Robert Dahlqvist

Robert Dahlqvist

Robert Dahlqvist performing with the Hellacopters, 2008.
Background information
Birth name Jens Robert Dahlqvist
Also known as Strängen, Strings
Born April 16th 1976
Genres Garage rock, rock, garage punk, punk rock, garage rock revival, powerpop, hard rock
Occupation(s) Musician, songwriter
Instruments Vocals, guitar, bass guitar
Labels Psychout Records, Razzia Records, White Jazz Records, BMG, Sweet Nothing Records, National, Universal Music, Wild Kingdom
Associated acts The Hellacopters, Thunder Express, Dundertåget, Stefan Sundström, The Diamond Dogs The Solution
Website Official MySpace
Notable instruments
Epiphone Crestwood
Gibson Les Paul

Robert Dahlqvist is a guitarist and vocalist most known for his work with the Swedish rockband The Hellacopters. He's also the lead singer and guitarist in Thunder Express, a band originally started as a sideproject to his work with The Hellacopters. Recently the band released record in Swedish under the name Dundertåget.

Career

Early life and career

Dahlqvist was born in Uddevalla, Sweden and got his first guitar at the age of ten and attended music school but quit after a month frustrated over not being allowed to play Kiss songs. Five years later at age fifteen his mother got him an electric guitar and he started to focus more seriously on his playing. Dahlqvist soon started playing in bands and worked at a bar where he got to know members of the Swedish rock band The Hellacopters.

The Hellacopters

Main article: The Hellacopters

After the departure of guitarist Dregen in early 1998 The Hellacopters brought in temporary replacements Chuck Pounder and Mattias Hellberg to tour with them. In 1999 The Hellacopters recorded Grande Rock with the band's pianist Anders Lindström on rhythm guitar and started to look for a permanent guitarist. When Dahlqvist heard about this he contacted the band and asked for the opportunity for an audition, and after a few jam sessions together Dahlqvist was chosen as the band's new guitarist.

During his time in The Hellacopters Dahlqvist recorded four studio albums, four EPs, two split albums and many other releases. Bands and artists that The Hellacopters collaborated with during Dahlqvist's time in the band included Gluecifer, The Flaming Sideburns, Scott Morgan, Backyard Babies, Pelle Almqvist, Thomas Öberg and many others. In October 2007, The Hellacopters announced they would be breaking up after releasing their last full length album Head Off; until late October the band was on the road with their The Tour Before the Fall.

Thunder Express/Dundertåget

Main articles: Thunder Express and Dundertåget

In 2004 Dahlqvist formed Thunder Express along with Robert Pehrsson (Death Breath), Jens Lagergren and Jesper Karlsson. The name is taken from a MC5 song as a tribute to the MC5 and their music. With the help of other musicians, songwriters, bandmates and close friends, the band released their debut album We Play for Pleasure in 2004. In 2007 the band followed up their debut album with "Republic Disgrace". During The Tour Before the Fall with The Hellacopters Dahlqvist revealed plans for a Swedish record under the name Dundertåget. In 2009 the band released their debut album - Skaffa Ny Frisyr - which was followed up with Dom Feta Åren är Förbi in 2010.

Other work

Dahlqvist has been a steady member of Stefan Sundström's backing band; Sundström also helped out with lyrics for the new Dundertåget record. Dahlqvist also recorded lead guitar for the song "Soulmover" for fellow band member Nick Royale and Scott Morgan's soul band The Solution on their second album Communicate!. He also recorded and toured with band member Anders Lindström's former band The Diamond Dogs in 2004.

Musical equipment

Dahlqvist favours vintage guitars, effects and amplifiers.

Guitars

Effects
  • BJF Baby Blue Overdrive
  • Orange Overdrive

Amplifiers

  • Orange OTR-120 amplifier
  • Orange 4x12 cabinet

Selected discography

References

External links