Viagra Boys

Viagra Boys is a Swedish punk band from Stockholm.[2][3][4] The band was founded in 2015 and currently consists of lead singer Sebastian Murphy, bassist Henrik Höckert, drummer Tor Sjödén, saxophonist Oscar Carls, keyboardist Elias Jungqvist and guitarist Linus Hillborg.

Viagra Boys
Viagra Boys performing in 2019
Viagra Boys performing in 2019
Background information
OriginStockholm, Sweden
Genres
Years active2015–present
LabelsYEAR0001, Kosmos Recordings, Push My Buttons
Members
  • Sebastian Murphy
  • Oskar Carls
  • Henrik Höckert
  • Tor Sjödén
  • Elias Jungqvist
  • Linus Hillborg
Past members
  • Benjamin Vallé
  • Martin Ehrencrona
  • Rasmus Booberg

The band's lyrics often criticise right-wing populism, hypermasculinity and far-right conspiracy theories through the usage of satire and black humor.[5][6]

History

The band was formed in 2015, with several members coming from the bands Les Big Byrd, Pig Eyes, Nine, Nitad, and Neu-Ronz. Lead singer Sebastian Murphy is the only American-born member of the group, raised in San Francisco before moving to Sweden at the age of 17 to live with his aunt in Stockholm.[7] A heavy drug and alcohol addict at the time, Murphy worked as a tattoo artist and met the band while performing Mariah Carey's "We Belong Together" at karaoke.[7]

In 2018, they released their first album, Street Worms. Nils Hansson, a journalist at the newspaper Dagens Nyheter described the band favorably, praising their musical style, as well as their use of black humor and satire, and rated the album a five out of five.[8] In 2019, the band won the Independent Music Companies Association (IMPALA) Album of the Year Award for Street Worms.[9]

The band's second album, Welfare Jazz, was released in January 2021. Founding guitarist Benjamin Vallé died in October 2021 at the age of 47. While he played on Welfare Jazz, he was not an active member of the band at the time of his death.[10][11]

The band played multiple prestigious festivals in 2022 including Coachella and Primavera Sound.[12][13] Their third album, Cave World, was released in July 2022.[14][15]

Members

Current members
  • Sebastian Murphy – lead vocals (2015–present)
  • Henrik Höckert – bass guitar (2015–present), additional vocals (2021–present)
  • Tor Sjödén – drums (2015–present), additional vocals (2021–present)
  • Oscar Carls – saxophone, flute, guitar (2017–present)
  • Elias Jungqvist – keyboards (2019–present), additional vocals (2021–present)
  • Linus Hillborg – guitar, additional vocals (2021–present)

Past members
  • Benjamin Vallé – guitar (2015–2021; died 2021)
  • Martin Ehrencron – synth (2015–2019)
  • Rasmus Booberg – guitar (2015–2017)

Timeline

Discography

Albums

Extended plays
  • Consistency of Energy (2016, Push My Buttons)
  • Call of the Wild (2017, Push My Buttons)
  • Common Sense (2020, Year0001)

Live-albums
  • Shrimp Sessions (2019, Year0001)
  • Shrimp Sessions 2 (2021, Year0001)

Singles
  • "Sports" (2018, Year0001)
  • "Just Like You" (2018, Year0001)
  • "Ain't Nice" (2020, Year0001)
  • "Creatures" (2020, Year0001)
  • "In Spite of Ourselves" (with Amy Taylor) (2020, Year0001)
  • "Girls & Boys" (2021, Year0001)
  • "Ain't No Thief" (2022, Year0001)
  • "Troglodyte" (2022, Year0001)
  • "Punk Rock Loser" (2022, Year0001)
  • “Big Boy” (with Jason Williamson) (2022, Year0001)

References
  1. Gaffe, Sasha (July 11, 2018). "Viagra Boys: "Sports" Track Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  2. Jones, Daisy (2 October 2018). "Viagra Boys might genuinely get you back into Post-Punk". Noisey. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
  3. Corcoran, Nina (1 October 2018). "Viagra Boys: Street Worms Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
  4. Palm, Erik Augustine (2 October 2018). "Viagra Boys: The hidden depths of Stockholm's gonzo-punk rockers". The Fader. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
  5. "The hidden depths of Viagra Boys". The FADER. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
  6. "Viagra Boys Talk Overcomplicating the Truth on New LP "Cave World"". FLOOD. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
  7. "Viagra Boys Might Genuinely Get You Back Into Post Punk". www.vice.com. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
  8. Hansson, Nils (28 September 2018). "Dagen's words: Viagra Boys är mycket mer än bara enkelspåriga". Dagens Nyheter. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  9. "VIAGRA BOYS - Album of the Year WINNER 2019". IMPALA - Independent Music Companies Association. Retrieved 2020-11-07.
  10. Demirian, Natalie (27 October 2021). "Viagra-Boys-gitarristen Benjamin Vallé död". Aftonbladet. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
  11. Hussey, Allison (27 October 2021). "Viagra Boys' Benjamin Vallé Has Died at 47". Retrieved 27 October 2021.
  12. Pearis, Bill. "Viagra Boys touring around Coachella, releasing 'Welfare Jazz' deluxe edition". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
  13. "Primavera Sound 2022 made up for lost time". The FADER. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
  14. "Viagra Boys: Cave Story". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2022-07-19.
  15. "Viagra Boys: Welfare Jazz". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2021-01-14.
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