The Cardigans Biography
Guitarist Peter Svensson and bassist Magnus Sveningsson formed this Pop-Rock Alternative-Rock band in October 1992 in Jonkoping, a small city in the south of SWEDEN. The two, had played together in various Metal bands for several years; frustrated by not attracting major label attention they decided to move in a more accessible, power-Pop direction; Svensson and Sveningsson were joined by vocalist Nina Persson, keyboardist Lasse Johansson and drummer Bengt Lagerberg.
Relocating in Malmo and after an early recording of "Rise And Shine"
appeared on a local independent label in 1994, The Cardigans signed to
Stockholm Records who released their debut album, "Emmerdale"
that same year, the record was a big success in Sweden, it also generated
their first U.K. top 40 single, "Sick And Tired".
Their second album, "Life", which followed in 1995, began the
process of extending the group's Swedish success worldwide, it featured
the smash hit "Carnival" as well as the re-recorded version
of "Rise And Shine" which helped the album sell one and a half
million copies worldwide.
Prior to the "First Band On The Moon" album in September 1996,
the quintet released "Lovefool", the single hit #21 on the British
chart, but it was the next year that The Cardigans were first catapulted
into the limelight, "Lovefool" was selected for the soundtrack
to the blockbuster film "Romeo And Juliet" giving the band more
exposure than ever, the single re-entered the U.K. chart falling just
one slot short of #1 and peaked at #9 on The Modern Rock Tracks in the
United States; the group's third album eventually peaked at #3 on the
Billboard's Top Heatseekers list and reached the #35 on The Billboard
200 chart, going gold.
In November 1998 The Cardigans unleashed "Gran Turismo" an album
which sold over 2 million copies around the globe and spawned two excellent
singles such as "My Favourite Game" and "Erase/Rewind",
both the tracks stormed the European Singles charts; in the U.S. their
fourth effort didn't rise higher than #151 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums
chart, although "My Favourite Game" hit #16 on The Modern Rock
Tracks chart.
A year later, the group recorded a duet cover of Talking Heads' "Burning
Down The House" with Tom Jones which was featured on his 1999 CD
"Reload"; released as a single, the track broke into the U.K.
top 10 chart.
After four and a half years break, the Swedish quintet returned in February
2003 with their fifth full-length album, "Long Gone Before Daylight",
it sold poorly and the main single, "For What It's Worth" was
equally unsuccessful.
The Cardigans are back with the new single "I Need Some Fine Wine And You, You Need To Be Nicer" and the new album, "Super Extra Gravity".
