Scandinavian Strip: The New Wave of Sleazy Swedish Metal

Allow me to introduce you to the nephew of the 80's era Sunset Strip... Sweden! There's no doubt Scandinavia and in particular Sweden, has always been a hot bed for rock n roll and heavy metal. But now more than ever, it seems there is an endless line of crazy, big haired, hook laden sleaze bands ready to take over the world!

"Stockholm is the new Sunset Strip!" says Chris Laney, song writer, producer and guitarist for both Zan Clan and Randy Piper's Animal. "There's more hairspray than the ozone can handle".

"You can see a good or at least a funny looking band almost every day in Stockholm," says Jon of Babylon Bombs. "Chris Laney is right, Stockholm is the new Sunset strip... without the sun."

"The scene is growing bigger every day, that's for sure," adds Crashdiet's Peter London. "Personally I love Stockholm and couldn't think of a better place to live right now. We have a shit-load of bands and there's always something going on."

Sure, sleazy Swedish metal and glam isn't anything new and for the most part it's not trying to be. The attitude is to provide a show and bring back the good time rock n roll party experienced in the 1980s.

Back in those days Swedish bands like Europe and Easy Action featuring Zinny J Zan, who then went onto Shotgun Messiah and now with Zan Clan, ruled the airwaves worldwide and paved the way with other Scandinavian acts such as Finland's Hanoi Rocks.

It's from this and the kings of the Sunset Strip from Motley Crue to Guns N Roses that the current scene in Sweden gets a lot of its look and feel not to mention sound with a new vibrancy and an altogether modern spin.

"There are so many good new sleaze bands out there," says Jon (Babylon Bombs). "Hell 'N Diesel is a great band. Gemini Five, Crucified Barbara. Crashdiet of course. Oh man, there's so many."

"Hmm there's a lot," contemplates Skid LaRusso of Innocent Rosie. "A band that's back on the map is Nasty Idols. They're on the same label as us and are back in business. Crashdiet and Crazy Lixx are making their way to success too."

Hell N Diesel's J Sledge adds, "Our friends in Babylon Bombs have been kickin' it for some time now, Hardcore Superstar, Crashdiet... there's too many to mention but it is bubblin."

In fact many credit Crashdiet and Hardcore Superstar as the bands to have helped kick start the scene once again putting it back on the map with both bands developing cult followings not just in Sweden and Europe but as far as the US, Japan and Australia.

Hardcore Superstar formed in 1997 and have now released their 6^th studio album 'Dreamin in a Casket'. They have taken things to a new level with a string of great albums earning them worldwide recognition, award nominations and prestigious support slots alongside AC/DC, Motorhead and Aerosmith.

Crashdiet were the next big thing to come on the scene originally formed in the early part of the new millennium before founding member and vocalist Dave Lepard settled on the now classic line up of himself, Peter London, Eric Young and Martin Sweet.

They were the first 'sleaze' band to be signed by a major label (Universal Music) for over 10 years during 2004. Crashdiet released their acclaimed debut 'Rest in Sleaze' reaching no.12 in the Swedish charts and rode a wave of euphoria sweeping throughout the year touring anywhere and everywhere.

Tragically Dave Lepard took his own life in early 2006 and after originally deciding not to carry on, the remaining members announced a new singer almost a year later. They paid tribute to the man who started it all and got back in the saddle with Finnish rocker and Reckless Love frontman H. Olliver Twisted. The long awaited follow up to 'Rest in Sleaze' titled 'The Unattractive Revolution' was then recorded and released in 2007 with a little help from one Mick Mars.

"It would have been a shame to let our concept just die out," offers bassist Peter. "This way we can keep on delivering good music to the world and at the same time make sure Dave Lepard's great musical talent isn't forgotten either because we're finally able to release the first album ('Rest in Sleaze') worldwide."

"I realise it's difficult for some true fans to accept band member changes, but our followers seem to be wise enough to understand that without Olliver we wouldn't be around anymore. The fans are as supportive as they've always been and that means a lot to us."

Zinny Zan continued to rock through the 90s and 00s too with formative versions of Zan Clan releasing two albums in 1994 and 2000. When Chris Laney joined in 2003 along with Pontus Norgren, Pontus Egberg and Johan Koleberg the band gained some valuable support slots and built their reputation culminating in the release of 2005' 'We Are Zan Clan, Who The F**k Are You??!'.

