Blindside
July 7, 2002

Hard-rocking Swedes Blindside are gearing up to take the U.S. by storm, and we’ve got their first single, "Pitiful," in the radio.wazee spotlight this week.

Formed in 1994, band members Christian (lead vocals), Simon (guitar and backing vocals), Marcus (drums) and Tomas (bass) have known each other all their lives. "Growing up in Stockholm you tend to stick together," says Simon. "Music is very important in Sweden, and we believed from the start that we could make an impact as a band."

Not unexpectedly, the group has been critically identified with a host of other Swedish rock groups currently making a splash in the U.S. (i.e. the Hives). They earned their stripes touring Europe and the U.S. long before American A&R reps discovered the overseas scene. "We were always kind of quietly plugging away," says Simon. "We came to the states and played wherever we could. Even in Sweden, we weren’t known as much as some of the other bands that were starting to get attention, but we never stopped working out our songs live."

The hard work paid off. CMJ called their 2000 release "A Thought Crushed My Mind" "A visceral forward thinking album…. it makes you want to hug your best friend and pound your fist into a wall."

Their U.S. debut, "Silence" (due August 20th on Elektra) was produced by Howard Benson (P.O.D.). "I met them through P.O.D.," says Howard. "They were blown away by how talented they were." Sonny of P.O.D., indeed heaps a fair amount of praise on Blindside. "They play with such a high level of emotion. I believe they will be the next big thing in rock. ‘Silence’ is by far the best album of the year, a refreshing break from all the cookie-cutter acts that are out there today."

Christian says the group’s own creed is simple, with every member of Blindside believing that music can be a vehicle for hope. "We keep it personal but also positive," he says. "There’s enough depressing messages already out there. Our songs can be heavy, but if you listen closely, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel."

The lyrics to the debut single, "Pitiful" were actually improvised during a vocal session at the very end of the recording for "Silence." "I write everything down," says Christian. "But the band can tell you that sometimes I will just come up with something while I’m singing, trying to connect the feeling and emotion of a particular vocal with the right words." The "Pitiful" video was shot in Los Angeles with director Nathan "Karma" Cox, and the guys will launch a nation-wide tour with Project 86 in August.