The Hellacopters
Encyclopedia
The Hellacopters were a Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....

 garage rock
Garage rock
Garage rock is a raw form of rock and roll that was first popular in the United States and Canada from about 1963 to 1967. During the 1960s, it was not recognized as a separate music genre and had no specific name...

 band that was formed in 1994 by 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...

 (vocals and guitar), Dregen
Dregen
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....

 (guitar), 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'...

 (bass) and Robert Eriksson
Matz Robert Eriksson
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.-Early life and...

 (drums). Andersson (sometimes known as Nick Royale) had been the drummer for death 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...

 and Dregen was taking a break from his full-time band 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....

. Dregen and Eriksson had been roadies for Entombed, while Håkansson was a childhood friend of Andersson's. The Hellacopters were initially conceived as a side project for Andersson and Dregen, but it eventually became the main songwriting and performance vehicle for Andersson. The band was, together with The Hives
The Hives
The Hives are a Swedish garage rock band that first garnered attention in the early 2000s as a prominent group of the garage rock revival. Their mainstream success came with the release of the "greatest hits" album Your New Favourite Band, featuring their most well-known song "Hate to Say I Told...

, one of the most important Swedish bands in the garage rock revival and one of the most influential rock bands in Sweden.

The band released their Swedish Grammy-winning debut album 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....

 in 1996. Just before a tour opening for 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,...

, the band recruited keyboardist and percussionist Anders Lindström (also known as Boba Fett or Boba) on a part-time basis; he would become a full-time member in 1999. After the album Payin' the Dues
Payin' the Dues
Payin' 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...

 in 1998, Dregen left the band to return to Backyard Babies full-time, and Mattias Hellberg
Mattias Hellberg
Mattias Hellberg is a Swedish musician. Hellberg has worked with a variety of Swedish bands and artists in different genres, both as a permanent member and as guest or session member.-Recording career:...

 and Danne Andersson were recruited to complete the band touring responsibilities. After the release of Grande Rock
Grande Rock
Grande 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...

 which featured additional guitar playing from both Lindström and Hellberg Robert Dahlqvist
Robert Dahlqvist
Robert Dahlqvist is a guitarist and vocalist most known for his work with the Swedish rockband The Hellacopters. He's also the lead singer and guitarist in Thunder Express, a band originally started as a sideproject to his work with The Hellacopters...

 was hired as a full-time lead guitarist in 1999. With the lineup now solidified, the band released three more studio albums and a cover album
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...

, with many EPs and limited edition releases as well. The Hellacopters disbanded amicably in 2008 so the members could move on to other projects.

Formation and Supershitty to the Max!

The band name was inspired by a magazine article discovered by Andersson and Dregen while on tour with Entombed in San Francisco. The article was about how the CIA was spying with helicopters on marijuana fields in Mexico and that the Mexicans called them "Hellacopters." The first Hellacopters rehearsal took place on November 4, 1994 as just a jam session, after two more rehearsals the band released their first single "Killing Allan" in January 1995 on their own label Psychout Records.

After releasing their second single "1995," the Hellacopters were signed by White Jazz Records and they released their debut album 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....

 in June 1996. The album was recorded all live in only 26 hours. The band won a Swedish Grammy for the album. Anders "Boba Fett" Lindström, guitarist of the Swedish rock band The Diamond Dogs
The Diamond Dogs
The Diamond Dogs is a Swedish rock band founded in Katrineholm during the early nineties by vocalist Sören 'Sulo' Karlsson and guitarist Anders 'Boba' Lindström.-History:...

, was then recruited to play keyboards shortly before they supported 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,...

 on their Scandinavian dates in June 1997.

