6 Swedish Sleaze Metal Bands You Need To Know – That Aren’t Active Anymore?
If the 90s were the dark years for sleaze/glam or hair metal bands, call them what you will, then we can surely say that the following 2000s were the years of this genre’s renaissance. And all thanks to the Scandinavian scene, primarily Sweden. There were bands from other countries as well, but somehow the epicenter of this movement was precisely in this kingdom in Northern Europe.
The majority of groups came exactly from this country, some of which have gained legendary status to this day, like Hardcore Superstar, Crashdïet, Crazy Lixx, Confess. It’s a big achievement to stay relevant after so many years, which, of course, and for various reasons not all have managed to do. On account of that, in this article, we will look back at the some of the best Swedish sleaze/glam bands that were an integral and important part of this movement but are no longer active today.
1.Gemini Five
Formed in 2001 in Stockholm, Gemini Five was one of the biggest bands in the early part of the decade. They became famous for blending sleaze metal with goth and industrial elements, which were perfectly captured on their three releases: Babylon Rockets (2003), Black (2005), and Sex Drugs Anarchy (2008). Although there is no official proof of them disbanding, the band hasn’t been active for over a decade. Frontman Tim Star started a band called Sweet Creature in 2016 with Crashdïet’s guitarist Martin Sweet, while drummer Slim Pete and guitarist Tim Wouda, along with Andy Lipstixx formed Toxic Rose in 2012.
Gemini Five is still present online, mostly re-releasing their albums on vinyl in recent years. Back in the day, they topped the Swedish charts with hits like “You Spin Me Round” and “Scream 4 Me” and won awards, including Best Sleaze/Glam Album of 2008. Who knows, maybe it’s time for them to make a comeback, ’cause the army of sleaze metal fans would certainly be delighted.
2.Vains Of Jenna
There is no way this list could go without mentioning a band like Vains of Jenna. Formed in Falkenberg, Sweden, in 2005, the band quickly became the most hyped group of the new sleaze glam movement, thanks to their visit to the US, where Tuff frontman Stevie Rachelle took them under his management wing. In just two years, the band had played famous Hollywood venues like Whiskey A Go Go, toured both the West and East Coasts, and were produced by legendary Guns N’ Roses guitarist Gilby Clarke and then later by MTV showman Bam Margera. The guys became part of MTV shows like Bam’s Unholy Union and Jackass 2.
They were the only band from this era to “make it” in the US (which, to this day, is no easy feat), with two astonishing albums: Lit Up/Let Down (2006) and The Art of Telling Lies (2009). The first album was considered by many US fans as the Appetite for Destruction of its time. But all that success wasn’t enough, as frontman Lizzy DeVine left the band in 2010. Ther rest of the group later recorded one more album with a new singer before disbanding for good in 2012. The only reason we don’t miss them as much today (though we actually do) is the fact that Lizzy started another powerhouse sleaze group, The Cruel Intentions, which is rocking and rolling all over the world as you’re reading these lines.
3.Backyard Babies
Where the hell are Backyard Babies nowadays? This is the question we keep asking over and over, almost every day. Although some of you might not consider them a true sleaze rock/metal band due to their punk rock and garage rock roots, and the fact that they were formed back in 1987 in the town of Nässjö, their explosion in the late ’90s and early 2000s earns them a rightful place in this movement as one of its forefathers. We’ve gone through their history timeline in one of our previous articles, so we won’t bore you with that again. The only thing worth mentioning is that after releasing their last album Silver and Gold in 2019, they played several pre-pandemic shows in 2020 and then stopped. Dregen went back to The Hellacopters, which is one of the reasons they haven’t returned yet. However, knowing their modus operandi over the years, it’s very likely they will come back at some point, as there is no known bad blood between Nicke, Dregen, and the rest of the guys. We’re waiting…
EDIT – Dregen recently sopke about the status of Backyard Babies as we were writing this article.
4.Babylon Bombs
Another band from the Stockholm sleaze rock scene, Babylon Bombs, was formed in the early 2000s, specifically in 2001. To date, they have released four albums: The Things You Can’t Live Without (2001), Cracked Wide Open and Bruised (2005), Doin’ You Nasty (2006), and Babylon’s Burning (2009). Since then, nothing more. In 2010, the band publicly announced a hiatus after the group’s frontman, Daniel “Dani” Persson, left the band due to burnout from the music industry and touring in general. Three years later, they made a small comeback with the single Cathouse, but that was the last release from these sleaze rockers.
I believe we all fondly remember hits like Jaded Heart, Hometown Hero, Liberation, or Babylon’s Burning, which still regularly pop up in our music algorithms. On the other hand, the band remained active on social media for years after stopping their work, leading us to believe that their end was never officially confirmed. A Babylon Bombs comeback? Why not! Anything is possible!
5.Lipstixx ‘N’ Bulletz
Not as big as some of the other bands on this list, Lipstixx N Bulletz from Gothenburg remains one of the fan-favorite bands from the Swedish sleaze metal scene. Formed in 2005, they only released one full-length album, Bang Your Head, in 2009, along with two EPs, before disbanding in 2012. As mentioned earlier, vocalist Andy Lipstixx went on to form the dark sleaze metal band Toxic Rose, along with Michael Sweet, who now plays drums in Crashdïet, and Tim Wouda from Gemini Five.
Things may not have gone as planned for these guys, and it’s almost impossible to type their name correctly in search bars, but as mentioned, real sleaze fans will always appreciate their little gem of an album, which was also reissued back in 2012.
6. Loud N’ Nasty
Also from Gothenburg comes another fan favorite, Loud N’ Nasty. While they are known for their stripped-down sleaze metal, they are particularly notable for being one of the first bands to start the new wave of Swedish sleaze metal bands movement back in the 90s. Up to this day they released four albums: Loud N’ Nasty (1998), I Wanna Live My Life in Fame (2000), Teaser Teaser (2004), and Too Much Ain’t Enough (2005).
Unfortunately not much happened after the mid 2000s as the hiatuses began. They released an EP in 2007, then came back again with the single Stand Strong single in 2019, announcing a possible new beginning. In between all these years, frontman Rob Nasty started a band called Danger and released a single in 2023 under the new name Nästy. To conclude, Rob Nasty and Chris Loud (guitar) as the core members of the band had an early vision of resurrecting this genre with a sound influenced by early Mötley Crüe, W.A.S.P., and Ratt, stripped down to its sleazy core. Although they somehow got lost in the process, fans will surely always be thankful to them for igniting it in the first place. There isn’t a hair metal radio station or online show where you don’t hear at least one song from this band weekly. In the end, they will probably come back again, sooner or later.
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