The Hellacopters - Musical Style

Musical Style

Heavily influenced by early Kiss, punk and rock bands such as MC5, Ramones, Sex Pistols, The Damned, The Stooges and The Heartbreakers as well as heavier bands such as Venom, Blue Cheer and Motorhead the band's debut album - Supershitty to the Max! - contained fast paced songs and overdriven guitars. While the band's second album - Payin' the Dues - was in similar style as their debut album it also dispayed a tighter musicianship and songwriting technique as well as keyboards by Anders Lindström. Grande Rock was the first studio album to be recorded without original guitarist Dregen and was a departure from the bands Detroit rock influenced sound to a more 1970's rock sound. The band continued to evolve their sound throughout their career, while Nicke Andersson claims that all of their music is based around three chords and a chorus the band had no interest in repeating themselves. On the bands later releases, Andersson's vocals incorporated soul influences from his and Scott Morgans sideproject The Solution. The Hellacopters also recorded many cover songs throughout their career of songs from bands and artist such as Radio Birdman, Misfits, Smokey Robinson, Nationalteatern, Alice Cooper, The Nomads, April Stevens, Sonic's Rendezvous Band, The Dictators, Love and others. However Andersson asserts that there is a difference between the music that inspires him and the music that has an influence on his music, Andersson has mentioned country music artist Guy Clark as an artist that inspires his songwriting without affecting the bands sound.