B I O

"Wild" Willy Bendiksen is one of Norway’s most renowned drummers, with a long and distinguished career both nationally and
internationally. His journey began in 1971 with his first band, St. Helena. Throughout the 1970s, he played in well-known bands such as Flax and Høst, releasing several albums along the way.

In the 1980s, Willy toured with his band Road, supporting Motörhead, and released three albums. During this period, he also collaborated with Gry Jannicke Jarlum and went on to form Blonde On Blonde, later renamed Perfect Crime. Both bands released albums and toured extensively across Norway.

In the 1990s, he joined the Thin Lizzy tribute band Bad Habitz alongside Ronni Le Tekrø (TNT), and later played in The Snakes with original Whitesnake guitarists Bernie Marsden and Micky Moody. The Snakes released two albums. Up until 2013, Willy was the drummer for Jorn, featuring vocalist Jørn Lande, contributing to seven studio albums and two live releases.

Wild Willy’s Gang, formed in 1993, has seen a constantly evolving lineup, with Willy as the driving force and only permanent member. Over the years, the band has featured prominent musicians such as Ronni Le Tekrø (TNT), John Norum (Europe), and Brian Robertson (Thin Lizzy). The band released the album Camouflage in 2005.

In 2017, Willy brought together musicians from across his extensive career for the first time, launching the nationwide tour “40 Years of Norwegian Rock History”, which received strong acclaim from both audiences and organizers.

In recent years, the band has released new material on platforms like Spotify and YouTube, earning an enthusiastic response. One of the songs was even submitted to Melodi Grand Prix, and although it didn’t advance, it became a major hit on Trøndertoppen, holding the number one spot for three consecutive weeks.

In 2025, the band returns with a brand new studio album, Don't Back Down. The album features five new tracks, a re-recorded version of the Wild Willy’s Gang classic Goliath, and two additional classics featuring Chris Candy on vocals.

Wild Willy's Gang:

Wild Willy Bendiksen (drums), Bente Smaavik (vocals), Chris Candy (vocals), Tor Erik Myhre (guitar) and Svein-Erik Bjørklund (bass)