Matz Robert Eriksson
Encyclopedia
Matz Robert Eriksson or simple Robban as he is often called, is best known as the drummer of Swedish rock band The Hellacopters
, whiche were active between 1994 and 2008. Eriksson is currently playing With his new band called Tramp and recently reunited Swedish punk band Strindbergs.
and moved a few years later to Edsbyn
. He got his first drumkit at the age of 13 but didn't get a hi-hat or a cymbal until the next year when he had saved up enough money. Eriksson soon started discovering bands and artists such as Elvis Presley
, The Beatles
, Hep Stars
and The Spotnicks
. Later he discovered bands such as Iron Maiden
, Kiss
and Saxon
through a relative who worked at a Swedish booking agency. Soon Eriksson started playing drums in various punk, rock and metal bands and got to know Nicke Andersson
the drummer of heavy metal band Entombed
.
and childhood friend Kenny Håkansson
. The Hellacopters
went on to become on of the more important rock bands in the Nordic region and has released six albums with their own material, a cover album, two non album work compilations and a greatest hits album. The band has also toured all over the world and opened up for bands such as Kiss, The Rolling Stones
and ZZ Top
. In late 2007 the band announced their retirement after the release of Head Off
a collection of their favorite songs recorded by the band. The band finished their with four shows in two days that were filmed and broadcasted on the bands MySpace
page, a doubble live album and a DVD is currently in the works.
records.
, (Backyard Babies
), Måns P. Månsson (The Maggots) and Urkke T (Mary Slim). The band which named themselves Urkke T & the Midlife Crisis released Ask Not What You Can Do For Your Country... in 2004. Currently Eriksson is also working at a youth center that focuses on keeping young people away from drugs and crime and more involved with music. Recently Eriksson posted videos of himself playing a drumsolo on a drum set made of ice at the Icehotel in Jukkasjärvi
. Later this year Eriksson will perform with the recently reunited Swedish punkband Strindbergs.
s, however his main kit consists of Pearl EXR drums
with Sabian cymbals.
Drums
Cymbals
The Hellacopters
The Hellacopters were a Swedish garage rock band that was formed in 1994 by Nicke Andersson , Dregen , Kenny Håkansson and Robert Eriksson . Andersson had been the drummer for death metal band Entombed and Dregen was taking a break from his full-time band Backyard Babies...
, whiche were active between 1994 and 2008. Eriksson is currently playing With his new band called Tramp and recently reunited Swedish punk band Strindbergs.
Early life and career
Eriksson was born in EskilstunaEskilstuna
Eskilstuna is a city and the seat of Eskilstuna Municipality, Södermanland County, Sweden with 60,185 inhabitants in 2005. Eskilstuna has a large Sweden Finn population....
and moved a few years later to Edsbyn
Edsbyn
Edsbyn is a locality and the seat of Ovanåker Municipality, Gävleborg County, Sweden with 4,060 inhabitants in 2005.Edsbyn is most famous for their ski manufacturing industry, and the sports club Edsbyns IF.-Climate:...
. He got his first drumkit at the age of 13 but didn't get a hi-hat or a cymbal until the next year when he had saved up enough money. Eriksson soon started discovering bands and artists such as Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
, The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
, Hep Stars
Hep Stars
The Hep Stars was a Swedish rock group, formed in 1963. During 1965-1966 the band was the most successful of contemporary 1960s Swedish pop groups performing in English language...
and The Spotnicks
The Spotnicks
The Spotnicks is an instrumental rock group from Sweden, who were formed in 1961. They were famous for wearing "space suit" costumes on stage, and for their innovative electronic guitar sound...
