Heavy, fuzzy, sludgy, and Swedish, the sound of Truckfighters combines the stoner rock vibe of Kyuss/Queens of the Stone Age (who happen to love these guys) with the stadium rock sound of Wolfmother. All three of their full-length albums are ripe with cohesive jamming and high intensity energy perfect for keeping the listener pumped up from start to finish. Between their stellar recorded work and even better live performances, they have built a strong following in Europe, but now they stand ready to take on America with their first U.S. tour this July.
Matthew Swanson Facebook-chatted with guitarist Dango, (they all have pseudo Marx Brothers names, and other member past and present include Ozo, Fredo, Pezo, and Paco), to discuss the tour, their upcoming documentary, and why you should be listening to a band every bit as badass as their name sounds, Truckfighters.
Dango
Matthew
Mixing a Drink (The Cliff Barnes)
I will just get a drink.
Two minutes
K. Grab a drink and let me know when you're ready. Wish I could join you, but I'm at a coffee shop.
Ha ha
I am home.
Lots of drinks here.
What are you having?
Cliff Barnes is my favourute drink
I must know what’s in a Cliff Barnes!
You see, this interview has no direction.
3 cl Absolute Vodka
3 cl Martini Bianco
2 cl lemon squeezed
2 cl lime “squeezed
Fil the glass up with club soda or 7up or something.
Try it.
I do believe I will. I will buy you one when you come to Reggie’s Rock House in Chicago.
Deal.
Pezo
Truckfighters First U.S. Tour and Pezo’s...
History and Habits.
Tell me, is this your first US tour?
Yes.
Oh good!
And is this everyone in the band’s first time to the U.S.?
No. Just Ozo.
Is Ozo pretty pumped about that ? Is he an original member?
Yeah.
We are back to the original lineup now, actually.
But me and Ozo been in the band all along.
Great! How did it come back to the original lineup?
We lost a drummer again this winter
So we asked Mr. Pezo to join again.
His third session in the band.
Ha Ha!
Are you pretty excited to be touring with the original lineup and do you expect to be able to stick together?
Ha ha!
Pezo is a strange guy
Yeah, how so?
So I don’t expect anything. Hard to explain.
He is an icon.
A phenomenon.
A crazy person.
I don’t know.
Not like anyone else.
Hahahha. All those things, huh?
Yeah.
And he likes drugs a bit too much.
Oh!
Pezo left the first time cause he preferred to smoke weed before rehearsing
Second time, same thing. We thought he was clean when he joined in 2008, but less than a year later, it was the same thing.
And now he is more or less clean again.
And how are rehearsals now? I imagine it takes a lot of concentration because you have some pretty progressive/complex songs on the new disc.
Nowadays we record our jams
Listen to it months later when it’s time to make an album.
Pick the best stuff and make songs from it.
That’s a good idea. Lots of good riffs come out of that.
When’s the new record?
We are too old to remember stuff without recording it.
Next year I guess.
We have loads of material
Could easily fill a few albums.
I love the new disc. You think it’s your best?
Of course. The latest is always the best.
I love to listen to it at the gym, so thanks for the help!
He he.
Fat.
What is the Swedish rock scene like?
Lots of fuzz bands like yourself?
Oh, I forgot. The Cliff Barnes should have ice in it, of course.
No band like TF. : )
We are one of a kind.
I would agree.
Lots of 70’s sounding bands.
It’s a trend/hype
Dango
The T.F. Documentary/Fuzzomentary
Tell me about this documentary. When does it come out?
No set date.
The guys are trying to get it into festivals.
Have you seen the final product?
Yes. I have seen it.
Really good.
No better.
What would you say some of the themes are? Because the preview I saw show you guys working during the day and playing gigs all night – things like that.
Yeah. It’s like the film shows that we are pretty normal guys.
Then we become rock n roll monsters.
Transforming into rock and roll monsters!
I like it.
It’s true.
In the film, Josh Homme (from Queens of the Stone Age) is saying how good you are. That helps, right?
Definitely.
Met Josh twice actually. Look at my mobile uploads (on Facebook).
Wow! Tell us about it!
We drank red wine in the lounge after their gig
Wanted to thank him for appearing in the movie.
Outstanding!
Are you guys fans of Kyuss and QOTSA?
Of course.
But my favourite bands are
Soundgarden
Tool.
Pearl Jam
Dinosaur Junior
And Kyuss, QOTSA
Ozo and Pezo
Why You Should Be Listening to T.F.
and See Them Live...
What motivates you guys to keep rocking?
It more or less (is) the only thing in life that is still just as fun as it was 10-15 years ago
Music + sex. : )
Ha ha!
Ha ha! Those two are tough to give up.
Impossible, actually.
Yeah, it seems.
Are you guys settled down with families and things or all single
Various
Yourself?
Ozo has a kid and girlfriend
Pezo has a girlfriend but no kid
I have a kid but are (I’m) single.
Sounds like you are the lone single guy?
Ha ha.
I am the sexy hunk all women are after.
hahahhahhahha.
Hard to settle down when that’s the case, yes?
Definitely.
Waiting to find the perfect match. : )
One last question: Why should people come out to see Truckfighters?
Because we are the best live band there is.
And they will not be disappointed
A once in a lifetime experience.
They will all buy our albums to remember the gig every time they press play.
I can’t wait!
I will be at the July 20th show in Chicago. I will buy you a drink. You going to have a few after the show.
Hope so
Definitely if I’m still single.
If I’m NOT single, I will be that night to try to get chicks with the hunky guy from the band.
Haha.
Fett.
Thanks so much for doing this.
And fett means like, “Rock on?”
