Michael Strunge

Michael Strunge (1958-1986) was a Danish poet.

As a member of the original circle of 1980s poets in the group around “Hvedekorn”’s editor Poul Borum, Michael Strunge, in cooperation with his colleague Jens Fink-Jensen, among others, arranged the generational manifestation “NÅ!!80” in Copenhagen in 1980.

With influences from both Romanticism, Symbolism and Modernism, Strunge's work is somewhat reminiscent of that of French poet Arthur Rimbaud. Strunge's poetry deals with such topics as sex, death, modernity and life in the city. Because of the rather dark tone underlying many of his poems, Strunge is still popular with many people in the Danish branch of the Goth subculture, and has sparked off many epigones who do not always display the originality and poetic nerve of their idol.

Originally inspired by the British punk wave of the late 1970s, many of Strunge's poems are full of references to the artists of his day, such as The Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Cure, Joy Division, New Order, Brian Eno and last but not least David Bowie.

Suffering from depression caused by his bipolar disorder, Strunge killed himself on March 18, 1986.