The Hives
Encyclopedia
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 You So
". The Hives are known for performing in ever-changing black and white suits.
. Fitzsimmons suggested that they form a garage rock band.He gave each band member a letter asking them to start the band. Fitzsimmons allegedly acts as a songwriter and manager for the band. The band recorded a demo titled Sounds Like Sushi in 1994. The following year they were signed to Burning Heart, a Swedish skate punk
record label
. The following year they released their debut EP
Oh Lord! When? How?
Almqvist decided to promote the band to Burning Heart.
in 1997 they were called Barely Legal
(an early stage name of guitarist Vigilante Carlstroem
), and they began touring. The following year they released their second EP A.K.A. I-D-I-O-T
.
in April 2000 through Burning Heart Records. The band themselves described the album as being like "a velvet glove with brass knuckles, both brutal and sophisticated at the same time". The album yielded the singles "Hate to Say I Told You So
", "Main Offender", "Die, All Right!", and "Supply & Demand".
After seeing the video for "Hate to Say I Told You So" on German TV, Alan McGee
(Oasis
, Creation Records
) decided to sign the band to his newly formed Poptones
label. Poptones released the 'best of' compilation Your New Favourite Band
in 2001, which proved to be their breakthrough record, reaching #7 in the UK album charts. Following the success of the album, the band re-released singles "Hate to Say I Told You So" and "Main Offender" which reach numbers #23 and #24 respectively in the UK Singles chart. The band also re-released Veni Vidi Vicious
in the US.
It was during the promotion of Veni Vidi Vicious and Your New Favourite Band that The Hives signed a record deal with Universal Music, reportedly worth $50 million. This led to a dispute between The Hives and Burning Heart, who claimed that The Hives were still contracted to them for one more album.
to record their third album. The result was 2004's Tyrannosaurus Hives
, their first new material in four years. The album includes the hit singles "Walk Idiot Walk
" (which debuted at #13 on the UK singles charts) "Two-Timing Touch and Broken Bones
" (another top 50 hit), and "A Little More for Little You". The tracks 'B is for Brutus" and "No Pun Intended" were also featured in the games Gran Turismo 4
and SSX On Tour
, respectively. In 2006, their song Diabolic Scheme was used in the vampire film Frostbiten
, marking the first time a The Hives song was used in a major motion picture.
", with a release date of August 14 in the United States
and October 8 in the United Kingdom
. The release dates for the new record, The Black and White Album
, were October 15 in the UK on Polydor and November 13 in the US on A&M/Octone in 2007. It was mostly recorded in Oxford, Mississippi
, Miami, and in their native Sweden.
The Hives were featured in a Finish Line commercial performing "Tick Tick Boom", as well as a Nike
commercial featuring the song "Return The Favour". "Tick Tick Boom" was also used in many different advertisements including: the 2007 season of the NFL Network
, commercials for the CBS
series Jericho
, and the USA
series Burn Notice
, as well as the films Jumper
(2008), MacGruber
, and Get Smart
, and was also the official theme song for WWE Survivor Series 2007. The Hives song "Try It Again" was featured in the trailer for the US film Get Him to the Greek
.
On October 2, 2008, Nicholaus Arson added a diary entry on the band's official website writing "Right now we are at home resting our tired limbs and starting to gear up for the work ahead making a new record." This entry came after the band had finished their world tour supporting The Black and White Album
.
On July 2, 2010, the band released an EP titled Tarred and Feathered, which covered "Civilization's Dying" by Zero Boys
, "Nasty Secretary" by Joy Rider & Avis Davis and "Early Morning Wake Up Call" by Flash and the Pan
. "Nasty Secretary" is also a song on the US release of the Gran Turismo 5
soundtrack. On January 9, 2011, Nicholaus Arson wrote another short diary entry on the band's website saying that they had recorded some new songs before Christmas, and were planning to continue recording throughout January.
