Jesper Strömblad
Jesper Strömblad |
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Jesper Strömblad (born on November 28, 1972) is the founder and former guitarist of the Swedish melodic death metal band In Flames.
Background
Strömblad began playing music at age 4, with a violin he played until age 12.[1] At age 12, he no longer considered the violin a 'cool' instrument to play and began playing guitar instead.[1]
Strömblad is known for having played in and been a founding member of a series of bands and side projects. However, In Flames has remained to date his main band. [2][3]
He is known to be an avid World of Warcraft player, even wearing a WoW t-shirt on stage at times. Whilst away from home on tour, he regularly plays World of Warcraft on his laptop with his fiancée, Swedish model/BE Wendela, as a way of keeping in touch with her. He also plays a guitar imprinted with the logo for the horde faction from World of Warcraft as can be seen in this picture: Jesper Strömblad's WoW guitar
On 3 February, 2009, the band's website inflames.com announced that Jesper would not be participating in the Australia/South America/Japan tour in order to get treatment for his alcohol abuse problems. Niklas Engelin was announced as his replacement for the tour.
On February 12, 2010, Jesper announced that he was leaving In Flames permanently.
Side projects
Strömblad is currently the bassist and a guitarist of Dimension Zero, a side project which he started with former In Flames guitarist Glenn Ljungström. Strömblad is also currently a member of another side project he started called All Ends, for which he and his In Flames bandmate Björn Gelotte both write the music for. Neither of them plan to play in the side project due to In Flames' demanding schedule, but they continue to aid in writing songs for the band to play. He is also working on a side project together with Roland Johansson, former singer of the Swedish metal band Sonic Syndicate. They are planning to have their first record out in early 2010.
Former bands
- Ceremonial Oath – bass guitar (1990–1993)
- HammerFall – drums (1993–1996), (founding member)
- Sinergy – guitar (1997–1999), (founding member)
- In Flames - guitar (1993-2010), (founding member)
Guest appearances
On the Annihilator album, Metal (2007), Strömblad plays a guest solo on the song "Haunted". He also performed a guest solo on "Images of Our Extinction" by the Greek death metal band Exhumation.
Discography
with In Flames
- Lunar Strain (1994)
- The Jester Race (1995)
- Whoracle (1997)
- Colony (1999)
- Clayman (2000)
- Reroute to Remain (2002)
- Soundtrack to Your Escape (2004)
- Come Clarity (2006)
- A Sense of Purpose (2008)
with Dimension Zero
- Silent Night Fever (2002)
- This Is Hell (2003)
- He Who Shall Not Bleed (2007)
with Ceremonial Oath
- The Book of Truth (1993)
- Carpet (1995)
with Sinergy
- Beware the Heavens (1999)
Equipment
Strömblad currently uses Gibson guitars. Before the release of Reroute to Remain, Jesper was an endorser of ESP using his signature variant of the EX series until he switched to Gibson guitars with his fellow bandmate Björn Gelotte. He switched to Gibson for the release of Reroute To Remain, but returned to ESP for the recording of Soundtrack To Your Escape. Stromblad has now returned to Gibson since the release of Come Clarity. Jesper uses the Gibson Flying V and Explorer Voodoo models, as well as some Gibson Gothic Explorer II's.
Jesper is known for using the Peavey 5150/6505 amp.[3] Strömblad also uses a Line 6 rack-mounted POD just like Gelotte.[3]
References
- ^ a b Lady Enslain (1999). "Interview with Jesper Strömblad". Enslain. Retrieved 2007-06-23.
- ^ Stefanis, John (2004). "Interview: In Flames (Anders Friden and Peter Iwers)". Get Ready to Rock. Retrieved 2007-06-23.
- ^ a b c "In Flames Interview". Metal Pigeon. 2006-07-17. Retrieved 2007-06-23.