RONNI LE TEKRØ

Ronni Le Tekrø (born 5 October 1963) is a Norwegian guitarist best known for playing with the Norwegian hard rock band TNT and as a solo guitarist cooperating with guitarists like Terje Rypdal , Mads Eriksen and Ledfoot. LeTekrø was born in Oslo but moved to Raufoss at a young age, and has lived there all his life except for the period between 1982 and 1985, when he lived in Trondheim . With TNT he has sold between 4 and 5 million albums worldwide.

The Le Tekrø sound

Le Tekrø plays with an extremely accomplished technique. One of the big differences in his playing is that his guitar solos are usually a separate melody which can actually be hummed, similar to Neal Schon's solos in Journey songs. He also has the technical ability to play fast with his "machine gun technique, but he does so sparingly. Zakk Wylde is one of the more outspoken fans of Ronni.

Le Tekrø debuted on record on a self released 1981 single with the band Roquefire - The Island Of Marat / (Heavy) Boys Don't Cry. Le Tekrø has collaborated with the Norwegian guitarist and composer Terje Rypdal and has released three albums and one live album (on ECM records) featuring the fruits of that collaboration.

Le Tekrø's vocals tend to be deep, with emphasis on vibrato and falsetto. His inspirations as a guitarist include Steve Hillage, Brian May, Jimmy Page, Brian Robertson, Jimi Hendrix , and Ted Nugent. It is claimed that Ronni invented the "Machine Gun Style." George Lynch of Dokken states Le Tekrø's solo for "Caught between the Tigers" is "a real face-melter. It's spine-tingling.” He owns his own high end recording studio located in the woods of Toten, Norway called Studio Studio Nyhagen where bands like Mayhem , 1349 (band) , Darkthrone, Enslaved, Chrome Division as well as TNT along with several others have recorded albums. Since 2010 Ronni has had a close musical relation with Ledfoot that culminated in the 2020 duo album A Death Divine.

Equipment

Le Tekrø's main guitar live is the so-called “Holocaster.” Originally a light pink ESP guitar from the early eighties. The head is signed by close friend Brian Robertson formerly from Thin Lizzy and Motörhead. Le Tekrø uses his black early seventies Fender Stratocaster as a back-up for live performances. On the "Atlantis" tour Tekrø uses an Epiphone 1959 or a Morgan strat on the opening song “Hello, Hello.”

Also known for pioneering the use of the Quarterstepper Guitar . This guitar has twice as many frets as normal guitar, spread throughout the neck with quarter-tone intervals. This guitar was invented by Bernie Hamburger of Hamburgerguitar and Le Tekrø himself. He used the guitar for the solo in Wisdom from the Intuition album, and several others recordings. Hamburger also built a 12-string hollow body that Le Tekrø has used on various tours and recordings.

In the studio Le Tekrø uses a wide range of effects and amps.

His trademark Fender Stratocaster is notably unusually set up, with a Rockinger tremolo bridge.

and a Seymour Duncan pickup at the bridge position, no middle pickup, and an active custom made Magnetics™ pickup in the tail position.

Ronni is currently endorsed by ESP guitars and Marshall amplification.

For live performances Le Tekrø uses:

• OD-1 Overdrive
• BF-2 Flanger
• CE-2 Chorus
• Roland RE-150 Space Echo Tape Delay,
• Dunlop CryBaby
• Digitech Whammy II
• Marshall 2204 heads
• Marshall 1960 A cabinets

Discography

Album

• Rypdal & Tekrø (1994), med Terje Rypdal
• Rypdal & Tekrø II (1998), med Terje Rypdal
• Extra Strong String (1998)
• Magica Lanterna (2002)
• The Radiosong (2002), med Terje Rypdal
• Kingdom of Norway (2007)
• Mein Ampf (2014)
• Mein Ampf II (2015)
• Ledfoot & Ronni Le Tekrø: A Death Divine (TBC Records 2020)

Singles

• Just a Smile/We Love the Woods (1994)
• Under the Misteltoe (2002)

