The Hellacopters are a Swedish rock band that was formed in 1994, and have released six full length albums of their own material, a cover album, two compilations of non album work, six EPs, and many other official releases. In October of 2007 the band officially announced their break up after an extensive European tour and the release of a double disc live album. The band was, together with The Hives, one of the most important Swedish bands in the garage rock revival and one of the most influential rock bands in Sweden.[1]
Band history
Formation and Supershitty to the Max!
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The first Hellacopters rehearsal took place on November 4, 1994, as just a jam session. Initially started as a side-project by then-Entombed drummer Nicke Andersson (vocals/guitar), with Backyard Babies guitarist Dregen (guitar), Kenny Håkansson (bass), and Robert Eriksson (drums). The name came from when Nicke did his last US tour with Entombed with Dregen as a roadie. They saw a magazine in San Francisco and one of the articles was about how the CIA was spying with helicopters on marihuana fields in Mexico and that the Mexicans called them The Hellacopters.[2] The band released their first single - 'Killing Alan' - in January 1995 on their own Psychout label. The single was recorded in only three takes.
After releasing another single, '1995', the Hellacopters were signed by White Jazz Records and they released their debut album Supershitty to the Max in June 1996, which was recorded all live in only 26 hours. They then toured extensively, picking up a Swedish Grammy for their album, something that was very unexpected by the band.[3] After recruiting Anders Lindström shortly before they supported Kiss on their Scandinavian dates in June 1997.
Payin' the Dues and Dregens departure
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After these dates, they released their follow-up album Payin' the Dues. Due to the success of his new band, Andersson left Entombed to concentrate on the Hellacopters. In 1998 the band toured Europe supporting Gluecifer with which they recorded a split album with called "Respect the rock". Soon after Dregen left the band to concentrate on his old band, the Backyard Babies, after the tour. With stand-in guitarists Chuck Pounder and Mattias Hellberg, The Hellacopters then played in 111 shows in four different countries, including United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. While on tour in America the band also had the opportunity to jam with legendarey Detroit rocker Scott Morgan of Sonic's Rendezvous Band.[4]
Grande Rock and and String's joins the band.
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Main article: Grande Rock
In September of that year they recorded their third album Grande Rock, featuring Anders Lindström on rhythm guitar. Grande Rock was a departure from their previous albums, with a more clean sound and was recorded in an "old hippie studio from the seventies" in the woods, where the band learned from an experienced engineer how to create a genuine seventies type sound. [5] In February 1999, Robert 'Strängen/Strings' Dahlqvist a guitarist the band had gotten to know at a bar was recruited to play guitar, completing the bands lineup.
High Visibility and Chips Kiesbye.
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In 2000 the band recorded their first album recorded with Robert Dahlqvist. It was also their first time working with producer Chips Kiesbye who have done work with bands such as Sahara Hotnights, Millencolin, The Nomads, The Turpentines, his own band Sator, and many other Swedish rockbands. Kiesbye would become their producer of choice and all studio albums to come were produced by him.
By the Grace of God and sideprojects.
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In early 2002 the band released their first non album compilation Cream of the Crap Vol. 1 and in late 2002 came the follow up to High Visibility with By the Grace of God which was very successful in Sweden with both singles and videos getting high rotation, as well as reciving a Gold record. The band also had the opportunity to be the opening act for The Rolling Stones, and ZZ Top in Stockholm and Helsinki on their tour of 120 datees.[6] Before recording their next album, the band decided to take a break. Nicke Royale work on his side project The Solution with Scott Morgan releasing the album Communicate! in 2004 as well as record backing vocals for The Cardigans album Long Gone Before Daylight. Guitarist Robert Dahlqvist started a sideproject called Thunder Express and also recorded and toured with Swedish singer/songwriter Stefan Sundström along with Nick Royale and former bandmate Mattias Hellberg.
Rock & Roll Is Dead and second American tour.
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During their break the second non album works collection Cream of the Crap Vol. 2 was released, the band claims the have enough material for a Vol. 3 and a Vol. 4 but there are no plans for more parts in the Cream of the Crap series.[7] Drummer Robban and pianist Boba also did a small DJ tour in Italy before joining up with the rest of the band to record and release 'Rock & Roll Is Dead' in 2005, the name is a reference to the band's opinion about the state of the music industry.[8] In March 2006 The Hellacopters went on their first American tour in three years. They also toured Sweden with The Hives, Millencollin, Backyard Babies and The Soundtrack of our Lives on the 'Where the action is tour'.