Payin' the Dues and Dregen's departure

The band recorded their follow-up album Payin' the Dues
Payin' the Dues
Payin' 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...

 in February 1997. The record barely managed to break into to the top 20 in Sweden and the top 30's in Finland. Andersson then left Entombed completely to concentrate full-time on the Hellacopters. A Swedish tour included a show at the second largest stage at the Hultsfred festival
Hultsfred Festival
The Hultsfred Festival is an annual music festival held in Hultsfred, Sweden. It takes place at the lake Hulingen during three days in the June or July, from Thursday to Saturday. Since the first festival in 1986, its attendance has increased from 7,500 visitors to approximately 32,000 people in...

, while the band famously played a secret gig backstage on a small makeshift stage. In 1998 the band toured Europe with Gluecifer
Gluecifer
Gluecifer was a hard rock band based in Oslo, Norway. Formed in 1994, they produced several underground releases during their first years of existence and soon claimed to be "kings of rock"....

, with whom they recorded the split album Respect the Rock. Soon after, Dregen
Dregen
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....

 left the band and returned to 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....

.
With Dregen's departure in the middle of an extensive tour, the band recruited guitarists Chuck Pounder and Mattias Hellberg
Mattias Hellberg
Mattias Hellberg is a Swedish musician. Hellberg has worked with a variety of Swedish bands and artists in different genres, both as a permanent member and as guest or session member.-Recording career:...

 for their tours of Scandinavia and U.S./Canada, respectively. While on tour in America the band also had the opportunity to jam with legendary Detroit rockers Scott Morgan
Scott Morgan
Scott Morgan is an American rock & roll and soul musician, most known for his work with the Sonic's Rendezvous Band, the Rationals, The Solution as well as his solowork.-The Rationals:Morgan's first band was The Rationals...

 of the Sonic's Rendezvous Band
Sonic's Rendezvous Band
Sonic's Rendezvous Band was a rock and roll band from Ann Arbor, Michigan in the 1970s, featuring veterans of the 1960s Detroit rock scene.- Background :Sonic's Rendezvous Band came from the ashes of four Michigan rock bands:...

 and Wayne Kramer
Wayne Kramer (guitarist)
Wayne Kramer is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, producer and film and television scorer....

 of the MC5
MC5
The MC5 is an American rock band formed in Lincoln Park, Michigan and originally active from 1964 to 1972. The original band line-up consisted of vocalist Rob Tyner, guitarists Wayne Kramer and Fred "Sonic" Smith, bassist Michael Davis, and drummer Dennis Thompson...

, beginning long working relationships with both.

Grande Rock and Dahlqvist's debut

In September 1998 the band recorded their third album Grande Rock
Grande Rock
Grande 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...

. Due to the absence of a second guitarist, Lindström and Hellberg both contributed on guitar. The album's 1970s classic rock sound was a departure from their previous albums, which featured a louder Detroit punk rock and garage rock sound. One reason for this was that the band recorded the album in an older studio from the 1970s in the Swedish woods, where they learned from an older and more experienced engineer who knew how to create the vintage seventies sound the band desired.
Grande Rock became the band's first album to break into the Swedish top ten, before dropping out of the list after one week. For the ensuing tour, the band considered recruiting an American guitarist but hired Robert Dahlqvist
Robert Dahlqvist
Robert Dahlqvist is a guitarist and vocalist most known for his work with the Swedish rockband The Hellacopters. He's also the lead singer and guitarist in Thunder Express, a band originally started as a sideproject to his work with The Hellacopters...

. With Dahlqvist as a full-time replacement for Dregen
Dregen
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....

 the band set out on tour along with Wayne Kramer
Wayne Kramer (guitarist)
Wayne Kramer is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, producer and film and television scorer....

, The Nomads and Powder Monkeys
Powder Monkeys
The Powder Monkeys were an Australian punk/indie rock band, based in Melbourne, Led by Tim Hemensley, they existed from 1991 to 2002, and were renowned as a live act.-History:...

.

