Warheads was a Swedish punk band, active 1979-1981. It is often regarded as one of the more influential groups within the Swedish punk rock, although the band did not release any albums. Several of the members continued in the 1980s in internationally known groups. Warheads has been cited as a precursor to thrash metal

Thrash metal

Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...

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History

Warheads has it origins in the band Mob, sometimes known as Mob -77. The band was formed in 1976 in a school in Stockholm

Stockholm

Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...

. The initial lineup lasted for one gig, and led to the better-known line-up consisting of, among others, Mats Cavonius on vocals, Stellan Hemringe and Janne Oldeus (Pain, Imps, Jerry Williams

Jerry Williams (singer)

Jerry Williams, real name Sven Erik Fernström, is a Swedish rock and roll singer and actor.In 1963, Jerry Williams toured with the Beatles through Sweden. He has been lead singer in many Swedish rock and roll bands, but is mostly known as a solo artist...

) on guitar, Thomas Biström bass, and Peter Öman and Mike "Bruppe" Ramnesäter on drums. The band made a name for itself by among other things that Cavonius on a show, inspired by Iggy Pop

Iggy Pop

Iggy Pop is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Though considered an innovator of punk rock, Pop's music has encompassed a number of styles over the years, including pop, metal, jazz and blues...

, cut himself with a knife in the stomach. The band also participated in a punk film by Stig Larsson

Stig Larsson

Stig Larsson is a retired Swedish ice hockey player. Larsson began playing hockey in Nacka SK, but joined Djurgårdens IF where he played until he ended his career. He was part of Sweden's 1972 World Championship team that won bronze. Larsson became team captain for the 1976–77 season. He was...

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In 1978 and Biström left and Björne Fröberg (later in The Nomads) was added on bass. The band then changed its name to Aoouh!. Further changes came when Cavonius quit and Pelle Almgren joined the band as lead singer, leaving the band with Almgren on vocals, Fröberg on bass, Hemringe on guitar and Micke Ramnesäter on drums. The band changed their name again, this time to Warheads. Soon Ramnesäter quit the band, and was replaced by Jesper Sporre. In 1979 Warheads released their first EP,'Dagen är natt and they started building a reputation outside Stockholm. In 1980 they appeared on the compilation LP Let It Out. Warheads continued to play gigs around the Stockholm area for a brief period, but struggled internally. Finally, in 1981 Almgren quit and Warheads broke up.

Pelle Almgren went on to found the glam rock

Glam rock

Glam rock is a style of rock and pop music that developed in the UK in the early 1970s, which was performed by singers and musicians who wore outrageous clothes, makeup and hairstyles, particularly platform-soled boots and glitter...

 band Easy Action

Easy Action (band)

Easy Action is a glam metal band that was formed in 1982 by Kee Marcello and Alex Tyrone . The two played together in the Swedish glam act Noice when they decided to start the ultimate glam rock band, mixing their influences of 70's glam with a punk/metal attitude. They met the singer Zinny J...

. Björne Fröberg eventually became a member of The Nomads, and Jesper Sporre changed his name to Gyp Casino

Gyp Casino

Gyp Casino is a Swedish rock drummer. He played in Warheads and was the original drummer for Hanoi Rocks. He was replaced by Razzle in 1982...

 and became the drummer for 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...

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In 2004 musicians from bands like Maryslim

Maryslim

Maryslim is a rock band from Sweden that was founded in 1999. The band has been described as "a splendid mix of mid-70s hardrock and punk, spiced up with some The Cult-sounds, heavy AC/DC riffing and catchy Foo Fighters-vibes." ....

, Backyard Babies

Backyard Babies

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....

, Hellacopters and The Maggots formed the one-off band Urrke T & the Midlife Crisis and recorded a 3-track single with cover versions of old Swedish punk songs, including Aoouh! / Warheads "Center of Lies".

Members

1979

• Pelle Almgren - vocals
• Stellan Hemringe - guitar
• Björne Fröberg - bass
• Richard Lindberg - drums

1979-1981

• Pelle Almgren - vocals
• Stellan Hemringe - guitar
• Björne Fröberg - bass
• Jesper Sporre - drums

Discography

• Dagen är natt (EP, 1979)
• Let It Out (compilation, 1980)
• Ståkkålmsjävlar 1978-1981 (compilation, 1986)
• Break the Rules, Volume 7 (compilation, 1996)
• Svenska punkklassiker 78-81 (compilation, 2003)