Army of Lovers
| Company type | Music group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1987 |
| Headquarters | Sweden |
| Products | Dance-pop music, albums, singles |
Army of Lovers is a Swedish dance-pop ensemble established in 1987, which gained considerable popularity across Europe during the 1990s. Their most prominent single, "Crucified", remained on the Eurochart for 31 weeks, reaching a peak position of number 14 in 1992, and continues to be their most internationally recognized track. Another significant single, "Obsession", stayed on the charts for 32 weeks, achieving a peak ranking of number 29.
The group's name is inspired by the documentary Army of Lovers or Revolt of the Perverts by German LGBTQ+ activist Rosa von Praunheim, which itself references the historic Sacred Band of Thebes.
Overview
The band’s founders, Alexander Bard, Jean-Pierre Barda, and Camilla Henemark (also known as La Camilla), had previously worked together in the band Barbie.
Army of Lovers attained several top 10 placements on the Eurochart, with "Crucified" ranking among Europe's best-selling singles in 1991. Their global album sales have reached seven million copies.
The group became well-known for their lavish and theatrical style, including costumes designed by Camilla Thulin and flamboyant music videos directed by Fredrik Boklund.
Alexander Bard was primarily responsible for the band's creative direction, while Jean-Pierre Barda performed lead vocals on key tracks such as "Crucified" and "Israelism". Bard and Barda remained constant members through all lineup changes. Following La Camilla's departure in 1991, Michaela de la Cour joined the band; in 1992, Dominika Peczynski expanded the group to four members. De la Cour left in 1995, and Henemark returned to the lineup.
Early success and breakup: 1987–1996
Although "Obsession" and "Ride the Bullet" achieved top chart positions across Europe, their presence in the US and UK was largely limited to club charts, with "Crucified" entering the UK Top 40 in 1992.
Their initial album, Disco Extravaganza (reissued as Army of Lovers in the US), featured club-oriented sounds, whereas their sophomore release, Massive Luxury Overdose, presented a refined pop/dance style. This album spawned major hits like "Crucified", "Ride the Bullet", and "Obsession", selling 250,000 copies in Germany alone. The US version was reissued with new artwork and four extra tracks. Their third album, The Gods of Earth and Heaven, was not released in the US; its lead single "Israelism" received airplay across European radio stations and topped charts in Israel despite some controversy. The 1994 album Glory Glamour and Gold accompanied a German club tour advocating for same-sex marriage. In 1995, they issued their first greatest hits collection, Les Greatest Hits, which included three new songs; it was re-released in 1996 with an additional track titled "King Midas," written by Jonas Berggren from Ace of Base.
By 1996, after producing four studio albums and more than twenty music videos, they had established a strong fan base throughout Eastern Europe before Bard decided to dissolve the group to concentrate on his new venture Vacuum.
Reunion: 2001–2009
In 2001, Army of Lovers briefly came together again to celebrate a decade of their music with the release of a greatest hits collection titled Le Grand Docu-Soap. This compilation featured three cover tracks, including renditions of "Let the Sunshine In" and "Hands Up".
Further reunions, releases, and shows: 2011–present
By June 2011, La Camilla and Dominika joined forces as guest vocalists on "Don't Try to Steal My Limelight," a track by Swedish drag performer Miss Inga. Subsequently, they established the duo Happy Hoes, launching singles such as "We Rule the World" and the festive "Happy Ho Ho Ho," and performed at Pride in 2012.
Towards the end of 2012, Army of Lovers reassembled with Alexander Bard, Camilla Henemark, and Jean-Pierre Barda to participate in Melodifestivalen 2013 with their song "Rockin' the Ride," aiming for a spot in Eurovision. Despite their efforts, they did not advance to the final round. Soon after, Bard announced Henemark’s exit and Dominika Peczynski's comeback, which led to public disagreements.
In March 2013, the group issued a greatest hits album titled Big Battle of Egos, which included four new songs. This was followed by the single "Signed on My Tattoo," a collaborative effort between Army of Lovers and Bard’s other band Gravitonas.
The EP Scandinavian Crime was released in June 2013, featuring re-recorded versions of "Rockin' The Ride" and "Tragedy" where Peczynski and Barda replaced Henemark’s vocals. On 1 July 2013, "Crucified 2013," a refreshed take on their iconic hit, debuted as the official anthem for Copenhagen Pride.
In November 2023, Army of Lovers unveiled their album Sexodus.
Band members
Current
Former
- Camilla Henemark
- Michaela de la Cour
Timeline
Discography
- Disco Extravaganza (1990)
- Massive Luxury Overdose (1991)
- The Gods of Earth and Heaven (1993)
- Glory Glamour and Gold (1994)
- Sexodus (2023)