By John de Haan
July 12, 2019
For 30 years, BACKYARD BABIES has delivered top of the line dirty rock ‘n’ roll, both live and recorded. Now for the first time in over a decade, BACKYARD BABIES are touring Australia thanks to Silverback Touring.
We caught up with – Lead guitarist/vocalist, Dregen for a chat about the tour, new album – Sliver and Gold plus more.
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Congrats on 30 years in the music industry, that in itself is a great achievement but the fact that the band still consists of all 4 original members makes it even greater, how have you managed to keep the same line up?
Thank you, it doesn’t feel like 30 years, I haven’t really thought about how we all stayed together, it all just happened, we kept things simple and didn’t give ourselves impossible goals. We had goals but we didn’t beat ourselves up about it. We all had the same kind of passion and ideas about how a rock band should be.
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What are your memories of the 80s when you made that pact with your childhood friends and bandmates to move to Stockholm and focus all your energy into the band?
We lived really rough and had no money for food so we had to shoplift. Not for candy or anything like that but for cheese and bread. We were able to live on a can of beans for a week.
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How different do you think it would be if you were starting out now?
Oh I don’t think I could do it now. It would be even tougher.
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I believe Sliver and Gold is the backyard babies eighth studio album can you tell us a bit about the album and the making of it?
It actually went very well. The writing process was very easy as was the recording process. We had a limited amount of time and we really had to focus on what kind of an album we wanted to do this time and didn’t have time to overdo or overthink stuff on the album.
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What’s the meaning behind the name ‘Sliver and Gold?
It’s a play on words that sums up over 30 years of rock and roll lifestyle – mostly gold but some sliver as well – with the rougher times.
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How was the video shoot for 44 Undead and what inspired the song?
I wrote the song when I was 44 plus other things in my life related to the number 44, but the inspiration was just the same as the songs on the rest of the album. The video was made by our drummer, who’s a great videographer and photographer. It was shot while we were on tour in England with Skid Row in the streets of Manchester, Bristoll, Sheffield, London and back home in Stockholm.
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You guys have toured with some rock legends like ACDC, Alice Cooper and Guns and Roses. Is there a bucket list band you would like to play with?
Well I don’t know about ‘Rock Legends’ but I’d love to put together a smaller festival of Scandinavian bands with the likes of The Hellacopters and Turbo Negro.
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Speaking of tours, you guys are coming to Australia for your 30th anniversary tour in October. What can your fans expect from these shows?
It’s always difficult to come up with a setlist from 8 albums especially with a new one out but fans can expect a high powered rock and roll show with a mix of the new album and the best of the rest.
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It’s been over a decade since you last toured Australia, are you looking forward to returning and are you planning on seeing some sights while you are here?
Yes very much so. I plan to stay for a couple of days after the tour and try to surf again. Last time I tried to surf there the whole beach laughed. Here was this snow white guy from Sweden trying to surf. (Laughs). I would also like to do some fishing.
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You have an impressive musical resume including playing not only in backyard babies but you’re a founding member of The Hellacopters and a solo artist as well, and you’ve written an autobiography. How do you keep the passion to play and write music alive?
Well it’s like therapy so when I stop doing it, it gets quite depressing but it’s the fans loving our shows that really keeps the passion and inspiration alive.
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Can you share a highlight of your career?
That’s a tough one. Well I would say right now is the highlight of my career. I’m touring with both Backyard Babies and The Hellacopters playing big festivals and we have a new album.
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If you hadn’t become a musician, what do you think you would have done?
Well I did go to art school and tried welding but I think I would have been happy to be a painter.
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Those Gibson ES 335s you play sound amazing. Do you play other guitars much?
Thank you, no they are all I play, I tried a Les Paul but we didn’t really get along.
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Thanks for the chat Dregen and I hope to catch you in the photo pit for your show in Sydney and my good mate Mel is looking forward to the show as well, he’s a huge fan.
Oh great, see you both there.
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And lastly – Please don’t leave it another 10 years to come back.
No we won’t!
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Catch Backyard Babies on their Australian Tour:
Friday 4 October – Sydney – Manning Bar
Saturday 5 October – Melbourne – Max Watts
Sunday 6 October – Brisbane – Woolly Mammoth
Tickets From: https://silverbacktouring.com.au/
Connect with Backyard Babies
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CONNECT WITH DREGEN
FACEBOOK // INSTAGRAM // TWITTER // YOUTUBE // SPOTIFY