High Visibility with Chips Kiesbye

In 2000 the band headed back into the studio to record their first album with Robert Dahlqvist who by then had earned the nickname "Strängen" or "Strings" due to all the strings he had broken during rehearsals. It was also their first time working with producer Chips Kiesbye
Chips Kiesbye
Chips Kiesbye is the guitarist and vocalist for the Swedish rock band Sator formed in the late 1980s in Borlänge. Kiesbye is also successful music producer and have worked with several of Swedens most successful rock bands and artists such as The Hellacopters, Millencolin, Thåström, Sahara...

, who had worked with artists such as Sahara Hotnights
Sahara Hotnights
Sahara Hotnights is a rock band from Robertsfors, Sweden. Their style incorporates elements of garage rock, power pop and punk. While in Australia, Josephine Forsman bet on a horse named Sahara Hotnights and used the name for the band.-History:...

, Millencolin
Millencolin
Millencolin is a punk rock band that was formed in October 1992 by Nikola Šarčević, Mathias Färm, and Erik Ohlsson in Örebro, Sweden. In early 1993, drummer Fredrik Larzon joined the band...

, Thåström, The Nomads, The Turpentines, his own band Sator
Sator (band)
Sator is a Swedish rock band. The band was founded in Borlänge and have released 7 albums. They notably released a song about a disgruntled Baby Doc Duvalier complaining about his fortunes, called "Baby Doc Holiday"...

, and many other Swedish rock bands. Kiesbye would become their producer of choice and he produced all of the band's subsequent studio albums. High Visibility
High 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:...

 spent twelve weeks on the Swedish charts and was certified gold in that nation. The band set out on an Scandinavian and European tour in support of the album along with the then-unknown band The Hives
The Hives
The Hives are a Swedish garage rock band that first garnered attention in the early 2000s as a prominent group of the garage rock revival. Their mainstream success came with the release of the "greatest hits" album Your New Favourite Band, featuring their most well-known song "Hate to Say I Told...

 as their opening act. High Visibility was later released in the United States and the band's tour was chronicled in the documentary Goodnight Cleveland
Goodnight Cleveland
Goodnight Cleveland is a documentary film directed by Jim Heneghan for 8th Grade Films chronicling The Hellacopters North American tour in 2002 in support of their album High Visibility....

. The title is a reference to the mockumentary This Is Spınal Tap
This Is Spinal Tap
This Is Spinal Tap is an American 1984 rock musical mockumentary directed by Rob Reiner about the fictional heavy metal band Spinal Tap...

 in which Derek Smalls yells "Hello Cleveland" to an unseen audience while the band tries to find their way onto the stage. Andersson adapted the phrase at the end of the band's show at the Agora Ballroom.

By the Grace of God and side projects

In early 2002, the band released their first compilation of non-album tracks Cream Of The Crap Vol. 1
Cream Of The Crap Vol. 1
Cream Of The Crap Vol. 1 is the first of two compilation albums by Swedish rock band The Hellacopters which contains rare singles, B-sides, EP selections, and other non-album tracks by the band. The follow-up Cream Of The Crap Vol...

, the CD's booklet
Liner notes
Liner notes are the writings found in booklets which come inserted into the compact disc jewel case or the equivalent packaging for vinyl records and cassettes.-Origin:...

 contained one half of a poster designed by Andersson the second half of the poster was included in the second volume
Cream Of The Crap Vol. 2
Cream Of The Crap Vol. 2 is the second compilation album from The Hellacopters containing rare singles, B-sides, EP selections, and other non-album tracks by the band...

 of the Cream of The Crap series. The band recorded 20 songs for their fifth album at Polar Studios
Polar Music
Polar Music is a Swedish record company founded in 1963 by Stig Anderson and his friend Bengt Bernhag. The first act that it signed was the Hootenanny Singers featuring Björn Ulvaeus. Polar eventually gained prosperity producing Ulvæus' next group, international superstars ABBA...

 in Stockholm, 13 of the 20 songs were included on By the Grace of God
By 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...

. It became the band's most commercially successful album, debuting at number two in Sweden and number eight in Finland, and the band was rewarded with another gold record in Sweden. The title track also spent seven weeks on the Swedish singles chart and gained significant airplay on radio and TV. The band also had the opportunity to be the opening act for 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 Stockholm and Helsinki.

