Niklas Almqvist
Encyclopedia
Nicholaus Arson is a guitarist and backup vocalist of the Swedish Garage Rock band The Hives
.
(Howlin' Pelle, lead singer) formed the band in 1993, and, according to a biography about the band, attracted the attention of promoter/manager/songwriter Randy Fitzsimmons
(largely believed to be a fictional character), who propelled the band to fame.
It was revealed in NME
that Randy Fitzsimmons is a registered pseudonym
belonging to Arson. This has led many to believe that Randy Fitzsimmons is in fact a myth, and that it is Arson who writes the songs. Arson and the rest of the band deny this and insist on the existence of Randy Fitzsimmons as the band's songwriter.
Arson, as with the rest of The Hives, is known for his onstage antics. In particular, his beady eye stares, constant spitting, blowing on his finger tips, and wild animation in playing the guitar
, such as the way he is perceived to dance and other such antics as spinning the guitar with the strap over his shoulder, greatly contributing to the presentation of the band. While performing this move, his guitar strap has broken several times, Sending the guitar flying and almost hitting drummer Chris Dangerous in one case. He also rarely plays the keyboard
.
Telecaster, Esquire or Telecaster Deluxe style guitars. He also plays "The Arsonette" a custombuilt guitar by Sundberg Guitars
, with tone chambers and a Firebird style bridge to give it a short, dead tone. His guitars often reflect the outfits of the band with different combos of black and white finishes and pickguards. Along with the Vigilante Carlstroem
and Dr. Matt Destruction
, Arson uses white Hiwatt
amplifiers.
The Hives
The Hives are a Swedish garage rock band that first garnered attention in the early 2000s as a prominent group of the garage rock revival. Their mainstream success came with the release of the "greatest hits" album Your New Favourite Band, featuring their most well-known song "Hate to Say I Told...
.
Career
Arson and his brother PerPelle Almqvist
Howlin' Pelle Almqvist is the lead singer of Swedish garage rock band The Hives. Like the rest of the band, Almqvist hails from Fagersta, a small town in central Sweden with about 11,000 residents....
(Howlin' Pelle, lead singer) formed the band in 1993, and, according to a biography about the band, attracted the attention of promoter/manager/songwriter Randy Fitzsimmons
Randy Fitzsimmons
Randy Fitzsimmons is the supposed sixth member of The Hives. He is said to have formed the band in the band members' adolescence in 1993 by sending all five members—Howlin' Pelle Almqvist , Nicholaus Arson , Vigilante Carlstroem , Dr...
(largely believed to be a fictional character), who propelled the band to fame.
It was revealed in NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
that Randy Fitzsimmons is a registered pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
belonging to Arson. This has led many to believe that Randy Fitzsimmons is in fact a myth, and that it is Arson who writes the songs. Arson and the rest of the band deny this and insist on the existence of Randy Fitzsimmons as the band's songwriter.
Arson, as with the rest of The Hives, is known for his onstage antics. In particular, his beady eye stares, constant spitting, blowing on his finger tips, and wild animation in playing the guitar
Guitar
The 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...
, such as the way he is perceived to dance and other such antics as spinning the guitar with the strap over his shoulder, greatly contributing to the presentation of the band. While performing this move, his guitar strap has broken several times, Sending the guitar flying and almost hitting drummer Chris Dangerous in one case. He also rarely plays the keyboard
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
.
Musical equipment
Nicholaus uses almost exclusively FenderFender
Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, commonly referred to as simply Fender, of Scottsdale, Arizona is a manufacturer of stringed instruments and amplifiers, such as solid-body electric guitars, including the Stratocaster and the Telecaster...
Telecaster, Esquire or Telecaster Deluxe style guitars. He also plays "The Arsonette" a custombuilt guitar by Sundberg Guitars
Sundberg Guitars
Sundberg Guitars is a Swedish company that produces handmade high-quality acoustic guitars. All instruments are available with a wide range of different options and custom details. Recently Sundberg delivered an Irish bouzouki to Swedish singer Lars Winnerbäck, and the instrument will soon be added...
, with tone chambers and a Firebird style bridge to give it a short, dead tone. His guitars often reflect the outfits of the band with different combos of black and white finishes and pickguards. Along with the Vigilante Carlstroem
Vigilante Carlstroem
Mikael Karlsson, or Vigilante Carlstroem as he is better known, is the guitarist of the Swedish rock band The Hives, which formed in 1993 and was one of the most important bands in the garage rock revival.-Biography:...
and Dr. Matt Destruction
Dr. Matt Destruction
Dr. Matt Destruction is a Swedish musician. He is the bassist of garage rock band The Hives.-Career:...
, Arson uses white Hiwatt
Hiwatt
Hiwatt was a British company that manufactured amplifiers for electric guitars and electric basses. Starting in the late 1960s, together with Marshall and Vox, the company contributed to the sonic image popularly termed "British sound"....
amplifiers.
Discography
- Barely LegalBarely Legal (album)Barely Legal is an album released in September 1997 by a then-unknown Swedish group called The Hives, from Fagersta, Sweden.The album's second track, "A.K.A. I-D-I-O-T", had a video produced, but it was not commercially released until it was included as an extra on some pressings of Your New...
(1997) - Veni Vidi ViciousVeni Vidi ViciousVeni Vidi Vicious is the second album by Swedish garage punk band The Hives, released in April 2000. It was released through Burning Heart Records and distributed through Warner Music Group...
(2000) - Tyrannosaurus HivesTyrannosaurus HivesTyrannosaurus Hives is the third full-length album by The Hives, released on 20 July 2004. It is their first album since Veni Vidi Vicious from 2000....
(2004) - The Black and White AlbumThe Black and White AlbumThe Black and White Album is the fourth full-length album by Swedish rock band The Hives. The album was released on 15 October 2007, in the United Kingdom through Polydor Records and November 13, 2007, in the United States via A&M/Octone Records, No Fun Records, Universal Music Operations and...
(2007)