Backyard Babies

Biography

Backyard Babies is a Swedish rock band originally from Nässjö and currently based in Stockholm. The band was formed in 1987 and have released eight studio albums, in addition to winning two Swedish Grammy Awards.
They are largely attributed with popularizing sleaze rock in Scandinavia and Sweden. Their single "Minus Celsius×Minus Celsius2003 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Minus Celsius3:342Blackheart2:513Please! Please! Please!3:06" appears as a playable bonus track in Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock and "Degenerated" is available as a downloadable song for Guitar Hero World Tour.

History

Formed in 1987, Backyard Babies originally consisted of singer/bassist Tobbe (Tobias Fischer), guitarist Dregen, guitarist Johan Blomqvist, and drummer Peder Carlsson. They were then called Tyrant and played several live shows in their local area and recorded a rough demo. Tobbe was soon replaced by frontman Nicke Borg on vocals and guitar, and Blomqvist switched to bass. Fischer went on to be a professional photographer and web designer in Stockholm, continuing to work occasionally with his old bandmates.
In 1989, the band changed their name to Backyard Babies and recorded two more demos and did a national tour of Sweden. In 1991, the band self-released a debut EP titled Something to Swallow. This got them signed in 1993 by Swedish label Megarock Records.
Backyard Babies released their debut album Diesel & Power in 1994. The music on it took influences from rock, punk and blues. In addition to the album the band also released the single "Electric Suzy×Electric Suzy1994 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Electric Suzy3:132Shame7:433Lies4:454Taxi Driver3:50" with a cover of "Taxi Driver" by Hanoi Rocks as the B-side. After touring with former Hanoi Rocks members in Demolition 23 and doing a short headline tour in late 1995, premiering new songs that remain unreleased, the band was put on hiatus, as guitarist Dregen formed the garage rock band The Hellacopters. Dregen appeared on two albums with the Hellacopters" Supershitty to the Max! (1996) and Payin' the Dues (1997).

The Backyard Babies reunited in 1997, with a new record contract with MVG Records. They recorded their most-critically acclaimed album, Total 13×Total 131998 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Made Me Madman2:232U.F.O. Romeo2:443Highlights3:474Get Dead3:055Look at You2:456Let’s Go to Hell3:147Spotlight the Sun3:0088‐Balled2:439Ghetto You3:2610Subculture Hero3:0111Bombed (Out of My Mind)2:5612Hey, I’m Sorry2:5813Robber of Life3:22. Critics compared the album favorably to the New York Dolls, Ramones and The Damned. They toured the United Kingdom with good response. A single was released from the album, "Bombed (Out of My Mind)×Bombed (Out Of My Mind)1998 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksABombed (Out Of My Mind)2:55BRocker2:44", with the B-side "Rocker" featuring a duet with Hanoi Rocks frontman Michael Monroe. Their next single was the self-released "Is It Still Alright to Smile?". The B-side of the single was a cover of the Faster Pussycat track "Babylon" featuring guest appearances from Ginger of the Wildhearts and Nicke Andersson who had played with Dregen in the Hellacopters. In 1998 the band toured the United Kingdom once more, this time in support of Alice Cooper.
After the collaboration on the song "Babylon", Dregen, Ginger, and Nicke Andersson formed the side project Supershit 666, which released a six-track EP in 1999. Dregen returned to the Backyard Babies soon after as the band took off for another tour of the United Kingdom, this time in support of AC/DC.
The Babies recorded a follow-up to Total 13, titled Making Enemies is Good which has been described by some critics as a more "controlled chaos" approach than their previous effort. Two of the singles from it were hits "The Clash×The Clash2001 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1The Clash3:102Three Wise Monkeys2:553Fashion (Changes With You)3:15" and "Brand New Hate×Brand New Hate2001 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Brand New Hate3:012P.O.P.2:413By the Phone2:48", the latter of which was co-written with Ginger. They toured in support of the album with Motörhead.