Head Off and break up announcement.
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On 12 October 2007, The Hellacopters announced they would be breaking up after releasing their seventh full length album 'Head off', a collection of cover songs which will be followed by a last tour through Europe and Scandinavia. According to the band the reason for the break up was to quit while they were still on top and not because of tension within the band.[9] In 2008 the 'Where the Action Is tour' was replaced with a one day festival in Stockholm where The Hellacopters played alongside bands like Foo Fighters, Queens of the Stoneage, The Hives, Sahara hotnights, and others. To pay tribute The Hives performed (Gotta get som action) NOW! live on the Hultsfred festival, calling it the greatest Swedish rock song ever written.
Line up
Current members
Former members
Other contributors
- Scott Morgan - Vocals
- Howling Pelle Alqvist- Screaming
- Linn Segolson - Backing vocals
- Clarisse Muvemba - Backing vocals
- Måns - Triangle
Discography
Full length albums
Split albums
EPs and 10"
- Disappointment Blues (1998)
- Doggone Your Bad-Luck Soul (1999)
- Move Right Out Of Here (1999)
- Geekstreak (Japanese Only Press) (2001)
- Strikes Like Lightning (November 17, 2004)
- Same Lame Story (August 10, 2007)
Compilations
Singles and 7"
- Killing Allan (1995)
- 1995 (1995)
- Now (1996)
- (Gotta Get Some Action) Now (1996)
- Misanthropic High (1996)
- Riot On The Rocks (1997)
- Soul Seller (1997)
- City Slang (1998)
- Like No Other Man (1998)
- Looking At Me (1998)
- Hey (1998)
- Dirty Women (1999)
- Twist Action In New York (1999)
- Down Right Blue (1999)
- The Devil Stole The Beat From The Lord (1999)
- Twist Action Over America (1999)
- Move Right Out OF Here (1999)
- Scott Morgan And The Hellacopters (1999)
- Twist Action In 2000 (2000)
- It's Not A Long Way Down (2000)
- Toys And Flavour (2000)
- Hopeless Case Of A Kid In Denial (2000)
- Hopeless Case Of A Kid In Denial Flightcase (2001)
- No Song Unheard (2001)
- By The Grace Of God (2002)
- Carry Me Home (2002)
- Strikes Like Ligtning 7" Box (2004)
- Everything's on T.V. (2005)
- I'm In The Band (2005) (This song is in Guitar Hero 3 as Unlockable Content)
- The Same Lame Story (2007)
- In The Sign of the Octopus (2008)
- Darling Darling (2008)
Split 7"
- Electric Frankenstein vs The Hellacopters (with Electric Frankenstein) (1997)
- Rock & Roll Jihad (with The Nitwitz) (1998)
- New Bomb Turks / The Hellacopters (with New Bomb Turks) (1999)
- The Hellacopters / Powder Monkeys (with Powder Monkeys) (1999)
- Check This Action (with Powder Monkeys) (1999)
- Blå Tåget / The Hellacopters (with Blå Tåget) (1999)
- Gearhead Magazine #10 (with Rocket From the Crypt) (1999)
- Quadracopters / Hellajets (with Quadrajets) (1999)
- The Hellacopters / Adam West (with Adam West) (2001)
- Pack Of Lies (with The Nomads) (2003)
- The Hellacopters / Weaselface (with The Weaselface) (2003)
- The Hellacopters / Adam West (with Adam West) (2004)
- The Hellacopters / The Doits (with The Doits) (2005)
Other work
- Frank wants you to join the 1996 Punk Rock'n'Roll Horrorshow (1996)
- Hell On Earth (A tribute tothe Misfits)
- Kiss Covered In Scandanavia (1997)
- Flattery - A Tribute to Radio Birdman (1999)
- Gearfest! (1998)
- Nationalsånger - Hymner från Vågen och EPAs torg (2002)
- The Song Ramones The Same (2002)
- 20 Years Too Soon A Tribute To The Nomads (2003)
- St. Valentines Killers (2004)
DVD
External links
References
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