His guitar playing gave them an extra injection energy worldwide - one of the highlights was headlining the Viva Las Vegas and playing with members of the Stray Cats, Guana Batz and Mad Sin. As well as being the main songwriter and frontman of The Knockouts – from 2004 Johan was the lead guitarist with internationally respected Swedish rockabilly band, The GoGetters, having toured over 300 dates with shows all over Europe and the USA. The Knockouts have developed a cult following in Scandinavia and is now considered to be one of Sweden's hardest touring bands.
The Go Getters will return to Australia this August for the Kustom Kulture extravaganza, GreazeFest. “I’m driven by passion for music,” he says, “and if it’s getting people happy, it’s a big bonus.” That said, Sandberg’s commitment to the band is, at its core, deeply personal. “There’s a lot of cool people out there”. “The energy of the audience and contacts all over the world that makes me believe in humanity,” Sandberg says. It’s been a great time, and still is.”īy virtue of the band’s passion-driven foundations, they’ve fostered a worldwide following composed of people with a similar outlook. “But no, I don’t think I could’ve imagined how much joy and beautiful people I was going meet. “Well, it was the plan,” Sandberg rebuffs. Still, perhaps no one could’ve predicted that in 2015 The Go Getters would remain a touring band, headlining major rockabilly festivals around the world. Indeed, it’s unlikely The Go Getters would be alive and kicking today if their founding motivations were purely careerist. Money is not unimportant, but it won’t keep a band together.” “It’s always been for the love of music,” Sandberg says of his core motive. But, the longer you survive, the concern for money gets supplanted by genuine passion and artistic ambitions.
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When bands are young there’s a lot of concern with how to make money and associated questions of whether it’s worth devoting so much time to a musical project that mightn’t ultimately be profitable. Having devoted such a significant portion of his life to the band, Sandberg’s gained invaluable perspective on that which is most important. “It’s been a bit slow, but picking up again.” “I keep my ear to the ground and go see as much live shows as I can,” he says. Despite such constant global travels, Sandberg hasn’t fallen out of touch with Sweden’s underground rock scene. The Go Getters have spent the better part of the last three decades taking their Viking-inspirited rockabilly power all over the world. The diversity is the key to keep going without getting bored, I think.” “I just play and write songs that I like – no mission going on here or then.
“I never even thought of doing a crossover or such,” he says. Nevertheless, Sandberg wasn’t conscious of setting himself apart from the pack. However, there weren’t too many Swedish musicians wholeheartedly embracing rockabilly music. At the time, the band’s home country boasted a strong punk and hardcore scene, crowned by the likes of Anti Climex and Mob 47. Sandberg formed The Go Getters way back in 1988, in Västerås in central Sweden. “You are not bound to do either country, blues, swing or rock. “That term has such a variety of styles mixed in and that’s why I like it,” he says.
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