Eyeballin Torpedoes

The year was 2004, In the US the president George W. Bush declared himself a president of peace, in Taiwan a whale self-combusted, on Mars the satellite Opportunity found evidence of water and in Stockholm two brothers, Martin and Bob, started to write wild and raw hillbilly, country, punk, Mexicana and surf influenced songs.

At first it was all about just writing songs. Martin was occupied playing bass in punk and rockbands (electric bass - although he would never admit it) and Bob were busy playing blues harmonica and restoring vintage motorcycles. But after writing a couple of songs together, they soon realized that the songs was just too damned good to be wasted.

They picked up a drummer Alex and formed the band Eyeballin' Torpedoes with a vision of creating a rockabilly/country sound that wasn't retro or modern but rather timeless. They strongly believe that songs about lovesickness, raucous living and the bitter sweetness of being the only free spirit in a one horse town always will have a place in people's hearts and souls.

The first demo EP was recorded soon after and is titled In stereo where available. This 4 song cd was kind of crummy recorded but if was obvious that the songs were of much higher quality then the recordings. The title song "Devil on my trail" was picked out to represent Sweden on Empire Records' huge compilation album featuring contemporary rockabilly-bands from all across Europe. And the tune Drown Myself in Sorrow was favored by heartbroken people around the world. The songs also attained some airtime as well as being used as a jingle on a Canadian psychobilly radio station.

For the years to follow the band played around Sweden in car shows, festivals, posh clubs, psychobilly clubs, private clubs, hell just about any type of place and perfected their skills as musicians and entertainers on the road. Around 2008 the band also perfected their merchandise, a band bandana, t-shirt and the famous Eyeballin' Torpedoes after shave was produced.

In 2009 they released Los Pobres Diablos, a full-length CD on the legendary Swedish punk label Zorch productions. A number of those songs were used as soundtracks in custom car show movies and also a documentary of the 50s subculture in Sweden. Some tracks were also featured in different compilations as well as getting airtime is both Sweden and in the US.

- Los Pobres Diablos was a blast to record. Getting some friends together and just worked intensly for for a week, says Martin Lind, upright bass. We actually recorded the songs in 2007 but it took some time for us too find just the right label. We teamed up with Zorch Productions which we are very happy with.

In 2010 they released the 4 track EP Boneshaker on Zorch Productions. This setting did their last gig together in Uddevalla before Stellan packed his bag and moved to Bangkok. By a bizzare twist of fate they found Mr Erik Hallingström. Two weeks later Eyeballin' Torpedoes was up and running, hungrier, with more grit and better than ever.

Erik quickly equipped himself with a new drum set. A huge bassdrum with gut skin from the 30s, a wooden tone block that Bob built for him and a 100 year old Chinese tom he found at a friend’s place. Well, it didn't really end up brand new after all. With a new sound and new songs they went back into the studio recording the vinyl EP Grace n' Grit. The name of the EP is in a way also a reflection of the band. You gotta have grit to get things done but there is also an element of grit and dirt in the music. And grace? Well it kind of speaks for itself I suppose…