ABOUT

“The Bristles” is a raw punk band formed in 1982 in Landskrona, Sweden. The name comes from GBH 12″ Leather, Bristles, Studs and Acne. The band formed in the beginning of the second wave of punk, influenced by bands like The Exploited and developed from punk with Oi!-influences to a raw punk band (in Swedish, råpunk). Together with Swedish bands like Asta Kask, Sötlimpa, Existenz, Moderat Likvidation, Noncens, EATER, Anti Cimex and many others the Bristles were the new breed of fast playing bands that released mostly singles, and did a lot of gigging. The band broke up in 1985. The band briefly reunited in 1996, and later in 2008. In 2012, the band’s second album, Bigger than Punk, was released.

Early days (1982–1985)
The Bristles formed in 1982, influenced by the second punk wave with bands like The Exploited and the Oi!-movement. From the beginning, it was a five piece band. Svegis-Guitar, Nelle-guitar, Rotcher-bass, Lankan-drums, and Viking-vocals. Nelle left the band early to form DTAL. Rotcher left after the >Don’t Give Up EP was recorded. He was replaced by Ingemar. The Don’t Give Up EP was released in the beginning of 1983. Soon after the release of the Don’t Give Up EP, Viking had to leave the band. He was replaced by Puma from Black Uniforms who had split up a couple of months before.

The band now took another musical direction, dropping the Oi!-influences in favour for merely raw punk. In the fall of 1983, the Ban the Punk Shops tape was released. It contained mostly old songs re-recorded with Puma on vocals. In the summer of 1984 the band broke up just to shortly after reform with a new drummer, Groll, replacing Lankan. During this period, the Boys will be Boys EP was released.Lankan now joined DTAL. In 1984 the band appeared on the Welcome to 1984-compilation Maximumrocknroll with the song Don’t Give Up. The record made the band known around the world. The band recorded four new songs in Stockholm in 1985 that were supposed to be a new EP released by Rosa Honung Records. Instead the band broke up again due to musical differences fuelled with drug issues. The band had said that the argument of musical direction was typical at the time, when the second punk wave was dying, and some wanted to play harder and others wanted to play more punk rock a la 77.

Briefly reunited (1996)
The band briefly reunited in 1996 to play at Bollnäs-punken. Malwin from Svegis’ band the Skalatones played drums. A permanent reunion weren’t possible cos’ of Svegis and Malvins engagement in the Skalatones.

Reunion (2008–present)
The Bristles reformed after the making of the compilation No Future in the Past. Harri from Svegis’ band The Negatives became the new drummer. In 2009 the Union Bashing State CD EP is released. Soon after Harri left the band. He was replaced by Ray (DTAL, Hyste’riah G.B.C, Driller Killer), a friend of the band since the early days. In 2010 the album Reflections of the Bourgeois Society is released. It contains 11 tracks. On the record there are guest artists as Emilush, Neli from Hoogans Hjältar, and Jyrki from the Negatives. The record is produced by Klas Ideberg from Darkane. The album theme is the latest capitalist crises. In 2011 the band releases Beväpna er/Were only in it for the drugs no. 2, two songs of the Swedish band Ebba Grön. According to the press release, it was “a fuck off to the Swedish right wing government”, as a digital single. Shortly thereafter it’s also released on vinyl 7”. The release included a paper describing the political rights first four years in power in Sweden, 2006-2010, exposing the politics of benefit the wealthy at the expense of less well-off. In 2012 the album Bigger Than Punk is released. The album contains 11 tracks. The album title is borrowed from Dead Prez, but concerning punk. The album is produced by Tommy Tift (Sista Sekunden, Vånna Inget). The topics of the lyrics concern more every day life than on the album before.

Members

Current members
Svegis – guitar (1982–1985, 1996, 2008–present)
Ingemar – bass (1982–1985, 1996, 2008–present
Puma – voice (1982–1985, 1996, 2008–present
Ray – drums (2009–present)
Tobbe – voice (2016-present)

Former members

• Nelle – guitar (1982)
• Rotcher – bass (1982)
• Viking – vocals (1982)
• Lankan – drums (1982–1984)
• Groll – drums (1984–1985)
• Malwin – drums (1996)
• Harri – drums (2008-2009)

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Bristles-Sweden/86716651008 http://www.myspace.com/bristlesofficial the_bristles@hotmail.com