Tom & Mick
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1965 in Enköping, Sweden |
| Defunct | 1968 |
| Headquarters | Enköping , Sweden |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
Tom & Mick—also referred to as Tom & Mick & Maniacs or simply The Maniacs—originated as a Swedish musical group established in 1965 in Enköping, Sweden. Their active period lasted three years, during which they produced one album and multiple singles. Their initial breakthrough came with the hit "Please, Please, Please". Led by Tommy Körberg (Tom) alongside Michael Johansson (Mick) in their final two years, they stood out as one of Sweden’s pioneering pop acts featuring dual lead vocalists. The band is chiefly remembered for their chart-topping track "Somebody's Taken Maria Away" and for launching Körberg’s distinguished career in music.
Formation and early phase (1965–66)
Initially known as the Bootleggers, the group was formed in Enköping by two pairs of brothers: Örjan and Lasse Englund on guitars, and Leif and Bo Gyllander handling bass and drums respectively. They earned local acclaim after winning a competition held at the town’s folkpark. Around this timeframe, Tommy Körberg gained recognition for his unique vocal style, influenced by artists such as Tom Jones and Engelbert Humperdinck. The Bootleggers and Körberg crossed paths at Bålstadsskolan, performing together before Körberg officially joined the band.
In 1966, their entry into Sveriges Radio's Popbandstävling earned them second place, largely due to Körberg’s vocal contributions. This exposure led to guitarist Lasse Englund departing the band, with Ingvar Waldenström stepping in as his replacement. Benny Englund, who took on roles as both producer and manager after discovering their performance, encouraged their relocation to Stockholm and secured a deal with Columbia Records, which handled most of their releases. Englund’s management greatly influenced the direction of their career.
Their first single—a rendition of the Beach Boys’ "Don't Worry Baby" coupled with "Somebody To Care"—was launched in November 1966 but did not enter the charts on either Tio i Topp or Kvällstoppen. Around this period, drummer Bo Gyllander left due to compulsory military service and was succeeded by Christer Jarlstrand.
Breakthrough and addition of Michael Johansson (1967)
After the underperformance of "Don't Worry Baby," the Maniacs recorded a cover of James Brown's "Please, Please, Please" in 1967. This version highlighted Körberg’s vocals prominently, including an emotional cry at the track’s conclusion. Recorded in February 1967 and released shortly thereafter with "Visions" as its B-side, it became their first substantial hit in Sweden, peaking at number 5 on Tio i Topp and number 12 on Kvällstoppen by April. A subsequent appearance on Sveriges Television transformed Körberg into a widely recognized figure across Sweden. Nonetheless, lineup changes persisted: Ingvar Waldenström was replaced by Bernt Liljegren. Their next single—a cover of Baker Knight’s "Never Be Anyone Else But You", recorded in April and released in May 1967—did not chart, leading to Örjan Englund’s exit and Gunnar Kullenberg taking his place.
During this phase, manager Benny Englund aimed to replicate the success of soul duos like Sam & Dave and the Righteous Brothers within Sweden. In summer 1967, Michael Johansson from Playmates joined as a second lead singer. Reflecting this new dual-frontman setup, the band adopted the name Tom & Mick & Maniacs. Although professional musicians comprised the rest of the Maniacs lineup, they primarily served as backing musicians for Körberg and Johansson—a shift that generated internal friction.
On 18 July 1967, shortly after Johansson’s arrival, they recorded "Somebody's Taken Maria Away" with producer Anders Henriksson at Europafilm Studios. Supported by , who contributed to most later sessions, this single was released in August 1967. It dominated Tio i Topp for six weeks straight that autumn, elevating Johansson to Swedish pop prominence and becoming one of the program’s most successful releases.
Album and dissolution (1967–68)
In December 1967, Tom & Mick & Maniacs unveiled their sole album, Tom & Mick Maniacs, which garnered both commercial success and favorable reviews. This record included soul and pop renditions such as Isaac Hayes and David Porter's "You Don't Know Like I Know," an early adaptation of Neil Diamond's "Red Red Wine," and Del Shannon's "I Never Loved A Girl." At the time, it stood among Sweden’s priciest musical productions, provoking controversy when producer Anders Henriksson employed session musicians in place of the original Maniacs members. This decision led to disputes and ultimately resulted in some founding members being dismissed or leaving the group. To support the recordings, Lars Norberg (bass), Stephan Möller (drums), and Johnny Lundin (guitar) were brought in as backing players. Their single "I Who Have Nothing," released in February 1968 with the original track "Pandemonium" on the B-side, climbed to number 8 on Tio i Topp, becoming their last entry on the charts.
By this stage, the ensemble had dropped the Maniacs suffix, rebranding simply as Tom & Mick to highlight frontmen Körberg and Johansson. After their contract with Columbia concluded, Englund secured a deal for them with Sonet Records in spring 1968. The single "24 Hours from Tulsa," released in April, failed to enter the charts on either Tio i Topp or Kvällstoppen, ending a year-long run of hits and sparking tensions between Johansson and Körberg. Subsequently, the Maniacs were ousted from the lineup and replaced by a big band arrangement that proved short-lived and unsuccessful. The group ultimately dissolved during a summer performance alongside Lasse Samuelssons orkester due to ongoing lineup instability.
Meanwhile, former members regrouped as the Nashmen before disbanding in 1969. Körberg embarked on a solo career that grew into one of Sweden’s most notable successes. Johansson joined Michael Salt & Peppar, touring internationally without significant acclaim before transitioning into music education in Valbo by the mid-1970s. Founder Örjan Englund went on to establish a record label and collaborated with various artists throughout the 1970s. Guitarist Bernt Liljegren later joined a reformed version of Hep Stars.
Album
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Tom & Mick Maniacs |
|
Compilations
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Somebody's Taken Maria Away |
|
| Tom Mick & Maniacs |
|
Singles
| Title | Year | Highest chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tio i Topp | Kvällstoppen | ||
| As the Maniacs | |||
| "Don't Worry Baby" / "Someone to Care" | 1966 | — | — |
| "Please, Please, Please" / "Visions" | 1967 | 5 | 12 |
| "Never Be Anyone Else But You" / "That's Why I'm Crying" | — | — | |
| As Tom & Mick & Maniacs | |||
| "Somebody's Taken Maria Away" / "I Got the Feelin'" | 1967 | 1 | 1 |
| "Can I Get To Know You Better" / "Free" | 15 | — | |
| "I Who Have Nothing" / "Pandemonium" | 1968 | 8 | — |
| As Tom & Mick | |||
| "24 Hours from Tulsa" / "Koko Joe" | 1968 | — | — |