Swedish Erotica
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1985 |
| Defunct | 1996 |
| Headquarters | Sweden , Sweden |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
Swedish Erotica was a Swedish rock band established in 1985 and dissolved in 1996. During the 1990s, some former members performed with the cover band Double Trouble. Past collaborators of the band’s members include artists such as Yngwie Malmsteen, TNT, Vinnie Vincent, Treat, Shotgun Messiah, John Norum, Talisman, and King Diamond.
Origins
The group originated in early 1985, founded by guitarists Magnus "Manko" Axx (Axelsson) and Anders Allhage (later known as Andy La Rocque from King Diamond), with bassist Ken "Ulf" Sandin. The initial lineup also featured vocalist Dag Ingebrigtsen (formerly of TNT) and drummer Dennis Nybratt. This formation contributed to the Norwegian rock-themed Christmas compilation "The Grønne Glitrende 3 Og Dag". By mid-1985, Allhage departed to join King Diamond, and Nybratt soon followed. Their replacements were Jamie Borger (from Treat) on drums and Dan Stomberg (from Madison) on guitar. Under the provisional name "Swedish Beauty," with Allhage on vocals, they produced demos but were unable to secure a recording contract. Subsequently, Magnus Axx restructured the group and brought in new musicians.
Reformation and initial phase
In 1987, Swedish Erotica was reassembled with Magnus Axx and Morgan Le Fay (Morgan Jensen) handling guitars, Johnny D'Fox (Jonas Tångström) on bass, and Pete Sanders (Petter Svärd) on drums. They created a demo featuring session vocalist Göran Edman, who had previously worked with Madison and briefly fronted Vinnie Vincent Invasion. Edman soon departed to collaborate with former Europe guitarist John Norum on his solo album Total Control released in 1987. Additionally, Edman contributed to projects with Yngwie Malmsteen and early recordings for Marcel Jacob’s band Talisman.
Signing and first album
After moving to Los Angeles in 1988 and networking with industry figures such as Kee Marcello and Stevie Nicks, Swedish Erotica—now consisting of guitarists Axx and Le Fay along with bassist D'Fox—secured a contract through Virgin Records’ Swedish division, facilitated by A&R representative Donna Simmons. This opportunity arose from strong demos featuring Edman’s vocals. By the end of that year, drummer BC Strike (formerly of Zanity) joined, and sessions at Tuff Studios produced demos with Tony Niva on lead vocals. The single "Downtown" was released during this period.
In early 1989, the band recorded a demo in Norway under producer Ole Evenrude. Background vocals were provided by Mats Levén (Capricorn), who was invited to become the lead singer after Niva's AOR vocal style was deemed unsuitable. Levén accepted this offer after initially declining.
The self-titled debut album Swedish Erotica was released in 1989 featuring Levén as lead vocalist and Niva contributing backing vocals. Included was the ballad "Hollywood Dreams," a song originally written for Bonnie Tyler. Music videos for singles "R'n'R City" and "Young Wild & Free" received airplay on MTV, elevating the band's visibility beyond other Virgin Scandinavia artists. Although "Young Wild & Free" achieved favorable chart positions, a strike at the pressing plant delayed album distribution by two months during peak demand, negatively affecting sales and overall commercial performance.
Following numerous performances at local venues such as Alexis and White Corner, as well as a UK tour culminating in a show at London's Astoria with an audience of approximately 700-800 people, the band returned to the studio in spring 1990 to record demos for their sophomore album. However, Virgin Records considered the new material lacking standout tracks comparable to their earlier successful singles penned by producer Evenrude.
Member changes and tribute acts
Around this period, Jamie Borger, who had been part of the original lineup and later joined the well-known Swedish group Treat, informed Levén that Treat was in search of a new vocalist. Recognizing the limited backing from Virgin for Swedish Erotica and desiring to move closer to Treat's base in Stockholm, Levén contemplated departing. Upon sharing his intentions with Virgin’s management, they proposed a solo career opportunity, but he ultimately decided to leave and become Treat’s singer, lending his voice to their 1992 self-titled release while Swedish Erotica’s anticipated follow-up album remained shelved.
Drummer Bjarne was succeeded by Jonas Olsson, and Levén’s role was taken over by Anders Möller, previously the lead singer of Slobobans Undergång and also known for his work with Madison and an Ozzy Osbourne tribute band. The bass position saw Jonas Tångström replaced first by Terry Barajas—who later became drummer for Abysmal Dawn—and subsequently by returning member Ken Sandin from Alien and Da Vinci. During this timeframe, the band members also performed in Gothenburg with the cover group Double Trouble, delivering renditions of tracks by Guns N' Roses, Poison, Nirvana, among others.
