Anyone who’s seen a live performance of The Hives might assume that Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist is a bit of an arrogant show pony.
When it came to Tone Deaf’s Dunja Nedic interviewing him though, things aren’t quite so clear.
After having had to reschedule the interview (due to Almqvist not picking up his phone), The Hives’ frontman answers questions between mouthfuls, and the sound of cues hitting billiard balls can be heard in his proximity, but his responses also indicate that he finds the spectacle surrounding public figures rather ridiculous. He states that ‘Hate to say I told you so’ is ‘such a good song, I could play that forever’, and advises which of their songs should be checked out (ie. The Hives’ collaboration with Cyndi Lauper, ‘In A Christmas Duel’), but is also open about the need to capitalise on any and all media attention the band can milk (including, perhaps, Almqvist displaying rock ‘n’ roll disinterest). With a career spanning a couple of decades and the band about to release its fifth LP, it’s little wonder that they’ve become hyper-aware of the cogs of the music industry.
‘What can I say about it…it’s extremely hyped, I can say that,’ Almqvist remarks. ‘I think it’s really good but…it’s definitely a little heavier at times, I would say, almost like [a] glam rock, hard rock kind of heaviness to it.
‘I guess we’ve done better at realising what we do. The way we do it now is basically we rehearse a lot and then we go into the studio and just record quickly, that’s how we’ve been the most successful doing it. We don’t really write in the studio or anything like that…we’ve just been more prepared,’ explains Almqvist. ‘That’s why a lot of rock bands’ debut albums are better than the third, fourth album. You go in and just hammer them out as well as you can, and everybody’s playing in the same room together.’
As part of the “the’s” wave of bands of the early 2000s (see: The Strokes, The White Stripes, The Vines), The Hives were one of the very few to come from a non-native-English-singing country.
‘The Swedish music scene has always been really good for a country of its size. Always been lots of interesting bands and people find time to take it very seriously. In the past, it was possible for young kids who just get out of school to be unemployed and live an okay life which meant that they can focus on music,’ says Almqvist, presumably referring to the notably excellent living conditions that citizens of Scandinavian countries have typically enjoyed. ‘This sort of started this whole scene with a lot of bands in the 90s…[but] really it’s all kinds of music, there are good reggae bands, good punk bands, and good hardcore punk bands and rock ‘n’ roll, and electronic bands, and it’s pretty amazing if you consider the size of the country.’
Unlike the other “the’s” bands, The Hives are pretty much the only ones who are still together and, outwardly at least, still enjoy playing together. And presumably, Randy Fitzsimmons feels the same.
‘That’s all true,’ Almqvist insists when questioned about the questionable existence of their pseudo-sixth member. ‘It’s a guy we know called Randy Fitzsimmons. He never wanted to be a public figure. In these Big Brother days, people seem to think that’s so weird.
‘Not everybody wants to be in the public eye, but it’s like these days, it’s almost not a choice anymore. If they want you in the public eye, you have to be in the public eye…I’m not sure that makes so much sense either.’
For Almqvist’s part, however, he seems unperturbed by the way that he’s largely perceived, and is indeed rather resigned to the drawbacks of being in an internationally known band.
‘It’s the price I pay for being an entertainer!I just do what I think is fun, and I don’t wanna research it more than that, you know. I say the first thing that comes into my head and usually people think it’s entertaining and laugh or scream or whatever they do. I’m just trying to provoke a reaction,’ he admits.
And whether it’s because his onstage moves are the contemporary equivalent to Jagger’s, or because he’s surprisingly earnest, or even because he’s, well, pretty, that is exactly what Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist does.
The Hives play Splendour In The Grass, On The Bright Side Festival and their own side shows. For your chance to win a double pass to their shows head over to www.tonedeaf.com.au/win.
23 July 2011 – Perth, Australia
On The Bright Side Festival
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25 July 2011 – Adelaide, Australia
Thebarton Theatre
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26 July 2011 – Melbourne, Australia
Palace
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28 July 2011 – Sydney, Australia
Enmore Theatre
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29 July 2011 – Woodfordia, Woodford, Queensland, Australia
Splendour In The Grass
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