. Later he discovered bands such as Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
, Kiss
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
and Saxon
Saxon (band)
Saxon are an English heavy metal band, formed in 1976 in Barnsley, Yorkshire. As front-runners of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, they had 8 UK Top 40 albums in the 1980s including 4 UK Top 10 albums. Saxon also had numerous singles in the Top 20 singles chart...
through a relative who worked at a Swedish booking agency. Soon Eriksson started playing drums in various punk, rock and metal bands and got to know Nicke Andersson
Nicke Andersson
Nicke Andersson , born 1 August 1972 is a singer, guitarist, drummer, songwriter and composer most known for his work as the singer and guitarist of the successful Grammy award winning rock band The Hellacopters as well as the former drummer for Swedish death metal band Entombed...
the drummer of heavy metal band Entombed
Entombed (band)
Entombed is a Swedish death metal band which formed in 1987 under the name of Nihilist. Though Entombed began their career as an early pioneer of Scandinavian death metal which initially differed itself from its American counterpart with its distinct guitar tone, by the early 1990s their sound had...
.
The Hellacopters
In 1994 Andersson approached him and offered him to play drums in his new band that he was forming with DregenDregen
Andreas Tyrone Svensson , is best known as the former guitarist The Hellacopters and current guitarist of Backyard Babies and the newest member of Michael Monroe's band, replacing Ginger as guitarist....
and childhood friend Kenny Håkansson
Kenny Håkansson
Kenny Håkansson is the bassist of the highly influential Swedish rock & roll band the Hellacopters. The Hellacopters were founded by Håkansson's childhood friend Nicke Andersson as a side project to his role as a drummer in the heavy metal band Entombed, considered to be founders of death 'n'...
. The Hellacopters
The Hellacopters
The Hellacopters were a Swedish garage rock band that was formed in 1994 by Nicke Andersson , Dregen , Kenny Håkansson and Robert Eriksson . Andersson had been the drummer for death metal band Entombed and Dregen was taking a break from his full-time band Backyard Babies...
went on to become on of the more important rock bands in the Nordic region and has released six albums with their own material, a cover album, two non album work compilations and a greatest hits album. The band has also toured all over the world and opened up for bands such as Kiss, The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
and ZZ Top
ZZ Top
ZZ Top is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "That Little Ol' Band from Texas". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based boogie rock, has come to incorporate elements of arena, southern, and boogie rock. The band, from Houston Texas, formed in 1969...
. In late 2007 the band announced their retirement after the release of Head Off
Head Off
Head Off* is the seventh and last album released by the Swedish rock band The Hellacopters. The album consist of cover songs from acts that the band felt that everyone should know about and listen to. The 2500 units of the vinyl release all come with a poster, an additionall 1500 units were later...
a collection of their favorite songs recorded by the band. The band finished their with four shows in two days that were filmed and broadcasted on the bands MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
page, a doubble live album and a DVD is currently in the works.
Tramp
Eriksson is also working with his currently unsigned rock band Tramp, which features members from the Turpentines, Henry Fiats Open Sore and Captain Murphy. The band is currently unsigned and have two songs released on their official MySpace, Eriksson describes the bands sound as more dramatic similar to early Alice CooperAlice Cooper
Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
records.
Other work
2003 Eriksson joined an all star lineup of Swedish rock musicians to pay tribute to The Nomads, the members of the band liked it so much that the Wild Kings as they called themselfes, decided to start the monthly Wild Kingdom club. In 2004 Eriksson participated in a one day project along with DregenDregen
Andreas Tyrone Svensson , is best known as the former guitarist The Hellacopters and current guitarist of Backyard Babies and the newest member of Michael Monroe's band, replacing Ginger as guitarist....
, (Backyard Babies
Backyard Babies
Backyard Babies are a rock band, from Nässjö, Sweden. The band was formed in 1987 and over the years they have released five studio albums and won a Swedish Grammy. The band is now located in Stockholm, Sweden....
), Måns P. Månsson (The Maggots) and Urkke T (Mary Slim). The band which named themselves Urkke T & the Midlife Crisis released Ask Not What You Can Do For Your Country... in 2004. Currently Eriksson is also working at a youth center that focuses on keeping young people away from drugs and crime and more involved with music. Recently Eriksson posted videos of himself playing a drumsolo on a drum set made of ice at the Icehotel in Jukkasjärvi
Jukkasjärvi
Jukkasjärvi is a locality situated in Kiruna Municipality, Norrbotten County, Sweden with 519 inhabitants in 2005. It is situated at 321 meters elevation....