Before recording their next album, the band decided to take a break to find time to focus on other projects. Nicke Andersson worked on his side project The Solution
The Solution (band)
The Solution is a blue-eyed soul band that was formed by the American Scott Morgan and Swede Nick Royale after previously working together in the rock n roll band The Hydromatics.-History:...

 with Scott Morgan
Scott Morgan
Scott Morgan is an American rock & roll and soul musician, most known for his work with the Sonic's Rendezvous Band, the Rationals, The Solution as well as his solowork.-The Rationals:Morgan's first band was The Rationals...

, releasing the album Communicate!
Communicate!
Communicate! is the first studio album by the soulband The Solution formed by Nicke Andersson and Scott Morgan recorded at Atlantis Studio and mixed in Polar Studios.The album was released in 2004 and was followed up with Will Not Be Televised in 2008....

 in 2004; he also contributed backing vocals for The Cardigans
The Cardigans
The Cardigans are a Swedish rock band formed in the town of Jönköping in October 1992.Their debut album Emmerdale gave them a solid base in their home country and enjoyed some success abroad, especially in Japan. It was not until their second album Life that an international reputation was secured...

 album Long Gone Before Daylight
Long Gone Before Daylight
Long Gone Before Daylight is the fifth studio album by The Cardigans. After a long hiatus from their last album in 1998 , it was finally released in Japan on March 19, 2003 and in Europe on March 24, 2003...

. Dahlqvist started a side project called Thunder Express
Thunder Express
Thunder Express was started as a sideproject by Robert Dahlqvist from the Swedish rock band The Hellacopters on guitars and vocals together with Robert Pehrsson from the metal band Death Breath on guitars, former Diamond Dogs drummer Jesper Karlsson along with bassist Jens Lagergren of Hello...

 and also recorded the album Fula Gubben Hitler with Swedish singer/songwriter Stefan Sundström
Stefan Sundström
Stefan Sundström is a Swedish singer/songwriter and troubadour. After dropping out of school, he started playing in small bands such as Trots, Läppstars and Apache, which later went on to become Weeping Willows. Sundström's music often refers to other important Swedish musicians like Evert Taube,...

; Dahlqvist was pictured on the album's cover suspended on a cross
Crucifixion
Crucifixion is an ancient method of painful execution in which the condemned person is tied or nailed to a large wooden cross and left to hang until dead...

. Dahlqvist also toured along with former Hellacopters member Mattias Hellberg
Mattias Hellberg
Mattias Hellberg is a Swedish musician. Hellberg has worked with a variety of Swedish bands and artists in different genres, both as a permanent member and as guest or session member.-Recording career:...

 in support of the album.

Rock & Roll Is Dead

During the Hellacopters' break, the second compilation of non-album tracks Cream Of The Crap Vol. 2
Cream Of The Crap Vol. 2
Cream Of The Crap Vol. 2 is the second compilation album from The Hellacopters containing rare singles, B-sides, EP selections, and other non-album tracks by the band...

 was released. The band claims they 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. Eriksson and Lindstrom 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
Rock & 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...

 in 2005. The name is a reference to the band's opinion about the state of the music industry.
The album entered the Swedish album charts as number three and reached the top twenty in Finland. In March 2006 The Hellacopters went on their first American tour in three years, and also toured Sweden with The Hives
The Hives
The Hives are a Swedish garage rock band that first garnered attention in the early 2000s as a prominent group of the garage rock revival. Their mainstream success came with the release of the "greatest hits" album Your New Favourite Band, featuring their most well-known song "Hate to Say I Told...