On 15 October 2002, Backyard Babies guitarist Dregen was on the front pages of Swedish national newspapers. After returning home from a club where he was DJing, he and his friend were assaulted, robbed, and knocked unconscious. Dregen suffered a broken jaw but the band continued recording their next album; Stockholm Syndrome×Stockholm Syndrome2003 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Everybody Ready?!3:072Earn the Crown3:543A Song for the Outcast3:504Minus Celsius3:365Pigs for Swine3:066One Sound3:347Say When2:338Year by Year3:549Friends2:4910Be Myself and I3:4111You Tell Me You Love Me, You Lie3:3712Shut the Fuck Up2:44. The album, released in 2003, was viewed by some fans as a return towards a more energetic and raw sound. The album won them a Swedish Grammy. The album spawned three singles, "Minus Celsius×Minus Celsius2003 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Minus Celsius3:342Blackheart2:513Please! Please! Please!3:06", "A Song for the Outcast×A Song for the Outcast2004 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1A Song for the Outcast3:502Devil-May-Care3:09" and "Friends×Friends2004 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Friends2:512One Minute Silence for Joey1:003Pretty Ugly3:32".
During 2005, the band toured the United States (with openers The Chelsea Smiles & Crash Kelly) and Europe alongside Social Distortion. The album People Like People Like People Like Us×People Like People Like People Like Us21 April 2006 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1People Like People Like People Like Us2:012Cockblocker Blues3:353Dysfunctional Professional3:344We Go a Long Way Back3:115Roads4:246Blitzkrieg Loveshock3:087The Mess Age (How Could I Be So Wrong)3:308I Got Spades3:039Hold 'em Down2:4910Heroes & Heroines2:5611You Cannot Win3:3512Things to Do Before We Die2:55, produced by Nicke Andersson of The Hellacopters, was released in 2006. It spawned two singles: "The Mess Age (How Could I Be So Wrong)×The Mess Age (How Could I Be So Wrong)13 March 2006 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1The Mess Age - How Could I Be So Wrong3:292Shattered Bonds2:56" and "Dysfunctional Professional×Dysfunctional Professional2006 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Dysfunctional Professional (single mix)2:582Minor Major Problem4:583Dysfunctional Professional (Thomas Rusiak remix)4:47". A self-titled album was released in August 2008. The first single was "Fuck Off and Die×Fuck Off And Die3 October 2008 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracksAFuck Off And DieB1Zoe Is A WeirdoB2Saved By The Bell (Piano Version)". The second single "Degenerated" is supported by an animated video clip. Their self-titled 2008 album reached number 1 on the Swedish albums chart.
The compilation album Them XX×Them XXDecember 2009 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Brand New Hate3:012Minus Celsius3:353Highlights3:464Degenerated3:355Electric Suzy3:156Look at You2:447Abandon4:178The Mess Age3:299Fill Up This Bad Machine3:1010The Clash3:0611Friends2:4812Dysfunctional Professional3:34 was released in 2009 to honor the band's 20th anniversary. The accompanying tour was rumored to be their last. After a hiatus, the band reconvened with an announcement in May 2014. Their 2015 album Four by Four×Four by Four28 August 2015 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1Th1rt3en or Nothing3:462I'm on My Way to Save Your Rock 'n' Roll2:493White Light District3:234Bloody Tears3:445Piracy3:096Never Finish Anythi3:377Mirrors (Shall Be Broken)3:218Wasted Years2:529Walls7:05 reached number 2 on the Swedish albums chart. In September 2018 they played at the Hard Rock Hell Sleaze festival in Sheffield, England.
The band released their eighth studio album,Sliver & Gold, in 2019.
During an interview with The Sound Lab in 2022, Dregen confirmed that Backyard Babies were on hiatus due to his commitments with The Hellacopters, but stated that were plans to create more music in the future.

