Page 32 - Black Velvet Issue 87

BV87 hcss:BV87 pg32 19/12/2015 20:52 Page 3

BlackVelvetMagazine.Com -32
here’s a lot that’s happened in this anymore.” We were like “What!?” We gave Martin that the band had recorded back
“Tthose 17 years,” says frontman have a rule in Hardcore Superstar that we in 1994. “When we heard those three
Jocke Berg. “It’s not only rock ‘n’ roll. don’t fire people. You have to go by your- songs… we hadn’t heard them since 1994…
There’s a lot of bad decisions… things hap- self.” we were like “We were that good?!” We were
pen so much for a band our size. We want to The band drafted Vic Zino in to take surprised. That was the kick in the ass to
be bigger and bigger. When we did the ‘It’s Thomas’s place. Vic, from Crazy Lixx, was at start writing songs for the ‘HCSS’ album.
Only Rock ‘N’ Roll’ album we thought that we first a temporary replacement but later con- That gave us energy… but I don’t think we
were going to be the biggest band in the firmed as a permanent member. “Since Vic had a lack of energy somehow. We always
world. And we still want to be that, but we came into the band it’s fresh energy. It also write songs. We’ve written ten new songs al-
know that the way up the stairs is not that gave me a little competition on stage. I’m not ready for the next album. But that kind of
easy, there’s a lot of bumps on the way. It’s the wildest one. So it thing… When we heard
not only rock ‘n’ roll but it’s still fun.” was both bad and the old demo, those three
Looking back to when the band first good what hap- ook at the thing in songs gave us a ‘wow’
formed, Jocke says, “I think I’m the same pened.” feeling. We thought, “We
guy as back then. The difference is that I’m “LSyria with the can’t throw this away, we
older and know what to do. I’m more men- he band have kids. They have to flee from must use it”.
tally strong today than I was when I was 20. Treleased a the country. It shouldn’t The album received a
When you’re 20 you’re like “What the fuck whopping ten studio have to be like that. It’s mixed reaction from fans
should I do? I want to be a rock star. I need albums. From the though. Maybe this was
to have a job because I don’t have any band’s catalogue of 2015. What the fuck is going because some of the
money,” but nowadays I have a lovely wife, songs, there are on?.” - Jocke Berg songs on the new album
three kids and I can do what I love the most, songs such as ‘We were a little bit different.
having a good time, meeting the audience.” Don’t Need A Cure’, ‘Fly’ has a bit of a stoner
Over the years the band have had trials which Jocke sings is vibe for example. Jocke
and tribulations like most bands do - both ‘for the outcast’. They’ve also got a song says, “It was funny. When the single ‘Touch
personal and band related. The first major called ‘Bully’. Jocke gets slightly political for The Sky’ came out, there were like two
hurdle that the quartet had to overcome in- a moment. “Look at the thing in Syria with camps; 50% were really hating it, they said
volved their record label, Music For Nations. the kids. They have to flee from the country. “What the fuck is this?” and things like that,
“We didn’t know that we were signing a bad It shouldn’t have to be like that. It’s 2015. and the other half were like “Wow, this is
contract with Music For Nations. More like a What the fuck is going on? It’s the same with new and fresh for Hardcore Superstar”. I
slave contract. It was 6 albums in 12 years. bullies and people who think they’re better think we had to do this album to get the
That’s a long time, y’know. Luckily for us, the than others and go down on people that are songs out of our minds and our hearts and
company went bankrupt so we got off the not strong. That’s why when I announce the get them down on the record.”
deal.” ‘Bully’ song, I always say, “Take care of each The lyrics on ‘HCSS’ are deeper than a
Fast forward a few years to 2007 and this other, help each other,” ‘cause that’s how it lot of previous songs, according to Jocke. “I
time a personal hiccup for Jocke. “I got di- should be. Life is too short.” think that’s why a few people can’t under-
vorced back in stand the album,
2007,” he tells Black because it’s a lit-
Velvet. “I was sad. tle bit darker. But
At that time we we felt like we had
started recording to do that album
the ‘Dreamin’ In A to get it out of our
Casket’ album and system. But writ-
that healed me. It ing the new songs
was the best time of it feels already
my life. But just a now that we’re
couple of weeks be- back writing
fore I was sad be- about certain peo-
cause of the ple that we’ve met
divorce. But that and it’s more of a
made me feel so party vibe again in
good, doing that the songs.”
record.” He says So the next
that on ‘Dreamin’ In album should be
A Casket’ the songs a fun album?
that helped him the “Yeah, I think so,”
most were ‘Silence replies Jocke. “A
For The Peacefully’ hard rocking fun
and ‘Sensitive To album.”
The Light’. How did So what does
he feel getting Jocke think fans
everything out? Did want from the
he see it as ther- band now?
apy? we ask. “I know that
“Yeah, you they want a lot of
could say that,” energy from us,”
Jocke replies. “You he says. “Very
release something party, rock ‘n’ roll,
in yourself that you energy, a fun
need to get out of time… I think
your system just to we’re giving the
get well mentally fans this every
again. That’s the night. You don’t
good part of playing music.” have to drink to party. I don’t drink on stage.
The band also hit a roadblock when their n April 2015, the band, whose full line I get a few mouthfuls of beer, that’s all. I
guitarist Thomas Silver decided to leave the Iup is Jocke Berg (vocalist), Vic Zino drink water. Because the music gets me
band in early 2008. “That was an awkward (guitar), Martin Sandvik (bassist) and Mag- going.”
moment because we were heading to Aus- nus ‘Adde’ Andreasson (drums), released We can agree with that. We don’t drink at
tralia and Japan four days after we played in ‘HCSS’, their tenth full-length studio album. BVHQ, but love a good rock show. And Hard-
London and he just said “I’m not going to do The album was borne from a demo that a fan core Superstar put on one of the best.

HARDCORE SUPERSTAR