Reidar Engesbak (born 1966)

Translator's Note: This is a machine-assisted translation completed on July 28, 2025. While care has been taken to maintain accuracy, this translation has not yet undergone human review or validation. Please note that specialized terms, historical references, and nuanced content may benefit from expert review.

Engesbak has distinguished himself as a strong and radical journalistic voice. He has also gained attention through performances with the group Genitalia.

In our interview with Engesbak, he talks about growing up in Bergen and why he left the city at an early age in favor of the capital. There, he became active in and part of the Blitz community, Pink Rebels (Rosa Rebeller), and Ragr. Over time, he also became a well-known DJ under the name “Deadswan.”

An excerpt from the interview is featured in the window below, where Engesbak recounts the scandal that unfolded when “Genitalia” was scheduled to perform on World AIDS Day—and pushed the boundaries a bit too far in their use of artistic expression.

The full life history interview is available at Skeivt arkiv, part of the Special Collections at the University Library of Bergen.

We met Reidar “Deadswan” Engesbak in Oslo in August 2017.