Kenny Håkansson
Encyclopedia
Kenny Håkansson is the bassist of the highly influential Swedish rock & roll band the Hellacopters
. The Hellacopters were founded by Håkansson's childhood friend Nicke Andersson
as a side project to his role as a drummer in the heavy metal band Entombed
, considered to be founders of death 'n' roll.
, the Stooges
, the Ramones, Sex Pistols
, the Damned and the Rolling Stones
.
The Hellacopters have released six full-length albums with their own material, two non-album work compilations, and many other official releases. They have also done several tours throughout Scandinavia, Europe, the U.S.A., and Australia; they have opened for the Rolling Stones, KISS, and ZZ Top
, and collaborated with artists such as Scott Morgan, the Flaming Sideburns
, Backyard Babies
, and Gluecifer
. In late 2007 the band announced that they were going to break up after the release of their collection of cover songs, Head Off
, and their Tour Before the Fall which ended in late October 2008.
Besides his work with the Hellacopters, Håkansson has also contributed songs for his fellow bandmate Robert Dahlqvist
's side project Thunder Express
, as well as with lyrics for Entombed
's early records.
Håkansson's main instrument is a highly road-worn 1969 Fender Jazz Bass
with almost all its paint stripped off due to constant use. For amplification Håkansson uses an Orange OR120 amplifer head which he runs through a Ampeg
8x10 cabinet; he occasionally also uses an Ampeg head with the same cabinet.
The Hellacopters
The Hellacopters were a Swedish garage rock band that was formed in 1994 by Nicke Andersson , Dregen , Kenny Håkansson and Robert Eriksson . Andersson had been the drummer for death metal band Entombed and Dregen was taking a break from his full-time band Backyard Babies...
. The Hellacopters were founded by Håkansson's childhood friend Nicke Andersson
Nicke Andersson
Nicke Andersson , born 1 August 1972 is a singer, guitarist, drummer, songwriter and composer most known for his work as the singer and guitarist of the successful Grammy award winning rock band The Hellacopters as well as the former drummer for Swedish death metal band Entombed...
as a side project to his role as a drummer in the heavy metal band Entombed
Entombed (band)
Entombed is a Swedish death metal band which formed in 1987 under the name of Nihilist. Though Entombed began their career as an early pioneer of Scandinavian death metal which initially differed itself from its American counterpart with its distinct guitar tone, by the early 1990s their sound had...
, considered to be founders of death 'n' roll.
Recording career
During his younger years Håkansson regularly went through his father's record collection along with Andersson, and the two soon became fans of bands such as KISSKISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
, the Stooges
The Stooges
The Stooges are an American rock band from Ann Arbor, Michigan first active from 1967 to 1974, and later reformed in 2003...
, the Ramones, Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band that formed in London in 1975. They were responsible for initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and inspiring many later punk and alternative rock musicians...
, the Damned and the Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
.
The Hellacopters have released six full-length albums with their own material, two non-album work compilations, and many other official releases. They have also done several tours throughout Scandinavia, Europe, the U.S.A., and Australia; they have opened for the Rolling Stones, KISS, and ZZ Top
ZZ Top
ZZ Top is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "That Little Ol' Band from Texas". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based boogie rock, has come to incorporate elements of arena, southern, and boogie rock. The band, from Houston Texas, formed in 1969...
, and collaborated with artists such as Scott Morgan, the Flaming Sideburns
The Flaming Sideburns
The Flaming Sideburns is a Garage punk/Garage rock revival band that was formed in Helsinki, Finland in 1995. Most of the members are Finnish, but lead vocalist Jorge Eduardo "Speedo" Martinez is an Argentine expatriate.- Band history :...
, Backyard Babies
Backyard Babies
Backyard Babies are a rock band, from Nässjö, Sweden. The band was formed in 1987 and over the years they have released five studio albums and won a Swedish Grammy. The band is now located in Stockholm, Sweden....
, and Gluecifer
Gluecifer
Gluecifer was a hard rock band based in Oslo, Norway. Formed in 1994, they produced several underground releases during their first years of existence and soon claimed to be "kings of rock"....
. In late 2007 the band announced that they were going to break up after the release of their collection of cover songs, Head Off
Head Off
Head Off* is the seventh and last album released by the Swedish rock band The Hellacopters. The album consist of cover songs from acts that the band felt that everyone should know about and listen to. The 2500 units of the vinyl release all come with a poster, an additionall 1500 units were later...
, and their Tour Before the Fall which ended in late October 2008.
Besides his work with the Hellacopters, Håkansson has also contributed songs for his fellow bandmate Robert Dahlqvist
Robert Dahlqvist
Robert Dahlqvist is a guitarist and vocalist most known for his work with the Swedish rockband The Hellacopters. He's also the lead singer and guitarist in Thunder Express, a band originally started as a sideproject to his work with The Hellacopters...
's side project Thunder Express
Thunder Express
Thunder Express was started as a sideproject by Robert Dahlqvist from the Swedish rock band The Hellacopters on guitars and vocals together with Robert Pehrsson from the metal band Death Breath on guitars, former Diamond Dogs drummer Jesper Karlsson along with bassist Jens Lagergren of Hello...