", a collaboration with hip-hop producer Timbaland
. The song was included on his album, Timbaland Presents Shock Value
, released April 3, 2007. They also performed in a music video for the track. The Hives also have recently spoken of a collaboration with Jack White
's The Raconteurs
on a song for their new album, originally entitled "Footsteps", however it was later revealed that Howlin' Pelle had literally recorded footsteps. Howlin' Pelle also did a collaboration with Swedish rock artist Moneybrother, a cover of an Operation Ivy
song "Freeze Up". They used Swedish lyrics and called it "", which translates as "I Won't Sign Anything". In October 2008 it was revealed the band had recorded a Christmas
duet entitled "A Christmas Duel
" with Cyndi Lauper
, which was available as a free download from their website on November 28, 2008. On November 27, 2008, The Hives official website had begun to play the Cyndi Lauper\The Hives duet automatically whenever it is visited.
In a November interview with leading Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter
, Swedish rapper Petter
announced that The Hives were working on a new version of his track "Repa skivan" for his upcoming album.
The Hives live show has been highly rated - Spin magazine rating them 8th best in rock music. In concert, vocalist Pelle Almqvist and his guitarist brother Nicholaus Arson handle showmanship while the other members attend to musical business. Pelle is known for his "colourful idiocy" - stage diving, scissor kicks, climbing amps, and eschewing false modesty with pronouncements such as "I've been busy being fantastic."
and unlikely explanations for the need for the crowd to make more noise:
At the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards
, The Hives performed "Main Offender" in a "Battle of the Bands" type of set up, with The Vines
playing their hit "Get Free" right after The Hives. Before The Vines began playing, Pelle Almqvist said to the crowd, "I know you want us to play more, but that's all the time we have so you can turn off [your TV] now!"
The Hives played at Rock Werchter Festival
2008 in Belgium and played for an extra 15 minutes, refusing to leave the stage:
"They're telling us we have to go now... Do I look like I give a fuck?"
The Hives performed at the 2008 NHL All-Star Game in Atlanta, Georgia
, singing "Tick Tick Boom" during the players' presentation.
On the 25th of June 2010 they performed at Hard Rock Calling in London's Hyde Park before Ben Harper and Relentless Seven and the headline act, Pearl Jam. On stage, Almqvist declared "I am here to save your evening."
They have toured with other groups such as Maroon 5
, The Hellacopters
, The Donnas
and Eagles of Death Metal
.
for Veni Vidi Vicious
, suits with colonel-styled laces and white spats for Tyrannosaurus Hives
and bandanas and suspenders for their 2007 hurricane tours. For their newest album The Black and White Album
, they have gone with something of a school uniform look, with black blazers bearing an "H" crest on the left breast, and striped black and white ties. As of late September 2008 and near the end of their "Black and White Tour", The Hives have changed their wardrobe to white suits with a striped black tie. In the summer of 2009 The Hives walked out on stage in Hultsfred wearing new clothes that can be described as white workwear with a black shirt and same tie and crest as the last tour. In 2010 they wore new clothes again when the summer tour began in Hässleholm, Sweden, dressed as what can be described as a mix between old French soldiers' uniforms and boy scouts' uniforms. For their 2011 summer tour, The Hives are now wearing matching formal tuxedoes.
since fall 2007. There are several versions of the song shown: one, a shortened version, that is simply played between shows and features children dancing, another, full version, with lyrics and the same children dancing, and a finale, featuring The Hives themselves performing.
Live members
Garage rock
Garage rock is a raw form of rock and roll that was first popular in the United States and Canada from about 1963 to 1967. During the 1960s, it was not recognized as a separate music genre and had no specific name...
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
Your New Favourite Band
Your New Favourite Band is a collection by The Hives released in 2001, featuring tracks from their first two albums and the A.K.A. I-D-I-O-T EP. The decision to release such a compilation after only two albums were made with the intention of achieving mainstream success in the UK and the US...
, featuring their most well-known song "Hate to Say I Told You So
Hate to Say I Told You So
"Hate to Say I Told You So" is the first single from Swedish garage rock band The Hives' second studio album Veni Vidi Vicious. First released on 4 December 2000, it was re-released on 11 February 2002 as the opening track on the compilation Your New Favourite Band. It is internationally known as...
". The Hives are known for performing in ever-changing black and white suits.
Beginnings of the Hives (1993-1999)
The band claims it was formed in 1993 (although formed in 1989 under a different name & sound) under the guidance of Randy FitzsimmonsRandy 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...