TNT

• TNT (1982)
• Knights of the New Thunder (1984)
• Tell No Tales (1987)
• Intuition (1989)
• Realized Fantasies (1992)
• Three Nights in Tokyo (1992)
• Till Next Time – The Best of TNT (1996)
• Firefly (1997)
• Firefly and Live! (1997)
• Transistor (1999)
• The Big Bang – The Essential Collection (2003)
• My Religion (2004)
• All the Way to the Sun (2005)
• Live in Madrid (2006)
• The New Territory (2007)
• Atlantis (2008)
• Engine (2010)
• 30th Anniversary 1982–2012 – Live in Concert with Trondheim Symphony Orchestra

(2014)

• XIII (2018)
• Encore: Live in Milano (2019)

Singles/EPs

• Harley Davidson/USA (1982)
• TNT (1983)
• American Tracks (1984)
• Seven Seas/Break the Ice/Last Summers Evil (1984)
• Without Your Love/Knights of the Thunder (1984)
• Break the Ice/Seven Seas (1984)
• Hardest Part Is the Night/Seven Seas (1985), med Bon Jovi
• 10,000 Lovers (in One)/Desperate Night (1987)
• Everyone's a Star/Tell No Tales (1987)
• Listen to Your Heart (1987)
• Caught Between the Tigers (1988)
• Intuition/Forever Shine On (1989)
• Tonight I'm Falling (1989)
• Purple Mountain's Majesty (1992)
• Downhill Racer (1992)
• Rain (1992)
• Daisy Jayne (1997)
• Wide Awake (1999)
• Daisy Jane (2003)
• Give Me a Sign (2003)
• Taste (2003)
• My Religion (2004)
• Sometimes (2005)
• Hidden Treasure (2013)
• Get Ready for Some Hard Rock (2018)
• Tears in My Eyes (2018)
• We're Gonna Make It (2018)
• As Far as the Eye Can See (Live) (2019)
• Invisible Noise (Live) (2019)

Vagabond

• Vagabond (1994)
• A Huge Fan of Life (1995)

Singler

• Silent Woman Sheila/Let Go, Let Go (1994)
• Key to the Rainbow/Healing (1994)
• Give From Yourself (1995)

Wild Willy's Gang

• Camouflage (2005)

Bad Habitz

• Johnny the Fox Meets Jimmy the Weed/Bad Reputation (1991)
• Dedicated to Phil Lynott – Live at Studio Studio (1996)

Roquefire

• The Island of Marat/(Heavy) Boys Don't Cry (1981)
• Roll With Your Demons (2014)

The Grønne Glitrende 3 og Dag

• Grønne Glitrende 3 & Dag (1986)
• Nå tennes 1000 julelys/Til Elisabeth (1987)

Appears on

• Dag Ingebrigtsen : Tor With the Hammer/I'm in Love With R & R (1984)
• VG : På gang 15 (1984)
• Gary Holton & Casino Steel : People in Love/Pick Me Up (1986)
• Gary Holton & Casino Steel : We Did It Our Way (1986)
• Twisted Sister : Hot Love/Tonight (1987)
• Tom Mathisen & Herodes Falsk : Hubaluba (1987)
• Twisted Sister : Love Is for Suckers (1987)
• VG : På gang 25 (1987)
• Dino Music : The Very Best of Metal Hammer (1987)
• Mercury : Soft Side of Hard Rock (1988)
• Vertigo Records : Hard'n Heavy Heroes (1989)
• Gary Holton & Casino Steel : The Best (1989)
• Sons of Angels : Sons of Angels (1990)
• 1.2.3 : 1.2.3 (199?)
• Embee Normann : Wild Horses/Stormy Weather/One Minute Prair (1992)
• Embee Normann : Wonderland (1993)
• Vertigo Records : Norske Riff og Tordenskrall 1967–1992: Norsk hardrock gjennom 25år (1993)

