Kent was a Swedish alternative rock band formed in Eskilstuna in 1990. With members Joakim Berg, Martin Sköld, Sami Sirviö and Markus Mustonen, the band had numerous radio hits throughout Sweden and Scandinavia and consecutive number-one studio albums on the Sweden top list (Sverigetopplistan) beginning with the release of Verkligen (1996) and led by the single "Kräm (så nära får ingen gå)". With origins rooted in distorted rock, they found mainstream success through their alternative rock albums of the mid-1990s, 2000s and 2010s, the latter decades during which they adopted elements of synthpop.
With eleven number-one albums, five number-one singles, 22 Swedish Grammy Awards,Grammisvinnare genom åren, Grammis.se and over three million record sales, Kent is considered the most popular rock/pop group within Sweden and throughout Scandinavia. Vapen & ammunition (2002) topped the Swedish charts for eight weeks. The band was inducted into the Swedish Music Hall of Fame in 2016.
As Kent's songs are primarily performed in Swedish, they are unfamiliar to most English-speaking audiences. Kent briefly attempted an international career with English versions of the albums Isola (1997) and Hagnesta Hill (1999) and an accompanying American tour for the former, but stopped after finding less success than they had in Scandinavia.
On 14 March 2016, the band announced that they would release their final album, titled Då som nu för alltid, after 26 years of performing. The album was released on 20 May 2016. The band's announcement noted that the dissolution of the band is voluntary and is despite their continued success. In September, Kent began a months-long farewell tour that covered Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Denmark. The last concert was held at Tele2 Arena in Stockholm on 17 December 2016.Så bra var Kents sista spelning någonsin, Expressen.se
Kent reunited in March 2025 to play six concerts at Stockholm's 3Arena.
History Formation and first years (1990–1994) The band Jones & Giftet (Jones & The Poison) was formed in 1990 with members Joakim "Jocke" Berg, Martin Sköld, Markus Mustonen, Sami Sirviö and Thomas Bergqvist (synthesizers). Berg and Sirviö started the band when Berg went to London and bought two guitars, one for each of them. Sköld, Bergqvist and Mustonen joined soon after. Their first gig was in Lindesberg in Västmanland, and the second at Knegoffs in Eskilstuna. In 1991, Jones & Giftet won the contest Cult 91 at the Skylight in Eskilstuna.Historien om Kent Sveriges Radio
In 1992 Martin Roos played with Jones & Giftet for the first time, at Cult 92. Soon thereafter he replaced Thomas Bergqvist. On 30 September 1992 Jones & Giftet changed their name to Havsänglar (Angelshark, lit. Sea angels). Gigs at the "Spaghetti Companiet", Hannas Krog and the Pet Sounds Bar followed.
In 1993, Martin Roos moved to Stockholm, and soon the rest of the band did the same. Jocke Berg's brother Adam Berg came up with Kent as the band's new name.Fansen som följt Kent i 20 städer – på 83 dagar, Expressen.se Kent played in Stockholm at Tanto and Hyndans Hörna, and in Uppsala at Kalmar Nation.
In March 1994 Kent recorded a 10-track demo under very simple conditions in an 8-track studio at Nytorpsskolan near Blåsut in Stockholm. They gave the demo to Peter Ejheden at Pet Sounds who was working as a booker for a club (Pet Sounds Bar). In the same chain of events where he got the tape, Ejheden quit Pet Sounds and started working at BMG. In April Per Lindholm, A&R at RCA/BMG, heard the band for the first time and was immediately interested. On 26 June Kent's first record contract was signed. They went to Silence Studios in Koppom, Värmland, to record their first album.
Kent and Verkligen (1995–1996) In March 1995, Kent released their first album, Kent. The band's style at that time emphasized distortion, which is in contrast with their later albums. Their first single was "När det blåser på månen".
One year later, in March 1996, Kent released Verkligen (Really). Guitarist Martin Roos had left the band for his career at Kent's record company BMG; he later became the band's manager. The pre-release single "Kräm (så nära får ingen gå)" immediately became a radio hit and gained Kent some serious fame in Sweden. Two more singles were issued, "Gravitation" and "Halka". Musically, the album was slower with less distortion and more emotion. After Verkligen was released, and before the band went on a long tour that summer, guitarist Harri Mänty joined as a permanent member.
Isola (1997–1999) In November 1997, Kent released Isola. They had toured heavily with Verkligen, which had gained them some reputation. The pre-release single from Isola, "Om du var här" (If You Were Here), became a radio hit. Musically the album was quite different from Verkligen, going further in the direction of slower, more thoughtful songs with more emotion. The last song on the album, the 7 minute, 47 second-long "747", with a characteristic keyboard riff and a long instrumental outro, became the band's closer for every show for the next six years. It was also released as a single, cut down to four minutes and with an added short chorus. The album reached number one in Sweden. Kent went on to tour through Scandinavia from November 1997 to February 1998.
In April 1998, Kent released an English version of Isola, featuring an extra song only available on the English version, "Velvet". In May, the band started touring again, playing in Europe and Scandinavia. Singles were released in various territories for three of the album's songs, "If You Were Here", "Things She Said" and "747". In 1999, they did two US tours to promote the album. The first was in support of fellow Swedes The Cardigans,Pressmeddelande Cardigans, Kent.nu and the second was a double bill with American band Papa Vegas. The English version of Isola sold poorly.