In 1993, Bjarne Johansson departed to collaborate as a guest with a revamped version of Shotgun Messiah under the alias "BJ" and was once again replaced by Jamie Borger, who had recently left Treat and was the catalyst for Levén’s exit.
Follow-up album and disbandment
Swedish Erotica secured a deal with Empire Records in 1995 and unveiled their sophomore album, Blindman's Justice, which was recorded at Bauhaus Studios in Gothenburg and mixed by Michael Ilbert. Vocalist Möller achieved considerable recognition with his other project, pop-rock band Black Ingvars, which reached number one on Swedish charts. The emergence of grunge and alternative rock genres played a significant role in the band's dissolution in 1996.
Later developments – third album
After departing Treat, former frontman Mats Levén became a prominent figure within Sweden’s metal community, contributing to groups such as Abstract Algebra, At Vance, Fatal Force, and Therion. In 2012, he briefly served as the lead vocalist for Candlemass.
In 2005, German label MTM Music issued Too Daze Gone, a compilation comprising eight tracks featuring Levén originally intended for the unreleased second album alongside eight early demo recordings from 1986 to 1988. Levén is credited as the exclusive lead singer on this release.
Morgan Jensen successfully transitioned into screenwriting for film and television. Axx managed Gothenburg’s well-known rock venue Sticky Fingers until early 2019 and holds a rare songwriting credit on Motörhead’s "Overnight Sensation" album with the track "Civil War," receiving an invitation to join Motörhead as a guitarist replacement.
A special reunion featuring Levén, Axx, Le Fay, Sandin, and Borger was announced for the 2024 Sweden Rock Festival. In August 2024, they performed their second reunion appearance at Sweden's Skogsröjet festival.
Discography
- Swedish Erotica (1989) – Side A: "Rock 'n Roll City" (4:25); "Love on the Line" (4:19); "We're Wild, Young and Free" (4:43); "Hollywood Dreams" (4:26); "Love Hunger" (5:01). Side B: "Love Me or Leave Me" (4:27); "Downtown" (3:55); "She Drives Me Crazy" (3:31); "Loaded Gun" (3:59); "Rip It Off" (4:24); "Break the Walls" (4:38).
- Blindman's Justice (1995) – featuring vocals by Anders Möller. Tracklist includes: "White Sister"; "Heaven, Hell or Hollywood"; "Blindman's Justice"; "Too Good to Be True"; "King of Pain"; "Blue Movies"; "Back in the Saddle"; "Sweetest of Sins"; "Rough Enough"; "Show a Little Lace"; "Satisfied".
- Too Daze Gone ... (2005) – comprises tracks like: "Down 2 Bizniz"; "Skin On Skin"; "Fire With Fire"; "Too Daze Gone"; "Muscle In Motion"; "Show a Little Slip"; "Blue Movies"; "Terri", plus bonus demos recorded between 1986-1988.
- Swedish Erotica Remaster (August 2007) – remastered edition of their debut album including additional versions of classic songs such as acoustic renditions and remixes.
Lineup at Disbandment
- Magnus Axx (guitar, 1985–1996, 2024)
- Anders Möller (lead vocals, 1990–1996)
- BC Strike (Bjarne Johansson) (drummer, 1988–1993, 1995–1996)
- Morgan Le Fay (Morgan Jensen) (guitarist, 1988–1996, 2024)
- Ulf Ken (Ken Sandin) (bass guitar, 1985–1988, 1993–1996, 2024)
Previous Members
- Andy La Rocque (Anders Allhage) (guitarist, vocals, 1985)
- Dag Ingebrigtsen (vocalist, 1985–1986)
- Goran Edman (lead vocals, 1988)
- Tony Niva (vocals, 1988–1989)
- Mats Levén ("Matthew S. Leven") (vocals, 1989–1991, 2024)
- Dan Stomberg (guitarist, 1985–1987)
- Jonas Tångström ("Johnny D. Fox") (bass player, 1988–1990)
- Terry Barajas (bass guitar, 1991–1992)
- Dennis Nybratt (drummer, 1985)
- Jamie Borger (drums, 1985–1987, 1993–1994, 2024)
- Pete Sanders ("Petter Svärd") (drums, 1988)
- Jonas Olsson (drums, 1994–1995)