Welcome to Backyard Babies, a Swedish punky/retro-exuberant-anthemicky rock outfit whose lyrics are in English despite their Nordic origins – and whose singer sounds somewhere between Sid Vicious and Axl Rose.

These guys are an anthropologists’ picnic – every single member looks absolutely fascinating, in that particular, wonderful way that would make the straight-laced edge away from them if both happened to end up in the same pub. Greasy, stringy haired, eye-linered, pierced, long haired, bearded and leathered up, Backyard Babies are on a self-proclaimed “Tattooed crusade,” the proud artists behind such singles as “Fuck off and Die.”  They’ve currently got about five studio albums under their shiny, studded belts.

Tattoo TV's Laura Lee Conboy caught up with lead guitarist Dregen at the Uk's Download festival to politely interrogate him about this aforementioned “tattoo crusade” and he’s absolutely charming – “I’m not really that much a fan of tattoos,” he tells us – “I was a guinea pig for a lot of my friends who were learning.” Paradoxically, he’s got the band logo tattooed on his forearm and he’s happy to expound about all the ink he’s had done on tour. Oh, and he got his first tattoo on his 18th birthday after three years of plotting. It is a mystery!

Besides all the enigmatic quotes about the ink, we’ve got to say that musically, Backyard Babies are pure Rock 'n' Rollers, and yet another strangely named band you should add in your music collection. They’ve got fans enough to prove their place, having got two decades of world tours to look back upon and more to go. It’s a rare and wonderful thing to see a musical outfit last so long on the scene, and with only one former member too.

We recommend you check them out for a little spice in your musical life – but don’t ask too many questions about their ink, you’ll only confuse yourself!

CREDITS – Interview - Laura Lee Conboy  Article – Rachel Kennedy    Photos – Backyard Babies