Backyard Babies
Encyclopedia
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.
They are largely attributed with popularizing sleaze rock in Scandinavia
and Sweden
, inspiring a scene that continues to grow today. They are a big influence on the current upsurge in sleaze rock in the UK unsigned scene. Their single "Minus Celsius" appears as a playable bonus track in Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
and "Degenerated" is available as a downloadable song for Guitar Hero World Tour
.
, guitarist Johan Blomqvist
, and drummer Peder Carlsson. They were then called Tyrant and played several live shows in their local area and recorded a rough demo. Tobbe was soon replaced punk rock
frontman Nicke Borg on vocals and guitar, and Blomqvist switched to bass. They changed their name to Backyard Babies and recorded two more demos and did a national tour of Sweden
. The band self-released a debut EP
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 single "Electric Suzy" with a cover of "Taxi Driver" by Hanoi Rocks
as the B-side. Not long after the album was released the band was put on hiatus, as guitarist Dregen
formed the garage rock band The Hellacopters
. Dregen appeared on two two albums with the Hellacopters" Supershitty to the Max!
(1996) and Payin' the Dues
(1997).
The Backyard Babies reunited in 1997, with a new record contract with MVG Records. They recorded their most-critically acclaimed album, Total 13
. Critics compared the album favorably to the New York Dolls
, Ramones
and The Damned. They toured the United Kingdom
with good response. A single was released from the album, "Bombed (Out Of My Mind)", with the B-side "Rocker" featuring a duet with Hanoi Rocks
frontman Michael Monroe
. Their next single was the self-released "Is It Still Alright To Smile?". The B-side of the single was a cover of the Faster Pussycat
track "Babylon" featuring 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
.
After the collaboration on the song "Babylon," Dregen, Ginger, and Nicke Andersson formed the side project Supershit 666
, which released a six-track EP in 1999. 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. Two of the singles from it were hits "The Clash" and "Brand New Hate", the latter of which was co-written with Ginger. They toured in support of the album with Motörhead.
On 15 October 2002, Backyard Babies guitarist Dregen 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, and knocked unconscious. Dregen suffered a broken jaw but the band continued recording their next album; Stockholm Syndrome
. The album, released in 2003, 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 "Friends."
During 2005, the band toured the United States (with openers The Chelsea Smiles
& Crash Kelly) and Europe alongside Social Distortion
. The album People Like People Like People Like Us
, produced by Nicke Andersson
of The Hellacopters
, was released in 2006. It spawned two singles: "The Mess Age (How Could I Be So Wrong)" and "Dysfunctional Professional". A self titled album
was released August 13, 2008. The first single was "Fuck Off and Die". The second single "Degenerated" is supported by an animated video clip. The compilation album Them XX
was released in 2009 to honor the band's 20th anniversary. The accompanying tour was rumored to be their last.
Nicke Borg is one of the characters in the book Sex Tips from Rock Stars
by Paul Miles to be published by Omnibus Press in July 2010.
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band, from Nässjö
Nässjö
Nässjö is a locality and the seat of Nässjö Municipality, Jönköping County, Sweden with 16,463 inhabitants in 2005.-History:Nässjö was for a long time only a rural village with agriculture as the dominant occupation. The turning point was the construction of the Swedish railway system. The southern...
, Sweden
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....
. 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.
They are largely attributed with popularizing sleaze rock in Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
and Sweden
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....
, inspiring a scene that continues to grow today. They are a big influence on the current upsurge in sleaze rock in the UK unsigned scene. Their single "Minus Celsius" appears as a playable bonus track in Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock is a music video game, the third main installment in the Guitar Hero series, and the fourth title overall...
and "Degenerated" is available as a downloadable song for Guitar Hero World Tour
Guitar Hero World Tour
Guitar Hero World Tour is a music video game developed by Neversoft and published by RedOctane and Activision. It is the fourth main entry in the Guitar Hero series...
.
History
Formed in 1987, Backyard Babies originally consisted of singer/bassist Tobbe (Tobias Fischer), guitarist 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....
