My TNT history.....

1982
TNT is being formed in Trondheim, Norway. Dag Ingebrigtsen on vocals and rhythm guitar, Ronni Lè Tekrö on guitars, Diesel Dahl on drums and Steinar Eikum on bass. Dag had earlier GREAT success with his band “The Kids”, so TNT got a good start because of that. TNT got a record deal with Vertigo/Polygram, and released their first album “TNT” this year. All lyrics on this album was in Norwegian, and therefore only released in Norway.
The very first gig was at a MC club, which is today called RAMS MC. This was a warm up gig before the first big gig. Support for Uriah Heep, at Nidarøhallen in Trondheim on 25th of September. The single “Harley Davidson” is being released in December. “Norge Rister Tour” is starting.

1983
TNT is really starting to become a popular band. A readers poll in mid-Norway’s biggest newspaper; Adresseavisen, TNT is being voted as
#4 in the category “Group of the year”,
#5 in the category; “Best Album” , and #5 for “Best single”.
The Viking ship “Gyda” is being build by the band, and is a part of the stageshow.
TNT toured a lot this year. August 4th was my first gig with TNT, at Ørlandsdagan , and I became an official member August 12th. My birthday! Jiha!!!!
TNT toured in North Norway the first half of the year, in an “unsafe buss” (to put it mildly), without licence plates. At this time, no other bands toured with such a big production in Norway, and a lot of the venues did not have enough electricity to cover all the lights and equipment we brought with us. Most of the bands at this time played 4 x 45 minutes top 40 hits, but TNT had to talk the promoters at almost all the venues, into agreeing on 1,5 hour show. It was NOT easy, but we never gave in.
We toured a lot this year!!
The band: Dag Ingebrigtsen, Ronni Lè Tekrö, Morty Black and Diesel Dahl.

1984
While touring, we discussed within the band, what to do next. We had toured all over our country twice. We wanted to go outside of Norway. The marked for a heavy rock band in Norway is too small, so we had to start thinking about getting out of here. Ronni, Diesel and I, wanted to take the step, but Dag was happy about staying in Norway touring. This ment that we had to find another singer. We started collecting demo’s. We wanted an English speaking singer.
With the help of our manager at the time Joel Peskin, we got a demo from Tony Harnell, a singer living in Bronx, New York. We instantly loved what we heard, and called him up on a Wednesday, and by Sunday he was in Norway working on the “Knights of The New Thunder” album, which was released in October.
We signed an International record deal with Vertigo in New York. Jim Lewis was our man.
TNT had a Viking image at the time, and in order for Tony to sound more Norwegian, he took the name Tony Hansen. He wasn’t too happy about that, but he did it.
We had our first US tour this year. On the east coast. Before the tour, we recorded new vocals and bass on 4 tracks from the first TNT album. The EP included: USA, Harley Davidson, Rats, Eddie and Etyde in Fuzz minor.
We recorded the video for Seven Seas in New York.
We did a big tour in Norway at the end of the year.

1985-1986
In this period, we concentrated on writing material for the next album. We got a house in Bay Shore, Long Island. The car we bought, is actually not worth mentioning…… We called it “The Boat”
We got a new manager Doc McGhee. He was also managing Bon Jovi, Motley Crüe, Scorpions, Zebra, and later Metallica. A big Management in other words. We where told to rehears and write music, while they worked on Bon Jovi. Our turn would come. Well, we rehearsed a lot!!! Nothing happened, so we broke with that management.
Promotion started in the US for “KOTNT”.
The recording for “Tell No Tales”, started in 1986, in Nidaros studio. Bjørn Nessjø was again the producer.

1987
This was TNT’s most busy year so far, and the most successful.
TNT signs a new management deal with Freefall Talent Group. It was actually Dee Snider (Twisted Sister), who presented his manager Mark Puma, for TNT. They both came to Trondheim to talk and listen to the music.
The album “Tell No Tales” was released in April
Dag Stokke joined in as our touring keyboard player. He’s from Raufoss, Norway.
A lot of TV appearances in Norway. We did a small tour in Norway. “Ten Nights Together” was the name of the tour.
The album reached #1 in Norway, only three weeks after release.
In August, we toured all over the US together with Stryper and Loudness. The audiences varied from 8000 – 30 000 pr night.
TNT reached #103 on the Billboard album list.
We received the Gold award at Landbruksmessa, live on national TV June 13th.
The song “10 000 Lovers (In One)” becomes a big hit in Norway. #1 on the “Ti I Skuddet” several weeks. The single reached at #129 on Billboards top singles.
We recorded two video’s for “10 000 Lovers… The first one in LA, and the other, the official one, in London.
WE also did a big tour in Europe. Visited most of the countries here.
This is the last time TNT played in Trondheim (Duedalen 30th May).
Back to the US again, and toured with Twisted Sister and Great White in fall.
We also shot a second video in London: Everyone’s a Star.
Great reviews all over. TNT sold a lot of albums this year. Where did the money go?????