. Fitzsimmons suggested that they form a garage rock band.He gave each band member a letter asking them to start the band. Fitzsimmons allegedly acts as a songwriter and manager for the band. The band recorded a demo titled Sounds Like Sushi in 1994. The following year they were signed to Burning Heart, a Swedish skate punk
Skate punk
Skate punk is a sub genre of punk rock, originally a derivative of the West Coast hardcore punk scene, that is named after its popularity among skateboarders and association with skateboarding culture. Skate punk most commonly describes the sound of melodic hardcore bands from the 1990s with an...
record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
. The following year they released their 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...
Oh Lord! When? How?
Oh Lord! When? How?
Oh Lord! When? How? is the first official release from The Hives. It was released in 1996 on the Sidekicks label.-Track listing:#"You Think You're So Darn Special"#"Cellblock"...
Almqvist decided to promote the band to Burning Heart.
in 1997 they were called Barely Legal
Barely 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...
(an early stage name of guitarist 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 they began touring. The following year they released their second EP A.K.A. I-D-I-O-T
A.k.a. I-D-I-O-T
A.K.A. I-D-I-O-T is an EP by Swedish band The Hives, released in 1998.The song "A.K.A. I-D-I-O-T" was first released as the second track on The Hives' first album, Barely Legal. It was released again on the compilation Your New Favourite Band, though not in its entirety, along with "Outsmarted",...
.
Veni Vidi Vicious and Your New Favourite Band (2000-2002)
They released their second studio album Veni Vidi ViciousVeni Vidi Vicious
Veni 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...
in April 2000 through Burning Heart Records. The band themselves described the album as being like "a velvet glove with brass knuckles, both brutal and sophisticated at the same time". The album yielded the singles "Hate to Say I Told You So
Hate to Say I Told You So
"Hate to Say I Told You So" is the first single from Swedish garage rock band The Hives' second studio album Veni Vidi Vicious. First released on 4 December 2000, it was re-released on 11 February 2002 as the opening track on the compilation Your New Favourite Band. It is internationally known as...
", "Main Offender", "Die, All Right!", and "Supply & Demand".
After seeing the video for "Hate to Say I Told You So" on German TV, Alan McGee
Alan McGee
Alan McGee has been a record label owner, musician, manager, and music blogger for The Guardian.McGee is best-known for co-forming and running the independent Creation Records label from 1983–1999, and then Poptones from 1999-2007...
(Oasis
Oasis (band)
Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. Originally known as The Rain, the group was formed by Liam Gallagher , Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs , Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan and Tony McCarroll , who were soon joined by Liam's older brother Noel Gallagher...
, Creation Records
Creation Records
Creation Records was a British independent record label headed by Alan McGee. Along with Dick Green and Joe Foster, McGee founded Creation in 1983. The label lasted until its demise in 1999. The name came from the 1960s band The Creation , whom McGee greatly admired. McGee, Green and Foster were...
) decided to sign the band to his newly formed Poptones
Poptones
Poptones is a record label launched by Alan McGee after the demise of Creation Records in 1999. Named after a Public Image Limited song, it is seen as something of a return to the staunchly independent roots of Creation...
label. Poptones released the 'best of' compilation Your New Favourite Band
Your New Favourite Band
Your New Favourite Band is a collection by The Hives released in 2001, featuring tracks from their first two albums and the A.K.A. I-D-I-O-T EP. The decision to release such a compilation after only two albums were made with the intention of achieving mainstream success in the UK and the US...
in 2001, which proved to be their breakthrough record, reaching #7 in the UK album charts. Following the success of the album, the band re-released singles "Hate to Say I Told You So" and "Main Offender" which reach numbers #23 and #24 respectively in the UK Singles chart. The band also re-released Veni Vidi Vicious
Veni Vidi Vicious
Veni 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...
in the US.
It was during the promotion of Veni Vidi Vicious and Your New Favourite Band that The Hives signed a record deal with Universal Music, reportedly worth $50 million. This led to a dispute between The Hives and Burning Heart, who claimed that The Hives were still contracted to them for one more album.
Tyrannosaurus Hives (2003-2006)
After extensive touring, the band retreated to FagerstaFagersta
Fagersta is a locality and the seat of Fagersta Municipality in Västmanland County, Sweden, with 10,890 inhabitants in 2005.- Geography :The city is located at the junction of two railways between Ludvika-Västerås and Avesta -Örebro, in the heart of the historic Bergslagen region which is rich in...
to record their third album. The result was 2004's Tyrannosaurus Hives
Tyrannosaurus Hives
Tyrannosaurus 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....
