the last time in 1999.[1][18]

Guitar player and leader of the group, Torsten "Topsteen" Larsson, would go on and become a successful sound engineer and producer and in following years would work with such acts as [Roxette](/source/Roxette), [Olle Ljungström](/source/Olle_Ljungstr%C3%B6m),.[1] [The Royal Beat conspiracy](/source/The_Royal_Beat_conspiracy)[19] and [The Soundtrack of our Lives](/source/The_Soundtrack_of_our_Lives).

M-Rock/Emrik would record three solo albums experimenting with [punk](/source/Punk_rock), [soul music](/source/Soul_music), [folk](/source/Folk_music) and singer songwriter styles of music.[20][21][22] In 2000, he and a few other members of the stonefunk crew contribute to the compilation album *GAIS Rocks Da House* in support of the football club [GAIS](/source/GAIS) under the name *Stenkross*.[23]

### Reformation

In 2009 the band reformed and embarked on a short [Swedish](/source/Sweden) tour with yet another series of concerts lined up for the summer of 2010, starting with a gig [Stockholm](/source/Stockholm), 23 April.[24] [25]

The current members are:

- Vocals and rap – M-Rock(Emrik Larsson)
- Guitar – Top-Steen (Torsten Larsson)
- Rap – ADL
- Keyboards – Davono
- Keyboards - [Fredrik (Fronkpac) Jahn](https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fredrik_Jahn)
- Bass – Conan
- Percussion – Cheezo
- Percussion – [Jean-Louis Huhta](/source/Jean-Louis_Huhta)
- Percussion – Storm
- Percussion – Gonzo

## Trivia

In 2010, Spanish band *La calle del ritmo* covered the track *Can U Follow*. [26]

## Albums

- *Hard as Kryptonite* (1989)
- *Harder than Kryptonite* (1991)
- *No problem 94 – Non-believers stand back!* (1993)
- *Material* (1995)
- *Outstanding* (1998)

## Videos

- [Can U Follow](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6k99fPve-s)
- [M-Rock Theory](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uz2fTD_gR3U)
- [Wreck The Show](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKq1xO2Twh0&feature=PlayList&p=122F98186C2671A8&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=4)
- [Individuality](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IJ2n9pP3Dc)

## References

1. ["Stonefunkers återupptar festandet"](http://www.svd.se/kulturnoje/nyheter/stonefunkers-aterupptar-festandet_2676501.svd), *Svenska Dagbladet* 31 March 2009. Retrieved 21 March 2010.

1. [Emrik Larsson](http://www.emrik.nu/visa.lasso?mall=popupsangtext.lasso&kat_id=&ukat_id=&poster_id=8000000000030175) at stonefunkers.com. Retrieved 21 March 2010.

1. [Stonefunkers biography – 1998](http://www.stonefunkers.com/visa.lasso?ukat_id=8000000000039991&kat_id=84500000000012190&kunder_id=8000000000000680&mall=1-spalt.lasso) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110716145355/http://www.stonefunkers.com/visa.lasso?ukat_id=8000000000039991&kat_id=84500000000012190&kunder_id=8000000000000680&mall=1-spalt.lasso) 16 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine at stonefunkers.com. Retrieved 21 March 2010.

1. Tatiana Karas, ["I'm a Stonefunker, yes I am".](http://www.musiklandet.se/ml/index.nsf/1?Open&a=kr&id=2357C7136A67F646C125736E00578CE3) Interview with Emrik Larsson at musiklandet.se, 18 November 2007. Retrieved 21 March 2010.

1. ["Svart musik på skånska – Kultur & Nöjen – Sydsvenskan – Nyheter dygnet runt"](http://sydsvenskan.se/kultur-och-nojen/article32259/Svart-musik-pa-skanska.html). *Sydsvenskan*. 22 April 2005. Retrieved 25 March 2010.

1. Stefan Malmqvist (9 March 2010). ["Christian Falk tar ton på nya skivan | SvD"](http://www.svd.se/kulturnoje/nyheter/christian-falk-tar-ton-pa-nya-skivan_359188.svd) (in Swedish). *Svenska Dagbladet*. Retrieved 25 March 2010.

1. "Inget Snack om Saken, nu är Papa Dee en av de Tunga!", *Frontface magazine* issue 3 2008, [p. 2a](http://www.frontface.se/2008_03/02sid/02a.htm). Retrieved 21 March 2010.

1. Fredrik Strage, ["Jean-Louis Huhta"](http://popviminns.wordpress.com/2010/01/04/jean-louis-huhta/), *Tidskriften Pop Revisited* 4 January 2010. Retrieved 21 March 2010.

