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The Hep Stars

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

The Hep Stars were a Swedish rock band, formed in Stockholm in 1963. In 1965 and 1966 they were the most successful Swedish pop group singing in English. Outside Scandinavia the band is known above all as the starting point of keyboardist and composer Benny Andersson, later known from ABBA. The founders were drummer Christer Pettersson and bassist Lennart Hegland. The group was first called Quartet Yep. The name Hep Stars comes from a line in Razzle Dazzle by Bill Haley.

Music and breakthrough

The classic line-up consisted of singer Svenne Hedlund, guitarist and singer Janne Frisk, Andersson on keyboards, Hegland on bass and Pettersson on drums. In 1965 Cadillac, Farmer John and A Tribute To Buddy Holly were in the top four of the radio chart at the same time. Hedlund became Sweden's first real pop star. The group played covers at first, but later also recorded songs by Andersson, such as No Response, which reached number three. In 1967 came the success of I Natt Jag Drömde, a Swedish version of Last Night I Had a Strangest Dream, a song that divided rock fans.

Influence

Because of business problems and a changing market the group began to aim at a broader audience. Frisk left in early 1969 and Björn Ulvaeus of the Hootenanny Singers took his place. In August 1969 the band gave its last concert. Andersson and Ulvaeus then continued to write together, first as a team for Polar Music and as the duo Björn & Benny. That eventually led to ABBA.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Cadillac and notice the band's driving rock-and-roll energy and the voice of Svenne Hedlund. What tells you that this is a group from the 1960s?

Discography

Studio albums

Categories: Artists