1988
January 16th , TNT receives the award: “Spelemannsprisen” in Norway, for best rock album in 1987.
Diesel Dahl quit the band after some turbulent times within the band. So the search for a new drummer started. Auditions and demo tapes where a big part of my life at this time. The new drummer was “Ken Odiin”, or Morten Skogstad, which is his real name. We where a great team at this stage. Ken was also a producer and engineer on the demo’s we recorded for the “Tell No Tales” album. He also is an overall great musician.
We all went to Spain, including Dag, where Ronni and I had houses. Writing and demoing was the main concern now. We stayed in Spain until all the songs where written.
The lineup: Ronni Lè Tekrö, Morty Black, Tony Harnell and Ken Odiin. Dag Stokke on keyboards live.

1989
The recording of Intuition started with Bjørn Nessjø as producer in Trondheim. This was in the early days of programming, and of course TNT had to go there, too. The result was quite good! To help out with the backup vocals on the album, Joe Lynn Turner from Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow flew in.
We did headlining tours both in USA and Europe this time. The new thing this year, was that Japan really liked the band, and of course we had to go there. This was another highlight in TNT’s carrier. We had never experienced such welcoming at any airport before. A lot of fans met us at the Airport, and followed us all the way to the hotel. They where standing outside of our hotel all the time we where in Japan. The concerts was great, and so was the audience. We recorded a live video, which was titled “Forever Shine On”.
After this hectic year, Ken Odiin wanted to leave the band, and I was again set to find a replacement.

1990
We got a new record deal with Atlantic Records in New York. This time around we went to the US to write and demo the new songs. We hired a local drummer who was recommended by Joe Franco (session drummer with Twisted Sister and Fiona). The drummer he suggested, was John Macaluso from Commack, Long Island. He did such a good job at the rehearsals and on the demo’s, that we just had to hire him as a regular member. John is a great drummer.

1991
We recorded “Realised Fantasies” in Glen Cove studios, with Ric Wake as producer. The same day as we started in the studio, the Gulf war started, too. There was a lot of tention in the US at the time.
Morty formes a Thin Lizzy cover band, together with Ronni, Børge Pedersen, Willy Bendiksen and Jimmy Iversen. The band was called “Bad Habitz”.

1992
“Realized Fantasies” was released in Mai. TNT only toured in Japan for this album. The live CD: “Three Nights In Tokyo” is being released in Japan . We where supposed to do a Norwegian tour after Japan, but unfortunately there where some differences within the band, and the Norwegian tour was cancelled. It was a sad day for me, because I really wanted to tour with TNT in Norway again. We hadn’t toured here since 1887. TNT decided to take a break.
The lineup: Tony Harnell, Ronni Lè Tekrö, Morty Black and John Macaluso. Dah Stokke on keyboards live.
Bad Habitz records their first CD: ” Dedicated to Phil Lynnott”, in Ronni’s Studio Studio. A live recording in the studio.
Morty moves to Toten with his family, to be closer to both the studio and the other guys, who wanted to experiment musically.

1993
TNT is featured on a compilation CD “Norske Riff og Tordenskrall”, a celebration of 25 years of Norwegian Hardrock.
Ronni Lè Tekrö, Morty Black and Dag Stokke formes the band “Vagabond” together with Steinar Krokstad (drums) and Jørn Lande (vocals).

1994
No TNT business this year.
Morty, Ronni and the other guys in Vagabond released their first self titled album on EMI in Norway.
Tony formed a band, which released the self titled CD “Morning Wood”. It contains all acoustic songs, including TNT’s “Tonight I’m falling”. Tony also featured on a tribute CD to Deep Purple: “Smoke On The Water”.
Terje Rypdal and Ronni Lè Tekrö, recorded a CD: “Rypdal & Tekrö” , which they released this year. Morty and Dag was also playing on this CD.

1995
No TNT work this year. Ronni and Morty’s Vagabond, released their second CD “A Huge Fan Of Life” on Sonet in Norway.
Tony started to work together with the electric violinist Mark Wood.

1996
Japan releases a best of CD: “Till Next Time”. The songs on this CD is the most popular songs in Japan, two live tracks and “Electric Dancer” which was only released in Japan on “Intuition”.
TNT is getting offers from labels in Japan and Norway to release a new CD.
TNT announced that we wanted to do a new CD. 4 years after “Realized Fantasies”.
We invited Frode (Hansen) Lamøy to play the drums on the next CD. He was playing in a Norwegian band called “Jack In The Box” at the time.
The recordings for the CD “Firefly” started around late summer in Ronni’s Studio Studio.
TNT appears on the opening show New Years Eve in Trondheim for the 1000 year celebration of Trondheim City. This show was on national TV.
TNT lineup: Tony Harnell, Ronni Lè Tekrö, Morty Black and Frode Hansen. Dag Stokke on keyboards live. Dag Stokke is also the engineer on most of the productions we do in Studio Studio.
Bad Habitz releases their CD in Norway.