• Totalt Plater : Totalnekterplata '94 (1994)
• Morning Wood : Morning Wood (1994)
• NRK : NRK Orto 94 (1994)
• Abra Kadavra : Trekk pusten inn (1996)
• Vidar & The Jan Tores : Sørlandets delfin (1996)
• Abra Kadavra : Helt fin av solskinn (1996)
• Vidar , Jan-Tore & Øystein : Postens landeplager: Brennmanetsommer 2 (1996)
• Farout Fishing : Bashflack (1996)
• Abra Kadavra : Hjerned on Asjon/Regndans (1996)
• Atlanta hjelpen '96 : Sammen skal vi kjempe (1996)
• Abra Kadavra : Helt fin A/S (1996)
• Diesel Dahl : Harley Davidson (1997)
• Anne Vada & Aki Fukakusa : Solrenning (1997)
• Diesel Dahl : Recycled (1997)
• The Snakes : Once Bitten (1998)
• Mundanus Imperium : The Spectral Spheres Coronation (1998)
• Hush : Hush (1998)
• Luxus Leverpostei : Hebd (1998)
• Anne Vada : 1000 etterligninger (1999)
• DumDum Boys -hyllest: Solide saker – en hyllest til DumDum Boys (1999)
• Anne Vada : Vada (1999)
• Terje Rypdal : Double Concerto/5th Symphony (2000)
• Farout Fishing : Sailing/Awake (2000)
• Millenium : Hourglass (2000)
• Embee Normann : Full of Light (2000)
• Pagan's Mind : Infinity Divine (2000)
• Anne Vada : Grenseløs (2000)
• Farout Fishing : New Rock Album (2000)
• Cartoon Boyfriend : Nipples (2000)
• Jorn : Starfire (2000)
• Unni Wilhelmsen : Disconnected (2001)
• Raufoss Supporterklubb : Krutt i beina (2001)
• Luxus Leverpostei : The Greatest Shits (2001)
• Seint ute : Menn i tide (2002)
• Peer Gynt : Homegrown Juice/Summers Tale/Sam's Café/To Be Your Man (2002)
• Terje Rypdal : Selected Recordings (2002)
• ECM : Selected Recordings I–VIII (2002)
• Jason Becker -hyllest: Warmth in the Wilderness, Vol. 2: A Tribute to Jason Becker

(2002)