, Millencollin, 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....

 and The Soundtrack of our Lives
The Soundtrack of Our Lives
The Soundtrack of Our Lives, alternatively known as T.S.O.O.L. or Soundtrack, is a Swedish rock band that formed in 1995 after the dissolution of the punk band Union Carbide Productions....

 on the Where the Action Is Tour
Where the Action Is Tour
Where the Action Is was a tour featuring Swedish rock bands that toured throughout Sweden between 2004 and 2006 with several high profiled Swedish bands and artists such as The Hellacopters, The Hives, The Ark, Moneybrother and many others. In 2007 the tour took a hiatus and then came back in 2008...

. The track "Nothing Terribly New" was also mentioned several times as one of E Street Band
E Street Band
The E Street Band has been rock musician Bruce Springsteen's primary backing band since 1972.The band has also recorded with a wide range of other artists including Bob Dylan, Meat Loaf, Bonnie Tyler, Air Supply, Dire Straits, David Bowie, Peter Gabriel, Stevie Nicks, Tom Morello, Sting, Ian...

 member Steven Van Zandt
Steven Van Zandt
Steven Van Zandt is an Italian-American musician, songwriter, arranger, record producer, actor, and radio disc jockey, who frequently goes by the stage names Little Steven or Miami Steve...

's favorite garage rock
Garage rock
Garage rock is a raw form of rock and roll that was first popular in the United States and Canada from about 1963 to 1967. During the 1960s, it was not recognized as a separate music genre and had no specific name...

 songs.

Head Off and break-up announcement

On October 12, 2007, The Hellacopters announced they would be breaking up after releasing their seventh full length album 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 cover songs. According to the band, the reason for the breakup was to quit while they were still on top and not because of tension within the band. The album was originally presented as a regular Hellacopters studio album so that the fans would keep an open mind about the music. Håkansson also felt that it was fitting for the fans to get to know eleven new great bands to check out after the band's break up. The album debuted at number four in the Swedish charts and in the top 20 in Finland and Norway. The last Hellacopters shows were played at Debaser Medis in Stockholm October 25 and 26; the concerts were filmed and streamed live on the bands MySpace page. Several friends and collaborators of the band were in the audience, including members of Sahara Hotnights
Sahara Hotnights
Sahara Hotnights is a rock band from Robertsfors, Sweden. Their style incorporates elements of garage rock, power pop and punk. While in Australia, Josephine Forsman bet on a horse named Sahara Hotnights and used the name for the band.-History:...

, 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...

, Burst
Burst (band)
Burst was a progressive metal band from Kristinehamn, Sweden. They were formed in 1993 by Jesper Liveröd, Linus Jägerskog and Patrik Hultin. Guitarists Robert Reinholdz and Jonas Rydberg joined the band a bit later...

, Stefan Sundström
Stefan Sundström
Stefan Sundström is a Swedish singer/songwriter and troubadour. After dropping out of school, he started playing in small bands such as Trots, Läppstars and Apache, which later went on to become Weeping Willows. Sundström's music often refers to other important Swedish musicians like Evert Taube,...

, Texas Terri
Texas Terri
Texas Terri, is a punk rock singer and songwriter originally from Austin, Texas. She has been in the rock 'n' roll business for over two decades....

, and Pernilla Andersson. The band will also release a double live album, like many of their favorite bands from the 1970s did, with recordings from their entire "Tour Before the Fall."

Post break-up activities

Frontman Nicke Andersson continues to work with his other band Death Breath
Death Breath
Death Breath is a Swedish death metal band, featuring Robert Pehrsson and Nicke Andersson formerly of the death metal band Entombed, who wanted to return to playing drums and death metal. The members of the band both have other bands but does not consider Death Breath to be a side project...

, originally a side project while he was with The Hellacopters, and plans to record a solo album. He also says that he would like to record and tour once again with his soul band The Solution
The Solution (band)
The Solution is a blue-eyed soul band that was formed by the American Scott Morgan and Swede Nick Royale after previously working together in the rock n roll band The Hydromatics.-History:...