, as well as with lyrics for Entombed
Entombed (band)
Entombed is a Swedish death metal band which formed in 1987 under the name of Nihilist. Though Entombed began their career as an early pioneer of Scandinavian death metal which initially differed itself from its American counterpart with its distinct guitar tone, by the early 1990s their sound had...
's early records.
Håkansson's main instrument is a highly road-worn 1969 Fender Jazz Bass
Fender Jazz Bass
The Jazz Bass was the second model of electric bass created by Leo Fender. The bass is distinct from the Precision Bass in that its tone is brighter and richer in the midrange and treble with less emphasis on the fundamental harmonic...
with almost all its paint stripped off due to constant use. For amplification Håkansson uses an Orange OR120 amplifer head which he runs through a Ampeg
Ampeg
Ampeg is primarily a musical instrument amplifier manufacturer headquartered in Woodinville, Washington, though they also manufacture guitars to a small extent...
8x10 cabinet; he occasionally also uses an Ampeg head with the same cabinet.
Selected discography
- 1992 EntombedEntombed (band)Entombed is a Swedish death metal band which formed in 1987 under the name of Nihilist. Though Entombed began their career as an early pioneer of Scandinavian death metal which initially differed itself from its American counterpart with its distinct guitar tone, by the early 1990s their sound had...
- ClandestineClandestine (album)Clandestine is an album by Scandinavian death metal band Entombed, released in 1991. It helped establish a distinctively Swedish sound in the death metal genre, while being more accessible than its predecessor, the atonal debut Left Hand Path...
(Lyrics) - 1992 Entombed - Stranger Aeons (Lyrics)
- 1993 Entombed - Wolverine BluesWolverine BluesWolverine Blues is the third album by Entombed, released in 1993 on Earache Records. The album marked a move away from their death metal roots to the more traditional hard rock and metal style they produced from this album onward called death 'n' roll ....
(Lyrics) - 1993 Entombed - HollowmanHollowmanHollowman is an EP released by Entombed on Earache Records in 1993. The 1996 reissue featured bonus track "God of Thunder" which was previously released on Out of Hand single.-Track listing:-Credits:*Tomas Skogsberg - Producer, Engineer...
(Lyrics) - 1996 The Hellacopters - Supershitty to the Max!Supershitty to the Max!Supershitty to the Max! is the Grammis Award winning debut album released by the Swedish rock band The Hellacopters, and was recorded in just 26 hours during February 1996 at Sunlight Studios in Stockholm....
(Bass) - 1997 The Hellacopters - Payin' the DuesPayin' the DuesPayin' the Dues is the second album released by the Swedish rock band The Hellacopters and their last studioalbum to feature original guitarist Dregen before his departure from the band to focus fulltime on his other band Backyard Babies. The album was released simultianusly on both CD and on...
(Bass) - 1999 The Hellacopters - Grande RockGrande RockGrande Rock is the third album released by the Swedish rock band The Hellacopters. Due to the departure of original guitarist Dregen, pianist Anders Lindström stepped in to record guitars under the pseudonym Boba Lee Fett. The record was released both on CD and on vinyl, the vinyl version was...
(Bass) - 2000 The Hellacopters - High VisibilityHigh Visibility-Personnel:The Hellacopters:*Nicke Andersson - Vocals, guitars, clavinet, percussion*Robert Dahlqvist - Guitars, vocals*Kenny Håkansson - Bass guitar*Anders Lindström - organ, piano*Robert Eriksson - Drums, backing vocalsAdditional musicians:...
(Bass) - 2002 Wayne KramerWayne Kramer (guitarist)Wayne Kramer is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, producer and film and television scorer....
- Adult World (Bass) - 2002 The Hellacopters - By the Grace of GodBy the Grace of God (album)-Personnel:The Hellacopters;*Nicke Andersson - Vocals guitars, piano, percussion*Robert Dahlqvist - Guitars, vocals*Kenny Håkansson - Bass guitar*Anders Lindström - Organ, piano, guitar, backing vocals*Robert Eriksson - Drums, backing vocals...
(Bass) - 2005 The Hellacopters - Rock & Roll Is DeadRock & Roll Is Dead-Personnel:The Hellacopters;*Nicke Andersson - Vocals guitars, piano, percussion*Robert Dahlqvist - Guitars, vocals*Kenny Håkansson - Bass guitar*Anders Lindström - Organ, piano, guitar, backing vocals*Robert Eriksson - Drums, backing vocals...
(Bass, backing voclas) - 2007 Thunder ExpressThunder ExpressThunder Express was started as a sideproject by Robert Dahlqvist from the Swedish rock band The Hellacopters on guitars and vocals together with Robert Pehrsson from the metal band Death Breath on guitars, former Diamond Dogs drummer Jesper Karlsson along with bassist Jens Lagergren of Hello...
- Republic Disgrace (Lyrics) - 2008 The Hellacopters - Head OffHead OffHead Off* is the seventh and last album released by the Swedish rock band The Hellacopters. The album consist of cover songs from acts that the band felt that everyone should know about and listen to. The 2500 units of the vinyl release all come with a poster, an additionall 1500 units were later...
(Bass) - TBA The Hellacopter - Upcoming live album (Bass)