A myspace page for Hellacopters fans.

5 Men, 10 Balls Live…
Right from the start, it is obvious The Hellacopters are a real rock band. Hailing from Scandinavia, they have a unique ear for American rock 'n' roll. The Hellacopters gather their influences purely from the music, unencumbered by the social and political stigmas that would affect an American band. They are not concerned with what is cool or hip. Looking from the outside in, they have managed to produce a sound more authentically rock 'n' roll than any band from America could in the 21st century.

Jesus Just Left Stockholm…
This of course is nothing new. British bands like TheYardbirds and The Rolling Stones did the same thing in the 60's. They studied long forgotten and over-looked musical treasures from a far away land and reinvented a raved-up version that they then sold back to the land of its originator. The geographic distance from the source of inspiration was essential to the musical mutation. And in order to fully understand the true value of their own musical heritage, Americans needed the Brit's regurgitated rock 'n' roll re-interpretations to wake them up. This time around, five Swedes are leading the way.

Long Hair, Long nights…
Long-time childhood friends Nicke Royale and Kenny Håkansson absorbed their early musical influences (bands like KISS, The Ramones, and Slayer) in much the same way that Jagger and Richards did before them, spending many a day after school soaking up the sounds from their hard won vinyl collection. Musicologists of the highest order, today all the guys in The Hellacopters are both masters and disciples infusing their own brand of rock with a sincere reverence and overall love of music so strong you can taste it.

Hellstory…
Before The Hellacopters formed in 1994, Nicke was writing songs and drumming in the Swedish death metal combo Entombed. During a break in the action, he asked 3 of his former drum roadies to make some music with him. No master plan, they just wanted to put out a single. Robert Eriksson recalls bumping into Nicke on the subway in Stockholm, "Nicke said 'Hey! You play drums right? Perfect. I'm starting a new band and I'm gonna play guitar and sing, and you are the drummer!' I was like O.K. sure. How can you say no to that?" Small details like the fact that Kenny didn't even have a bass would be worked out later.

Most bands headed for a major label deal work like this: they write some songs, wait to get signed, wait to get the budget to record, wait for the record company to release the album... Just plain too much waiting. And waiting leads to too much thinking, and that never leads to good rock 'n' roll. Then these waiters end up playing a bunch of songs in concert that they wrote years earlier, with no hope of conveying the original spark that gave birth to the song in the first place. The end result can be heard on any commercial robot radio station: a bunch of good actors faking their tunes for a mindless mass market.

The Action Rock Gravy Train…
All the while, The Hellacopters keep on keepin' it real. Their secret is simple.

First, just play music that gets you off. Others will follow because truth-in-rock is contagious. Secondly, keep that music makin' muscle moving. Write, record, and release records by any means necessary. Get them out before they cool down.

The Hellacopters have put out so many records there is no point counting. Their previous album for Universal, Cream of the Crap! Collected Non-Album Works: Volume 1 compiles 18 songs from various singles and EP's and that's just volume one with volume two (and maybe three) on the way. That kind of action rock proliferation is unheard of these days.

Here's another example of the Copter work ethic. The band just recorded 20 songs for their latest record, By The Grace of God. They only used 13 songs on the album, yet they still feel the need to go into the studio this weekend to record 3 or 4 more songs for use as b-sides etc. As John Lee Hooker once sang via Led Zeppelin, "It's in him, and it's got to come out! Gotta let that boy B-B-B-Boooooogie!"

Even Hookier…
Every record in the The Hellacopters catalogue, from the caveman grind of the first 7" single "Killing Allan" to By the Grace of God moves down a straight line getting tighter and hookier. The bands first two full-length records, 1996's Swedish Grammy winning Supershitty to the Max! and 1997's Payin' the Dues are ragged 1st take feedback soaked sonic assaults. Grande Rock tightened things up in 1999 and High Visibility earned the boys a gold record in 2000.

