Dregen

Dregen

Dregen at the 2011 Ilosaarirock festival
Background information
Birth name Andreas Tyrone Svensson
Also known as Dregen, Dregen Hellacopter, Åsk Dregen, Jerry Lee Hellacopter, Sue Ellen
Born 12 June 1973
Genres Garage rock, punk rock, glam punk, glam rock, hard rock, glam metal
Occupation(s) Musician, songwriter
Instruments Vocals, guitar
Years active 1987–present
Labels Psychout Records, BMG, Liquor & Poker, MVG Records, RCA Records, White Jazz Records, Lookout! Records, Infernal Records, JuJu Records
Associated acts Backyard Babies, The Hellacopters, Supershit 666, Dregen and Tyla, Timbuktu, Infinite Mass, Lars Winnerbäck
Notable instruments
Gibson ES-335

Dregen (born Andreas Tyrone Svensson on 12 June 1973 in Nässjö, Sweden) is a Swedish musician best known as the former guitarist The Hellacopters and current guitarist of Backyard Babies and the newest member of Michael Monroe's band, replacing Ginger as guitarist. He is married to the singer Pernilla Andersson[1] who is also the mother of his first child, a son called Sixten.[2]

He is still a member of Backyard Babies, claiming in an interview with Rocksverige.se that the band will come together later and be stronger than ever.[3] Dregen will release his own autobiography in the autumn of 2013[4]

History

Dregen formed the Backyard Babies with his childhood friends Nicke Borg, Peder Carlsson and Johan Blomqvist in their own town of Nässjö, Sweden. The band moved to Stockholm to pursue wider success. The group signed a record deal and released their debut album Diesel & Power in 1994.

Also in 1994, Dregen met singer and guitarist Nicke Andersson who at that time played drums with Swedish death metal outfit Entombed. Together they formed another band, The Hellacopters. The Hellacopters found success in 1996 with their album Supershitty to the Max!, which won a Grammis. It was followed in 1997 by the record Payin' the Dues. The band also toured with KISS. That same year, Backyard Babies released another Grammis winning album – Total 13.

By the end of the 1990s, Dregen decided to leave The Hellacopters and focused on recording and performing with Backyard Babies.[5]

The album Making Enemies is Good was released in 2001, and Backyard Babies were awarded another Grammis. They toured the world several times and even also did a European tour opening up for AC/DC.[6] Since then, the band have released a number of EPs, singles and albums such as Stockholm Syndrome, People Like People Like People Like Us, Backyard Babies and Them XX. The later resulted in an anniversary tour in 2010, following which the band announced an indefinite hiatus.[7]

In May 2011 Dregen also joined Michael Monroe, from former band Hanoi Rocks.[8] Monroe, writing on his website, said

Dregen is the perfect choice for this band. We are a group of very strong individuals and we really needed a great personality as a guitar player. Dregen has the whole package together – he's a killer guitarist, a brilliant showman, looks great and has the right kind of attitude and taste in music. I feel very glad and lucky that he was willing and able to join us. Dregen is a real star and a true rocker at heart.I can't wait to start rockin' out with him in the band![9]

As of July 2011, Dregen was working on his first solo album.[10] It was released in September 2013 as Dregen.

Musical equipment

Guitars
Effects
Amplifiers

Selected discography

References

  1. ↑ "Dregen fick sin Pernilla | Nöjesbladet | Aftonbladet". Aftonbladet.se. 25 July 2009. Retrieved 2012-01-29.
  2. ↑ http://neon-lights.info/news/michael-monroe-band-dregens-joy-of-fatherhood-and-ruisrock-2013
  3. ↑ http://rocksverige.zitiz.se/intervjuer/2011/09/17/intervju-dregen-om-backyard-babies-soloskivan-och__54666
  4. ↑ http://www.dregen.se/index.asp?sida=blahblahblah&s=81
  5. ↑ David Bogerius. Blod, svett & darar. Hjalmarson & Högberg, 2005. p. 66-73
  6. ↑ "AC/DC". Music Might. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
  7. ↑ "BACKYARD BABIES To Go on Hiatus – Nov. 17, 2009". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
  8. ↑ "BACKYARD BABIES' DREGEN Joins MICHAEL MONROE's Band". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
  9. ↑ "Biography". Michael Monro Office Page. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
  10. ↑ "MICHAEL MONROE, DREGEN Interviewed at Finland's RUISROCK Festival (Video) – July 11, 2011". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved 2012-02-12.

External links