Hellacopters

The Hellacopters are a Swedish rock band formed in Stockholm in 1994 by Nicke Andersson and a rotating group of fellow musicians. Emerging from the mid-1990s garage rock revival, they are known for a high-energy blend of garage rock, hard rock, and punk influences. The band built a reputation through hard-edged live performances and a prolific recording output.

Over the years they released a series of studio albums, with their debut Supershitty to the Max! (1996) often cited as a landmark in the Swedish and European garage rock scenes. Their early work combined fuzzed guitars, tight rhythm sections, and a rebellious sensibility that appealed to punk and classic-rock fans alike. The Hellacopters gained international attention through touring and collaborations, contributing to the broader revival of raw rock sounds in the late 1990s and 2000s.

Musically, the group draws on 1960s garage rock, proto-punk, and hard rock traditions, balancing aggressive guitar riffs with catchy melodies and chorus-driven songs. The live show is characterized by intensity, precision, and a penchant for high-volume dynamics. The lineup has changed over time, with Nicke Andersson serving as a central figure and primary songwriter during the band's early period; the Hellacopters have been described as a rotating collective rather than a fixed ensemble.

Legacy: The Hellacopters are regarded as one of Sweden's most prominent rock acts of their era and helped bring European garage rock to wider international audiences. Their discography remains influential among fans of garage rock and punk-inflected hard rock.