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THE HIVES |
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In 1993, Five adolescents in the small industrial town
of Fagersta, Sweden each receive a letter with a time
and place. The response is one of confusion, excitement
and contempt. In the year 1995 word had spread
throughout the middle part of Sweden. These kids (Howlin'
Pelle-Vocals / Nicholaus Arson-Guitar / Dr.
Destruction-Bass / Chris Dangerous-Drums and
Vigilante-Guitar) with strange haircuts play really fast
and short sets that sometimes just fall apart in
arguments and sometimes are pure magic to witness. They
call themselves The Hives. Record company
executive Peter Ahlqvist hears of this and signs them to
Burning Heart Records. (Epitaph Records signed them for
distribution in the US) In 1997 Barely Legal is recorded and is a record blistering with an untouchable energy and teenage cockiness. People all over the world are speechless. The ones who are not talk of a new cool, the best thing in twenty years and so on. This record sees The Hives touring all over the continent and also a trip to the states. Witnesses say it is amazing. In 1998 the EP a.k.a. I-D-I-O-T is released containing four new brilliant songs. In 1999 they release their sophomore effort VENI, VIDI, VICIOUS! The Hives are out of their teens and out of their minds apparently as this record is already covered in praise by just about anyone who listens to it. The sound of the hives is, like a velvet glove with brass knuckles, both brutal and sophisticated at the same time. Based on youth, energy, taste and a bag of tricks borrowed from 50īs rock and roll, 60īs garage rock, 70īs punk rock and new wave and everything after. All this is then molded into a sound that is approximately 100% The Hives. In May of 2002, The Hives entered the word of superheroes. With the magnificent song "Hate To Say I told You So" they will are on the soundtrack for the new Spiderman movie. The movie has become the fastest movie to ever reach the 100 million dollar mark and the soundtrack to the movie is in fourth place on the Billboard chart. Ahh... The Hives, dressed in black and white cardinals of cool and modern day purveyors of small town, big time punk rock. |