, guitarist Johan Blomqvist
Johan Blomqvist
Johan Blomqvist has been the bass guitarist for Swedish punk rock band Backyard Babies since 1987.Johan Blomqvist also played as a guest bass guitarist when the Swedish rock-group Kent performed the white concert at Stockholms Stadion in 2003.- References :...
, and drummer Peder Carlsson. They were then called Tyrant and played several live shows in their local area and recorded a rough demo. Tobbe was soon replaced punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
frontman Nicke Borg on vocals and guitar, and Blomqvist switched to bass. They changed their name to Backyard Babies and recorded two more demos and did a national tour of Sweden
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....
. The band self-released a debut EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
titled Something to Swallow
Something To Swallow
Something to Swallow is a 12" EP by punk rock band Backyard Babies.-Track listing:#Something to Swallow#Strange Kind of Attitude#Jucy Lucy#Like a Child#Kickin´ Up Dust...
. This got them signed in 1993 by Swedish label Megarock Records
Megarock Records
Megarock Records is a Swedish record label, which focus mainly on heavy metal music.-Bands:* Abstrakt Algebra* Ace's High* Alien* Backyard Babies* Bad Habit* Candlemass* Criss* Crossroad Jam* It's Alive* Jester* Landberk* Machine Gun Kelly...
.
Backyard Babies released their debut album Diesel & Power
Diesel & Power
Diesel & Power is Punk Rock/Hard Rock band Backyard Babies' first studio album. It was released in 1994. In 2006, it was re-released on their own label Billion Dollar Babies with the bonus track "Lies."- Track listing :#Smell the Magic#Bad to the Bone...
in 1994. The music on it took influences from rock, punk and blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
. In addition to the album the band also released the single "Electric Suzy" with a cover of "Taxi Driver" by Hanoi Rocks
Hanoi Rocks
Hanoi Rocks was a Finnish rock band formed in 1979, whose most successful period came in the early 1980s. The band broke up in 1985 after the death of their drummer, Nicholas "Razzle" Dingley...
as the B-side. Not long after the album was released the band was put on hiatus, as 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....
formed the garage rock band 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...
. Dregen appeared on two two albums with 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....
(1996) and 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...
(1997).
Total 13
Total 13 is the second album by the Swedish Punk Rock band Backyard Babies. It was released in 1998 and produced by Thomas Skogsberg.- Track listing :#"Made Me Madman" - 2:23 #"U.F.O...
. Critics compared the album favorably to the New York Dolls
New York Dolls
The New York Dolls is an American rock band, formed in New York in 1971. The band's protopunk sound prefigured much of what was to come in the punk rock era; their visual style influenced the look of many new wave and 1980s-era glam metal groups, and they began the local New York scene that later...
, 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...
and The Damned. They toured the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
with good response. A single was released from the album, "Bombed (Out Of My Mind)", with the B-side "Rocker" featuring a duet with Hanoi Rocks
Hanoi Rocks
Hanoi Rocks was a Finnish rock band formed in 1979, whose most successful period came in the early 1980s. The band broke up in 1985 after the death of their drummer, Nicholas "Razzle" Dingley...
frontman Michael Monroe
Michael Monroe
Matti Antero Kristian Fagerholm , best known by his stage name, Michael Monroe, is a Finnish rock musician, and multi-instrumentalist who rose to fame as the vocalist for the glam punk band Hanoi Rocks, and has served as the frontman for all-star side projects, such as Demolition 23...
. Their next single was the self-released "Is It Still Alright To Smile?". The B-side of the single was a cover of the Faster Pussycat
Faster Pussycat
Faster Pussycat is an American hard rock band from Los Angeles, California formed in 1986. The group was most successful during the late 1980s with their self-titled debut album, their 1989 gold album Wake Me When It's Over and the 80,000 selling Whipped! in 1992.-The roots of Faster Pussycat...
track "Babylon" featuring guest appearances from Ginger
Ginger (singer)
Ginger is a rock guitarist, singer and songwriter, best known for his band The Wildhearts.-Early career:...
of the Wildhearts and 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...