, their first new material in four years. The album includes the hit singles "Walk Idiot Walk
Walk Idiot Walk
"Walk Idiot Walk" is the first single from the Swedish band The Hives' third album, Tyrannosaurus Hives. It was written by Randy Fitzsimmons.In Australia, the song was ranked #55 on Triple J's Hottest 100 of 2004.-Music video:...
" (which debuted at #13 on the UK singles charts) "Two-Timing Touch and Broken Bones
Two-Timing Touch and Broken Bones
"Two-Timing Touch and Broken Bones" is the second single off of the album Tyrannosaurus Hives by the band The Hives. Released as an Enhanced CD with B-side tracks in 2005, "Two-Timing Touch and Broken Bones" was considered a hit for The Hives, and appeared on several compilations.-Background:The...
" (another top 50 hit), and "A Little More for Little You". The tracks 'B is for Brutus" and "No Pun Intended" were also featured in the games Gran Turismo 4
Gran Turismo 4
is a racing simulator for the Sony PlayStation 2 which was developed by Polyphony Digital. It was released on December 28, 2004 in Japan and Hong Kong , February 22, 2005 in North America , and March 9, 2005 in Europe , and has since been re-issued under Sony's 'Greatest Hits' line...
and SSX On Tour
SSX on Tour
SSX on Tour is a skiing and snowboarding game, the fourth title in the SSX series of video games for the GameCube, PlayStation 2, PSP and Xbox. The game was developed under the working title SSX 4. It was released in North America on October 11, 2005, In the PAL region on October 21, 2005 and in...
, respectively. In 2006, their song Diabolic Scheme was used in the vampire film Frostbiten
Frostbiten
Frostbite is a Swedish comedy horror film from 2006 directed by Anders Banke.The film was produced outside the bigger Swedish films studios, which would be considered an independent film in America...
, marking the first time a The Hives song was used in a major motion picture.
The Black and White Album (2007-present)
The Hives' official website was overhauled in the second week of August 2007, with a grungier, "emergency broadcast" layout. The new site revealed the album's cover and the title of the first single, "Tick Tick BoomTick Tick Boom (song)
"Tick Tick Boom" is a single by Swedish rock band The Hives, released in 2007. It is the opening track to The Black and White Album and is the first single taken from that album. "Tick Tick Boom" was released on 8 October 2007...
", with a release date of August 14 in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and October 8 in 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...
. The release dates for the new record, The Black and White Album
The Black and White Album
The 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...
, were October 15 in the UK on Polydor and November 13 in the US on A&M/Octone in 2007. It was mostly recorded in Oxford, Mississippi
Oxford, Mississippi
Oxford is a city in, and the county seat of, Lafayette County, Mississippi, United States. Founded in 1835, it was named after the British university city of Oxford in hopes of having the state university located there, which it did successfully attract....
, Miami, and in their native Sweden.
The Hives were featured in a Finish Line commercial performing "Tick Tick Boom", as well as a Nike
Nike, Inc.
Nike, Inc. is a major publicly traded sportswear and equipment supplier based in the United States. The company is headquartered near Beaverton, Oregon, which is part of the Portland metropolitan area...
commercial featuring the song "Return The Favour". "Tick Tick Boom" was also used in many different advertisements including: the 2007 season of the NFL Network
NFL Network
NFL Network is an American television specialty channel owned and operated by the National Football League . It was launched November 4, 2003, only eight months after the league's 32 team owners voted unanimously to approve its formation...
, commercials for the CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
series Jericho
Jericho (TV series)
Jericho is an American action/drama series that centers on the residents of the fictional town of Jericho, Kansas, in the aftermath of nuclear attacks on 23 major cities in the contiguous United States...
, and the USA
USA Network
USA Network is an American cable television channel launched in 1971. Once a minor player in basic cable, the network has steadily gained popularity because of breakout hits like Monk, Psych, Burn Notice, Royal Pains, Covert Affairs, White Collar, Monday Night RAW, Suits, and reruns of the various...
series Burn Notice
Burn notice
A burn notice is an official statement issued by one intelligence agency to other agencies. It states that an individual or a group is unreliable for one or more reasons...
