Howlin’ Pelle Almquist, the lead singer of the Swedish band The Hives, spoke to to Stephen ‘Steps’ Lowe on his show The Lunchbox on Today Radio about their new album “The Death of Randy Fitzsimmons.” Together, the spoke about how COVID changed the band, the power of critics to create trends, and Pelle’s music listening habits while recording an album.
Pelle is glad to be back on tour, providing the Hives’ famous energetic shows. The only downside about touring is all of the in-between, all of the traveling and hauling gear. But when Pelle thinks about getting back on stage, it’s all worth it.
Despite this ten year gap and the band surviving COVID, he doesn’t really think much has changed when it comes to performing. Pelle comes out on stage and gives it his all every time he performs, heading into the crowd just the same as he did before the pandemic. The only major musical change that occurred was realizing not performing made him miserable.
Pelle also reflected on the band’s beginnings. The Hives were labeled a part of the garage rock revival of the late ‘90s and early 2000s, and were grouped together with bands like the Strokes, Interpol, and the Killers by critics who were quick to claim that guitar music was back after it had been “on its knees.”
This wasn’t true, argued Pelle. There was guitar music; it was Nu metal. Just because it wasn’t desired by critics doesn’t mean it didn’t exist. Pelle also argues that all the bands that the Hives were grouped together with don’t sound alike. Critics decided they did to prove a point. Critics also weren’t the first people to find The Hives, Pelle points out. The fans came first, then the critics jumped on board.
When writing and recording music, Pelle finds it difficult to listen to new music. He can only ever hear the technical bits, not the whole song.
Despite the new album its hype, and their global tour, Pelle isn’t really sure how the Hives will continue after “Death of Randy Fitzsimmons.” Pelle doesn’t know if there is anything more left to say.
“The Death of Randy Fitzsimmons” will be out everywhere on August 11.
The Hives will be on a world wide tour this October, November, and December. They will be at den Atelier on October 11. Get your tickets here.
To listen to the whole conversation, click here to find part 1 and part 2 on RTL Play, or listen via the players below.
“My advice to new bands is not to quit. As soon as you quit you don’t exist anymore and there is no chance to redeem yourself”
“At the outset, we assumed that this was something we could do for a couple of years before going into corporate fucking finance or something…”
