Please list all of your band members and their roles in the band.
Barnet (which translates to "The Kid") - vocals
Necrofilip (which translates to "Necrophilip" - vocals
Doktor Tyr (aw, you get it) - guitars
Don Foster (which translates to "The Producer of 'Two and a Half Men'") - guitars
Lård Hård ("Lord"...erm, "Bad-ass" I guess) - bass
VikariJens ("The Substitute") - drums
For starters, what bands were you guys a part of prior to Skitarg?
Me (Barnet) and Necrofilip had a band called HEAD for about six years until we were 21. We ended the band but six months later we just couldn´t be without eachother so we decided we´d start SKITARG.
How long has the band been around?
Since 2005, so it´s been kind of a long run so far, considering we never intended the band to get anywhere. But people seem to like it and we´ve had an excellent run in Sweden, considering the tough competition in clown metal bands in Sweden. (There is one as far as I know.)
What’s the origin of that name and have you changed the band’s name before?
No, SKITARG (which literally means "shit angry" but more idiomatically translates better into "pissed off") was such a great name since it´s very specific in describing what the music sounds like, and also such a commonly appearing set of words in Sweden that people remember it after the first time they hear it. You just don´t go and change a name like that.
Who writes your songs?
Most of the time it´s me and Necrofilip, but Don Foster has written a couple of songs and for the fifth album Lård Hård wrote a song too.
What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs and do you think these topics will change over time?
Most actually deal with the common bullshit that everybody has to put up with: the bus being packed to the brim with people, people posting animal pictures on their social media, getting Chlamydia for the fifth time and bragging about the size of your dick. You know, everyday stuff that everybody can connect with.
What bands are currently inspiring the music that you’re making?
I´ve actually kind of given up on listening to metal. It might be that I´m getting older and my mind is starting to block new influences, but I kind of feel that I´m good on being inspired. My writing style has taken a form after 20 years of making music and the only way to evolve it more into what is my true voice is exploring inwards in my own style. So I´ve had a bunch of influxes, and now it´s time to let that simmer and ferment into something that´s more uniquely m.
Was there a particular band/artist or concert that inspired you to start a band?
I guess it would be getting into Metallica when I was 12. I´ve based a lot of my riffing on the style of James Hetfield so I guess a lot of that shows up in our music.
What do you do to prepare for a show? Any flexing, exercises, ect …
We usually start drinking at 10 a.m. and stop sometime at 3 a.m. so keep in mind that all of the below is done sloppy, purposelessly and aimlessly.
One hour before gig we all meet up backstage to put make-up on and stage clothing on.
Me and the other vocalist Necrofilip sometimes do some vocal harmonies just to get the sense of pitch in order. I have a pretty singing technique so I prefer not to sing too much before stage since that strains the vocal chords.
Other than that we share a shot, say we hate each other and then start making our way to the stage!
What has been the biggest highlight of the band’s career so far?
Probably playing Metaltown 2012. We had never had any kind of bigger audience before so seeing 4000 people in a huge tent chanting our name was awesome. I remember I was expecting the crowd to be like five emokids checking us out ironically, but luckily enough it turned out to be 4000 emokids checking us out ironically.
If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and why?
I couldn´t say but I can tell you who I wouldn´t want to tour with. The Hitlerz.They´re a band who only sing about Eva Braun and play roots-reagge-black-metal. Terrible.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Yes, some ketchup please.