Swedish punk rockers Millencolin will play a double-header with US superstars Pennywise at The Station, on the Sunshine Coast, on February 25. Tickets: https://www.moshtix.com.au/.

When Millencolin played their first show outside of Sweden in 1995 it was a baptism by fire on the punk-rock circuit.

Their debut international gig was supporting US punk-rock superstars Pennywise in Germany, and it quickly set the stage for what was to come.

Millencolin guitarist and vocalist Mathias Farm told Yelo Mag he had heard rumours about their California co-stars, and that drummer Fletcher Dragge “was quite energetic”.

“When the opening act played, (Fletcher) dived into the drummers’ drum kit,” Mathias says.

“They could only play one song and then it was over, ‘cos everything broke into pieces, that was it. Then after that we played.

“I think it’s going to be a great tour with them, because we have such a long history with them. And they’ve always been around with us.”

Pennywise inspires Millencolin to start a band

Photo: Millencolin play in Sao Paulo, Brazil in 2023 by Marcela Sanches.

Mathias remembers listening to Pennywise for the first time.

“When we started, me and Nikola, we went downtown in our city and found out (Pennywise) had released their first album.

“We bought that and went to my parents’ house and listened to Pennywise for the whole weekend. And got really stoked on how good they were. Then we started Millencolin.”

But it was a show in Brazil that really woke Mathias up to how chaotic punk-rock shows really could be.

“Our first tour in South America in 1998; it was wild. We didn’t really realise how dangerous it actually was. 

“The first show (there) we were in Sao Paulo. And the bouncers at the show – they chased crowds with knives – on the stage.

“One of the bouncers ran into me and my guitar broke into two pieces on the first song we did. So that set the tone for that tour and we were kinda scared after that.

“We were very young and naive, and we were used to playing in Sweden. It was a shock for us. When I look back now with a laugh, but back then it was like ‘wow’.”

Full interview with Mathias from Millencolin:

Drag-racing on the agenda in Australia

Mathias says these days touring is more about “dealing with jet lag”.

“Well everything is different of course, I mean, (the) first tour in Australia we did, was in a van. We slept in people’s basements on the floor (laughs). It’s been a struggle to get to where we are now.

“It’s more convenient these days, I guess. Apart from that, the shows and everything, they look the same in a way.”

And while this tour marks “15 or 16” in our country, it’s drag-racing Mathias is most looking forward to this trip.

“I’m a drag racer, I drive my own drag racing car. You have a big drag-racing community in Australia… the Formula 1 race in Melbourne is right when we leave…”

But it looks like Australia will remain a home-away-from-home for now.

“I love Australia, it’s very far away from Sweden, but the people are very sweet. You have this unique country – nature, it’s beautiful. 

“Since the first time I went to Australia, back in ’96, I always said to myself if I’m moving somewhere else than Sweden, it’s gonna be Australia.

“But it’s too far away.”

Swedish punk rockers Millencolin will play a double-header with US superstars Pennywise at The Station, on the Sunshine Coast, on February 25. Tickets: https://www.moshtix.com.au/.