We Who Are Not in London – V.G

Amidst all the reminders with a rainbow flag in a nature center there is room for stories from those of us not in London.

It is a history. Chronicles reveal the writer’s attitude. You can submit articles and discussion posts to VG here.

Odd Christian Hagen
Ole Christian Wetton

There is little doubt that the terror in Oslo was aimed at the so-called “queer” environment and intended to attack the Pride celebration.

Amidst all the reminders with a rainbow flag in a nature center there is room for stories from those of us not in London.

This Friday night, Mr. There is still a barracks at Nilsen, very «Mr. Blues » A full seven-piece band with none other than Jan Arild Sørnes and Ballet Wagenberg on keyboards. There is a good atmosphere, the weather is warm and the laughter is relaxed after the light interior of a concert.

We are two old friends from childhood who have met again and are sitting at the far end of the square – one table away from the next bar.

Ole Christian Wetten and Ad Christian Hagen, who played bass in the band, have created many strange things together over a lifetime in a theatrical environment – and share stories with other friends from the creative industry.

We talk about everything we’ve done, thank God I didn’t, shouldn’t, and definitely will one day. “Tongaramp” from Gjøvik. It’s only getting stronger!

The whole quarter is buzzing, there’s a high flow of cups in the neighboring pub Per Barhornet, Pride flags on Rosencrantz Street, people flock to the nightlife, life itself and the London pub, as usual, has open doors and open arms. .

Perhaps it was someone who plucked up the courage to step up to a doorstep miles away from a narrow-minded settlement in Chorlandet for the first time. Even tonight we have friends.

And then it slams. Fireworks? Rarely. OC has been a firearms instructor: “It’s not good”. A shot hits the ground in front of us. Then it slams two or three more times, and a glass wall is shot.

We take people with us and dive into the pub. The visuals hail. Automated. What’s going on here?

Later we realize that two people were killed in front of our eyes. May God rest their souls. Ole Christian describes his experience as follows: “It was a little close. I’m glad to be alive after playing at Herr Nilsen yesterday. Sitting outside with good friends…a nice evening! And it slaps. And then again … and confusion and panic break out. We see a pessimism that throws arms against us.

We throw ourselves down and go to safety. While hell is going on in the street outside, inside is lying on the ground. Long seconds, minutes. confusion. fear Panic. Enjoy it! Witness the killing of two men beside us. A few meters from being shot dead. I think those who were killed…relatives, injured. So pointless. Unbelievably sad.”

We are hiding inside Mr. Nilsson. Will there be more? Ole gives a music stand as a shotgun. Thumbs up. No one was injured. A woman cut off her finger when I pulled her into the pub.

Then they asked us to go out. whose Shall we go out? Total chaos outside. We go elsewhere and talk. Gallows humor acts as a detoxifier. “It’s the first time I’ve pushed people in a pub,” says the OC.

Wet Answers After a concert, it was the first time a bassist took the stage on a stage. “Don’t shoot the bassist!” And the laughter returned. But it has a different tone. This is not what we want.

The next day Ole writes this on Facebook: “For a weekend. Start the summer vacation in the best way: a fantastic job playing with great musicians on Oslo’s best live stage, meeting many good old friends in the audience.”

The last song we play is “What a Wonderful World”. Within an hour, we were subjected to a hell like we had never experienced before. I felt convinced that my last second had come. Waited for a bullet in the back, but luckily escaped.

My friends did too! And I am eternally happy with that. I am so grateful for all the hearts and thumbs up to everyone who got in touch over the weekend. That’s great support! Life goes on, but the sound of those scenes, so close, it sits. I didn’t feel hate for a second. Only great sadness.

No matter how many bastards such a person creates, I feel a bit sorry for the culprit. It could have shot me too. This is unreal when people graduate out of a community we think we work for. We still have something to work on ».

OC visits the Dunes of Rock festival at Ekberg in Oslo and writes: “Deep Purple has escaped a little of everything. In the middle of “When a Blind Man Cries”, a few small raindrops fell from a clear sky. Don’t believe the haters. Rock ‘n’ Roll never dies.”

On Sunday we meet for lunch. Good hugs. Review. We will never forget this. Nobody wants that. Not those who sat on Per På Hjørnet. Not the ones in London. Not us not in London. Then we hope we will not be forgotten.

With all due respect to our friends in London who were shot, killed, proud LGBTQ+.

Congratulate those of us who weren’t there.