Members

Current
Nicke Borg – lead vocals, rhythm guitar (1989–present)
Dregen – lead guitar, backing vocals (1987–present)
Johan Blomqvist – bass (1989–present), rhythm guitar (1987–1989)
Peder Carlsson – drums, percussion (1987–present)
Past
Tobias Fischer – lead vocals, bass (1987–1989)

Singles

"Electric Suzy×Electric Suzy1994 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Electric Suzy3:132Shame7:433Lies4:454Taxi Driver3:50" (1994)
"Supershow" (split, 1996)
"Look at You×Look at You1997 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Look at You2:462Spotlight in the Sun3:003Can't Find the Door3:42" (1997) (No. 88 United Kingdom)
"Bombed (Out of My Mind)×Bombed (Out Of My Mind)1998 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksABombed (Out Of My Mind)2:55BRocker2:44" (1997) (No. 95 United Kingdom)
"Is It Still Alright to Smile?" (1998)
"Highlights×Highlights1998 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAHighlights3:47BLook At You (Live)3:06" (1998) (No. 79 United Kingdom)
"Babylon" (1999)
"Brand New Hate×Brand New Hate2001 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Brand New Hate3:012P.O.P.2:413By the Phone2:48" (2001)
"The Clash×The Clash2001 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1The Clash3:102Three Wise Monkeys2:553Fashion (Changes With You)3:15" (2001, BMG Sweden, b/w "Three Wise Monkeys", "Fashion (Changes with You)")
"Minus Celsius×Minus Celsius2003 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Minus Celsius3:342Blackheart2:513Please! Please! Please!3:06" (22 October, 2003)
"A Song for the Outcast×A Song for the Outcast2004 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1A Song for the Outcast3:502Devil-May-Care3:09" (2004)
"Friends×Friends2004 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Friends2:512One Minute Silence for Joey1:003Pretty Ugly3:32" (2004)
"The Mess Age" (2006)
"Dysfunctional Professional×Dysfunctional Professional2006 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Dysfunctional Professional (single mix)2:582Minor Major Problem4:583Dysfunctional Professional (Thomas Rusiak remix)4:47" (2006)
"Fuck Off and Die×Fuck Off And Die3 October 2008 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracksAFuck Off And DieB1Zoe Is A WeirdoB2Saved By The Bell (Piano Version)" (2008)
"Drool×Drool2008 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksADroolBF**k Off And Die" (2008)
"Th1rt3en or Nothing×Th1rt3en Or Nothing5 June 2015 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksATh1rt3en Or NothingBFuck Up The Pick Up" (2015)

Videos

"Electric Suzy×Electric Suzy1994 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Electric Suzy3:132Shame7:433Lies4:454Taxi Driver3:50" (1994)
"Look at You×Look at You1997 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Look at You2:462Spotlight in the Sun3:003Can't Find the Door3:42" (1997)
"Highlights×Highlights1998 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAHighlights3:47BLook At You (Live)3:06" (1998)
"Babylon" (live) (1999)
"Brand New Hate×Brand New Hate2001 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Brand New Hate3:012P.O.P.2:413By the Phone2:48" (2001)
"The Clash×The Clash2001 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1The Clash3:102Three Wise Monkeys2:553Fashion (Changes With You)3:15" (2001)
"Minus Celsius×Minus Celsius2003 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Minus Celsius3:342Blackheart2:513Please! Please! Please!3:06" (2003)
"A Song for the Outcast×A Song for the Outcast2004 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1A Song for the Outcast3:502Devil-May-Care3:09" (2003)
"Dysfunctional Professional×Dysfunctional Professional2006 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Dysfunctional Professional (single mix)2:582Minor Major Problem4:583Dysfunctional Professional (Thomas Rusiak remix)4:47" (2006)
"Roads" (2006)
"The Mess Age" (2006)
"Fuck Off and Die×Fuck Off And Die3 October 2008 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracksAFuck Off And DieB1Zoe Is A WeirdoB2Saved By The Bell (Piano Version)" (2008)
"Nomadic"
"Abandon"
"Gods Favourite"