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Svante Henryson Interview
November 2001

Svante Henrysson was bassist on the acclaimed Yngwie albums 'Eclipse' and 'Fire & Ice'. GA finds out why he left and what he's been up to since his days with Yngwie.

How did you originally hook up with Yngwie?
In 1988 Goran Edman auditioned for a Gothenburg-based band that I was starting up (it never really started) So in 89 when Goran joined Yngwie, who needed a new band, he recommended me. I was then contacted to do an audition in Stockholm, and I got the gig.

Yngwie described you in interviews as a phenomenal bass player. So, what happened after the 'Fire And Ice' tour? Did you jump or were you pushed?
Both. I wanted to jump even earlier, but I didn't dare because of my contract. On the USA tour in 92, we were playing on a very small stage and we were accidentally hitting and pushing each other all the time. We both became angry and wanted the other one to be more careful and not get in the way. Yngwie pulled the old "boss" crap and said he wanted to "punish" me by denying me my cello solo that night, I responded "In that case, I quit" Yngwie responded "In that case, you are fired" Yngwies manager tried to patch things up afterwards, but I had gotten a good reason to be able to leave the band, so I did, after playing a few more gigs to teach the new bass player the licks.

Did Yngwie give you the freedom to inject your own personal style into the material you worked on or were you to play *exactly* what Yngwie created for you?
It was a 50/50 mix of both.

Do you keep in touch with any of your old band mates from that time?
Only Goran Edman. We both did the "Glory" and "Brazen Abbott" projects.

What other rock artists would you like to play with?
Metallica.

Many other former Yngwie-band players have formed or joined bands subsequent to their departure. Why have you kept such a low profile in the rock scene?
Nobody gave me a gig.

The couple of tours you went on with Yngwie you played a nice cello solo. Who's idea was that and how was it received by Yngwie's audience?
It was my idea to trade the usual bass solo for a cello solo. People loved it.

Everyone seems to have an opinion on Yngwie "the person". In your dealings with Yngwie how would you describe him as a person, not an artist?
A child that's hurting, like the rest of us, only more, with his own ways of dealing with that, like the rest of us, only worse.

You have played with the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra as Principal Double Bassist, which composers are your favourites?
Bach and Sibelius.

Have you heard Yngwie's orchestral work "Concerto for guitar and orchestra in Eb minor opus 1" - if so what's your opinion?
Haven't heard it.

Your first solo album 'Enkido' (1997) I believe is a very eclectic mix of music, can you describe it and what did you set out to achieve with it?
It's a mix of trance grooves and Western and Eastern classical music, with the acoustic and electric cello in the front. If I ever wanted to "achieve" something, it was to bring the cello into new land and free it up.

You have just released your next latest album 'Songs From The Milky Way', can you shed some light on it?
The work was commissioned from me by the Sundsvall Chamber Orchestra in Sweden. They wanted a work for electric cello, chamber orchestra and rock band. I dislike stuff like that, but I gave it a shot anyway. I tried hard to integrate the "rock" instruments and the orchestra instead of making it a silly "battle of the bands" thing.

I believe you have also been busy working in various jazz projects and as the musical director for Elvis Costello and Anne-Sophie von Otter's mutual CD-project 'For The Stars', what has this involved?
Lots of phonecalls, some playing and one composition together with Elvis. Gigs in Vienna and New York.

Finally, what are your plans for the future?
To take a break. My children are small and growing fast.

Svante, thank you for the interview.