In 2027, it will be 25 years since Magnus Carlsson left Barbados after spending several years as one of the biggest names in the Swedish dansband scene and achieving top placings with the band in Melodifestivalen.
But now he is back. Next autumn, the dansband will reunite for a tour, opening on September 24 at Partille Arena, outside Gothenburg. The anniversary year feels like a good reason for Barbados to do something together after years of waiting for the right opportunity.
It feels really luxurious and exciting for our audience, who have been with us all these years, to be able to do this, says Magnus Carlsson.
No peace pipe
When he left the group to join his then-boyfriend Andreas Lundstedt in the disco group Alcazar, there were big headlines in the press about conflicts with the others in Barbados. But Magnus Carlsson says the guys have been friends all these years and didn't need to smoke a peace pipe before the reunion.
That was very much a newspaper story. We already had new projects going on at the time, so we didn't have the desire or time for any fighting, he says now.
Among other things, the headlines claimed that Magnus Carlsson had been frozen out by the others in the band when he decided to leave. But the group members deny this.
There has never been any fighting between us, says Mathias Lager.
Temporary reunion
Barbados continued with new singers, including Mathias Holmgren. But for a few years now, the group's activities have been winding down, with only Peter Samuelsson and Mathias Lager remaining as original members. Now the group will reunite - albeit only temporarily.
I'm solo. I have my own ideas. So if you look at it bluntly, I have my own things after Barbados, says Magnus Carlsson.
Magnus Carlsson is not the only one returning. Mattias Berggren and Magnus Wictorinsson are also making a comeback in Barbados. Mattias Berggren sees the tour as a natural continuation of the career they had when they were at their best.
If we had continued, it would have been like what we're doing next autumn. We would have played slightly larger arenas in a different format than what we had done then, he explains.
Barbados participated in Melodifestivalen four times, but never won. The entries for next year's competition will be announced in December. But don't count on the band taking part.
We have never had the goal of coming back and doing another Mello entry. We don't think along those lines at all, says Magnus Carlsson.
What do you think?