, but due to all of the different members' involvement with other projects, finding time for everyone to record and tour is difficult. Andersson recently formed the band Cold Ethyl, but this band currently has no intentions of recording or releasing any original material. Robert Dahlqvist returned to his own band Thunder Express
Thunder Express
Thunder Express was started as a sideproject by Robert Dahlqvist from the Swedish rock band The Hellacopters on guitars and vocals together with Robert Pehrsson from the metal band Death Breath on guitars, former Diamond Dogs drummer Jesper Karlsson along with bassist Jens Lagergren of Hello...

, with which he released a Swedish-language album Dunder Tåget with lyrics from Stefan Sundström
Stefan Sundström
Stefan Sundström is a Swedish singer/songwriter and troubadour. After dropping out of school, he started playing in small bands such as Trots, Läppstars and Apache, which later went on to become Weeping Willows. Sundström's music often refers to other important Swedish musicians like Evert Taube,...

 in early 2009. Kenny Håkansson has plans to form a band with the drummer of the Danish rock band Baby Woodrose; the currently unnanmed band is described as "psychadelic rock ala 1971." Robert Eriksson is working with his currently unsigned band Tramp and works at a music youth center Called Black Sheep in Solna
Solna Municipality
Solna Municipality is a municipality in Stockholm County in east central Sweden, located just north of the capital Stockholm. Its seat is located in the 'city' of Solna....

.

Musical style

Influenced by early punk and rock bands such as MC5
MC5
The MC5 is an American rock band formed in Lincoln Park, Michigan and originally active from 1964 to 1972. The original band line-up consisted of vocalist Rob Tyner, guitarists Wayne Kramer and Fred "Sonic" Smith, bassist Michael Davis, and drummer Dennis Thompson...

, Ramones
Ramones
The Ramones were an American rock band that formed in the New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974. They are often cited as the first punk rock group...

, Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band that formed in London in 1975. They were responsible for initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and inspiring many later punk and alternative rock musicians...

, The Damned, The Stooges
The Stooges
The Stooges are an American rock band from Ann Arbor, Michigan first active from 1967 to 1974, and later reformed in 2003...

 and The Heartbreakers
The Heartbreakers
Johnny Thunders and the Heartbreakers, also known as The Heartbreakers, were an American rock & roll band formed in New York in May 1975. The band was part of the first wave of punk rock.-History:...

 as well as heavier bands such as Venom
Venom (band)
Venom are an English heavy metal band that formed in 1979 in Newcastle upon Tyne. Coming to prominence towards the end of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, Venom's first two albums—Welcome to Hell and Black Metal —are considered a major influence on thrash metal and extreme metal in general...

, Blue Cheer
Blue Cheer
Blue Cheer was an American psychedelic blues-rock band that initially performed and recorded in the late 1960s and early 1970s and was sporadically active until 2009...

 and Motorhead the bands debut album - 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....

 - contained fast paced songs and overdriven guitars. While the bands second album - Payin' the Dues
Payin' the Dues
Payin' 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...

 - was in similar style as their debut album it also dispayed a tighter musicianship and songwriting technique as well as keyboards by Anders Lindström. Grande Rock
Grande Rock
Grande 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...

 was the first studio album to be recorded without original guitarist Dregen
Dregen
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 was a departure from the bands Detroit rock influnced sound to a more 1970's rock sound. The band continued to evolve their sound throughout their career, while Nicke Andersson claims that all of their music is based around three chords
Chord (music)
A chord in music is any harmonic set of two–three or more notes that is heard as if sounding simultaneously. These need not actually be played together: arpeggios and broken chords may for many practical and theoretical purposes be understood as chords...

 and a chorus
Refrain
A refrain is the line or lines that are repeated in music or in verse; the "chorus" of a song...

 the band had no interest in repeating themselves. On the bands later releases, Andersson's vocals incorporated soul influences from his and Scott Morgan
Scott Morgan
Scott Morgan is an American rock & roll and soul musician, most known for his work with the Sonic's Rendezvous Band, the Rationals, The Solution as well as his solowork.-The Rationals:Morgan's first band was The Rationals...

s sideproject The Solution
The Solution (band)
The Solution is a blue-eyed soul band that was formed by the American Scott Morgan and Swede Nick Royale after previously working together in the rock n roll band The Hydromatics.-History:...

