Viagra Boys

Viagra Boys is a Swedish punk band formed in Stockholm in 2015.[1][2][3][4] The line-up currently consists of lead singer Sebastian Murphy alongside musicians Linus Hillborg (guitar), Elias Jungqvist (keyboards), Henrik Höckert (bass), Tor Sjödén (drums), and Oskar Carls (saxophone). The band's lyrics are known for using satire and dark humour to criticise right-wing populism, hypermasculinity, and far-right conspiracy theories.[5][6]

Viagra Boys
Viagra Boys performing in March 2019
Viagra Boys performing in March 2019
Background information
OriginStockholm, Sweden
Genres
Years active2015–present
Labels
Members
  • Sebastian Murphy
  • Oskar Carls
  • Henrik Höckert
  • Tor Sjödén
  • Elias Jungqvist
  • Linus Hillborg
Past members
  • Benjamin Vallé
  • Martin Ehrencrona
  • Rasmus Booberg
Websitewww.vboysstockholm.com

History

Viagra Boys was formed in Stockholm in 2015 by members active in other bands such as Nine, Les Big Byrd, Pig Eyes, Nitad, and Neu-Ronz. Lead singer Sebastian Murphy is the only foreign-born member of the group, being an American from San Rafael, California, who moved to Stockholm to live with his aunt at the age of 17. His mother is from Sweden and he grew up speaking Swedish.[7] A heavy drug and alcohol addict at the time, Murphy worked as a tattoo artist and met the other band members while performing Mariah Carey's song "We Belong Together" at a karaoke night.[7] Murphy is the chief songwriter of the band.

In 2018, the band released their debut album, Street Worms, on the Swedish independent label Year0001. Nils Hansson of Dagens Nyheter described the band favorably, praising their musical style as well as their use of black humor and satire, and rated the album 5/5.[8] In 2019, the band won the Independent Music Companies Association (IMPALA) Album of the Year Award for Street Worms.[9] The band's second album, Welfare Jazz, was released in January 2021. In October of that same year, founding member and guitarist Benjamin Vallé died at the age of 47. While he appeared on Welfare Jazz, he was not an active member of the band at the time of his death.[10][11] Viagra Boys' third studio album, Cave World, was released in July 2022.[12][13] The band played at multiple festivals in 2022, including Coachella and Primavera Sound,[14][15] and performed at Glastonbury in 2023. Viagra Boys won the Swedish Grammis award for Rock of the Year in 2023, and supported Queens of the Stone Age during their North American tour that same year.[16][17]

Members

Current members

  • Sebastian Murphy – lead vocals (2015–present)
  • Henrik Höckert – bass guitar (2015–present), additional vocals (2021–present)
  • Tor Sjödén – drums (2015–present), additional vocals (2021–present)
  • Oskar Carls – saxophone, flute, guitar (2017–present)
  • Elias Jungqvist – keyboards (2019–present), additional vocals (2021–present)
  • Linus Hillborg – guitar, additional vocals (2021–present)

Past members

  • Benjamin Vallé – guitar (2015–2021; died 2021)
  • Martin Ehrencrona – synth (2015–2019)
  • Rasmus Booberg – saxophone, flute, guitar (2015–2017)

Touring members

  • Henrik Palm – guitar (2022-23, replacing Hillborg on certain dates)

Timeline

Discography

Albums

Extended plays

Live albums

  • Shrimp Sessions (2019)
  • Shrimp Sessions 2 (2021)

Singles

  • "Sports" (2018)
  • "Just Like You" (2018)
  • "Ain't Nice" (2020, Year0001)
  • "Creatures" (2020, Year0001)
  • "In Spite of Ourselves" (with Amy Taylor) (2020)
  • "Girls & Boys" (2021)
  • "Ain't No Thief" (2022)
  • "Troglodyte" (2022)
  • "Punk Rock Loser" (2022)
  • “Big Boy” (with Jason Williamson) (2022)

References