THE HISTORY OF…PETER BJORN AND JOHN
Peter Morén – Vocals, guitars, bass, etc.
Björn Yttling – Bass, vocals, keyboard, etc.
John Eriksson – Drums, vocals, percussion, guitar, etc.
Album Discography:
2002 – S/T
First full‐length release on small Swedish label, Beat That!, following a couple of self‐released singles and EPs. Mostly recorded in Björn’s apartment. Re‐issued with bonus tracks by Wichita in 2007.
2004 – Falling Out
Produced by Björn, recorded in The Hives’ Gröndal Studio in Stockholm. Released on small Swedish label, Planekonomi. Released in USA/Canada by Hidden Agenda in 2005. Re‐issued with bonus tracks by Wichita in 2007. “It Beats Me Every Time” was a small Swedish hit.
2006/2007 – Writer’s Block (Wichita/V2/Almost Gold)
Major label debut; first released in UK/Europe/Japan/Australia in 2006 and then in the USA and rest of the world in 2007. Produced by Björn and mostly recorded in his studio in Stockholm. For the first time, all three members wrote material, and both Björn and John sang lead on a couple of songs. Breakthrough for the band; the animated video for “Young Folks” paved the way.
2008 – Seaside Rock (Wichita/V2/Almost Gold)
Produced by Peter Bjorn and John. Recorded at the legendary Atlantis Studio in Stockholm where ABBA did most of their hits. Instrumental record paying oral tribute to the band’s heritage in small northern Swedish villages. Only performed once live at a fundraiser for Amnesty International in Stockholm. Only released on vinyl and mp3, and as a limited CD packaged together with “Living Thing”.
2009 – Living Thing (Wichita/Universal/Almost Gold)
Produced by Peter Bjorn and John. Recorded at Atlantis and Decibel in Stockholm and Sear Sound in NY. Influenced partly by 80’s synthpop, West African pop, and hip‐hop beats. Hip‐hop producer Mick Boogie did a remix album of the whole record with different rappers and DJs called “Re‐Living Thing” featuring, among others, GZA, Talib Kweli, etc.
2011 – Gimme Some (StarTime International/Cooking Vinyl)
Recorded at Tambourine Studios in Malmoe, Sweden. For the first time, the band took help from an outside producer, Per Sunding, from the 90’s trio Eggstone, an early inspiration for PB&J. He previously worked with The Cardigans and Bob Hund. A back‐to‐basics power‐poptrio‐format was used.
LIVE TV PERFORMANCES:
‐Performed “Young Folks” on Conan O’Brien, Jay Leno, Jonathan Ross, Carson Daly and Transmission ‐Performed “Objects Of My Affection” on Carson Daly and Stina Dabrowskis show. Several performances of different songs on the Swedish morning show Nyhetsmorgon. “Lay It Down”, “Nothing To Worry About”, and “Living Thing” performed on the Swedish popshow, “Popcirkus”
TOURED/PERFORMED WITH…
‐Depeche Mode (Supported the North American leg of “Tour of the Universe” in 2009). El Perro Del Mar, Fujiya & Miyagi, Chairlift and a bunch of other bands have opened for Peter Bjorn And John throughout the years.
RANDOM FACTS:
‐The band formed in 1999 and threw a 10 year anniversary US tour in November 2009
‐”Young Folks” was selected as NME Magazine’s second best song of the year in 2006
‐The band performed with Kanye West at the Way Out West Festival in Gothenburg
‐The band was nominated for a MTV Music Award in 2007
‐Once, the band played a Chinese restaurant and fell through the floor
-Björn is a succesful producer of acts like Lykke Li and Primal Scream
‐John has released 3 EPs with his alter‐ego, Hortlax Cobra, and is a member of the band Holiday For Strings
‐Peter has released 2 solo albums, one in English and one in Swedish, as well as an album with the band Tutankamon
‐John used to play classical percussion, Björn used to play jazz‐piano, Peter is still learning to play the rock‐guitar
‐The song “Young Folks” has been covered by James Blunt, Nena, The Kooks, Pete Yorn, Dawn Landes and many other artists, and Drake has covered “Let’s Call It Off”
‐The band has been honored with one of the legendary St.Sanders ”shreds” clips
‐The band has toured all around the world and played festivals like Coachella, Roskilde, Lollapalooza, Glastonbury, Fuji Rock, etc.
