Backyard Babies
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Backyard Babies | |
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| Country | Stockholm, Sweden |
| Years active | 1987-1994 1997-Present |
| Genres | Punk rock Hard rock Glam punk Sleaze rock |
| Labels | BMG (current) Liquor & Poker (current) MVG Records RCA Records Smooch Pooch |
| Members | Nicke Borg Dregen Johan Blomqvist Peder Carlsson |
| Past members | Tobbe |
Backyard Babies is a hard rock and punk rock band, from Nässjö, Sweden. The band was formed in 1987, over the years they have released five studio albums and have won a Swedish Grammy. The band remains together, though they are now located in Stockholm, Sweden.
They are largely attributed with bringing sleaze rock to Scandinavia and Sweden, a scene which has spawned several bands that continues to grow today.
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[edit] History
Formed in 1987, the Babies (as they are known by fans) comprised of singer Tobbe, guitarist Dregen, bassist Johan Blomqvist and drummer Peder Carlsson. Together they played several live shows in their vocal area and recorded a rough demo.
Tobbe was replaced in the group by a young punk rock frontman; Nicke Borg. With him they recorded two more demos and did a national tour of Sweden. The band self-released a debut extended player, titled; "Something to Swallow". This got them signed in 1993 by Swedish label Megarock Records.
Backyard Babies released their debut album, "Diesel & Power" in 1994, the music on it took influences from rock, punk and blues. In addition to the album the band also released the "Electric Suzy" single, as a b-side it featured a cover of "Taxi Driver" by Hanoi Rocks.
However, not long after the album was released the band was put on hiatus, as guitarist Dregen had formed a garage rock band The Hellacopters. Dregen released two albums with the Hellacopters; "Supershitty to the Max!" and "Payin' the Dues".
[edit] Total 13
The Backyard Babies returned in 1997, with a new record contract, this time with MVG Records. They recorded their most critically claimed album; "Total 13". This album was far more energetic and frantic than the debut, it is now considered a glam punk classic. Critics compared the album favourably to the New York Dolls, Ramones and The Damned.[1] They toured the United Kingdom with good response.
A single was released from the album "Bombed (Out Of My Mind)", it featured Hanoi Rocks frontman Michael Monroe dueting on the b-side track "Rocker". Their next single was self-released by the Babies, it was "Is It Still Alright To Smile?", the b-side was a cover of Faster Pussycat track "Babylon" and featured guest appearances from Ginger of the Wildhearts and Nicke Andersson who had played with Dregen in the Hellacopters. In 1998 the band toured the United Kingdom once more, this time in support of Alice Cooper.
[edit] Making Enemies Is Good
Following Ginger guesting on a Backyard Babies track, he struck up a friendship with Dregen. The two along with Nicke Andersson formed Supershit 666, which released a six-track EP. Dregen returned to the Backyard Babies soon after as the band took off for another tour of the United Kingdom, this time in support of AC/DC.
The Babies recorded a follow-up to "Total 13", titled; "Making Enemies is Good" which has been described by some critics as a more "controlled chaos" approach than their previous effort[2]. Two of the singles from it were hits, "The Clash" and "Brand New Hate". "brand new hate" was co-wrote with Ginger,. They toured in support of the album with Motörhead.
[edit] Stockholm Syndrome
On 15 October 2002, Backyard Babies guitarist Dregan was on the front pages of Swedish national newspapers. After returning home from a club where he was DJing, he and his friend were assaulted, robbed (CDs, mobile phones and money was taken) and knocked unconscious. Dregen suffered a broken jaw but the band continued on with the recording of their next album; "Stockholm Syndrome". The album was viewed by some fans as a return towards a more energetic and raw sound, the album won them a Swedish Grammy.
The album spawned three singles, "Minus Celsius", "A Song For The Outcast" and a track titled "Friends", which featured an all-star line-up of multiple guests, including[3];
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[edit] Recent times
During 2005, the band toured Europe and the United States with Social Distortion. Backyard Babies hit the studio and recorded an album which was produced by Hellacopters man, Nicke Andersson. It is entitled "People Like People Like People Like Us" to date it has spawned two singles; "The Mess Age" and "Dysfunctional Professional". They are a big influence on the current upsurge in sleaze rock in the UK unsigned scene, with Disarm calling them a big influence.
[edit] Members
- Nicke Borg - vocals, guitar (1989-present)
- Dregen - lead guitar, backing vocals
- Johan Blomqvist - bass
- Peder Carlsson - drums
[edit] Former Member
- Tobbe - vocals, guitar (1987-1989)
[edit] Discography
- Diesel & Power - (1994, re-released 2006)
- Total 13 - (1997)
- Making Enemies is Good - (2001)
- Stockholm Syndrome - (2003)
- People Like People Like People Like Us - (2006)
[edit] Live
[edit] EPs
[edit] Compilations
[edit] Singles
- Electric Suzy - (1994)
- Supershow - (1996)
- Split 7" with The 69 Eyes
- Look at You - (1997)
- Bombed (Out Of My Mind) - (1997)
- Is It Still Alright To Smile? - (1998)
- Highlights - (1998)
- Babylon - (1999)
- Brand New Hate - (2001)
- The Clash - (2001)
- Minus Celsius - (2003)
- A Song For The Outcast - (2004)
- Remixed and released as "A Remix For The Outcast" in 2005.