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
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
.
After the collaboration on the song "Babylon," Dregen, Ginger, and Nicke Andersson formed the side project Supershit 666
Supershit 666
Supershit 666 or Super$hit 666 were a European rock supergroup consisting of Ginger from The Wildhearts on vocals and guitar, Nicke Andersson from the Hellacopters on vocals and drums, Dregen from the Backyard Babies on vocals and guitar, and Swedish producer Thomas Skogsberg on bass.The only...
, which released a six-track EP in 1999. Dregen returned to the Backyard Babies soon after as the band took off for another tour of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, this time in support of AC/DC
AC/DC
AC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll"...
.
The Babies recorded a follow-up to "Total 13", titled Making Enemies is Good
Making Enemies is Good
Making Enemies Is Good is an album by Backyard Babies, released in 2001. A number of tracks were co-written by Ginger of The Wildhearts. The album contains big hits such as "The Clash" and "Brand New Hate". The album was produced by the famous producer Thomas Skogsberg...
which has been described by some critics as a more "controlled chaos" approach than their previous effort. Two of the singles from it were hits "The Clash" and "Brand New Hate", the latter of which was co-written with Ginger. They toured in support of the album with Motörhead.
On 15 October 2002, Backyard Babies guitarist Dregen 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, and knocked unconscious. Dregen suffered a broken jaw but the band continued recording their next album; Stockholm Syndrome
Stockholm Syndrome (Backyard Babies album)
Stockholm Syndrome is an album by Backyard Babies, released in 2003.-Track listing:#Everybody Ready?!#Earn the Crown#A Song for the Outcast#Minus Celsius#Pigs for Swine#One Sound#Say When#Year by Year...
. The album, released in 2003, 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 "Friends."
During 2005, the band toured the United States (with openers The Chelsea Smiles
The Chelsea Smiles
The Chelsea Smiles are a hard rock/sleaze rock band formed in 2004 featuring guitarist Todd Youth , Karl Rosqvist of Danzig, Steel Prophet, Skye Vaughan-Jayne of Bullets and Octane, Johnny Martin and RJ Ronquillo....
& Crash Kelly) and Europe alongside Social Distortion
Social Distortion
Social Distortion is an American punk rock band formed in 1978 in Fullerton, California. The band currently consists of Mike Ness , Jonny Wickersham , Brent Harding and David Hidalgo, Jr...
. The album People Like People Like People Like Us
People Like People Like People Like Us
People Like People Like People Like Us is the fifth studio album by the Swedish rock band Backyard Babies, released in 2006. It was produced by Nicke Andersson from The Hellacopters...
, produced 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...
of 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...
, was released in 2006. It spawned two singles: "The Mess Age (How Could I Be So Wrong)" and "Dysfunctional Professional". A self titled album
Backyard Babies (2008 album)
Backyard Babies is the sixth studio album by the Swedish rock band Backyard Babies. The album was released on August 13, 2008, and debuted on the UK rock chart at number 29.-Recording:...
was released August 13, 2008. The first single was "Fuck Off and Die". The second single "Degenerated" is supported by an animated video clip. The compilation album Them XX
Them XX
Them XX is the title of a compilation album by the Swedish rock band Backyard Babies. The record was released in 2009.- Track listing :All songs are written by Backyard Babies, except where noted.#"Brand New Hate" - 3:01...
was released in 2009 to honor the band's 20th anniversary. The accompanying tour was rumored to be their last.
Nicke Borg is one of the characters in the book Sex Tips from Rock Stars
Sex tips from rock stars
Sex Tips from Rock Stars: In Their Own Words is a book by Paul Miles that quotes answers from twenty three rock stars to many questions on a broad range of sexual topics...
by Paul Miles to be published by Omnibus Press in July 2010.
