On December 17, 2016, the last notes of "The Last Song" faded out at Tele2 Arena, and Kent laid down their instruments for good.
That's how fans interpreted the message from Joakim Berg and the others in the band – which is why there were sour comments from several angry fans on social media when the comeback concerts were announced.
I think they're upset because it was implied that we would never do this, but we never said that. We never promised it, but back then (2016) I was really done with this thing, says Joakim Berg in the podcast "Back to the music with Ingrid", the only interview he's done ahead of the comeback.
Same Arena
The comeback takes place at the same venue where the farewell took place over eight years ago, now renamed to 3 Arena.
Kent broke through in 1995 and became, with the best-selling album "Vapen & ammunition" in 2002, one of Sweden's absolutely biggest bands. Among the fans expected to attend the 3 Arena is Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M), who has told in several interviews how important Kent's music has been in his life.
"Panic and Aggression"
More than 230,000 tickets have been sold to the six concerts, and Joakim Berg tells in the podcast interview that the group almost had to start from scratch when they began rehearsing again. Drummer Markus Mustonen didn't even have his drum set left.
I think most of them had kept their gear. But Markus had gotten rid of his drums, because they take up so much space, he says.
Joakim Berg reveals that the group has rehearsed for ten weeks for the concerts.
It was a combination of panic and aggression the first week. But then it's been really fun.
No opening acts or guest artists have been presented. Joakim Berg tells in the interview that they're aiming to do a two-and-a-half-hour show with 23 songs.
Kent will perform six shows at 3 Arena, March 21-23 and 25-27.
Kent consists of Joakim Berg, Sami Sirviö, Markus Mustonen, and Martin Sköld. The band has released twelve studio albums since their debut in 1995. All except the first one topped the Swedish sales chart.
Their most played songs on Spotify are: 1) "Without Your Breath", 2) "Pearls", 3) "The Others", 4) "Sweden", 5) "La belle epoque".