, as well as the films Jumper
Jumper (film)
Jumper is a 2008 American science fiction film, loosely based on the 1992 science fiction novel of the same name by Steven Gould. The film is directed by Doug Liman and stars Hayden Christensen, Samuel L. Jackson, Jamie Bell, Rachel Bilson, Max Thieriot, AnnaSophia Robb, and Diane Lane...
(2008), MacGruber
MacGruber (film)
MacGruber is a 2010 American action comedy film based on the Saturday Night Live sketch of the same name, itself a parody of action-adventure television series MacGyver. The film stars Will Forte in the title role; Kristen Wiig as his love interest/partner, Vicki St...
, and Get Smart
Get Smart (film)
Get Smart is a 2008 American spy-fi comedy film based on Mel Brooks and Buck Henry's 1960s spy parody television series of the same name. The film stars Steve Carell as Maxwell Smart and Anne Hathaway as Agent 99...
, and was also the official theme song for WWE Survivor Series 2007. The Hives song "Try It Again" was featured in the trailer for the US film Get Him to the Greek
Get Him to the Greek
Get Him to the Greek is a 2010 American comedy film written, produced, and directed by Nicholas Stoller and starring Jonah Hill and Russell Brand. The film was released on June 4, 2010. Get Him to the Greek is a spin-off sequel of Stoller's 2008 film Forgetting Sarah Marshall, reuniting director...
.
On October 2, 2008, Nicholaus Arson added a diary entry on the band's official website writing "Right now we are at home resting our tired limbs and starting to gear up for the work ahead making a new record." This entry came after the band had finished their world tour supporting The Black and White Album
The Black and White Album
The 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...
.
On July 2, 2010, the band released an EP titled Tarred and Feathered, which covered "Civilization's Dying" by Zero Boys
Zero Boys
The Zero Boys are a hardcore punk quartet from Indianapolis, Indiana fronted by Paul Mahern. Other members include bassist David "Tufty" Clough, drummer Mark Cutsinger and guitarist Vess Ruhtenberg....
, "Nasty Secretary" by Joy Rider & Avis Davis and "Early Morning Wake Up Call" by Flash and the Pan
Flash and the Pan
Flash and the Pan was an Australian New Wave musical group initiated during the late 1970s by Harry Vanda and George Young, both former members of The Easybeats...
. "Nasty Secretary" is also a song on the US release of the Gran Turismo 5
Gran Turismo 5
is the fifth edition of the Gran Turismo racing video game series. Developed by Polyphony Digital and published by Sony Computer Entertainment, it was released for PlayStation 3 on November 24, 2010...
soundtrack. On January 9, 2011, Nicholaus Arson wrote another short diary entry on the band's website saying that they had recorded some new songs before Christmas, and were planning to continue recording throughout January.
Collaborations
The Hives completed recording vocals and guitar in late November 2006 for a song called "Throw It On MeThrow It on Me
"Throw It on Me" is a collaboration between Timbaland and The Hives from the album Timbaland Presents Shock Value. The Hives recorded vocals and guitar for the song. Timbaland played the song when he was a guest on Elliot in the Morning on DC 101. This song has also been on Verizon advertisements...
", a collaboration with hip-hop producer Timbaland
Timbaland
Timothy Zachery Mosley , better known by his stage name Timbaland, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper....
. The song was included on his album, Timbaland Presents Shock Value
Timbaland Presents Shock Value
Shock Value, is the second solo studio album, and fifth album overall, by record producer and rapper Timbaland. It is Timbaland's first release on his own imprint, the Interscope Records-distributed Mosley Music Group. Shock Value features a long list of guest artists, among them Fall Out Boy,...
, released April 3, 2007. They also performed in a music video for the track. The Hives also have recently spoken of a collaboration with Jack White
Jack White (musician)
Jack White , often credited as Jack White III, is an American musician, songwriter, record producer and occasional actor...
