Wig Wam

Wig Wam is a glam metal band from Norway that formed in 2001. Wig Wam consists of four main members, and they have kept the same lineup since the beginning: Glam (Åge Sten Nilsen) – Lead vocalist. Born in 1969 in Norway, Åge Sten Nilsen is known for his powerful voice and flamboyant stage presence. He has also been a television personality in Norway. Teeny (Trond Holter) – Guitarist. Trond Holter is an experienced guitar player and songwriter. Before joining Wig Wam, he played in other Norwegian rock bands. He is the main composer of many Wig Wam songs. Flash (Bernt Jansen) – Bass guitarist. Bernt Jansen provides the bass rhythms and backing vocals. He has been with Wig Wam since 2001 and contributes to the band’s hard rock sound. Sporty (Øystein Andersen) – Drummer. Øystein Andersen plays the drums and keeps the beat for the band. He is known for his energetic drumming style during live shows.

The group started in the town of Halden, where they first played cover songs from famous rock bands of the 1970s and 1980s.  Wig Wam’s music style mixes 1980s-inspired glam metal with classic hard rock. Their songs often have fun lyrics and the band members wear flashy outfits and use makeup on stage. The band’s slogan is “Rock is the new schlager,” showing their mix of rock and pop influences.

After gaining popularity as a live act, they began writing their own songs and released their first album in 2004. In the same year they participated in Melodi Grand Prix, the Norwegian final for the Eurovision Song Contest. Their song “Crazy Sings” reached a 3rd place.

Wig Wam had their international breakthrough in 2005 when they represented Norway at the Eurovision Song Contest. They performed the song “In My Dreams” and finished in ninth place in the final held in Kyiv. This was a big achievement, as Wig Wam was one of the first heavy rock bands to perform at Eurovision. “In My Dreams” became a hit in Norway – it stayed at number one on the Norwegian charts for three weeks. The exposure from Eurovision made the band well-known outside of Norway, and they gained many new fans around Europe.

The band kept up their momentum by releasing several albums and playing big concerts. Their second studio album, Wig Wamania, came out in 2006. They followed up with Non Stop Rock ’n Roll in 2010 and Wall Street in 2012. Wig Wam toured extensively to promote their music. They performed not only in Norway but also in other countries, including a show in Tokyo, Japan, that was recorded for a live album. In June 2010, Wig Wam achieved a major milestone by opening for the famous rock band KISS at a concert in Oslo. Their live shows, complete with colorful costumes, made them a popular attraction at festivals and clubs.

After over a decade together, Wig Wam announced in 2014 that they were splitting up. The band members decided to go their separate ways after thirteen years of making music together. For a few years, it seemed like Wig Wam was finished. However, in 2019 the four members reunited and decided to make a comeback. They returned to the studio and released a new album titled Never Say Die in early 2021. This reunion showed that the band still had a passion for their music and fans, even after their time apart. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020–2021 made it hard for them to tour and promote the new album, but Wig Wam remained determined to continue.

In 2022, Wig Wam experienced a surprising rise in global popularity. Their 2010 song “Do Ya Wanna Taste It” was chosen to be the opening theme song for the HBO Max television series Peacemaker, which is part of a popular superhero franchise. The show’s creator, James Gunn, picked the song, and it introduced Wig Wam’s music to a whole new audience around the world. The series, starring actor John Cena, made the band “rocket into headlines” internationally. As a result, Wig Wam saw a huge increase in streams and downloads of their songs. The band also started booking many new concerts abroad, including their first ever tour in the United States in 2023. In 2023, riding on this wave of renewed fame, Wig Wam released another album called Out of the Dark. This period has been a major comeback for the band, as they found new fans far beyond Norway and Europe.

The band returned to Melodi Grand Prix in 2025, where they performed the song “Human Fire”. They gained a 4th place in the contest.