After a short break due to a shoulder injury suffered by Robert Eriksson on the bands European tour with The Hives, we have before us By the Grace of God. Recorded at Polar Studios in Stockholm (where everyone from Abba to Zeppelin have recorded), Chips K. manned the helm again with Michael Ilbert handling the mix at Rommerö Studios

The Hellacopters throw down the gauntlet with By the Grace of God. It plays like a greatest hits compilation. It kicks off with the first single "By the Grace of God" and steamrolls ahead non-stop without one throw-away. Hell, it may even contain the world's first death metal power pop hit with "The Exorcist". By the Grace of God boils down to a peerless collection of 13 classic rock songs destined for the airwaves. Take your pick they're all winners.

By the Grace of God also marks the first song writing offerings from Boba Fet (the enigmatic "Charlie Watts figure" of the band) and Robert Dahlqvist, which can only mean more evolution awaits on the horizon.

Thank Christ for the Copters...
Every once in a while a record falls out of the sky like a bomb. A record with a god-dang purpose. An antidote for the drivel we have been subjected to for the last decade (a Nevermind, a Ramones, a Paranoid, a Hound Dog). By the Grace of God is that record for 2002 and The Hellacopters the saviours… and I know a whole lotta folk need saving just about now.

Rock 'n' Roll Never Forgets,
Jim Heneghan
Stockholm
September 9, 2002

The HELLACOPTERS
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Liquor and Poker
From Brendon @ Liquor and Poker:


I am very proud to announce that my favorite band in the world, THE HELLACOPTERS are now signed to my label here in the states. This has become a real dream come true for me. Watch out cause you know I am going to make this band HUGE!!!!!!!!!

PRESS RELEASE:


Liquor and Poker Music has successfully inked a deal with one of the most influential, “High Energy Rock ‘n’ Roll” bands in the game today, The Hellacopters! With five highly acclaimed records and more than five years of successful world tours under their belts, Liquor and Poker Music is set to release the band’s mostly highly acclaimed record to date in North America, By The Grace Of God. Not only is Liquor and Poker Music releasing By The Grace Of God, but the best label in rock will also be releasing the second installment of collected non-album works - Cream of the Crap! Vol. 2.



What Kiss, Cheap Trick and Thin Lizzy are to countless rock fans past and present, Stockholm, Sweden’s The Hellacopters are the rock band to beat in the here and now. Unlike most “rock” acts out today who seem to be struggling aimlessly for originality, The Hellacopters are a band with a true sense of identity and a clear idea of what their place is in rock history. The band’s songs have a strong tradition of being timeless and honest that can only come straight out of their hearts and souls and their pure love of everything that is rock ‘n’ roll which is captured perfectly on the band’s fifth studio release, By The Grace Of God.



From the first track “By The Grace Of God” through the last track “Pride”, By The Grace of God steamrolls non-stop without one throwaway track to be had. When listening you will no doubt feel like you have been transported to a time not so long ago when true rock ruled the airwaves and the excitement of going to see your favorite band perform seemed like an event and not a crap shoot. A time when waiting to buy a record on release date was more exciting than waiting to open presents on Christmas morning.



Liquor and Poker Music has added two bonus tracks, two videos and an EPK that make this release even more of a treasure. On top of all those reasons to rock, Liquor and Poker Music will also be serving up the much-anticipated Cream of the Crap! Vol. 2 for all to enjoy. Cream of the Crap! Vol. 2 has 22 tracks of singles and b-sides that will make your Hellacopters collection complete and make you cooler than you ever have been before.



Every once and a while a record falls out of the sky like a bomb that smashes everything you have listened to previously and alters your outlook on the future forever. The Hellacopters have dropped two bombs that will no doubt be the rock records to beat in the U.S. for 2004. Liquor and Poker Music are proud and honored to bring you By The Grace of God and Cream of the Crap! Vol. 2 because we all know there are a whole lotta people out there that need some rock ‘n’ roll salvation right about now!