Sven Olov Dennis Lyxzén (born June 19, 1972) is a Swedish singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist for influential Swedish hardcore punk band Refused, as well as the bands INVSN and Fake Names. He is also a former member of bands including AC4, Step Forward, Final Exit, and The (International) Noise Conspiracy, and co-founded the Swedish record labels Ny Våg and Desperate Fight Records.
Dennis Lyxzén | |
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 Lyxzén in 2008 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Sven Olov Dennis Lyxzén |
| Also known as | D-Rp |
| Born | June 19, 1972 Umeå, Sweden |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
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| Instruments |
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| Years active | 1987–present |
| Labels | |
| Member of | |
| Formerly of |
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Career
editRefused
editFollowing a stint in the short-lived hardcore band Step Forward, Lyxzén formed Refused in 1991 with drummer David Sandström, guitarist Pär Hansson, and bassist Jonas Lindgren. They released three studio albums, This Just Might Be... the Truth (1994), Songs to Fan the Flames of Discontent (1996), and The Shape of Punk to Come (1998), the latter of which was heavily influential on later bands but a commercial and critical failure upon release, and the group disbanded that same year.[1][2]
In March 2010, there were rumours that Refused would be reuniting after a 12 years hiatus,[3] although Lyxzén dismissed the notion as he and Sandström were busy with the band AC4. However, Refused unexpectedly reunited in 2012 for the Refused Reunion Tour, including appearances at Coachella, the Way Out West Festival, the Fun Fun Fun Fest, and Groezrock in Meerhout, Belgium.[4][5] While the reunion was intended to be temporary, in 2015 the band released a fourth studio album, Freedom, via Epitaph Records. Speaking on the band's future in 2017, Lyxzén said, "We're not breaking up or anything, we're taking a break to write a new record... But the Australian tour will be the last tour for a while... We'll take some time off, and then we'll start writing some songs but we're not breaking up, no."[6]
On 13 June 2024, Lyxzén suffered a heart attack, leading to cancellation of Refused shows in the following weeks.[7]
Other work
editOutside of Refused, Lyxzén has been involved in a number of bands, most notably The (International) Noise Conspiracy, INVSN (previously called The Lost Patrol Band), and Fake Names, the latter a supergroup formed with guitarists Brian Baker (Minor Threat, Bad Religion) and Michael Hampton (Embrace), drummer Matt Schulz (Enon), and bassist Johnny Temple (Girls Against Boys).[8] He also revealed in December 2021 that he had formed a new punk band with INVSN bandmate Sara Almgren, with him on rhythm guitar and Almgren on bass and vocals.[9]
Lyxzén also runs Ny Våg, an independent punk record label he co-founded with former Refused bassist Inge Johansson, and produced the 2005 self-titled album by label signee Regulations. He also co-founded the now-defunct labels Desperate Fight Records and Umeå Hardcore Records.
In 2011, Lyxzén joined Italian electronic act The Bloody Beetroots for their "Church of Noise" tour as a guest vocalist, and was featured on the act's single of the same name.
Lyxzén provided the singing vocals for the character Johnny Silverhand (with Refused portraying the character's band Samurai) in the 2020 video game Cyberpunk 2077.[10] He also provided vocals for the track "Silent No More" from the 2022 game Metal: Hellsinger.[11]
Public image and personal life
editAs a punk rock frontman, Lyxzén's songs are often of a counterculture nature, in line with his socialist politics, although he has explored a variety of topics in his music.
Lyxzén was voted "Sexiest Man in Sweden" in 2004 by Elle Magazine.[12][13] He is a vegan, having discovered animal rights around 1989 and adopted the lifestyle in the early 1990s.[14]
Associated bands
editCurrent bands
edit- Refused – lead vocals (1991–1998, 2012–present)
- INVSN – lead vocals, guitar (1999–present)
- Fake Names – lead vocals (2018–present)[8]
Former bands
edit- AC4 – lead vocals (2008–2013)
- Instängd – drums, percussion (2008–2011)
- The (International) Noise Conspiracy – lead vocals (1998–2009)
- 93 Million Miles From the Sun – lead vocals, guitar (1997–1998)
- Final Exit (credited in the band as D-Rp) – bass (1994–1997)
- By No Means – guitar (1992)
- Step Forward – lead vocals (1989–1991)
- Garbage Pailkids – bass (1989–1991)
- Afro Jetz – lead vocals, bass (1987–1989)
- Yonderboy
Selected discography
edit- This Just Might Be... the Truth (1994)
- Songs to Fan the Flames of Discontent (1996)
- The Shape of Punk to Come (1998)
- Freedom (2015)
- War Music (2019)
As The Lost Patrol:
- Songs in the Key of Resistance (1999)
- Songs About Running Away (2003)
As The Lost Patrol Band:
- The Lost Patrol Band (2005)