‐A Danish troubador (whose baptized name is Peter Björn) threatened to sue the band for ”using his name” and causing unintentional traffic to his website; he mercifully dropped the case
‐Their songs have been featured in a number of TV shows like Gossip Girl, Parenthood, Melrose Place and Grey’s Anatomy; several feature films such as ”21” and the upcoming movie ”The Dark Fields”; and also several games and commercials all over the world
INFLUENCES INCLUDE:
John Lennon, John Cale, John Cage, John Coltrane, Elvis Costello, AC/DC, Bo Diddley, Stone Roses, Suicide, Buzzcocks, Go‐Betweens, Stooges, The Fall, Smokey Robinson, Monk, J.Dilla, Yo La Tengo, Sonic Youth, Bob Hund, R.E.M, OMD, NEU!, E.S.G, J.A.M.C, ELO, TVP’s, Db’s, ABBA, Studio, O’Jays, Johnny Burnette, Karen Dalton, Zombies, Tages, Jay‐Z, The Meters, Shangri‐Las, Guided By Voices, The Damned, Prince, Bob Dylan, Caetano Veloso, Broadcast, Moondog, Jane Birkin, New Order, Sonics, Green Arrows, Bear Quartet, Feelies, Taken By Trees, Luaka Bop, David Byrne in general, Stones Throw, Rough Trade,
Motown, Postcard, Flying Nun, Creation, Sun, Chess, food, films, books, art, dogs, hockey, friends, girlfriends, enemies, politics, tennis, big cities, small village, bandmates etc.
BIO BLURB:
Peter Bjorn and John have been called a lot of things in their time. But one thing they have not been called is ‘Supertramp’. This is both a tragedy and a blessing, as the Swedish Rockers and the British conceptual progressive art rockers have next to nothing in common. It is a little known secret that Björn, John and Peter (who shall from now on be referred to as Peter, Björn, and John), met in the summer of some time ago, in the small fishing village of Bysthållare on the west coast riviera of their native Sweden. Their bond: instant. Their style: Jazz.
Peter is a semi‐qualified pirate, with only 4 more plank walks remaining before his graduation to Private Pirate. He has a ship, called ‘Spongebob’ moored in The Pirate Bay, in Sweden.
Björn is a musical misfit in sheep’s clothing, and can recite on demand the full lyrics to Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells, in reverse, while holding a piña colada. Just ask!
John was famed in his local shopping mall for only using escalators to ascend to the next floor. To this day he still demands motionless stairwells to motorize his journey upwards. He has spent many weeks standing and shouting on the bottom step of any one of the 1005 staircases that adorn his apartment.
Nobody could have guessed what the future held for these 3 professional chat show hosts. Despite numerous visits to psychics, prophets, wizards, and fishmongers, not one person guessed that they would be the authors and performers of the 3rd most successful song (featuring whistling) of all time. Yes, the beautiful ode to childbirth ‘Young Folks’ came a mouth watering 5 points behind winners, ‘Wind of Change’ by the Scorpions, and the alternate theme tune from Magnum PI.
This mild success catapulted them into a spotlight the size of a small car’s headlight. And caught like rabbits, they had nowhere to turn. The boys stuck to what they knew and churned out album after album of forgotten classics. Scouring the globe playing to audiences of literally hundreds. With various guest appearances from Kanye West, Perry Caravello and Bruce Willis, the live shows reached new mesmerizing highs, culminating in the fateful Altamont Fiasco which spelled the end for the worldwide security organization known as the Hell’s Angels.
Their latest album, the thrillingly titled, Gimme Some, is their latest, vain attempt at pop magnificence. Another shot at the cake. A kick in the back of failure, and then running away before it gets a chance to kick you back. And you know what? In my opinion (my being you), they have achieved such a wonderous feat. Let’s get physical!
‐ Ed Warren December 2010.
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Theeir latest album, the thrillingly titled, Gimme Some, is their latest, evain attempt at pop magnificence. Another shot at the cake. A kick ine the back of failure, and theen running away before it gets a chance to kick you bacdk. And you know what? In my opinion (my being you), they have achieved such a wonderous feat. Let’s get physical!
‐ Ed Warren December 2010.e
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Hey guys first off, saw you at Lollapalooza, great show!!!!
What is the brand of guitar you play on “I Want You!”?
Cheers,
Danny
PS come to new zealand
Dear Peter Bjorn and John,
When will you be coming back to Toronto, ON ? I have been looking for shows and I noticed that I missed last years. I hope you will perform in Toronto again. Thanks You,
Cynthia Ruttan
I had read about you before but never heard any of your music. Writers Block was my introduction and I than purchased LIVING THING on cd when it was released, than GIMME SOME on vinyl and I just received SEASIDE ROCK. You all are very talented and look forward to finding releases on vinyl which is my first choice. I was disappointed I could not download SEASIDE ROCK today. Good Luck!!