Electric Boys
Encyclopedia
The Electric Boys are a funk metal
band founded in Sweden
in 1988, which enjoyed a cult status in Europe
at the end of the decade.
They were formed by Conny Bloom
(real surname: Blomqvist) (guitar/vocals) and Andy Christell
(bass). Originally a duo, they signed for Polygram
and scored a local Swedish hit with the single "All Lips and Hips" in 1988. This early version of what would become perhaps the band's best-known hit also appeared that same year in America on the soundtrack to the movie Feds
. The band then added second guitarist Franco Santunione and drummer Niklas Sigevall.
In 1989, the band's debut album Funk-O-Metal Carpet Ride, including a revamped version of "All Lips and Hips" was a success in Europe, and they picked up a strong following in Britain, where, as well as headlining small clubs, they supported Thunder
. When headlining Newcastle upon Tyne, Riverside club, the band were joined on stage by the lead singer of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Anthony Kiedis who were performing in the same venue at around the same time. The following year, the album was released in America, where they also became moderately successful, thanks to the singles "All Lips and Hips" and "Psychedelic Eyes." However, the follow-up album Groovus Maximus did not emerge until 1992, by which time grunge
had swept all before it and the album was overall inferior to the debut. By the end of an American tour to promote it supporting Mr. Big
, the band had lost Santunione and Sigevall and both North American and European record deals. Outgoing members were replaced by Thomas Bromann (drums) and Martin Thomander (2nd guitar) and this lineup released the band's third album, Freewheelin on the Music For Nations
label in Britain. The album attracted little interest and the band dissolved. In 2005, founders Bloom and Christell had joined Hanoi Rocks
.
The Groovus Maximus album was recorded at the famous Abbey Road Studios
in London
. There were two music videos made from that album: "Mary in the Mystery World" & "Dying to be Loved." The "Dying to be Loved" music video only had a budget of £100.
The band reformed in 2009 and released "And Them Boys Done Swang" in 2011.
1992 Groovus Maximus
1994 Freewheelin
2011 And Them Boys Done Swang
Japanese bonus tracks+
Singles:
Other Recordings:
Funk metal
Funk metal is a subgenre of funk rock that fuses elements of heavy metal and funk. Allmusic has claimed that "funk metal evolved in the mid-'80s when alternative bands like the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Faith No More, Infectious Grooves, Mordred and Fishbone began playing the hybrid with a stronger...
band founded in 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....
in 1988, which enjoyed a cult status in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
at the end of the decade.
They were formed by Conny Bloom
Conny Bloom
Conny Bloom is the stage name for Ulf Conny Blomqvist, who is a Swedish guitarist and songwriter. He was originally the frontman for the late-1980s/1990s funk metal band, Electric Boys. Currently Bloom is best known as a guitarist of the Finnish rock band Hanoi Rocks...
(real surname: Blomqvist) (guitar/vocals) and Andy Christell
Andy Christell
Andy "A.C." Christell is a Swedish bass guitarist. He is most notable as formerly playing in glam rock outfit Electric Boys as well as being the current bassist for Hanoi Rocks. He is a very close friend of Conny Bloom's, as they have played together in many bands and also knew each other...
(bass). Originally a duo, they signed for Polygram
PolyGram
PolyGram was the name of the major label recording company started by Philips from as a holding company for its music interests in 1945. In 1999 it was sold to Seagram and merged into Universal Music Group.-Hollandsche Decca Distributie , 1929-1950:...
and scored a local Swedish hit with the single "All Lips and Hips" in 1988. This early version of what would become perhaps the band's best-known hit also appeared that same year in America on the soundtrack to the movie Feds
Feds
Feds is a 1988 comedy film written and directed by Daniel Goldberg, and starring Rebecca De Mornay and Mary Gross.-Plot details:Ellie DeWitt is a former U.S. Marine who wants to become an FBI Agent. However, where she has the physical skills, she doesn't have as much success in memorizing all the...
. The band then added second guitarist Franco Santunione and drummer Niklas Sigevall.
In 1989, the band's debut album Funk-O-Metal Carpet Ride, including a revamped version of "All Lips and Hips" was a success in Europe, and they picked up a strong following in Britain, where, as well as headlining small clubs, they supported Thunder
Thunder (band)
Thunder were an English hard rock band, who originally formed in 1989 when the band Terraplane broke up, leaving lead singer Danny Bowes and guitarist/main songwriter Luke Morley to form a new group, namely Thunder...
. When headlining Newcastle upon Tyne, Riverside club, the band were joined on stage by the lead singer of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Anthony Kiedis who were performing in the same venue at around the same time. The following year, the album was released in America, where they also became moderately successful, thanks to the singles "All Lips and Hips" and "Psychedelic Eyes." However, the follow-up album Groovus Maximus did not emerge until 1992, by which time grunge
Grunge
Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...
had swept all before it and the album was overall inferior to the debut. By the end of an American tour to promote it supporting Mr. Big
Mr. Big (band)
Mr. Big is an American rock supergroup, formed in Los Angeles, California in 1988. The band is a quartet composed of Eric Martin , Paul Gilbert , Billy Sheehan , and Pat Torpey ; Mr. Big also included Richie Kotzen, a reputable blues-based guitarist who replaced Gilbert in 1999...
, the band had lost Santunione and Sigevall and both North American and European record deals. Outgoing members were replaced by Thomas Bromann (drums) and Martin Thomander (2nd guitar) and this lineup released the band's third album, Freewheelin on the Music For Nations
Music For Nations
Music For Nations was a British independent record label focusing mainly on rock and metal. They were a subsidiary of the larger label distributor Zomba Records who in turn is owned by BMG....
label in Britain. The album attracted little interest and the band dissolved. In 2005, founders Bloom and Christell had joined 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...
.
The Groovus Maximus album was recorded at the famous Abbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios is a recording studio located at 3 Abbey Road, St John's Wood, City of Westminster, London, England. It was established in November 1931 by the Gramophone Company, a predecessor of British music company EMI, its present owner...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. There were two music videos made from that album: "Mary in the Mystery World" & "Dying to be Loved." The "Dying to be Loved" music video only had a budget of £100.
The band reformed in 2009 and released "And Them Boys Done Swang" in 2011.
Discography
Albums:- 1990
Japanese bonus tracks+
Singles:
- 1988 "All Lips 'N Hips" (original version; only became a hit in Sweden)
- 1990 "All Lips 'N Hips" #76 US
- 1990 "Psychedelic Eyes"
- 1992 "Mary in the Mystery World"
- 1992 "Groovus Maximus"
- 1992 "Dying to be Loved"
- 1994 "Ready To Believe"
Other Recordings:
- "King Kong SongKing Kong Song"King Kong Song" , written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, is the name of a 1974 recording by Swedish pop group ABBA, included on their album Waterloo...
" - ABBAABBAABBA was a Swedish pop group formed in Stockholm in 1970 which consisted of Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Agnetha Fältskog...
cover for the 1992 Swedish ABBAABBAABBA was a Swedish pop group formed in Stockholm in 1970 which consisted of Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Agnetha Fältskog...
tribute album ABBA: The Tribute, released on Polar MusicPolar MusicPolar 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...
.