‘My life as a media slut’

In the new edition of the Norwegian art and style magazine Hot Rod, there is a long interview with Magne, under the title ‘My Life as a Media Slut’. The interview is accompanied by the visual interpretation of a media slut – pictures of Mags in drag.

Pictures by Jan Walaker and styling by Nina Fagstad.

In the Hot Rod interview, Mags speaks about being famous, his family, the years in London, his art, his solo career and of course about a-ha. When asked about the latest a-ha tour, Mags says that he enjoys touring more now than before: ” I’ve come to enjoy road-life in my old age. Pathetic isn’t it? Definitely a mid-life crisis thing, but also perhaps because I let myself go more – like playing various instruments like keys and guitar and singing lead has been fun. I guess I get a kick from doing stuff I’m not so good at.”

It’s said that every band has to work on the dynamics of different personalities, and Mags is asked to sum up the members of a-ha: “All three are pretty scary if you ask me,” he replies. “I was the lucky one: as a clown at least people take you seriously.”

Traveling around the world with a-ha, Mags has met a lot of celebrities. In the interview he tells a story that involves himself, Morten, Robbie Robertson and George Harrison pissing in the bushes outside a nightclub.

When he is asked about his greatest sources of inspiration musically, Mags mentions bands like The Doors and The Beatles while he was growing up, and lately artists like Jeff Buckley, Kurt Cobain, PJ Harvey, Sinead O’Connor, Beck, Radiohead, Aimee Mann and Leonard Cohen.

You can read the interview and see the pictures in Hot Rod # 19, 2003. In this issue it is also possible to order a special limited art edition by Magne – ten notes of 1000 Norwegian kroner, signed and numbered by the artist. The signed NOK 1000 notes costs NOK 2000 – «Art As Investment» Mags calls it. This project has already received some attention at the Stockholm Art Fair.