Sweden’s Rotten Mind combines elements of 77’ punk, post-punk, dark wave, and garage rock into their own brand of melodic and alternative punk. Effortlessly moving between gloomy, epic, bittersweet, punchy, and energetic soundscapes, the band brings vintage-sounding punk to the modern age with a timeless attitude and palpable verve. Rotten Mind’s sound exists somewhere in the dark wastelands where 80’s UK acts like The Vibrators meets US bands such as Christian Death and T.S.O.L. Their fresh and modern contribution to the genre makes Rotten Mind comparable with contemporary acts such as Crusades, Iceage, Radioactivity, Metz and High Tension Wires.
Questions Answered by Jakob Arvidsson
How did Rotten Mind form and what does the band name mean?
We come from playing in different punk bands before Rotten Mind and we wanted to try something new. We wanted to do something that was outside of our comfort zone. The name is just that we wanted to write twisted lyrics at the time so we thought it suited the band.
Previous musical projects? How'd you first get into music?
We all played in different bands. But me, Victor and Johan played in Agent Attitude, a hardcore punk band. I started playing because my brother played in a punk band and I used to steal his records and play on his drums.
First concert that you ever went to?
Oh, I don’t really know. I think it was some kind of jazz band.
What's your writing process like?
Someone writes a riff or two, then we put the song together in the rehearsing room. That’s usually like it is.
What other artists or songs inspire your music?
Many artists inspire us but the last few years we’ve been more inspired by the early 80’s post punk and dark wave. Bands like New Order, Lords of the new church etc.
What's the live experience like and your philosophy on playing live? Do you think the music live should be identical to the recorded version or should it be its own thing?
What's the live experience like and your philosophy on playing live? Do you think the music live should be identical to the recorded version or should it be its own thing?
We love to play live. For me, the record and the live show is two completely different things even though they sound pretty alike. It’s the two sides of being in a band. I guess our philosophy is hard work. We’re pretty well oiled if I may say so myself.
Where have you toured? What has the touring experience been, best shows?worst shows?
Where have you toured? What has the touring experience been, best shows?worst shows?
We’ve been all around Europe, Australia and the US. Our best shows are always in Germany or France. The worst shows? I don’t know, maybe some show in the UK haha
What's up next for you?
We’re doing some summer festivals this summer and a European tour in November. After that we’ll see!
What's up next for you?
We’re doing some summer festivals this summer and a European tour in November. After that we’ll see!