Facts: The Hives
Formed in Fagersta in 1993. Consists of Pelle Almqvist, Niklas Almqvist, Mikael Karlsson Åström, Johan Gustavsson and Christian Grahn. Previously, Mattias Bernvall was also in the band.
Record debut in 1994 with the EP “Sounds like sushi”. In 1997 came the debut album “Barely legal”. In 2000, the band broke through internationally with the album “Veni vidi vici”, which included the hit singles “Hate to say I told you so” and “Main offender”. Latest album “Lex Hives” came in 2012.
Has been a band member for, among others, the Rolling Stones, Maroon 5 and Arctic Monkeys. Has appeared in a wide range of international talk shows, such as “Late night with David Letterman”, “Late night with Conan O’Brien”, “Jimmy Kimmel live”, “The Jonathan Rossshow” and “Later with Jools Holland”.
Current with the new record “The death of Randy Fitzsimmons”, world tour and right now also a mini-tour together with The Sounds and Mando Diao.
“Howlin” Pelle Almqvist is disappointed in himself. Very disappointed. The reason is that The Hive’s new album “The death of Randy Fitzsimmons” has been delayed for so long.
The band’s previous album “Lex Hives” came out in 2012 and to let eleven years pass without a new record is not okay, he states:
— If anyone is disappointed because it has taken a long time, you should know that I myself am even more disappointed! There are a whole bunch of reasons why it’s been delayed, but none of them really feel valid. I’m still disappointed in us, and angry.
Some of the reasons for the album release hiatus are member defections and the pandemic, but also the band’s demands on themselves.
— We have a high threshold for what we think fits in The Hive’s discography, and it is difficult for us to perform something that makes us satisfied, says Pelle Almqvist and adds:
— Although I’ve relaxed a bit over the years – I think the record is great. But completely 100 percent satisfied, do you ever get that with anything in life?
The Hives release new. In the body
At least now the album is here, and Almqvist believes that fans will recognize The Hive’s energetic rock. The band didn’t want to deliver a more “grown-up” sound just because eleven years have passed, and certainly not something sentimental and thoughtful. We got enough of reflection during the pandemic, says Almqvist and adds that rock shouldn’t be about growing up:
— For me, rock is one third euphoria, one third horny and one third something destructive. It’s a very hormonal feeling and we wanted the album to go straight into the body without passing through the brain, he says.
Although the music sounds like previous albums, the recording process itself stands out from the previous ones. The band has gone from recording their records themselves to enlisting the help of producer Patrik Berger (Robyn, Lana Del Rey, Icona Pop).
His role became simply to make sure the record was… made.
“He was very good at making sure we didn’t get stuck but kept full speed forward the whole time. When we produced ourselves, we were doing some kind of hopeless democratic military junta style. It was very noisy when everyone would agree at the same time, says Pelle Almqvist.
New fans
The Hives, who since their breakthrough have been one of Sweden’s most diligently touring rock bands, are embarking on a mammoth tour in Europe, the USA and South America this autumn. Because even though The Hives have been successful at home for over 20 years, it is abroad that the most devoted audience exists.
— That’s right, 1000 percent. When we started, a bunch of country people from Fagersta who do show business were among the dumbest people you could be. We couldn’t play every day in Sweden, so we focused on getting our bearings abroad, says Pelle Almqvist.
But despite that, the band has devoted fans in Sweden, and more are added all the time. For Pelle Almqvist, it is a kick that new young fans discover The Hives, something that has been noticed not least during the spring tour with the British indie rockers Arctic Monkeys:
— Part of their audience consists of like 17-year-old girls who are a little afraid of us at first. But then you see how the poison starts to work. It is very wonderful and important for us to be a part of. Trying to convince new fans and sharpening the knives of a new, reluctant audience is absolutely essential for our gigs to continue to be fun.
But, will it be another eleven years before The Hives release a new record? The answer from Pelle Almqvist comes lightning fast:
— No, then I’d rather stop. It must never happen like this again!