Roulette formed in the late 1980s in Sweden, and have enjoyed varying success on the hard rock scene in the Scandinavian country ever since. They grew in popularity in the 1990s after signing with CBS and following numerous appearances on Swedish television in the back end of the 80s. Throughout the band’s long history there have been lengthy periods of silence during which fans wondered what had happened to one of the most popular bands Sundsvall has ever produced. But the aging rockers keep coming back for more, and have recently released a new studio album. Here we delve into the band’s history, how their high-octane name reflects their style, and discuss the new record which is available to buy now.
Roulette – The History
Roulette formed in 1985 in Sundsvall, a quaint city in Vasternorrland County in Sweden. It was home to Carl Strandlund, the Swedish-American inventor and entrepreneur, and Anders Abraham Grafstrom, the 1800s poet. While there are other notable people to have hailed from the city, Roulette are considered one of the most popular music acts. The residents of Sundsvall are certainly proud of the band that formed there over 30 years ago. The group was made up of members of other bands which were around at the time, but when these musicians got together something just clicked and they knew it was meant to be.
The five members started to play in pubs and festivals around Sweden, and in 1987 toured with a number of popular bands. These included Treat, Electric Boys, and Lion’s Share. In the same year, Roulette released the single Hearts Keep on Burning with Tommy Nilsson on backing vocals. The Easy Action singer had been on the jury panel at the POP-86 competition at the Hard Rock Café in Stockholm in which Roulette made it to the final. Off the back of the success of the debut single, Roulette landed gigs on Swedish TV shows including Top Gear, Night Life, and Metropol. The band briefly changed their name to Cherry Red when they were signed by CBS in 1990, and then disappeared for quite some time. The band members remerged in 2008 after they were contacted by the record label AOR-FM, and took back their original name. Since then, Roulette have continued to improve and their newer songs are arguably better than their previous ones.
High-Octane Games Often Inspire Metal BandsHigh-Octane Games Often Inspire Metal BandsHigh-Octane Games Often Inspire Metal Bands
Hard rock and metal bands can’t have soft-sounding names, and they need to choose titles that reflect the epic nature of their music. Think Guns N’ Roses, Sepultura, Metallica, and Bruce Dickinson-led British rockers Iron Maiden. These are all band names which evoke feelings of heaviness and intensity. The names of the bands and songs also need to be associated with excitement, though, which is why casino references are often used.
Roulette may have found some inspiration for naming themselves after the wheel-spinning casino game from Motorhead, whose most famous song was based on blackjack. The 1980 single Ace of Spades refers to the most important card in blackjack, and the song written by Eddie Clarke, Ian Kilmister, and Phil Taylor references the unpredictable nature of the classic card game. When thinking of their own name, Roulette may have thought that the classic table game was even more synonymous with fast-paced excitement than blackjack. It is also stylish and smooth according to the Betway roulette page, and these are other traits that Roulette may have wanted to reflect in their name. It certainly is a game that most people will have heard of, as it has been made famous on the big screen in various James Bond films including the 1971 offering Diamonds are Forever. The fact that the name is familiar to many could help people find Roulette easier to relate to.
New Album is Out Now
Roulette have returned to the hard rock scene sounding rejuvenated, refreshed, and refined in their new album, Now!. The album is continuing the more modern brand of music that the band began playing after they returned to the scene with the three most recent singles which were recorded in Box Room Studios. Secret Room in 2015, Right By Your Side in 2016, and The Only Way in 2017, were all well received by dedicated fans, and served to attract a large number of new listeners to the cause. In fact, the hype around these singles was so strong that the band felt encouraged to record a full studio album, which they worked on throughout 2018.
Roulette have returned to the hard rock scene sounding rejuvenated, refreshed, and refined in their new album, Now!. The album is continuing the more modern brand of music that the band began playing after they returned to the scene with the three most recent singles which were recorded in Box Room Studios. Secret Room in 2015, Right By Your Side in 2016, and The Only Way in 2017, were all well received by dedicated fans, and served to attract a large number of new listeners to the cause. In fact, the hype around these singles was so strong that the band felt encouraged to record a full studio album, which they worked on throughout 2018.
Roulette have returned to the hard rock scene sounding rejuvenated, refreshed, and refined in their new album, Now!. The album is continuing the more modern brand of music that the band began playing after they returned to the scene with the three most recent singles which were recorded in Box Room Studios. Secret Room in 2015, Right By Your Side in 2016, and The Only Way in 2017, were all well received by dedicated fans, and served to attract a large number of new listeners to the cause. In fact, the hype around these singles was so strong that the band felt encouraged to record a full studio album, which they worked on throughout 2018.
