HARDCORE SUPERSTAR

HARDCORE SUPERSTAR

Hardcore Superstar is a Swedish hard rock group from Gothenburg, formed in 1997. The line-up includes Thomas Silver, Jocke Berg, Martin Sandvik, Magnus “Adde” Andreasson and Vic Zino. Their sound is rooted in hard rock, with sleaze, glam metal and heavy metal influences.

Career and recordings

The band forms in autumn 1997 and signs to Gain soon afterwards. Its debut album is first recorded and issued in Sweden, then reworked for a wider release after attracting the attention of Music for Nations. That release, Bad Sneakers and a Piña Colada, includes the tracks “Someone Special”, “Liberation” and “Have You Been Around”, all of which reach high positions on the Swedish singles charts. The video for “Liberation” is nominated for a Swedish Grammy, and the band begins touring Europe and Japan.

In 2001, Hardcore Superstar releases Thank You (For Letting Us Be Ourselves), with the singles “Shame” and “Mother’s Love/Significant Other”. The group continues touring in Europe and Japan and also plays Canada. Around the same period it collaborates with fellow Gothenburg band LOK on “Staden Göteborg” and appears at the PopStad Göteborg festival. The band also supports AC/DC at Ullevi Stadium and later opens for AC/DC and Motörhead on the Italian leg of that tour.

No Regrets follows in 2003. Its first single, “Honey Tongue”, reaches number three in the Swedish charts, and “Still I’m Glad” also charts strongly. After extensive touring in Sweden, Europe and the USA, the band pauses after more than six years of continuous activity, but does not split.

Later albums and recognition

The self-titled album Hardcore Superstar restores the band’s momentum and reaches number one on the Swedish hard rock charts. It includes the singles “We Don’t Celebrate Sundays”, “Wild Boys” and “My Good Reputation”, and earns a Grammy nomination. The follow-up Dreamin’ in a Casket appears in 2007 and is described in Swedish press as album of the year by many. It has a heavier, riff-based sound and more prominent drumming, and the band tours Europe, Japan and Sweden in support of it.

Guitarist Thomas Silver leaves in early 2009, and Vic Zino, previously a temporary replacement from Crazy Lixx, becomes a permanent member. The group then releases Beg For It in 2009, Split Your Lip in 2010, a best-of collection in 2011 with the new track “We Don’t Need a Cure”, C’mon Take on Me in 2013, HCSS in 2015, You Can’t Kill My Rock ’N’ Roll in 2018 and Abrakadabra in 2022.

Touring and notable appearances

Hardcore Superstar tours continuously apart from its brief break, including Europe, Japan, Canada, the USA and the UK. It plays a sold-out headline show at the Whisky a Go Go in West Hollywood in 2015, opens for Steel Panther at the NAMM Jam in Anaheim, tours Germany with Gotthard, and tours the UK and US with Michael Monroe in 2016. The band also appears on major Swedish radio and television programmes, and several releases are accompanied by multiple music videos.