1997
Firefly was released in January 10th in Norway. Japan followed in February. This was on a limited edition, a double CD including the live CD “Three Night’s in Tokyo”.
Ronni and Tony went to Japan to promote “Firefly” in February.
TNT did two shows in Norway, before we went to Japan. The first in Ronni and Dag’s hometown Raufoss, and the second one in Rockefeller, Oslo.
TNT toured Japan.
Tony announced that he wanted to leave the band, to pursue his solo carriere.
In November Ronni and Terje Rypdal releases their second CD: “Rypdal & Tekrö II” . Morty and Dag is also playing on this CD.

1998
Tony announced that he’s back in the band again, and we decided to record a new CD. Ronni and Tony went to Spain and wrote almost all the songs for the CD there.
Ronni released his solo-CD “Extra Strong String”. In his band was Morty and Dag. Frode Lamøy was also in the live band, and on some songs on the CD. Producer was our good friend Ken Ingwersen.
Tony’s band Westworld, released their self titled CD “Westworld” in Japan.

1999
We started recording the “Transistor” CD. Ken produced the CD in Studio Studio.
It was released in August. The band did not tour at all for this CD. The guys are too busy on other projects at the time.
TNT lineup: Tony Harnell, Ronni Lè Tekrö, Morty Black and Frode Hansen. Dag Stokke on keyboards live.

2000
The guys in the band are having several telephone calls over the Atlantic, to see what the next step would be. Everybody wants to record another CD, but we’re all too busy doing other projects. We agree to ask Diesel if he wants to join up again, and get into the good old TNT spirit.
Diesel, Morty and Ronni went into Studio Studio, and recorded 5 songs. Tony’s was putting the vocals on in New York.
We tried to remixing “10 000 Lovers (In One) together with Are Sigvartsen, but agreed to put this behind us for now. Tony’s Westworld, releases the second CD “Skin”.
Rypdal & Tekrö are recording their 3rd CD. Morty and Dag are also in this band.

2001
TNT is still writing songs and in the planning for a new CD

2002
It’s now 20 years since TNT was formed by Dag Ingebrigtsen in Trondheim.
TNT is still planning to release a new CD this year. We’re currently in negotiations with Universal records, Norway.
There are a lot of plans being thrown on the table. Amongst them a video documentary, plus some friends of us is writing a book about TNT. The whole story. It’s up to the band if they can release this.
So lets keep our fingers crossed.

2003
The band met up in Ronni’s studio from Mars 30th and worked hard until April 10th recording songs for a new CD “My Religion”. Recorded most of the songs for this CD on this session.
This years tour started in Vinstra 13th of June after a short preproduction in Toten. We went on stage a little rusty, but we made it through the whole show. Then we continued onto “Glopperrock” festival in Sandane. That was a preculiour experience. We played together with Briskeby, and Maria Arredondo. Took some pictures on our way back from Sandane.We played in Trondheim on June 20th, finally on our home turf, and we did an instore signing in my record store “Morty Black – off the record” before the gig. Support act was Griffin from Trondheim. The day after we went to Oslo, and that show was almost cancelled because of the state of Tony’s throught. I’m sorry for all you people who had to wait for almost two hours until we entered the stage. It’s embarrassing to experience these things in our home country. Anyway, we did the gig, and you rocked!!! Thanks!!
After Oslo the tour continued to Bergen, Germany “Bang your head”, Stavanger, Molde, Løkken, Finnsnes, Lakselv, Kapp, Ørlandet on August 15th (almost exactly 20 years after my first gig with TNT at this venue, which was 4th of August 1983), Haugesund, Bryne, Momarkedet, Steinkjer and ended the tour in Stjørdal on August 30th. We rocked all over the place, and finally we got to play in Norway again since 1987 with this lineup.
The “Big Bang” and the EP “Taste” was released this year as a “Taste” of what was coming later.
In late 2003 I got an offer from Åge Aleksandersen to do a summer tour in Norway in 2004 with him and his band Sambandet. He offered me 50 gigs. This is a rare offer to get in Norway. To play this many gigs over a short period of time is only possible for a few artists. I love playing live, this is what I live for, so the decision was easy.

2004
On Marh 1st, the band met up in Toten again for rehearsals for the tour and release of “My Religion”. The first thing we did was Frokost TV on TV2 on the 5th of Mars in Oslo.
The Release of “My Religion” was on Mars 8th. We did a Release concert at Rock In , Oslo. That was the Kick off for the Mars tour in Norway. We played in Kristiandsand, Hamar, Hemsedal (Cold, it was snowing), Haugesund, Bergen, Bø, Trondheim, Steinkjer.
In May we did Bodø, Leknes, Strømmen, Grimstad. Germany in 24th of July with me. Sid Ringsby substituted for me on some gigs, and is still doing so.
My very last gig together with TNT was in Trondheim the 7th of August. Almost exactly 21 years after I joined the band. We played at the outdoor festival “Olav’s Dagene”, in the square in the center of Trondheim. It was a GREAT and emotionally moment for me, and I wish to thank all the people that came to the show, and celebrated this last night on stage for me!
I want to thank all the fans for all the good memories you filled my life with!!! The memories are many and GREAT!!! I also want to thank all musicians, crew and others who have worked with me through these years! I would do it all over again…

I wish the guys in the band all the best and Good Luck in the future!!!