Claes Eriksson

Claes Ingvar Eriksson (born 27 July 1950) is a Swedish director, screenwriter, revue artist, comedian, actor and composer. He is best known as a member of the comedy group Galenskaparna och After Shave, where he also is the group's main director, screenwriter and composer for their productions. Anders Eriksson, who is also a member of the group, is Claes Eriksson's younger brother. Claes Eriksson's interest in the revue and entertainment began early in life. He started writing lyrics and music. In 1974 he founded the group Utan lots ("Without pilot"), where future revue colleague Kerstin Granlund was a member. In 1975, the group got attention at an artist forum and started to tour in public parks. Eventually they make their own floor show at Restaurang Trädgårn in Gothenburg. The group disbanded in 1976 and the same year, Eriksson and Granlund got involved in Hagges revy at Lisebergsteatern.

In 1978 he formed the comedy trio Galenskaparna with his younger brother Anders Eriksson and Kerstin Granlund. In 1981 they released their first LP Utanför slottet ("Outside the castle"). In September 1982 they merged with the singing group After Shave and have since then made several revues, TV series and movies together, which Claes Eriksson has participated in and with few exceptions, written and directed.

Two of his most famous roles are "den beige kunden" ("the beige customer") in Macken and the program presenter Allan Preussen in En himla många program ("A Lot of Programs"). He has also written and composed much music, where several of his songs have become hits for example Macken ("The gas station"), Pappa jag vill ha en italienare ("Daddy I want an Italian") and Man ska ha husvagn ("You should have caravan").

Claes Eriksson often depict everyday events as he manages to screw in a comical way. He has a fondness for the "little" man who fights against authority and power users and has described himself as "an old-school social democrat, a reformist socialist". His work has often been in the style of Povel Ramel and Tage Danielsson playing with the Swedish language in a clever and humorous way. Over the years, his writing pen has become increasingly sharper and the satire all the more hard hitting. In 2003 he collected his best lyrics in the book Alster - en stunds texter that were issued by the publisher Ordfront.

In 1987 he received the Karamelodiktstipendiet from Povel Ramel's hand and in 2004 he was awarded the Fridolf Rhudin Scholarship.