The Hives reunited with their original bassist, Dr Matt Destruction for a rendition of ‘Hate To Say I Told You So’ at this year’s final tour date in Stockholm – watch footage below.
- READ MORE: The Hives tell us about fighting back on ‘Enough Is Enough’ and their new album: “We’re at the peak of our powers”
On Friday (December 6), the band played the last gig of their European tour at Stockholm’s Avicii Arena, where they promised concertgoers they would “witness greatness” for their “last hurrah”.
Halfway through the show, fans were treated to a surprise appearance by Matt Destruction, who left the band in late 2013 following undisclosed health issues. He was then replaced by Randy bassist Johan Gustafsson, best known by stage name The Johan and Only.
At the show, Destruction weaved his way through the crowd before taking over bass duties on ‘Hate To Say I Told You So’, the anthemic track that helped put the band on the map in the early ’00s.
It’s not the first time he’d made a surprise appearance since his departure from the band – in 2023, he performed alongside his former bandmates in the music video for ‘Countdown to Shutdown’.
The recently wrapped leg of the tour came in support of their seventh album ‘The Hives Forever Forever The Hives’, which was released on August 29 via PIAS.
It was the follow-up to 2023’s ‘The Death Of Randy Fitzsimmons’, which was their first LP in 11 years, and the members announced it via a livestream from Mexico City – describing it as “a new record so full of energy, joy, anger and life that you will be questioning reality as you have known it”.
Earlier this year, Almqvist spoke to NME about the album and said that he thinks it is his “favourite” Hives album yet as it sees them return “faster than expected and better than ever”.
“After 30 years of being a band, we’re at the peak of our powers. That doesn’t happen a lot. I’ve studied rock history and it’s super rare. Judge for yourselves, but I’m assuming you’re going to agree,” he said.
He also explained why ‘Enough Is Enough’ was chosen as the lead single, adding: “I think ‘Enough Is Enough’ got picked as a single really early when there were demos because our manager thought it would sell concert tickets.
“They wanted to release that first because it’s got a big riff and it’s a perfect tempo for a crowd to jump up and down. It got picked so early when the other songs weren’t done, but I really like how it starts: ‘Everyone’s a little fucking bitch…’ That’s as close to political commentary as you’re gonna get! Basically, ‘Fuck both sides.’
The Hives are set to embark on a series of South American next month – and you can find tickets for international shows here.
