Guitarist. Vocalist. KISS enthusiast. Evil!? This edition of Fistful of Questions goes out to Galgeberg frontman Peter.
What is your full name?
Peter Michael Kolstad Vegem
Do you have any aliases?
Yes. I’m also called Pete Evil. A stupid name I got back in the 90’s when I played guitar in a punk band called Datsun. All the members of Datsun had aliases. The singer was Max Cargo, the bassist was Lex Nitro, and my fave name was the drummer’s. He called himself Ringo Fire. Because I was the only metalhead in the band the other guys called me Pete Evil. I liked it as it had some Sid Vicious-schwung to it, so I started using it. It was fun for a while, but soon more and more people began to simply just call me “Evil”. After a few years I got tired of it, but I didn’t exactly make it easy to get rid of the name since I had it tattooed on my knuckles. Haha. Idiotic.
What bands are you actively involved with?
As of now I only play in Galgeberg.
What was the first instrument that you played?
As all kids at my school back in the early 80’s I was forced to play the recorder. You know this damn flute made of wood… That didn’t exactly fuel my desire to play music, but when I discovered KISS in 1980 I instantly knew I wanted to play guitar. A few years later I got my first guitar. I was 11.
Tell me about one of your first musical memories?
The first music I remember was classical music. My father played his albums with symphonies by Beethoven, Verdi, Mozart and so on. Growing up I had classical music around me all the time. I also remember very well Sgt. Pepper by The Beatles and my dads old 7 inch singles with Elvis. My mom listened to more contemporary music of the time and I remember the soundtrack to Fame and Hair, Simon and Garfunkel, Mike Oldfield and Abba. The very first album I got was Unmasked by KISS in 1980. The first concert I attended was KISS in 1984. I was 11. Fun fact: We didn’t know each other then, but Bård (Faust) the drummer of Galgeberg was at the same concert. He was 10.
What was the name of the first band you were in?
Distortion. We were just kids trying to figure out how to play our instruments. The name came from my distortion pedal. The other guys from Distortion didn’t continue with music, but I never stopped.
Bård (Faust) and I started playing together in 2005. That was when he joined Blood Tsunami. We did four albums with Blood Tsunami and in between we also did Mongo Ninja and Studfaust together. Blood Tsunami fizzled out after the last album which came out in 2018. I had lost interest and Bård had become rather busy with Djevel. I continued to write music and create riffs, but I had no band. After almost 4 years Bård suddenly sent me a text asking if I wanted to play death metal. Of course I wanted to play death metal… And that was the beginning of Galgeberg.
What inspired the name Galgeberg?
It’s a place in Oslo. It translates to Gallows Hill and it’s the place where the gallows used to be. The last execution at Galgeberg took place in 1815. Today it’s just an intersection. Lots of traffic. A few shops, a pub and a little park. Anyway, the name is ugly and grim and it suits us perfectly.
How long did it take you to write and record Cerberus?
The songs were made between 2022 and 2024. We recorded it during a weekend in November last year. If I remember correctly it was a ten hour session on a saturday and six hours on a sunday. Quick and easy.
If you could insert yourself into any one band what band would it be and why?
Hm… since I like to stay home with my wife and cats, I must pick a band that’s cool, but not very busy. And since I’m already a part of a metal band, I would like to play rock. Next to Galgeberg I guess it would've been awesome to play in The Nomads.
Have you ever heard a song and immediately wished you had written it? If so… What was the song and artist?
Ah, many, but I’ll pick “Fairytale of New York” by The Pogues. Besides being a great song it’s also an eternal hit. It gets an enormous amount of airtime every christmas. I have heard that The Pogues-guys earn approx 5 million Euro every year on that song alone. Imagine that, 5 million, each year, without lifting a finger. I would like that.
Do you have any non-metal musical inspirations?
Yes. I listen to a lot of non-metal music. New Model Army, The Stooges, MC5, Ramones, Sonic Youth, Slowdive, Cocteau Twins, The Stranglers, Pink Floyd, The Jesus Lizard, New Bomb Turks, The Dwarves, The Butthole Surfers, Deep Purple, Ween, Jethro Tull, Blue Ôyster Cult, Swervedriver, Fugazi, Moby, Jean Michel Jarre, Everything But The Girl, Thåström, … Just to name a few. I also listen to lots of classical music.
