Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist is the charismatic vocalist for Swedish rock band The Hives — playing at Coachella this week for the first time in nine years. If you’re not familiar with Almqvist and The Hives, here’s them playing “Tick Tick Boom” Sunday afternoon:
After the show, Pelle and I sat for this interview backstage. Maybe.
HANK LAYTON: Thanks for taking the time to chat, Pelle.
PELLE ALMQVIST: OH, NO PROBLEM! YEAH-YUH!
HL: So this is your guys’ first trip to Coachella in nine years. How did it feel to be back up on that stage?
PA: WELL, I’LL TELL YA, MAN! LISTEN UP, ‘CAUSE I’M ABOUT TO TELL YA! MY NAME IS HOWLIN’ PELLE ALMQVIST. I AM THE SINGER EXTRAORDINAIRE FOR THE ROCK AND ROLL OUTFIT THE HIVES, THE MOST TINTILATING GROUP OF SUPERMUSICIANS EVER PIECED TOGETHER, AND THIS IS WHAT I HAVE TO SAY: BEING BACK AT COACHELLA TURNS ME ON! CAN YOU PRINT THAT, PRINT MAN?
HL: Yes, I don’t see why not.
PA: GOOD! ‘CAUSE I GOT THE SCOOP! DO YOU WANNA HEAR THE SCOOP? EXTRA! EXTRA! HERE IS THE SCOOP: THE HIVES ARE BACK AT COACHELLLLLAAAAAAA! YOWWWWWW!
HL: And that’s what I want to talk about. Why do you think it’s taken so long for you guys to get back here?
PA: LET ME TELL YA, MAN. IT HAS BEEN A TREACHEROUS JOURNEY FOR YOUR BRAVE HEROES, THE HIVES! WE’VE TRAVERSED THE WORLD A DOZEN TIMES OVER, SOARED OVER WATER AND ICE AND FIRE AND MICE, BUT NOW WE ARE IN THE DESERT OF CALIFORN-I-A! WE ARE HERE, READY TO PLAY FAST ROCK AND ROLL FOR WHOEVER HAS THE BRAINS TO LISTEN, AND DON’T LET ANYBODY TELL YOU DIFFERENT! IS THAT ALRIGHT WITH YOU?
HL: Mm-hmm, and the matching outfits? On Sunday it was long-tailed tuxedos and top hats. Your roadies were clad as ninjas. Is it because it looks cool? Because I’ll admit: It looks cool.
PA: OH YEAY-YUH! WE WANT TO LOOK AS STYLIN AS THE PEOPLE OF COACHELLA! THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD! ISN’T THAT RIGHT? CLAP YOUR HANDS IF YOU AGREE! COME ON!
HL: We–we’re in the green room.
PA: COME ON, PEOPLE! DON’T MAKE ME BEG! CLAP YOUR HANDS!
HL: There are four people in here. You’re the only member of the band not napping.
PA: YOW!
HL: Pelle, you’ve been described as a “Mountain Dew Mick Jagger” by me, right this moment. Do you ever worry you’re tiring out the crowd?
PA: NO WAY, MAN! YOU’VE GOT ME ALL WRONG! AND IF ANYONE ELSE DON’T LIKE IT, THEY’RE WRONG! THE HIVES ARE RIGHT! THE WORLD IS WRONG! COACHELLA IS WRONG!
HL: I don’t know why I expected you to be a little more low-key off the stage.
PA: WRONG AGAIN, PRINT MAN! SOMEONE WAKE UP THE HIVES!
HL: I’d say you’re the most qualified person here to wake up another human being.
PA: TEN-FOUR! YOW! I GOTTA GO! IT WAS GOOD WHILE IT LASTED! DON’T CRY, PLEASE! DON’T CRY! ALRIGHT? COME ON! LET’S GO! YEAH-YUH! UH-HUH! AND DO NOT FORGET, FRIENDS: THE HIVES’ NEW ALBUM COMES OUT THIS SUMMER! BUY IT! DON’T BE A BRUTUS! YOU’LL NEVER WANT TO LISTEN TO ANYTHING ELSE FOR A HUNDRED YEARS! THAT’S RIGHT! HERE WE GO NOW! WOO! DOES ANYONE AT COACHELLA HAAAAAAAAAAVE IBUPROFEN?
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