. Later this year Eriksson will perform with the recently reunited Swedish punkband Strindbergs.
Kit setup
Eriksson owns and uses a number of different drum kitDrum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
s, however his main kit consists of Pearl EXR drums
Pearl Drums
Founded in 1952, the is a multinational corporation based in Japan with a wide range of products, predominately percussion instruments.-History:Pearl was founded by Katsumi Yanagisawa, who began manufacturing music stands in Sumida, Tokyo on April 2, 1946...
with Sabian cymbals.
Drums
- 22" Bass drum
- 18" Floor tom
- 16" Floor tom
- 12" Rack tom
- 14" Snare drum
Cymbals
- 14" Hi-hat
- 18" Crash
- 18" Crash
- 22" Jazz Ride
Selected discography
- 1996 The Hellacopters - Supershitty to the Max!Supershitty to the Max!Supershitty to the Max! is the Grammis Award winning debut album released by the Swedish rock band The Hellacopters, and was recorded in just 26 hours during February 1996 at Sunlight Studios in Stockholm....
(Drums, vocals) - 1997 The Hellacopters - Payin' the DuesPayin' the DuesPayin' the Dues is the second album released by the Swedish rock band The Hellacopters and their last studioalbum to feature original guitarist Dregen before his departure from the band to focus fulltime on his other band Backyard Babies. The album was released simultianusly on both CD and on...
(Drums, backing vocals) - 1999 The Hellacopters - Grande RockGrande RockGrande Rock is the third album released by the Swedish rock band The Hellacopters. Due to the departure of original guitarist Dregen, pianist Anders Lindström stepped in to record guitars under the pseudonym Boba Lee Fett. The record was released both on CD and on vinyl, the vinyl version was...
(Drums, backing vocals) - 2000 The Hellacopters - High VisibilityHigh Visibility-Personnel:The Hellacopters:*Nicke Andersson - Vocals, guitars, clavinet, percussion*Robert Dahlqvist - Guitars, vocals*Kenny Håkansson - Bass guitar*Anders Lindström - organ, piano*Robert Eriksson - Drums, backing vocalsAdditional musicians:...
(Drums, backing vocals) - 2002 The Hellacopters - By the Grace of GodBy the Grace of God (album)-Personnel:The Hellacopters;*Nicke Andersson - Vocals guitars, piano, percussion*Robert Dahlqvist - Guitars, vocals*Kenny Håkansson - Bass guitar*Anders Lindström - Organ, piano, guitar, backing vocals*Robert Eriksson - Drums, backing vocals...
(Drums) - 2003 Wayne Kramer - Adult World (Drums)
- 2004 Urrke T & Midlife Crisis - Ask Not What You Can Do For Your Country... (Drums)
- 2004 Stefan Sundström - Hjärtats Melodi (Drums)
- 2005 The Hellacopters - Rock & Roll Is DeadRock & Roll Is Dead-Personnel:The Hellacopters;*Nicke Andersson - Vocals guitars, piano, percussion*Robert Dahlqvist - Guitars, vocals*Kenny Håkansson - Bass guitar*Anders Lindström - Organ, piano, guitar, backing vocals*Robert Eriksson - Drums, backing vocals...
(Drums, backing vocals) - 2008 The Hellacopters - Head OffHead OffHead Off* is the seventh and last album released by the Swedish rock band The Hellacopters. The album consist of cover songs from acts that the band felt that everyone should know about and listen to. The 2500 units of the vinyl release all come with a poster, an additionall 1500 units were later...
(Drums, backing vocals) - 2010 Tramp - Indigo (Drums)
- TBA The Hellacopters - Upcoming live album (Drums, backing vocals)