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Dregen

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Dregen
Dregen performing in 2018
Dregen performing in 2018
Background information
Birth nameAndreas Tyrone Svensson
Also known asDregen, Dregen Hellacopter, Åsk Dregen, Jerry Lee Hellacopter, Sue Ellen
Born (1973-06-12) 12 June 1973 (age 51)
GenresGarage rock, punk rock, glam punk, glam rock, hard rock, glam metal
OccupationGuitarist
Years active1987–present
LabelsPsychout, BMG, Liquor & Poker, MVG, RCA Records, White Jazz, Lookout!, Infernal, JuJu

Dregen (born Andreas Tyrone Svensson; 12 June 1973) is a Swedish musician best known as the guitarist of The Hellacopters, as well as Backyard Babies. As of March 2014, Dregen has also served as the newest member of Michael Monroe's solo band, replacing Ginger as guitarist. He was formerly married to fellow Swedish singer Pernilla Andersson,[1] who is also the mother of their first child, a son named Sixten.[2] The couple officially announced their separation on 1 June 2015.[3]

He is a founding member of Backyard Babies, whom he helped form in 1987. The band announced the start of an indefinite hiatus beginning in 2010. In a 2011 interview with Rocksverige.se, Dregen mentioned the band would eventually come together and be stronger than ever in response to rumours surrounding the band's still ongoing hiatus.[4] During this hiatus, Dregen released a personal autobiography, followed by his first solo record in September 2013.[5] Then, after a 5-year absence, Backyard Babies returned in 2015, going on to release Four By Four later that summer. Its release marked the band's first album in 7 years.

History

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Dregen formed the Backyard Babies with his childhood friends Nicke Borg, Peder Carlsson and Johan Blomqvist in their own town of Nässjö, Sweden. The band moved to Stockholm to pursue wider success. The group signed a record deal and released their debut album Diesel & Power in 1994.

Also in 1994, Dregen met singer and guitarist Nicke Andersson who at that time played drums with Swedish death metal outfit Entombed. Together they formed another band, The Hellacopters. The Hellacopters found success in 1996 with their album Supershitty to the Max!, which won a Grammis. It was followed in 1997 by the record Payin' the Dues. The band also toured with KISS. That same year, Backyard Babies released another Grammis winning album – Total 13.

By the end of the 1990s, Dregen decided to leave The Hellacopters and subsequently focused on recording and performing with Backyard Babies.[6]

The album Making Enemies is Good was released in 2001, and Backyard Babies were awarded another Grammis. They toured the world several times and even did a European tour opening up for AC/DC.[7] Since then, the band have released a number of EPs, singles and albums such as Stockholm Syndrome, People Like People Like People Like Us, Backyard Babies and Them XX. The latter resulted in an anniversary tour in 2010, following which the band announced an indefinite hiatus.[8]

In May 2011 Dregen also joined Michael Monroe, from former band Hanoi Rocks.[9] Monroe, writing on his website, said

Dregen is the perfect choice for this band. We are a group of very strong individuals and we really needed a great personality as a guitar player. Dregen has the whole package together – he's a killer guitarist, a brilliant showman, looks great and has the right kind of attitude and taste in music. I feel very glad and lucky that he was willing and able to join us. Dregen is a real star and a true rocker at heart.I can't wait to start rockin' out with him in the band![10]

As of July 2011, Dregen was working on his first solo album.[11] It was released on 25 September 2013 as Dregen.

In 2021, Dregen returns to The Hellacopters and they record their first album in 16 years and release a single "Reap a Whirlwind" .[12]

Musical equipment

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Dregen at the 2011 Ilosaarirock festival
Guitars
  • Gibson ES-335 – Goldtop finish and Classic 57 bridge and neck pickups.
  • Gibson ES-335 – Cream white finish, Lundgren bridge pickup and Classic 57 neck pickup.
  • Gibson ES-335 – Black finish, DiMarzio Super Distortion bridge pickup and Classic 57 neck pickup.
  • Sundberg S-J2 acoustic – Luthier built with custom skull inlays.
Effects
Amplifiers

Selected discography

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See also: The Hellacopters discography
  • 1994 Backyard Babies – Diesel & Power (Guitar, backing vocals)
  • 1996 The Hellacopters – Supershitty to the Max! (Guitar, vocals)
  • 1997 The Hellacopters – Payin' the Dues (Guitar, backing vocals)
  • 1998 Backyard Babies – Total 13 (Guitar, backing vocals)
  • 1999 Supershit 666 – Supershit666 (Guitar, vocals)
  • 2001 Backyard Babies – Making Enemies Is Good (Guitar, backing vocals)
  • 2001 Infinite Mass – Bullet (Guitar)
  • 2003 Backyard Babies – Stockholm Syndrome (Guitar, backing vocals)
  • 2003 Wilmer X – Lyckliga Hundar (Guitar, backing vocals)
  • 2004 Kurt-Sunes Med Helveteshundarna – (Komma Ut Ur Machen) Nu! (Guitar)
  • 2004 Dregen and Tyla – The Poet & The Dragon (Guitar)
  • 2004 Urrke T & Midlife Crisis – Ask Not What You Can Do for Your Country... (Guitar)
  • 2006 Backyard Babies – People Like People Like People Like Us (Guitar, backing vocals)
  • 2008 Backyard Babies – Backyard Babies (Guitar, backing vocals)
  • 2008 Timbuktu – Tack för kaffet (Guitar, vocals)
  • 2010 Imperial State Electric – Imperial State Electric (Guitar, backing vocals)
  • 2011 Märvel – Warhawks Of War (Guest guitar)
  • 2013 Dregen – Dregen (Guitar, vocals)
  • 2013 Michael Monroe – Horns and Halos (Guitar, backing vocals)
  • 2015 Backyard Babies – Four By Four (Guitar, backing vocals)
  • 2022 The Hellacopters – Eyes Of Oblivion (Guitar, backing vocals)

References

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  1. ^ "Dregen fick sin Pernilla | Nöjesbladet | Aftonbladet". Aftonbladet.se. 25 July 2009. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
  2. ^ "Neon Lights – Glam Metal / Sleaze / Glam Punk". Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
  3. ^ "Dregen och Pernilla Andersson separerar".
  4. ^ "Intervju: Dregen om Backyard Babies, soloskivan och Michael Monroe - Rocksverige". Archived from the original on 26 January 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
  5. ^ "Official Dregen homepage. Solo artist, guitarist of Michael Monroe, Backyard Babies and the Hellacopters". Archived from the original on 22 August 2013. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
  6. ^ David Bogerius. Blod, svett & darar. Hjalmarson & Högberg, 2005. ISBN 9788777497582. p. 66-73
  7. ^ "AC/DC". Music Might. Archived from the original on 28 January 2012. Retrieved 12 February 2012.
  8. ^ "BACKYARD BABIES To Go on Hiatus – Nov. 17, 2009". Blabbermouth.net. Archived from the original on 21 November 2009. Retrieved 12 February 2012.
  9. ^ "BACKYARD BABIES' DREGEN Joins MICHAEL MONROE's Band". Blabbermouth.net. Archived from the original on 18 September 2012. Retrieved 12 February 2012.
  10. ^ "Biography". Michael Monro Office Page. Retrieved 12 February 2012.
  11. ^ "MICHAEL MONROE, DREGEN Interviewed at Finland's RUISROCK Festival (Video) – July 11, 2011". Blabbermouth.net. Archived from the original on 14 July 2011. Retrieved 12 February 2012.
  12. ^ DiVita, Joe (17 December 2021). "The Hellacopters Return With First New Song in 16 Years". Loudwire. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
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