. The Hellacopters also recorded many cover songs
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...

 throughout their career of songs from bands and artist such as Radio Birdman
Radio Birdman
Radio Birdman was one of the first punk bands in Australia along with The Saints. Deniz Tek and Rob Younger formed the group in Sydney, Australia in 1974...

, Misfits, Smokey Robinson
Smokey Robinson
William "Smokey" Robinson, Jr. is an American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. Robinson is one of the primary figures associated with Motown, second only to the company's founder, Berry Gordy...

, Nationalteatern
Nationalteatern
Nationalteatern is a Swedish progg rock group from the 1970s that featured leftist political lyrics. It was originally a traveling theater ensemble with many members, most notably Ulf Dageby, Anders Melander, Totta Näslund, Nikke Ström, Hans Mosesson and Pale Olofsson.-History:Initially formed as a...

, Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...

, The Nomads, April Stevens
April Stevens
April Stevens is an American singer.She has recorded since she was 15 years old. Her most popular solo recording was her RCA Victor recording of "I'm in Love Again" . Accompanied by an orchestra arranged and conducted by Henri René, Stevens' recording peaked at No...

, Sonic's Rendezvous Band
Sonic's Rendezvous Band
Sonic's Rendezvous Band was a rock and roll band from Ann Arbor, Michigan in the 1970s, featuring veterans of the 1960s Detroit rock scene.- Background :Sonic's Rendezvous Band came from the ashes of four Michigan rock bands:...

, The Dictators
The Dictators
The Dictators are an American punk rock band formed in New York City in 1973. Critic John Dougan said that they were "one of the finest and most influential proto-punk bands to walk the earth." The Dictators are represented in the "Punk Wing" of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, in Cleveland, Ohio...

, Love
Love (band)
Love was an American rock group of the late 1960s and early 1970s. They were led by singer/songwriter Arthur Lee and lead guitarist Johnny Echols...

, 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 others. However Andersson asserts that there is a difference between the music that inspires him and the music that has an influence on his music, Andersson has mentioned country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...

 artist Guy Clark
Guy Clark
Guy Clark is an American Texas Country artist. In his career, he has released more than twenty albums, primarily on major labels. He has also written singles for other artists, including Ricky Skaggs, Steve Wariner and Rodney Crowell....

 as an artist that inspires his songwriting without affecting the bands sound.

Final line-up

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...

Active: 1994-2008.
Instruments: lead vocals
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...

, guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...

, clavinet
Clavinet
A Clavinet is an electrically amplified keyboard instrument manufactured by the Hohner company. It is essentially an electronically amplified clavichord, analogous to an electric guitar. Its distinctive bright staccato sound has appeared particularly in funk, disco, rock, and reggae songs.Various...

, piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...

, percussion and e-bow
E-Bow
The EBow or ebow is a hand-held, battery-powered electronic device for playing the electric guitar, invented by Greg Heet in 1969...

.
Recording contributions: All studio recordings.

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'...

Active: 1994-2008.
Instruments: bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....

, backing vocals
Recording contributions: All studio recordings.

Matz Robert Eriksson
Matz Robert Eriksson
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.-Early life and...

Active: 1994-2008.
Instruments: drums
Drum 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 ....

, percussion, lead and backing vocals.
Recording contributions: All studio recordings.

Anders Lindström
Anders Lindström
Anders Lindström or Boba Fett as he is often called is a Swedish rock musician most known for being the organist and pianist of the Swedish rock band The Hellacopters and co founder and guitarist of The Diamond Dogs.-Life and career:...

Active: 1996-2008 (full-time from 1999).
Instruments: organ
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...

, piano, percussion, guitars, backing vocals.
Recording contributions: All recordings from Payin' the Dues
Payin' the Dues
Payin' 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...

 and onward.