- Automatic (2006)
As Invasionen:
- Hela Världen Brinner (2010)
- Saker Som Jag Sagt Till Natten (2011)
As INVSN:
- INVSN (2013)
- The Beautiful Stories (2017)
- Let The Night Love You (2022)
- AC4 (2009)
- Burn the World (2013)
- The First Conspiracy (1999)
- Survival Sickness (2000)
- A New Morning, Changing Weather (2001)
- Armed Love (2004)
- The Cross of My Calling (2008)
- Teg (1995)
- Umeå (1997)
- I Am Me (1990)
- Does It Make A Difference (1990)
- It Did Make a Difference (1996)
Fake Names
edit- Fake Names (2020)
- Fake Names EP (2021)
- Expendables (2023)
Instängd
edit- Mitt Svar På Ingenting EP (2007)
- Konkret Och Brutal EP (2008)
- Drag Utan Drog EP (2011)
93 Million Miles
edit- 93 Million Miles (2003)
By No Means
edit- Straight (1992)
Garbage Pailkids
edit- Garbage Pailkids (1990)
- Pailkids on the Block (1991)
Other credits
edit| Year | Artist | Album | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Skümback | Vi Är Nöjda..... | Backing vocals on "Do" |
| 1995 | Stoned | Music for the Morons | Vocals on "The Trooper" |
| 2005 | Regulations | Regulations | Co-producer with Regulations |
| 2006 | Disconvenience | Umeå Punk City | Backing vocals, tambourine |
| 2007 | Paramore | Riot! | Writing credit on "Born For This", which quotes Refused's "Liberation Frequency" |
| 2008 | P.K. 14 | City Weather Sailing | Backing vocals |
| 2009 | The Crystal Caravan | The Crystal Caravan | Producer, backing vocals |
| 2011 | The Bloody Beetroots | "Church of Noise" | Guest vocals |
| 2016 | Sick of It All | When the Smoke Clears | Liner notes |
| 2017 | Demon System 13 | Last Mosh For Charlie: Live In Umeå Hard Core | Guest artist on "(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone" |
| The Moth Gatherer | The Comfortable Low | Guest artist on "This Providence of Bones" | |
| Ecca Vandal | Ecca Vandal | Guest vocals on "Price of Living", alongside Jason Aalon Butler | |
| 2018 | Terror | Total Retaliation | Guest vocals on "One More Enemy" |
| 2021 | The Picturebooks & The Major Minor Collective | "Here's To Magic" | Guest artist |
| Tom Morello | The Atlas Underground Fire | Guest artist on "Save Our Souls" |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Anthony, David (June 30, 2015). "With Freedom, Refused tries to kill its legacy". The A.V. Club. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
- ^ Daniel P. Carter (January 10, 2012). "My thoughts on the Refused reformation". Rock Sound. Archived from the original on September 9, 2012. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
- ^ Yancey, Bryne (March 27, 2010). "UPDATED: Refused updates website, reunion in the works". Punknews.org. Retrieved March 27, 2010.
- ^ Young, Alex (March 28, 2012). "Refused announces U.S. summer tour". Consequence. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
- ^ Staff (July 12, 2012). "Fun Fun Fun Fest full lineup (De La Soul, Refused, Fucked Up, Public Image Ltd, Santigold, Sharon Van Etten, Rakim, X, Converge, Japandroids & more)". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
- ^ Evans, Mikaelie A. (January 13, 2017). "DENNIS LYXZÉN (REFUSED) Interview". Desert Highways. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
- ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
- ^ a b Sacher, Andrew (December 19, 2018). "Fake Names (mem Refused, Minor Threat, Embrace) playing first show ever in NYC". Brooklyn Vegan. Archived from the original on December 20, 2018. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
- ^ Childers, Chad (December 6, 2021). "Refused's Dennis Lyxzen Balancing Legacy With Four Active Bands in 2022". Loudwire. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
- ^ Regan, Tom (January 4, 2021). "'Cyberpunk 2077' band Refused had no idea they were writing for Keanu Reeves". Inverse. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
- ^ Leane, Rob (September 16, 2022). "Metal Hellsinger soundtrack: All the songs and how to listen". Radio Times. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
- ^ Micic, Mira (September 9, 2004). "Han är Sveriges sexigaste man ("He is Sweden's sexiest man")". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Archived from the original on August 8, 2007. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
- ^ White, Adam (September 9, 2004). "Dennis Lyxzén is the sexiest man in Sweden". Punknews.org. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
- ^ "Interview with International Noise Conspiracy". PETA2. December 2002. Archived from the original on July 15, 2011. Retrieved May 8, 2009.
External links
edit
Media related to Dennis Lyxzén at Wikimedia Commons- The Lost Patrol Band at Burning Heart
- Dennis Lyxzén – working 9 to 5!
- Interview with Susan Chung at Razorcake
- Interview with Dennis Lyxzén at wenn's rockt! WebTV
- Interview with Dennis Lyxzén from Poorboys on The Road
- Interview with Dennis Lyxzén: "Most Music Is Heartless, Soulless And Unsexy[permanent dead link] from Poorboys on The Road
- Ny Våg
- Ny Våg @ Myspace.com
