Clockwise (band)

Lore & Background

Clockwise was conceived by Benny Söderberg after meeting John Levén and Ian Haugland when his previous band Fortune opened for Glenn Hughes on a Japan tour in 1994. Söderberg also recruited guitarist Jan Granwick, whom he had known for years. Together with Christer Wedin at Empire Records, plans were set for the debut album. The debut, 'Nostalgia', was released in 1996 and featured strong melodies, tasteful arrangements, and sound engineered by Ronny Lahti. The second album, 'Naïve', followed after the success of the debut. Due to contractual reasons, Jan Granwick could not participate on 'Naïve', so Fredrik Åkesson played guitar instead. The rhythm section of John Levén and Ian Haugland remained on both albums.

Reader's Guide

Clockwise represents a deliberate, melody-driven rock project that resisted fleeting musical trends. Its significance lies in the collaboration of established musicians from Europe and other Swedish acts, creating a cohesive sound across two studio albums. The project's debut 'Nostalgia' received positive international reviews, and the follow-up 'Naïve' continued the approach with a change in guitarist. Benny Söderberg also recorded a demo for a potential third album, tentatively titled 'nothing is the greatest thing', featuring a narrative trilogy of songs called 'The Tales of King Solitude' spanning all three planned albums. Although only two albums were released, the project's focus on musicianship and melodic structure left a mark in the Swedish rock scene of the late 1990s.

Did You Know?

• Benny Söderberg met John Levén and Ian Haugland when his band Fortune opened for Glenn Hughes on a Japan tour in 1994.
• Guitarist Jan Granwick could not play on the second album 'Naïve' due to contractual reasons.
• Fredrik Åkesson, later of Opeth, played guitar on the second Clockwise album 'Naïve'.
• A demo for a third album includes a three-part song cycle 'The Tales of King Solitude'.