Magnus “AddE” Andreasson of Hardcore Superstar

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by Leyla Hamedi
Guest Writer

HRH: With Beg For It, you’re adding to a pretty sizeable catalogue of releases, though this one seems to be getting more worldwide recognition. Is Beg For It the record you’d choose to introduce Hardcore Superstar to the rest of the world? Why or why not? What’s YOUR favorite HCSS record?

AddE: I like the self-titled album very much because that´s the first album we produced and released on our own. Since that album we kind of found our own sound and way of writing. I like to think that Beg For It is the bastard son of ST album and Dreamin’. Mine is tied between Dreamin’ in a Casket and Thank You (For Letting Us Be Ourselves) because they have an equal number of songs I like. Though, “Not Dancing Wanna Know Why?” is my favorite song. So is, “Sensitive to the Light.” And, “Shame.” And, “We Don’t Celebrate Sundays.” Oh and, “Silence for the Peacefully.” Yeah I have more too.

HRH: You had plans to come to the USA earlier in the year but they got cancelled, right? Do you have any future plans to tour outside of Scandinavia as that seems to be where you usually stick to? Do you want to eventually have the means to a world tour? Specifically one that includes Boston and/or Istanbul the two places I live?

AddE: Haha… We would love to kick ass in both Boston and Istanbul, you know our motto is -If there´s a stage we´ll play it. We´re preparing for our European tour which starts of in October and we´re heading for Brazil in November to do some dates. We think it´s about time for us to come over to US. You´ve been waiting long enough for that to happen. You know we did a couple of dates in America like 5 years ago. And while we were there we got invited to the Swedish Embassy to have dinner and got in a fight with some reporter…Hahaha. After the party was over they told us that it was the first fist-fight there in a long time. 57 years to be precise.

HRH: Outside of Sweden, is there any place you have a huge following? Maybe Japan? As that’s where I found most of your older releases by chance when I was there in March (your fellow Scandinavians Hanoi Rocks were performing there right before they broke up and I flew to see them because they too have the annoying habit of not coming near where I am.)

AddE: We love Japan and i guess they love us. In Italy we´re as big there as in Sweden. Finland likes our debauchery to. France is starting to happen and also Germany.

HRH: Another Sweden/Scandinavia question. Why is it that you people have the best sleaze metal? Is there something in the water? Can I drink some?

AddE: Haha!!! Our water is fine..Yes but i think it all started with Hanoi Rocks really. They proved that a Finnish band can make it so I guess people got inspired to do the same thing.

HRH: Tell me a good story. It can be about whatever you want. I assume most people want to hear tour stories or about recording the album but I give you the freedom for whatever you want.

AddE: I can tell you one with Michael Monroe in it. We were in Japan some years ago when somebody suggested we meet with Michael since he was there to. We had lunch and he turned out to be the coolest/nicest guy on earth. We both agreed that Alice Cooper is God and that we should record one of his songs together. He came to Sweden a couple of weeks later just to record “Long Way To Go” and when he arrived at the train station his came out of the train blowing soap bubbles from this toy he purchased. He´d also been to the public library in Åbo (Finland) and copied a 100 page book about Alice that he wanted to give to me as a present. Haha… he told me that he had to drop a quarter in the zerox-machine for every new page. He was such a pro. He played sax, he sang and told a lot of jokes. He´s the best.

HRH: Speaking of touring, what bands would you most like to tour with? They can be anyone, even dead. Personally, if you toured with Bloodlights and Backyard Babies and Hellacopters, that would be my dream tour. Oh and David Bowie. Okay, the Scorpions can come too.

AddE: I already fulfilled my dream when we opened up for AC/DC in our hometown. They played at our Arena and it was packed. 56,000 screaming maniacs!! We´ve done a couple of shows with bloodlights and Glucifer. Good bands, nice guys.

HRH: How do you feel about the Internet and music sharing via sites like Myspace? Do you think it helps with getting your music heard or is it just an outlet for every shitty band and their mother to make noise, making it harder for dedicated and talented artists to get recognition?

AddE: It´s all good. I discover so much good music on Myspace.

HRH: How is the band’s general record-making process? Who writes mostly? Is it one person or group effort? Does it get done quickly and with no clashes of personality or have their been heated moments?

AddE: Me (AddE) and Martin always start with the writing and do some demos. Then we get the rest of the guys in and work it out together. Recording the album is good times for me but I´m the only one really doing that. Sometimes we argue and fight but somehow we end up with a good result.

HRH: How come so many of your songs are about ladies? Are we that terrible/slutty/awesome?

AddE: Because you´re are the only thing god created that is a mystery to me. I adore women and I feel good writing lyrics about you all. Sometimes you´re slutty, sometimes you´re angels. A lot of stuff to write about.

HRH: What or where is the worst food you’ve ever eaten? I assume you’re on the road a fair amount of time so any places or meals you’d definitely advise against?

AddE: We went to this restaurant in France once and saw that they had something called “Shitling” in the menu. We just had to order it and believe me, it smelled and tasted like SHIT!

HRH: Why is the merchandise section of your site only in Swedish? It took me, Google translate, and an entire afternoon to decipher it enough to order something and then I got a shirt in size large instead of small which I cut but over-estimated and now I can’t wear it without something underneath.

AddE: I´ll look into it. Did not know. Time to fire someone!

HRH: Also, is there going to be any variation to your band shirts besides album covers? Maybe go the Iron Maiden way and have a mascot with different settings? As much as I enjoy people staring at my chest trying to read the band logo, I do appreciate artwork too. More stuff to look at.

AddE: Funny you should ask that. We´ve been working with this awesome guy lately. It´s coming!

HRH: You had a competition recently on your Web site to find extras for a music video. How did that turn out? Do you enjoy shooting music videos and coming up with concepts (like zombies, or the lounge-type scene you had for, “Shame.”) or would you rather just play the music and not fuss with all that?

AddE: I like to play music and do not like making videos so much but Jocke is a natural actor. He´s great.

HRH: Did you know that the automatic signature on the Nuclear Blast representative’s emails names you as Hardcore Superstars? Yes with an, “s” at the end of superstar.

AddE: That´s no good. You´re giving me a lot of work here … hehe.

HRH: If I included my number, would you call it when/if you’re in any of my towns so I could buy you guys a drink?

AddE: AbsoFXXKIN´lutely! We want you to show us you´re city. It will be like a guided tour thru Boston or Istanbul. Bring it on!!

HRH: That’s pretty much all I have unless you have something you’d like to add. Personally, I love the new record. “Nervous Breakdown,” was originally my favorite song on it but it’s changed to, “Spit It Out.” I love a good, hard drum beat.

AddE: I really hope to come to a club near you a play those songs for you. I really do!