By Margarita Khartanovich, Finnish correspondent at MyGlobalMind
For Crashdïet, chaos seems to come with the territory. From multiple frontman changes to adapting to a constantly evolving music scene, the Swedish sleaze rockers have seen it all. And yet, they continue to power through — louder, dirtier, and rawer than ever.
As the band embarks on their latest tour through Finland, with fresh blood in the form of vocalist John Elliot, they are proof that rock ‘n’ roll isn’t for the faint-hearted. We caught up with guitarist Martin Sweet and John Elliot after a long day of travel and rehearsals to discuss their ever-changing lineup, a surprising amount of snoring, and their plans for the future.
“A Long Day, and We Haven’t Even Played Yet”
Their Finnish tour kicked off with Crashdïet arriving early after taking the ferry over and staying up until the early hours. “We arrived at seven in the morning, stayed up till two,” Martin laughs, “and we haven’t even played the first show yet!” Their first night in Finland marked the start of a whirlwind tour that had been postponed the previous year, adding to the excitement. “It’s finally happening,” John adds with relief.
Finland has always been a stronghold for rock and metal, and Crashdïet, along with their opener The Vantages, is tapping into that energy. John is quick to mention the younger band: “The Vantages opened for us, and they’ve got that HIM vibe,” referring to the Finnish gothic rock legends. “Their frontman looks a lot like Ville Valo, but yeah, they’re good!” It’s clear that Crashdïet, veterans of the scene, are still keeping an eye on the new talent coming up behind them.
Lineup Changes: Part of the DNA
For Crashdïet, lineup changes have become almost second nature. The band’s had a revolving door of vocalists, but instead of letting that slow them down, they’ve used it as a chance to refresh and reinvent themselves each time. “Apparently, lineup changes are part of the brand now,” Martin jokes, but there’s a sense that each change has brought something new to the table. “Every time someone leaves, we get new music and a new direction,” he continues.
John Elliot is the latest vocalist to step into the role, following the departure of Gabriel Keyes. And while joining a band known for big personalities and high expectations can be daunting, John’s transition into Crashdïet has been surprisingly smooth. “When Gabriel left, we were panicking,” Martin admits. “We had all these shows booked, and he just didn’t want to do it anymore. So John was the first guy I texted, and then he ghosted me for a week.” John chuckles, explaining, “Yeah, I had to think it over. I didn’t know how Crashdïet would sound with my voice.”
But after a week of contemplation, John was in. They rehearsed, and as Martin describes it, “It just worked.” Their first gig together? No pressure — just the Monsters of Rock cruise from Miami to the Bahamas. “We threw him into the fire,” Martin laughs.
Finding the Groove and Snoring in Harmony
Since joining, John has more than proven his worth, but that doesn’t mean life on the road has been without its quirks. One of the challenges of being in a rock band is learning to live with each other — literally. “When we came back from the U.S., we went to Italy for five days just to bond,” John explains. “You can’t just have a beer and think you know each other — you need to live together in hotels, cars, the whole deal.”
And with living together comes the inevitable revelations — like snoring. “Who snores? All of us,” Martin grins. “We talked about it all day — it’s like an orchestra of snoring.” John adds, “We should use it in a track.” While the idea of incorporating snoring into a song is clearly a joke, it speaks to the camaraderie and humour that holds the band together even as they continue to navigate changes.
The Direction of the New Album: Sleazy, Dirty, and Raw
With John firmly in the fold, the next question is where Crashdïet goes from here musically. Their last album, Automaton, took the band in a slightly heavier direction, but they’re already planning a new record. “It’s sounding less polished and more sleazy,” Martin says of the material they’ve been working on. “It’s got a dirty, raw feel to it, especially with John’s voice. Maybe even a little angrier — feeding off the times, I guess.”
The band is leaning into a grittier, more unpolished aesthetic, a response to the overproduced sound that Martin says has taken over the industry. “Today’s production sometimes sounds too perfect. It’s overproduced, with huge drums, a million guitars, and layers of sound,” he explains. “We want to strip it back — dare to do something that sounds real.”
Crashdïet is nearing their 25th anniversary as a band, a milestone they’re approaching with a mix of humour and reflection. “It feels like I’ve aged 20 years,” John jokes. “This band sucks the life out of you.” But despite the toll that the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle can take, both Martin and John are in it for the long haul. “Hopefully, this is my forever home,” John says with a laugh. “Or at least until I’m too old — which might be next year at this rate.”
Looking back, Martin reflects on how far they’ve come: “We just hoped to survive at the beginning,” he admits. “Things were crazy back then. Now, we just want to keep growing, play bigger shows, and keep making this our full-time thing. “The band’s dream has always been to play for enough people to do this for a living, and while they’ve hit plenty of roadblocks along the way, the fire is still burning bright.
The Legacy Lives On
Crashdïet’s European fanbase remains strong, but the band hasn’t forgotten about their U.S. audience. “We’ve got plans to come over as soon as we can,” Martin promises, though logistics — like John’s soon-to-be-born child — mean it might be a while before they’re back stateside. “We can’t just pop over for a couple of shows,” John says, explaining the complexities of planning a full U.S. tour.
In the meantime, fans can look forward to new music early next year. “We’ve been busy playing shows, but we’re getting back into the studio soon,” Martin teases. “I can’t promise dates, but there will definitely be new Crashdïet music in 2024.”
Whether they’re tearing up stages in Finland, bonding over beers in Italy, or plotting their next big release, one thing’s clear: Crashdïet is far from done. “We’ve got more to do, more to give,” Martin says. And with John’s raw energy and the band’s enduring spirit, there’s no doubt they’ll keep pushing forward, making noise for years to come.
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