They broke through with thunder and crash - or rather handclaps and smoke - in the 2002 Melodifestivalen with the song “Kom och ta mig”. Last year, Brandsta City Släckers participated in Edvin Törnblom’s interlude “Männen som byter kanal” (The Men Who Change Channels) and the response was encouraging.
We have submitted songs several times over the years without getting in. But now both we and the production noticed that this was a completely crazy reception. It was really the right time for a comeback, says Glenn Borgkvist.
Retired
The band still lives in the Helsingborg area and has continued to play together over the years. The fact that all band members except one - Ulf Johansson, the only non-firefighter - have now retired is perfect timing, says Borgkvist.
It feels so luxurious. Now we can be full-time artists.
After their success in 2002, the band competed again the following year with "15 Minuten", but were eliminated in Andra chansen. Actually, they were a bit hungry for another song that was pitched to the record company.
There was a lot of talk about us doing “Genom eld och vatten”, which Sarek got to compete with. We actually usually play it live in “Brandsta style”, as a fun anecdote. But we are super happy for them, that it became such a mega hit.
“Equal value for all”
Over the years, there have been some controversies, such as when it was reported that 6,000 pairs of panties were sold during the tours with the text "come and get me" - or the time the members were portrayed as homophobic in an evening newspaper.
"A certain reporter chose to angle it so damn wrong. It wasn't easy to deny that we stand for everyone's equal value, when it was on the headlines everywhere," says Glenn Borgkvist, admitting that the memory still stings.
But the LGBTQ community has embraced the group.
We were called "gay icons" at the QX gala the other year and then contacted by Edward af Sillén who wanted us to be in the interlude. It feels really fun.
In Gothenburg, the band will compete against the former Fröken Snusk and previous winner Robin Bengtsson. It's a starting field that could be evenly matched, even though Brandsta City Släckers has a song by the people behind last year's "Bara bada bastu" with them.
And even if we move on from there, it will be downright dangerous in the final with Greczula and A-Teens. It is absolutely impossible to rule anything out in advance; it could go either way, says Glenn Borgkvist.
Ann Edliden/TT
Facts: Brandsta City Extinguishers
TT
Brandsta City Fire Extinguishers consists of Glenn Borgkvist, Mats Nilsson, Ulf Johansson, Olle Östberg and Tom Börjesson. All except Ulf Johansson are retired firefighters.
The band was formed in 1994 and had their breakthrough in Melodifestivalen 2002 with "Kom och ta mig", which was followed the next year by "15 minuter". Glenn Borgkvist also competed in 2004 together with singer Lotta Nilsson and the song "Boom bang-a-bang"
Their handclap - "Brandstaklappen" - was inducted into the Melodifestivalen Hall of Fame in 2020.