1. ["Lucky People Center Discography at Discogs"](http://www.discogs.com/artist/Lucky+People+Center). discogs. 30 October 2002. Retrieved 25 March 2010.

1. ["Vad är Stonefunkers?"](http://www.learning4sharing.nu/stonefunkers-189443.html). Learning4sharing.nu. 26 May 2009. Retrieved 25 March 2010.

1. Steffen Hung. ["Discography Stonefunkers"](http://www.swedishcharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Stonefunkers). swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 25 March 2010.

1. Fredrik Hansson, ["Månadens print"](http://www.resume.se/manadens_kampanj/manadens_print/oktober-2007/index.xml?_id=2016&_type=Print), resume.se October 2007, 6 December 2007. Retrieved 21 March 2010.

1. [Forsman & Bodenfors Contact page](https://web.archive.org/web/20091205203323/http://www.fb.se/en/Pages/12). Retrieved 21 March 2010.

1. ["Stonefunkers 2010 Nedräkningen har börjat!"](http://www.presskontakt.se/pressreleaser/visa/pressrelease/112083/), presskontakt.se 12 May 2009. Retrieved 21 March 2010.

1. [ADL, Absent-Minded](http://www.shell.linux.se/popoga/a/a00023.html)

1. ["Aftonbladet puls: Veckans cd-recensioner"](http://wwwc.aftonbladet.se/puls/musik/cd981016.html). .aftonbladet.se. 5 December 1997. Retrieved 25 March 2010.

1. [Stonefunkers 2010](http://www.mynewsdesk.com/se/view/pressrelease/stonefunkers-2010-281947) at mynesdesk.com, Torsten Larsson Musik AB, 24 March 2009. Retrieved 21 March 2010.

1. Kal Ström, ["Stonefunkers finns inte mer"](http://dagensskiva.com/2001/03/21/stonefunkers-finns-inte-mer/) at dagensskiva.com, 21 March 2001. Retrieved 21 March 2010: "Efter nästan femton år lägger Sveriges mest kända funkare, Stonefunkers, av som band". – "After almost fifteen years Sweden's best known funkers, Stonefunkers, are calling it quits as a band".

1. Håkan Steen, ["Vi för facklan vidare: The Royal Beat Conspiracy vårdar rock’n’roll-arvet på debutplattan"](http://wwwc.aftonbladet.se/puls/9906/11/royal.html), *Aftonbladet* Puls 11 June 1999. Retrieved 21 March 2010.

1. Malena Rydell, ["Emrik: 'Soul Swedish Man'"](https://www.dn.se/kultur-noje/skivrecensioner/emrik-soul-swedish-man/), DN Kultur & Nöje 21 May 2008. Retrieved 21 March 2010.

1. [Soul/blues/rock: Emrik — Soul Swedish Man; Friska Viljor — Tour de Hearts"](http://www.blaskan.nu/blaskan/Nummer69/Musik/emrik_friska_viljor.html), Blaskan 2, 2008. Retrieved 21 March 2010.

1. ["Soulblues för medelåldern"](http://dagensskiva.com/2008/05/10/emrik-soul-swedish-man/), Review of Emrik's *Soul Swedish Man* at dagensskiva.com, 10 May 2008. Retrieved 21 March 2010.

1. ["GAIS 'Rocks Da House'"](http://dagensskiva.com/2000/05/23/gais-rocks-da-house/). dagensskiva.com. 8 August 1969. Retrieved 25 March 2010.

1. Kai Martin, ["Comeback för Stonefunkers"](http://gt.expressen.se/nyheter/1.1511840/comeback-for-stonefunkers), *Expressen* GT 26 March 2009. Retrieved 21 March 2010.

1. ["Stonefunkers @ Fasching"](http://www.fasching.se/program.php?visa=824), *Fasching.se*. Retrieved 25 March 2010.

1. [[http://www.diariodelaltoaragon.es/NoticiasDetalle.aspx?Id=621842](http://www.diariodelaltoaragon.es/NoticiasDetalle.aspx?Id=621842)" La calle del ritmo"], *www.diariodelaltoaragon.es*. Retrieved 25 March 2010.

## External links

- [Stonefunkers](http://www.myspace.com/stonefunkers) on MySpace
- [Stonefunkers résumé](http://www.shell.linux.se/popoga/s/s00064.html) at NorMus
- [Stonefunkers](http://www.discogs.com/artist/Stonefunkers,+The) at Discogs

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Stonefunkers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stonefunkers) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stonefunkers?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.