Dennis Lyxzén

Dennis Lyxzén
Lyxzén in 2008
Lyxzén in 2008
Background information
Birth nameSven Olov Dennis Lyxzén
Also known asD-Rp
Born (1972-06-19) June 19, 1972 (age 52)
Umeå, Sweden
Genres
Occupations
  • Musician
  • singer
  • songwriter
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • bass
  • drums
  • percussion
Years active1987–present
Labels
Member of
Formerly of

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.

Career

Refused

Main article: Refused

Following 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

Outside 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 performing in 2009

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

As 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

Current bands

  • Refused – lead vocals (1991–1998, 2012–present)
  • INVSN – lead vocals, guitar (1999–present)
  • Fake Names – lead vocals (2018–present)[8]

Former bands

  • 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

Refused

Main article: Refused discography

INVSN

Main article: INVSN § Discography

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

Main article: AC4 (band) § Discography

The (International) Noise Conspiracy

Main article: The (International) Noise Conspiracy § Discography

Final Exit

Main article: Final Exit (band) § Discography
  • Teg (1995)
  • Umeå (1997)

Step Forward

Main article: Step Forward § Discography

Fake Names

  • Fake Names (2020)
  • Fake Names EP (2021)
  • Expendables (2023)

Instängd

  • Mitt Svar På Ingenting EP (2007)
  • Konkret Och Brutal EP (2008)
  • Drag Utan Drog EP (2011)

93 Million Miles

  • 93 Million Miles (2003)

By No Means

  • Straight (1992)

Garbage Pailkids

  • Garbage Pailkids (1990)
  • Pailkids on the Block (1991)

Other credits

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

References

  1. ^ Anthony, David (June 30, 2015). "With Freedom, Refused tries to kill its legacy". The A.V. Club. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ Yancey, Bryne (March 27, 2010). "UPDATED: Refused updates website, reunion in the works". Punknews.org. Retrieved March 27, 2010.
  4. ^ Young, Alex (March 28, 2012). "Refused announces U.S. summer tour". Consequence. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ Evans, Mikaelie A. (January 13, 2017). "DENNIS LYXZÉN (REFUSED) Interview". Desert Highways. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
  7. ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ Childers, Chad (December 6, 2021). "Refused's Dennis Lyxzen Balancing Legacy With Four Active Bands in 2022". Loudwire. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
  10. ^ Regan, Tom (January 4, 2021). "'Cyberpunk 2077' band Refused had no idea they were writing for Keanu Reeves". Inverse. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
  11. ^ Leane, Rob (September 16, 2022). "Metal Hellsinger soundtrack: All the songs and how to listen". Radio Times. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ White, Adam (September 9, 2004). "Dennis Lyxzén is the sexiest man in Sweden". Punknews.org. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
  14. ^ "Interview with International Noise Conspiracy". PETA2. December 2002. Archived from the original on July 15, 2011. Retrieved May 8, 2009.