Jens Robert Dahlqvist
Active: 1999-2008.
Instruments: guitar, backing vocals.
Recording contributions: All recordings from High Visibility
High 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:...

 and onward.

Other members

Dregen
Dregen
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....

Active: 1994-1997.
Instruments: guitar, percussion, lead and backing vocals.
Recording contributions: From 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....

 to Payin' the Dues
Payin' the Dues
Payin' 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...

.

Danne Andersson
Active: 1997.
Instruments: guitar, backing vocals
Recording contributions: None.

Mattias Hellberg
Mattias Hellberg
Mattias Hellberg is a Swedish musician. Hellberg has worked with a variety of Swedish bands and artists in different genres, both as a permanent member and as guest or session member.-Recording career:...

Active: 1997-1998.
Instruments: guitar and backing vocals.
Recording contributions: Contributor to Grande Rock
Grande Rock
Grande 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...

 and By the Grace of God
By 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...

.

Selected discography

Studio albums
  • 1996 - 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....

  • 1997 - Payin' the Dues
    Payin' the Dues
    Payin' 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...

  • 1999 - Grande Rock
    Grande Rock
    Grande 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...

  • 2000 - High Visibility
    High 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:...

  • 2002 - By the Grace of God
    By 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...

  • 2005 - Rock & Roll Is Dead
    Rock & 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...

  • 2008 - 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...



Compilations
  • 2002 - Cream of the Crap Vol. 1
    Cream Of The Crap Vol. 1
    Cream Of The Crap Vol. 1 is the first of two compilation albums by Swedish rock band The Hellacopters which contains rare singles, B-sides, EP selections, and other non-album tracks by the band. The follow-up Cream Of The Crap Vol...

  • 2004 - Cream of the Crap Vol. 2
    Cream Of The Crap Vol. 2
    Cream Of The Crap Vol. 2 is the second compilation album from The Hellacopters containing rare singles, B-sides, EP selections, and other non-album tracks by the band...

  • 2006 - Air Raid Serenades
    Air Raid Serenades
    Air Raid Serenades is a greatest hits compilation album from Swedish garage rock band The Hellacopters, released in August 2006. The album complies tracks from all of the band's previous albums, plus some songs that had previously appeared on EPs and other between-album releases.-Track listing:# "...



Awards and nominations

Swedish Grammys
Grammis
The Grammis Awards are the Swedish equivalent of the Grammy Awards. The awards ceremony is generally held each year in February in Stockholm.The awards were established in 1969 and awarded until 1972 when they were cancelled....

:

|-
|rowspan="1" | 1996 || 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....

 || Best Hard Rock ||
|-
|rowspan="1" | 2006 || Rock & Roll Is Dead
Rock & 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...

 || Best Rock Group of the Year ||
|-
|rowspan="2" | 2009 ||rowspan="2"| 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...

 || Best Hard Rock ||
|-
| Best Live Act ||
|-

P3 Guld:

|-
|rowspan="2" | 2005 ||rowspan="2" | Rock & Roll Is Dead
Rock & 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...

 || Best Rock Album of the Year ||
|-
| Live Act of the Year ||
|-
|rowspan="1" | 2008 ||rowspan="1" | 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...

 || Best Live Act ||
|-

Bandit Rock
Bandit Rock
Bandit Rock is a Swedish radio station which plays rock, punk and heavy metal. The station, now a part of the Modern Times Group, was originally founded by American ex-pat Thomas McAlevey and began broadcasting in Stockholm in 1994....

:

|-
|rowspan="4" | 2009 ||rowspan="4" | 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...

 || Best Swedish Group ||
|-
| Best Swedish Album ||
|-
| Best Swedish Live Act ||
|-
| Bandit Special Award ||
|-

Kerrang! Awards

|-
| 1999 || Grande Rock
Grande Rock
Grande 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...

|| Spirit Of Independence ||
|-
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