The album was received very well in Europe and the US but both Pontus Norgren and Pontus Egberg would later leave to join The Poodles. In came bass player Grizzly and guitarist Rob Love with Zan Clan becoming more cohesive in the process.

"We are so much more a unit," says Laney. "We are all like brothers, can't be happier. Grizzly is involved in the songwriting process, and the stuff he comes up with is nothing but fuckin great! I'm glad that he is such a great songwriter, he makes me wanna write that much better too."

"Zinny is well respected, he is the Glam God of Scandinavia. When we are out playing you can see teenagers lining up for autographs with their mums (laughs). He is a cult figure here and at the same time the new generation sees him as a cool MF."

Now there are new bands exploding onto the scene every day and although the epicenter seems to be Stockholm, Gothenburg and the rest of the country aren't far behind. Also with Vains of Jenna making in roads into the US, Innocent Rosie gaining a spot to play Cruefest 07 and the countries surrounding Sweden experiencing their own burgeoning scenes (including the UK) the future looks good.

But even with the rapid growth the record labels aren't as quick to catch on with the exception of indie labels such as Smilodon and Swedmetal. Both have nurtured some of the best acts to come out of the country such as Babylon Bombs, Hell N Diesel, Crazy Lixx and Nasty Idols.

Despite the major label reluctance the scene as a whole has a huge following of young and old fans that look as outlandish as the bands they support, and there is no doubt the 80s spirit is alive and well throughout the country.

"All kinds of town's that you're walking through, you can hear a band rehearsal and you'll hear rock n roll/metal or whatever," adds Skid LaRusso (Innocent Rosie). "But the bigger cities are more popular when were talking about all the bigger bands in Sweden. The bigger cities offer a bigger possibility to be something. Most of the stuff happens there and it's fucking awesome!"

There's no doubt if you love sleazy rock n roll that this is the second coming and it just might have the longevity to succeed into the future where the original scene all but died out in the early 90s. But why is Sweden leading the charge and why do they have such a great rock n roll legacy? Well...

"A guy once said that it's because of all the raw fish we eat here," says Jon (Babylon Bombs).

"I personally like all kinds of music and can speak as an outsider that the thing about 80s rock is that it's a happier alternative to the other genre of rock and metal," says Crazy Lixx drummer Joey Cirera.

"And Swedes have enough to be depressed about already, crappy summers and long winters for instance, and want to have something to make them happy again and the glam/sleaze/hard rock genre is doing precisely that. Let's have a party and rock the night away so to speak (laughs)."

Whatever the reason there are some great things happening. From visiting MySpace you can listen to the hundreds of bands coming from the region and get an idea on how strong the sleaze rock scene really is.

Beneath all the flash and hairspray the majority of these bands are very talented musicians with a tight dynamic. Wailing vocalists with comparisons to Sebastian Bach and guitarists with Slash like precision can be heard amid rumbling bass lines and thunderous drumming. Given some more exposure it's surely only a matter of time before the rest of the world takes notice. It's time to bring back the fun!

Some bands to get you started:

Hardcore Superstar - www.myspace.com/hcssgbg

Crashdiet - www.myspace.com/realcrashdiet

Crazy Lixx - www.myspace.com/crazylixxmusic

Zan Clan - www.myspace.com/zanclan

Babylon Bombs - www.myspace.com/babylonbombs

Hell N Diesel - www.myspace.com/hellndiesel

Crucified Barbara - www.myspace.com/crucifiedbarbara

Innocent Rosie - www.myspace.com/innocentrosie

Vains of Jenna - www.myspace.com/vainsofjenna

Danger - www.myspace.com/bestdanger

Loud N' Nasty - www.myspace.com/loudnnasty

Nasty Idols - www.myspace.com/thenastyidols

Sister - www.myspace.com/sisteronline

Diamond Dogs - www.myspace.com/diamonddogssweden

Lipstix 'N' Bulletz - www.myspace.com/lipstixxnbullets

Midnight Cowboys - www.myspace.com/midnightcowboys

Leaded Fuel - www.myspace.com/leadedfuel
Carnival Sun - www.myspace.com/carnivalsun