Indie rock heroes The Hives reveal why touring with AC/DC in 2015 almost made them quit

An iconic noughties rock band are heading back to Australia, a decade after their last shows here almost made them call time on the band.

When Swedish indie rockers The Hives last toured Australia a decade ago, frontman Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist was tempted to quit.

The band was handpicked by their Aussie rock heroes AC/DC to open on their Rock or Bust stadium tour, fulfilling a lifelong dream for the Swedish musician who fell in love with the band when he was six.

“I felt like I could quit at that point because my dream when I was like six years old was not to be an astronaut and not a cowboy; it was to be on stage with AC?DC in front of really big amps and have long hair,” he said.

“And I got to do that and it was like I fulfilled my inner six-year-old’s dream and it was everything I could ever have wanted. Except I wasn’t actually in AC/DC.”

Swedish rockers The Hives to play first shows in Australia since 2015. Picture: Supplied.

Almqvist said his encounters with AC/DC backstage during the month-long tour were enjoyable yet surprising.

“Yeah, Angus (Young) and I had little moment, and there was tea. They seem to drink a lot of tea, there was always a cup in hand,” he said.

Renowned as one of the best live rock bands in the world, The Hives finally make their way back to Australia in July.

The Aussie leg of the world tour opens at Metropolis in Fremantle on July 17 before they head to the Forum in Melbourne on July 19, Sydney’s Enmore Theatre on July 23 and Brisbane’s Fortitude Music Hall on July 24.

The new-look Hives consider themselves rock royalty but hate wearing the crowns. Picture; Supplied.

Altrock darlings who were a highlight of the final Big Day Out festivals in 2014, The Hives’ songs have been staples on film, television and video soundtracks, with their 2007 hit “Tick Tick Boom” used as a theme to sell iPods and for sports channels.

Their latest viral track is ‘Hot To Say I Told You Go,’ a virtual mash-up of their song “Hate To Say I Told You So” with Chappell Roan‘s “Hot To Go.”.

Fans have declared it “the collab of the century” and Almqvist agrees.

“We didn’t even really make that, but somebody did and we liked it,” he said. “I have no idea if (Roan) likes it.”

HOT TO SAY I TOLD YOU [e-mail]/Zv73e8ti3x

— The Hives (@TheHives) February 3, 2025

The Hives are famous for their suits and change up their look for each new album, But Almqvist is already regretting their rock royalty look for new single “Enough is Enough” and upcoming record The Hives Forever Forever The Hives to be released in August.

“Those crowns are f...ing painful. We built a proper one and it cuts into your head in a ridiculous way so I bet royals were all pissed off all the time,” he said.

“My offer to the Swedish people is that I would be the king for half the money.”

Ticket sales for The Hives shows open via the Frontier Members presale from noon (local time) on April 8 with the general sale from noon (local time) on April 10.

For all ticket details and outlets, frontiertouring.com/thehives

Originally published as Indie rock heroes The Hives reveal why touring with AC/DC in 2015 almost made them quit