's The Raconteurs
The Raconteurs
The Raconteurs is an American rock band that was formed in Detroit, Michigan, featuring four members known for other musical projects: Jack White , Brendan Benson , Jack Lawrence , and Patrick Keeler .-Formation:The...
on a song for their new album, originally entitled "Footsteps", however it was later revealed that Howlin' Pelle had literally recorded footsteps. Howlin' Pelle also did a collaboration with Swedish rock artist Moneybrother, a cover of an Operation Ivy
Operation Ivy (band)
Operation Ivy was an American ska punk band that formed in Berkeley, California, and was often credited with spurring the 1990s punk revival in California. It is well-known as one of the first bands to "mix" hardcore punk with elements of ska, known as ska-core...
song "Freeze Up". They used Swedish lyrics and called it "", which translates as "I Won't Sign Anything". In October 2008 it was revealed the band had recorded a Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
duet entitled "A Christmas Duel
A Christmas Duel
"A Christmas Duel" is a special Christmas duet recorded by the Swedish rock band The Hives and American singer-songwriter Cyndi Lauper. It was available as a single on November 19, 2008. It debuted at #6 on the Swedish Singles Charts published on December 28, and has since reached a peak at #4...
" with Cyndi Lauper
Cyndi Lauper
Cynthia Ann Stephanie "Cyndi" Lauper is an American singer, songwriter, actress and LGBT rights activist. She achieved success in the mid-1980s with the release of the album She's So Unusual and became the first female singer to have four top-five singles released from one album...
, which was available as a free download from their website on November 28, 2008. On November 27, 2008, The Hives official website had begun to play the Cyndi Lauper\The Hives duet automatically whenever it is visited.
In a November interview with leading Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter
Dagens Nyheter
is a daily newspaper in Sweden. It has the largest circulation of Swedish morning newspapers, followed by Göteborgs-Posten and Svenska Dagbladet, and is the only morning newspaper that is distributed to subscribers across the whole country. In 2009 DN had a circulation of 316,000, reaching 881...
, Swedish rapper Petter
Petter Askergren
Petter Alexis Askergren, , who simply uses his given name Petter as a stage name, is a rap artist from Stockholm, Sweden, rapping in Swedish. He debuted in 1998 with the album Mitt sjätte sinne , which became a success and started the Swedish hip hop boom in the late 1990s and early 2000s...
announced that The Hives were working on a new version of his track "Repa skivan" for his upcoming album.
Randy Fitzsimmons
All songwriting except covers on the band's albums are credited to "Randy Fitzsimmons." The band claims Fitzsimmons is an honorary "sixth Hive", who along with writing their music, discovered and manages the band.Live performances
Pelle: "I'm out of control! Tell me to take it easy!"
Crowd: "Take it easy!"
Pelle: "No, I wooon't!"
Pelle: "Bad music is the devil and I will be your exorcising priest, helpin' you out!"
and unlikely explanations for the need for the crowd to make more noise:
"I don't know if you know this but there are monsters in [name of the city they are performing in]. If the club goes silent then the monsters come and kill everybody!"
Pelle: "This is a stick-up! Put your hands up! Now, last song I told you to put your hands in the air...But I never said you could take them down. Now! OBEY ME! Put your hands in the air and make some noise!"
At the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards
MTV Video Music Awards
An MTV Video Music Award , is an award presented by the cable channel MTV to honor the best in music videos...
, The Hives performed "Main Offender" in a "Battle of the Bands" type of set up, with The Vines
The Vines
https://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Special:LandingCheck?landing_page=L11_1121_WMUK_Jimmy_DDOptimised&utm_medium=sitenotice&utm_campaign=C11_1121_WMUK_DDvOneOff&utm_source=B11_1121_WMUK_Jimmy&language=en&country=GB...
playing their hit "Get Free" right after The Hives. Before The Vines began playing, Pelle Almqvist said to the crowd, "I know you want us to play more, but that's all the time we have so you can turn off [your TV] now!"
The Hives played at Rock Werchter Festival
Rock Werchter
Rock Werchter is a Belgian annual music festival held in the village of Werchter, near Leuven, since 1974. It is one of the five biggest annual rock music festivals in Europe...
2008 in Belgium and played for an extra 15 minutes, refusing to leave the stage:
"They're telling us we have to go now... Do I look like I give a fuck?"
The Hives performed at the 2008 NHL All-Star Game in Atlanta, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, singing "Tick Tick Boom" during the players' presentation.
On the 25th of June 2010 they performed at Hard Rock Calling in London's Hyde Park before Ben Harper and Relentless Seven and the headline act, Pearl Jam. On stage, Almqvist declared "I am here to save your evening."
