“People like people like people like us”… Where did you get the idea for your album name? It seems a funny word game…
Dregen: The meaning came out when we were touring America. I don’t remember if it was the Los Angeles show, and we were doing an interview in the bus after the gig and the reporter said it was amazed by weird the audience of the Backyard Babies. He was expecting like a more rock crowd, there is a rock crowd of course, but it’s all about cool guys with crazy colours Mohawks, pin up chicks, skater kids, 15 years old los angeles guys. So he asked why you think it’s like that? And I said: it’s people in general like people like people like people us!

The new record sounds more ‘open’ and happy-go-lucky than the previous ones! It’s more pop and less distorted. How important has Nicke Royale been as producer of this new record? He’s an old acquaintance of yours, What's it like to work with him as a producer?
Nicke: I think it was the best acquaintance of us. When we started to plan this record nobody wanted to go to Los Angeles and get some American producer in some super studio…
Dregen: we were really satisfied with the songs as well… so we did more an album like ‘overknown’
Nicke: so there was a change to produce an album with whom we wanted to do it and how we wanted to do it, so he said yes and it came out perfect
Dregen: in the long time he was more like the fifth member of Backyard Babies for a month, than actually like a producer.

"Total 13" is no doubt the record your fans love most- it's considered unreachable. But there's also people who think your last record reflects your nature more, and that 'Total 13' was so tough- it almost came off as forced. With songs like 'Roads' now, for instance, it seems like you went back to your more classic rock roots- like during the time of 'Diesel 'n' Power'. What do you think about it?
Dregen: kind of maybe, Nicke wrote that song!
Nicke: Well, one of the best things to be in this band is that every record songs are different so… the next album will probably be different from this one… well I don’t know I think the real Backyard Babies are all the records I think. If you take that song, Roads, for example, I wrote it six years ago.
This is not the 1998 anymore.. now it’s like more Rolling Stone… I’m very proud of it.

Dregen, your backing vocals are the trademark sound of the Backyard Babies, like Andy McCoy's vocals were to Hanoi Rocks, and as the Clash's Joe Strummer/ Mick Jones shared vocals were. We could go on further with Aerosmith, the Beastie Boys, I know these last one is your favourite band. Did these bands inspire you to choose to have such an important part in the vocals?
Dregen: I don’t know… actually if you compare that to Diesel n Power I didn’t sing nearby anything, so it’s a thing that has been growing over the years, and also I think it’s so because we’ve been playing so much lives, and things are happening when you play live and get more attractive to look at… I think me’s and Nicke’s vocals fit pretty good together.

In all your records you've had loads of guests. What can you tell me about your guests in 'People like...'?
Nicke: There are no guest, the only guest is the producer Nicke Andersson actually.
I bet I had recognized Jocke Berg voice!
Nicke: who?
Jocke Berg…
Nicke: No, no! The guys from Hardcore Superstar? Absolutely no!
I thought this also because I’ve seen the new video from Hardcore Superstar and at a certain point it shows clearly the Backyard Babies logo…
Nicke: Really? I didn’t know that… life is strange!

So do you already have the new video? What song is it? What’s it like?
Nicke: It’s ‘the Mess Age’ track number seven.
Dregen: We will see the final product tomorrow when we come back Stockholm, and I think will start running next week on mtv. The video is really kind of dark, it has this David Lynch dark touch, but it’s kind of simple, it’s a performance video.

In the last decade Scandinavia has produced many kick ass bands, unlike the rest of Europe. Except in Germany for metal music. It seems almost everyone in Europe can't make it big. Could you explain the reason? What's the rest of Europe missing that Scandinavia has?
Dregen: That a question we get a lot of times. I don’t know.. but it’s just that if there’s one band that’s going on then this help the scene and all the bands hang together and support each other and… I don’t know maybe it’s something we drink! I think in Scandinavia bands work 24/7, they do it for live… I think it has to be that. We sacrifice a lot!

How’s the relationship among the Scandinavian bands? Is there some cool new band you wanna recommend?
Dregen: Yeah the Captain Murphy, The Doits, The Republicans…
Nicke: There are also some cool all female bands like the Crucified Barbara and Sahara Hotnight!

Are you touring with some Swedish band?
Dregen: Actually we are touring with an American bands, a really cool band from New Orleans: The Supagroup.

In 'Jetlag the movie' at a certain point it shows the rider with all your catering requests. Between vodka and champagne you ask for a framed picture of Guns 'n' Roses. Speaking of which: What do you think about the reunion? There are rumours they are going to tour this summer? And what do you think about the most anticipated CD in history: Chinese Democracy?
Nicke: It’s just Axl and his fucking bands. We need to get rid of all these idiots… like the world needs the Guns n Roses… and Backyard Babies, I could do it myself, you know?
Dregen: Chinese Democracy has been in the studio for 12 years… it’s out of this fucking mind!

There were rumors they will do a tour next summer with the Motley Crue, it would be fun to see Axl and Vince finally fighting
Nicke: Really? Ahhaha Vince and Axl actually are not best friends!

Dregen, I remember a funny episode when you went to Milan to do a dj set. Two teens spent the whole night running after you around the club, without success. In the end, one threw a beer bottle at you, while the other one climbed on you, crying and trying to kiss you. Do you remember any other crazy episodes?
Nicke: A beer bottle? Aahahah
Dregen: Yeah yeah, these crazy episodes happen a lot! I remember when we were in Japan this girl asked Nicke to be her sperm donator, so she could have her kids.
Nicke: Yeah but I squeezed the mayonnaise!
Dregen: And a friend of mine is a dj and is a black guy, I’d really liked to gave her that sperm!

And now a dumb question: Your first name was 'Tyrant' I bet that amongst your records of Sex Pistols and Social Distorion you have hidden vinyls of Tuff and Tyketto. Confess it!
Nicke: We have hidden vinyls of what? These are fucking fluffy gay band! We were more into metal bands like Dokken, Saxon, Running Wild…
Dregen: I think I know Tyketto but Tuff?

Steve Rachelle, the frontman, was kinda a clone of Bret Michaels…
Dregen: Oh, this is disgusting!

And he’s the owner of Metal Sludge…
Nicke: Ah?! I didn’t know that…