Stefan Olsdal

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Stefan Olsdal (born Stefan Alexander Bo Olsdal) is the bass guitar player of the band Placebo and Emigrate. He was born on 31 March 1974, in Göteborg, Sweden.

He moved to Luxembourg when he was young and went to the American International School of Luxembourg along with fellow band member Brian Molko. Stefan began playing music in his school's orchestra in 1987. He completed his high school education in Sweden and moved to London with his parents, where he attended the Musicians Institute. He is openly gay.

Stefan met Brian by chance outside South Kensington tube station. The two of them formed Ashtray Heart with a friend of Brian's, Steve Hewitt who couldn't be in the band later when they formed Placebo because he was already signed to another record company. After that, Stefan introduced old schoolmate Robert Schultzberg to join as Placebo's drummer. Brian Molko was openly influenced by Sonic Youth and still uses alternate tunings and SY-like riffs.

He has stated that some of his influences have been Depeche Mode and Eurythmics among others.