• Intrigue : HeavyJoik (2002)
• Late Junction : Nordic Nights – A Late Junction Compilation 2 (2002)
• Beatheaven Records : Free CD Beat Heaven Records (2002)
• Rock It : Heart It! Volume 4 (2002)
• Fuzo : Fuzo (2002)
• Peer Gynt : Fairytale (2002)
• Tribute to Boston : Tribute to Boston (2002)
• Lana Lane : Covers Collection (2002)
• Norwegian Gospel Voices : Let's Dance (2002)
• Darling Daizy : The Wrong Side/Kickin' You Out (2003)
• The Cumshots : Norwegian Jesus (2003)
• Uli Jon Roth -hyllest: Beyond Inspiration – A Tribute to Uli Jon Roth (2003)
• Darling Daizy : Can I Get a Woop Woop!? (2003)
• Intrigue : Crossover (2003)
• Kor-90 : The Soul of Christmas (2003)
• Abòn : Silver (2004)
• Hanah : Thank You/My Love (2004)
• Carnivora : Judas (2004)
• 1349 : Beyond the Apocalypse (2004)
• Hanah : Monkey Forest (2004)
• GOI Music : GOI Music: Sampler CD Volumen 1 (2004)
• Millenium : The Best of... and More (2004)
• Grappa : Den røde gitar – Arbeidersanger i ny drakt (2005)
• Unidisc : Norsk musikk i 100 – Populærmusikk i Norge 1905–2005 (2005)
• Kiss -hyllest: Gods of Thunder – A Norwegian Tribute to Kiss (2005)
• 1349 : Hellfire (2005)
• Gustu : Jupiter & Mars (2006)
• Metal Hammer : Metal Hammer Sampler 18 Aniversario (2006)
• Rover : The Great Outdoors (2006)
• Gustu : Angels Never Die (2006)
• Jorn : Unlocking the Past (2007)
• Hip-O Records / Universal Music : 80's Metal Gold (2007)
• Plumbo : På vei til Harryland! (2007)
• Anne Vada : Sacral jul (2007)
• Enslaved : Vertebrae (2008)
• Universal Music : Landeplage (2008)
• Egmont Music / Universal Music : Pondus – Flat Fuzzpedal (2008)
• Blister : Birthdaysongs (2008)
• Zelma : Find Your Way (2008)
• Wild Side : Indication (2008)
• Synnøve Rognlien : Undr (2008)
• Åge Sten Nilsen : Glamunition (2009)
• Shoot the Breeze : What Have We Done (2009)
• Gustu : Love/Hate Collide (2009)
• Mari Persen : Mari Persen (2009)
• 1349 : Revelations of the Black Flame (2009)
• Jorn : Spirit Black (2009)
• Ledfoot : Damned (2009)
• Betty Stjernen : Svart natt (2009)
• Shoot the Breeze : Angels Avenue (2009)
• Betty Stjernen : Før hanen galer (2010)
• Tony Harnell & The Mercury Train : Round Trip (2010)
• 1349 : Demonoir (2010)
• Hollow : Dark Thoughts (2010)
• Betty Stjernen : Ligge med meg (2010)
• Arabs in Aspic : Strange Frame of Mind (2010)
• Betty Stjernen : Månestripen/Babe på kjøret (2010)
• Gary Holton & Casino Steel : Anthology (2010)
• Wild Side : Speed Devil (2010)
• Håvard Pedersen : Never Felt So Good (2010)
• Betty Stjernen : Brenn Hexen (2010)
• Hans-Arne Arntsen : Hjallis – Kong Glad (2010)
• Le Fant : Mazy (2011)
• Anita Hegerland : Closer (2011)
• Le Fant : Hunting You (2011)
• Le Fant : Last Chance to Dance (2011)
• Anita Hegerland : Starfish (2011)
• Intergroove : Wild@Heart – The Return of Metal Ballads (2011)
• Switchblade : The Voice: Stand Proud! (2011)
• Luxus Leverpostei : 20 år med promp og fis, men ingen spellemannspris (2012)
• Mr. Crosten : Sea of Time (2012)
• Hellsongs : Long Live Lounge (2012)
• Amina Sewali : 20.000 Horses (2012)
• Elg : Lucky One (2012)
• Ledfoot : Hope: The Fretex Song (2013)
• Elg : Lucky One (2013)
• Tony Harnell & The Wildflowers ft. Bumblefoot : Tony Harnell & the Wildflowers

featuring Bumblefoot (2013)

• Planet P Project : Steeltown (2013)
• NiteRain : Crossfire (2013)
• Anne Vada : Varm favn (2013)
• Twisted Sister : Armoury Classics: Twisted Sister (2014)
• Scandinavia Event : We Love the 80's (2014)
• Anita Hegerland : 45 år Jahre Years in Music (2014)
• 1349 : The Candlelight Years (2014)
• Trine Rein : 20 Year Anniversary – Hits & Favorites (2014)
• Indie Recordings : Christmas Carnage 2014 (2014)
• Trine Rein & Tony Carey : Dream It/How About Us (2015)
• Kristin Sevaldsen : Silent Corner EP (2015)
• Trine Rein : How About Us (2015)
• Raga Rockers -hyllest: Sannhet på boks – en hyllest til Raga Rockers (2015)
• Aunt Mary : Slave Parade (2016)
• Aunt Mary : New Dawn (2016)
• Sarkom : Anti-Cosmic Art (2016)
• Kristin Sevaldsen : Tired Bird Lullaby (2016)
• Twisted Sister : The Best of the Atlantic Years (2016)
• Kristin Sevaldsen : Wiser (2016)
• Trine Rein : The Well (2017)
• Millenium : Hourglass: The Complete Sessions (2017)
• Wail : Never No More (2017)
• Wail : By Your Hand (2017)
• Wail : Initiation (2017)
• Wail : Resilient (2017)
• Wail : Resilient (2018)
• Jorn : 50 Years on Earth: The Anniversary Box Set (2018)

DVD

• TNT : Three Nights in Tokyo (1992)
• TNT : Live in Madrid (2006)
• TNT : 30th Anniversary 1982–2012 – Live in Concert with Trondheim Symphony Orchestra (2014)