Members
Current members- Nicke BorgNicke BorgNiklas Roger "Nicke" Borg, born April 3, 1973 in Nässjö, is a Swedish singer and guitarist in the Backyard Babies.-Life:While the Backyard Babies are taking a break, he works on his solo project Homeland....
- vocals, guitarGuitarThe 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...
(1989–present) - DregenDregenAndreas 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....
- lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
, backing vocals - Johan BlomqvistJohan BlomqvistJohan Blomqvist has been the bass guitarist for Swedish punk rock band Backyard Babies since 1987.Johan Blomqvist also played as a guest bass guitarist when the Swedish rock-group Kent performed the white concert at Stockholms Stadion in 2003.- References :...
- bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Peder Carlsson - drumsDrum kitA 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 ....
Albums
- Diesel & PowerDiesel & PowerDiesel & Power is Punk Rock/Hard Rock band Backyard Babies' first studio album. It was released in 1994. In 2006, it was re-released on their own label Billion Dollar Babies with the bonus track "Lies."- Track listing :#Smell the Magic#Bad to the Bone...
- (1994, re-released 2006) - Total 13Total 13Total 13 is the second album by the Swedish Punk Rock band Backyard Babies. It was released in 1998 and produced by Thomas Skogsberg.- Track listing :#"Made Me Madman" - 2:23 #"U.F.O...
- (1998) - Making Enemies Is GoodMaking Enemies is GoodMaking Enemies Is Good is an album by Backyard Babies, released in 2001. A number of tracks were co-written by Ginger of The Wildhearts. The album contains big hits such as "The Clash" and "Brand New Hate". The album was produced by the famous producer Thomas Skogsberg...
- (2001) - Stockholm SyndromeStockholm Syndrome (Backyard Babies album)Stockholm Syndrome is an album by Backyard Babies, released in 2003.-Track listing:#Everybody Ready?!#Earn the Crown#A Song for the Outcast#Minus Celsius#Pigs for Swine#One Sound#Say When#Year by Year...
- (2003) - People Like People Like People Like UsPeople Like People Like People Like UsPeople Like People Like People Like Us is the fifth studio album by the Swedish rock band Backyard Babies, released in 2006. It was produced by Nicke Andersson from The Hellacopters...
- (2006) - Backyard BabiesBackyard Babies (2008 album)Backyard Babies is the sixth studio album by the Swedish rock band Backyard Babies. The album was released on August 13, 2008, and debuted on the UK rock chart at number 29.-Recording:...
- (2008)
Demos
- Tyrant - (1989)
- Backyard Babies - (1990)
- Bite & ChewBite & ChewBite & Chew is a demo by Backyard Babies, released in 1991. This is classed as The Backyard Babies first 'proper' release, which spawned the single, "Something to Swallow", and the minor video hit "God's Favourite".-Track listing:#Something to Swallow...
(1991) - Diesel and Power (1992)
EPs
- Something to SwallowSomething To SwallowSomething to Swallow is a 12" EP by punk rock band Backyard Babies.-Track listing:#Something to Swallow#Strange Kind of Attitude#Jucy Lucy#Like a Child#Kickin´ Up Dust...
- (1991) - Knockouts - (1997)
- Safety Pin & Leopard Skin - 6 Live, 1 Cover and 2 for the B-Side Lover (2002)
Compilations
- Independent Days - (2001)
- From Demos to Demons: 1989-1992 - (2002)
- Tinnitus - (2005)
- Them XXThem XXThem XX is the title of a compilation album by the Swedish rock band Backyard Babies. The record was released in 2009.- Track listing :All songs are written by Backyard Babies, except where noted.#"Brand New Hate" - 3:01...
- (2009)
Singles
- "Electric Suzy" - (1994)
- "Supershow"' - (split, 1996)
- "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 as "A Remix for the Outcast" in 2005)
- "Friends" - (2004)
- "The Mess Age" - (2006)
- "Dysfunctional Professional" - (2006)
- "Fuck Off and Die" - (2008)
- "Degenerated' - (2009)
- "Drool" - (2010)