What’s a non-metal song that you'd like to do a cover of?
“The Night Before” by Lee Hazelwood.
What band have you played with that has really impressed you with their live show?
Sovereign. Awesome band. Great guys.
Do you have a favorite venue to play at?
Nah, but I have good memories from St. Vitus in New York, John Dee and Last Train in Oslo, Fru Lundgren in Trondheim, Seb’s Hotel in Hamar, Blårock in Tromsø, Vera in Groningen, Wild at Heart in Berlin, Cathouse in Glasgow and many more…
Do you have a pre-show ritual?
Not much, but I try to warm up my fingers and throat.
What is your favorite thing about touring?
The few minutes we’re on stage.
What is your least favorite thing about touring?
The traveling and all the waiting. It drives me nuts.
Is there a city that you love to hit while on tour?
Trondheim in Norway is always good. And I have some good friends in Nottingham, so I would like to play there again.
What’s the weirdest experience you’ve had on the road?
One time, when Datsun played in a small town in Norway called Voss. The lead singer, Kristopher, who also sang in The Cumshots and Mongo Ninja, was well known for being on TV. He did all kinds of stupid stuff on TV. One thing he was famous for was eating strange and disgusting stuff. At the after party in Voss some idiot wanted to impress and “out gross” Kristopher, so he pulled down his pants, sat down over his pint of beer and squeezed out a turd. Then he stood up, drank the beer and swallowed the turd. Then he burped… That was weird.
The year is 2015. Where are you at and what are you listening to?
I’m in Oslo, listening to Uncle Acid and The Deadbeats, New Model Army and 80’s Iron Maiden.
What advice would you give young musicians that are just starting out in the music business?
Don’t drink too much.
Sovereign
Have you ever recorded a song that you really didn’t like, but somebody else in the band really did?
No, I don’t think so… But I have made, and recorded, many songs that I’m not very proud of today.
If you were to start your own music festival what would be the name of that festival and who would be the three headlining bands?
Nothing big. That’s too much work. The festival would be named Vegantichrist. Hostile music and friendly food. The headliners would be Kreator (Playing a full blown 80’s set), Aura Noir and Dismember.
What’s the longest time you’ve gone without bathing?
I have gone a very long time without a bath, but just a few days without a shower. During tent trips in the woods, and stuff like that, but then I have usually jumped in the sea, or into a lake, so…
What’s one thing that most people don’t know about you?
Most people don’t know that I dig the song “I Turn To You” by Mel C.
Is the Fistful of DOOM show in the top 10 of your favorite music podcasts?
Yes, of course. I have no other podcasts on my list, so right now you are number one.
Do unicorns sleep standing up?
No. They lay down and sing “My Horn Can Pierce The Sky”.
Give me three albums that I should listen to immediately, if not sooner.
Sovereign - Altered Realities
Djevel - Natt til Ende
New Model Army - Purity
You’re driving cross-country and you can only listen to one album the whole time. What album will it be?
Pink Floyd - Delicate Sound of Thunder
“Read something else, moron!”
What is your favorite song by Taylor Swift?
Anti-hero
Slipknot or Rammstein (if you had to choose)?
Slipknot
Doobies or Boobies (if you had to pick one)?
Boobies
Waffles or Pancakes (if you had to pick one)?
Pancakes
Star Wars or Star Trek (if you had to choose)?
Star Wars
Favorite band t-shirt you own?
Poison Idea - Feel The Darkness
Favorite meal?
My wife’s lasagna
Favorite book?
Beatles by Lars Saabye Christensen.
Favorite movie?
E.T. The Extra Terrestrial
Favorite album?
Too many, but today it’s “Somewhere in Time” by Iron Maiden
Favorite video game?
Not much of a gamer, but my son says that I probably would like “Last of Us”, so I guess I’ll go for that one.
Favorite Professional Wrestler?
Lars “Zugly” Gulbrandsen
Massive thanks to Peter for taking the time to answer my questions. I appreciate you doing so. As for the rest of you, you should click on the link so generously provided below, and cram Galgeber’s delightfully good brand of death metal into your earholes. You will be glad that you did.
~El Pedo Caliente (aka Uncle Jameson from the Fistful of DOOM show)
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