78-year-old Björn Skifs is forced to end his career, which began in the 1960s in the group Slamcreepers and then, among other things, took him to first place on the American top list with the group Blue Swede and the song “Hooked on a feeling”, as the first Swedish artist, 1974.
Frontal lobe dementia has recently affected, among other things, Hollywood star Bruce Willis. Now the disease is forcing one of Sweden’s most popular artists to quit.
Björn Skifs always considered himself first and foremost a rock singer, but became one of the most versatile and popular entertainers in Swedish entertainment, with successes also in film, TV, and on stage.
“Kryzz”
He played leading roles in film successes such as “Strul” and “Drömkåken”, was the host of classic SVT programs such as “Kryzz” and created, together with collaboration partner Bengt Palmers, the successful musical “Spök”, which was sold out for several years in the early 1980s.
Björn Skifs won Melodifestivalen twice; 1978 with “Det blir alltid värre framåt natten” and with “Fångad i en dröm” three years later – but his biggest classic from the competition’s history came with “Michelangelo”, which only became fifth in 1975.
“Fantastiskt liv”
Now the long career is over, which Björn Skifs admits is hard to accept.
“But I have lived a rich and fantastic life, filled with music, love, and laughter. Thank you to everyone who in some way has been a part of my artist life, not least the audience! Now it’s time to slow down and take one day at a time”, he says in a press release.
Björn Skifs appeared in public for the last time a month ago when he received an honorary award in connection with the government’s music export prize being awarded to songwriter Ilya Salmanzadeh.
When “Allsång på Skansen” paid tribute to “Michelangelo” on Tuesday, Björn Skifs appeared in a video greeting after the artist Greczula had done his interpretation of the song in the program.
Program leader Pernilla Wahlgren tells Expressen that she received the news of the illness before the broadcast.
I understand that it’s very tough for the family and he has an incredible career behind him. He still means a lot to the whole Swedish people, she says to Expressen.
The Skifs family thanks “friends and countless colleagues” for support and consideration in this new situation, they write in the press release.
Corrected: In an earlier version of the text, frontal lobe dementia was described in an incorrect way.
Facts: Björn Skifs
Born April 20, 1947, in Vansbro.
Music: In the group Slamcreepers in the 1960s. With Blue Swede, Skifs had several hits in the USA in 1974, including “Hooked on a feeling” which topped the list in April. Won Melodifestivalen twice; 1978 with “Det blir alltid värre framåt natten” and 1981 with “Fångad i en dröm”. His most memorable Melodifestivalen song is “Michelangelo” which came fifth in 1975.
Created the tour concept Badrock in the 1980s and had several major list successes in the 2000s; “Håll mitt hjärta” was on Svensktoppen for 142 weeks and “When you tell the world you’re mind”, which Skifs and Agnes sang at Crown Princess Victoria’s and Prince Daniel’s wedding in 2010.
Film, roles in selection: “En flicka på halsen” (1982), “Smugglarkungen” (1985), “Strul” (1988), “Joker” (1981), “Drömkåken” (1992).
On stage: Several nightclub shows and musicals, including “Spök” (1981-83).
TV: Host of several popular programs, including “Kryzz” with Arne Hegerfors and panel member in “Gäster med gester” in the 1980s. Played the lead role in the Christmas calendar “Julius julskötare” on SVT in 1978.
The frontal lobe is the part of the brain that is responsible for a large part of our ability to think rationally, control impulses, manage memory, and handle language.
Frontal lobe dementia, or frontal lobe dementia, often debuts relatively early, in the 50s and 60s.
Typical early symptoms are personality changes, poor judgment, emotional numbness, impulsivity, and irritability. Eventually, the affected person becomes increasingly inactive and apathetic, the facial expressions become stiff, and speech becomes brief before eventually disappearing completely.
The disease has no cure.