They have toured with other groups such as Maroon 5
Maroon 5
Maroon 5 is an American pop rock band from Los Angeles, California. While they were in high school, lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Adam Levine, keyboardist Jesse Carmichael, bass guitarist Mickey Madden, and drummer Ryan Dusick formed a garage band called Kara's Flowers and released one album...
, 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...
, The Donnas
The Donnas
The Donnas are an American all-female rock band from Palo Alto, California. They draw inspiration from The Ramones, The Runaways, AC/DC, Bachman–Turner Overdrive and Kiss. Rolling Stone has stated that "the Donnas offer a guileless take on adolescent alienation; they traffic in kicks, not...
and Eagles of Death Metal
Eagles of Death Metal
Eagles of Death Metal is an American rock band from Palm Desert, California, formed in 1998 by Jesse Hughes and Josh Homme. Despite their band name, Eagles of Death Metal are not a death metal band. Hughes stated that a friend was introducing Josh Homme to the death metal genre...
.
Wardrobe
The Hives are noted for wearing matching suits or outfits, always in nothing but black and white. However, their clothing has changed with each album. They wore suits with ascotsAscot tie
An ascot tie, or ascot, is a narrow neckband with wide pointed wings, traditionally made of pale grey patterned silk. This wide, formal tie is usually patterned, folded over, and fastened with a stickpin or tie tack. It is usually reserved for wear with morning dress for formal daytime weddings and...
for Veni Vidi Vicious
Veni Vidi Vicious
Veni 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...
, suits with colonel-styled laces and white spats for Tyrannosaurus Hives
Tyrannosaurus Hives
Tyrannosaurus 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....
and bandanas and suspenders for their 2007 hurricane tours. For their newest album The Black and White Album
The Black and White Album
The 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...
, they have gone with something of a school uniform look, with black blazers bearing an "H" crest on the left breast, and striped black and white ties. As of late September 2008 and near the end of their "Black and White Tour", The Hives have changed their wardrobe to white suits with a striped black tie. In the summer of 2009 The Hives walked out on stage in Hultsfred wearing new clothes that can be described as white workwear with a black shirt and same tie and crest as the last tour. In 2010 they wore new clothes again when the summer tour began in Hässleholm, Sweden, dressed as what can be described as a mix between old French soldiers' uniforms and boy scouts' uniforms. For their 2011 summer tour, The Hives are now wearing matching formal tuxedoes.
The Hives on Cartoon Network
The Hives have been featured playing "Fall Is Just Something Grownups Invented" on Cartoon NetworkCartoon Network
Cartoon Network is a name of television channels worldwide created by Turner Broadcasting which used to primarily show animated programming. The channel began broadcasting on October 1, 1992 in the United States....
since fall 2007. There are several versions of the song shown: one, a shortened version, that is simply played between shows and features children dancing, another, full version, with lyrics and the same children dancing, and a finale, featuring The Hives themselves performing.
Members
Official members- Howlin' Pelle AlmqvistPelle AlmqvistHowlin' 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....
(Pelle Almqvist) – lead vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Nicholaus ArsonNiklas AlmqvistNicholaus Arson is a guitarist and backup vocalist of the Swedish Garage Rock band The Hives.-Career:...
(Niklas Almqvist) – 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...
, keyboardKeyboard instrumentA 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... - Vigilante CarlstroemVigilante CarlstroemMikael 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:...
(Mikael Karlsson) – 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... - Dr. Matt DestructionDr. Matt DestructionDr. Matt Destruction is a Swedish musician. He is the bassist of garage rock band The Hives.-Career:...
(Mattias Bernvall) – bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Chris DangerousChristian GrahnChristian Grahn is the drummer of Swedish rock band, The Hives.-Biography:In the early band years in Fagersta, Sweden, Grahn also played drums for another local band, Bad Dreams Always, a hate core band...
(Christian Grahn) – 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 ....
, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
Live members
- Wolverine BrändströmRandy (band)Randy is a punk rock band from Hortlax, Sweden, formed in 1992. They were first inspired by skate punk bands like NOFX and Propagandhi but after the release of The Rest Is Silence and the depart of their bass player Patrik Trydvall, they radically changed their musical style and adopted an older...
(Johan Brändström) - 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...
(Filled in for N. Almqvist on guitar in 2010 during a brief illness.)
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)