Hagnesta Hill and B-sidor 95-00 (1999–2000) In the summer of 1999, the band started working on a new album. In December 1999, Kent released Hagnesta Hill, named after Hagnestahill, a part of Eskilstuna where the band had their first rehearsal space. The first single from the album, "Musik non stop", a disco-rock song, became a huge radio hit. The album was, for the most part, faster and less ballad-focused than Isola, and also mildly experimental with drum-machines and electronics. Two more singles were released, the industrial-esque "En himmelsk drog" (A Heavenly Drug) and the power-poppy "Kevlarsjäl" (Kevlar Soul).
In April 2000, an English version of Hagnesta Hill was released, in which two songs from the Swedish version were replaced with two new English tracks ("Just Like Money" and "Quiet Heart"). The album was also released in a limited digipack with one of the excluded songs, "A Timekill to Die For", included as a hidden bonus track. The album was accompanied by the release of the single "Music Non Stop"; the other omitted song, "Insects", was included as its b-side. A planned US release of the album was shelved, resulting in the circulation of "cut-out" promo copies. With no official album to promote, a US tour never materialized. In connection with the release of the English version of Hagnesta Hill, Kent went on a European tour, finishing at the Roskilde Festival.
Since their debut, Kent had recorded a large number of b-sides. Since most of them had long gone out of print, it was very hard to get them legally, so in November 2000, Kent released the two-CD collection B-sidor 95–00 (B-Sides 95–00). It featured 21 b-sides and two new songs. A documentary was also shot the same year, Så nära får ingen gå – ett år med Kent ("No One Can Get This Close – a year with Kent"), produced by Per Sinding-Larsen and Mathias Engstrand.SVT gör film om Kent, Aftonbladet.se
With heavy touring in Scandinavia and Europe in 2000, the band took a much-needed break.
Vapen & ammunition and the White Concert (2001–2003)
In an interview in 2001, Joakim Berg was asked if they would tour outside Scandinavia again: "It's not too late yet. But the question is whether you have the energy to do all the marketing and all the crap that's required. I'm more interested in making great music than sitting on a tour bus for a year and a half."Kent tänkte ta semester, Aftonbladet.se
After a seven-month timeout, Kent started another full-length album during the summer of 2001. Later that year they reported that they had tried to make an album with more radio-friendly songs. The first single from the album, "Dom andra" (The Others), released on 18 March 2002, became a huge hit on Swedish radio. When the album Vapen & ammunition (Weapon(s) & Ammunition) came out, the next two singles "Kärleken väntar" (Love Awaits) and "FF" (from the double A-side FF / VinterNoll2), plus the album track "Pärlor" (Pearls) became huge radio hits, resulting in album sales over 600,000, more than twice as many as any other Kent album to date. The band received seven Swedish Grammy Awards in 2003.Kent satte prisrekord på Grammisgalan, Norrköpings Tidningar
On 21 February 2003, it was announced that Kent would only do one performance in Sweden in 2003, on 6 June, the Swedish national day, in Stockholm Stadium which holds 30,000.KENT + VÄNNER PÅ STOCKHOLM STADION kent.nuKent spelar på Stockhoms stadion - vinn biljetter! expressen.se As the band told the crowd to dress in white, it was nicknamed "The White Concert". The band also played at the less known Parkfestivalen in Moss, Norway on 14 June 2003.Parkfestivalen 2003 - MIC Norsk musikkinformasjon Musikkinformasjonssenteret
Du & jag döden and The hjärta & smärta EP (2005–2006) After taking a one-year timeout, Kent returned to the studio to record their sixth studio album in 2004. Studio reports said it would be "a very dark album"."Det blir en sjukt deppig platta" The first single "Max 500" was released on 9 February 2005 and reached number one in Sweden and Norway. The album Du & jag döden (You & Me Death) was released in March, it was well-received by critics and became a fan favorite. Two more singles were released, "Palace & Main" and "Den döda vinkeln" (The Dead Angle) – the last one stirring up some controversy among fans because Kent did not release any b-sides along with it (the single has a shorter version of the song). The last song on the album, "Mannen i den vita hatten (16 år senare)" (The Man in the White Hat (16 Years Later)) is seen by many as Kent's best effort.Kents bästa låt någonsin? kent.nuDette er Kents beste låter - stemt frem av 15.000 svenske GAFFA-lesere gaffa.no It also became the song to replace "747" as the concert closer.
In May 2005, they embarked on "Turné 19" (Tour 19), doing 12 shows in Sweden, one in Norway and one in Finland. The concerts took place in huge tents with a capacity of up to 18,000.Kent och döden på tältturné, Aftonbladet.se This was the only tour that followed the release of Du & jag döden. After "Turné 19", Kent played once more at the Roskilde Festival.
There were rumours about Kent releasing an EP, as they had been spotted in studio and guitarist Sami had said, "We might release an EP, but if we do it will only be digitally released." Just one month before the November 2005 release, The hjärta & smärta EP (The Heart & Pain EP) was confirmed, as a CD as well as a digital release. It was well received and contained five tracks, "Dom som försvann" (Those Who Disappeared) becoming the radio song and having a video recorded. The EP made No. 1 in Sweden and remained on the charts for 33 weeks.
At the 2005 Nordic Music Awards held at Forum København, Copenhagen, Kent received award for Best Nordic Artist.Kent Nabs Nordic Music Award billboardKent tog hem tyngsta musikpriset sverigesradio.se The award was presented by the British band Coldplay.