A Swedish rock band was a disappointment - but a Norwegian one made a big impression on The Hives' singer Howlin' Pelle Almqvist. He went to Ludvika's Folkets Park to see the Swedish band The Hellacopters but was instead blown away by the Norwegian rock band Turbonegro.
I didn't even know they existed. We were going to see The Hellacopters in the basement of a leisure centre in Ludvika Folkets Park. There were 26 paying people there - The Hives were four or five of them and The Hellacopters played last. They weren't good - I've seen them be great, but on this particular night they weren't good.
Turbonegro, on the other hand, were absolutely fantastic, he remembers.
It was like I discovered a whole new treasure trove of songs. It was absurd too, because I didn't know if it was serious or a joke. But I knew the music was amazing. I think it made a big impression.
The border between humour and seriousness is something he also likes in other contexts.
I think that's where all the interesting stuff is. I have the same relationship with standup comedy. But I know it's standup comedy because it's called that. But when standup comedy isn't funny - I like that. It should be more painful than fun, somewhere I think something fun arises.
This summer we ask artists, musicians and other cultural creators about which cultural experience has changed or shaken them in a decisive way. Previous participants include artist Helen Sjöholm, author Mikael Yvesand, artist Klara Kristalova, choreographer Anna Vnuk and actor Alexander Salzberger. The latest is Howlin' Pelle Almqvist from The Hives.
