I had a brief time with three of the Cardigans while they were preparing for a show in Prague. Magnus, Peter and Nina each took turns voicing their opinions and getting the story straight about this much understood band. The story goes like this...Magnus and Peter were fronting a typical heavy metal band, when one day something magical happened. They heard the Smiths and the Sundays. From that moment on, things would never be the same, and eventually they would have worldwide hits that they had imagined. A very condensed verion follows:

Magnus: "All I knew was that it had to be a girl singer, or I wasn't going to play. I liked the way Harriet from the Sundays sang, and I wanted a girl."

And the girl...?

"It was quite funny actually. We had thees auditions for a singer in my apartment. One of the other guys knew Nina, and brought her over. She had never sung before, but had been convinced that she could do it if she tried. So, she came over and we had to leave the room because she couldn't sing with anyone else in the same room with her. I went into the kitchen to make some coffee, and cocked my head to one side and listened. It took only about 30 seconds and I knew she was the one. I grabbed the coffee and went into the other room. 'That's it. You're the one', then I told her to sit down and have some coffee."

That's it, that quick?

She still sings off key sometimes, but so what. It is the feeling that counts. None of us are really that great of musicians. We all studied music, and had played in other bands. It is more about just writing a good song, and having fun really.

Practice makes perfect. It seems to work...the fun and good pop songs.

I think our music is really refreshing. Especially for those whose job it is to sit and listen to records all day long. I think it gives us a slight edge, so then they want to talk about us.

I think our attitude is a big part of it too. When you look around at alot of bands around today, especially the British ones, there is alot of bad mouthing one another. We don't do that, I mean, why should we? Ask me if I like the Cranberries.

Do you like the Cranberries?

No. I hate them, but I would never just come out and say it. If you ask me who I like I will tell you. If you ask me who I don't like...well, we try to be polite and not mention names.

Is there a real Cardigans sound? Some say it is all too sweet and dated.

That is just who we are. The Cardigans are the Cardigans. We sound like we do because it is who we are. Okay, maybe some people say we sound a bit 'retro'. The studio we record in is loaded with all this old stuff, so maybe that really is part of it. Really though, the music we play is just part of our personalities. We aren't going for one particular sound, just the sound we like. It is very obvious that others like what we are doing, or we wouldn't be here today!

Ok, enough of the sweet stuff. We know there is a darkside. The much talked about Black Sabbath and Ozzy love the band has. Nina had said he is the sexies man in rock, and had wanted to do a duet. You also seem to have something for Thin Lizzy too don't you?

Yes, very much so. Do you like Thin Lizzy?

Of course. I freaked on the Live and Dangerous album when I was younger. My favourite though is Bad Reputation.

Peter: No, no, no. It has got to be with their first guitarist Eric Bell. That is when they were at their best.

(This of course, leads into a much heated debate between three guys over Thin Lizzy and their best records and the different line ups of the band.)

Ok. The rock side is well known. What about the sexy side. I know there is a seedy side to The Cardigans. After all, some of the lyrics are pretty risque. I heard of an instance in London where a guy was caught masturbating in front of the stage.

Nina. Yes! It's true! We were on stage and a guy down front was caught masturbating, and the security guards had to drag him out.

You like that huh?

Yes. I think things like that should hapen more often. It's kind of flattering in a way. Atleast you know you are appreciated!

Any other odd instances?

Magnus: She gets a load of underwear thrown up on-stage. Some of them even have phone numbers or messages written inside.

So,...ever follow up on any of them?

Nina: Are you kidding? I'm not digging through someone's dirty underwear and then call them! What kind of freak writes their number on a pair of dirty underwear and throws them onstage?

The picture is becoming clearer...you really are dirty rock and rollers aren't you? I suppose the next thing will be tattoos.

Magnus: Actually...Nina and I are the only ones who don't have tattoos. We had promised each other we were getting some...

Nina: I just can't decide what I want, that is why I haven't done it. I was thinking of getting and anchor. You know, right here...just like Popeye!

(Magnus comments on Peter's Ace Frehley tattoo. He rolls up his sleeve and shows the Kiss guitarist in all his glory, hiding quietly under Peter's sleeve. Aagain, a conversation begins on the evils and fascination of tattoos...)

Wow! A real rock band!

Nina: We are not a rock and roll band . We aren't even a pop band. We are just wannabes!