“The show starts now,” says lead singer Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist in perfect Spanish to energize the crowd at Peru’s National Stadium. The audience responds with cheers and the chorus of the song “Enough Is Enough.” The scene, captured in their documentary The Hives Live in Latin America, showcases the intensity of the Swedish band’s recent tour through the region, as well as their connection with the language.
“I wouldn’t say I know Spanish, but I know enough to say some stuff on stage,” Almqvist tells Billboard Español. He explains that he first learned the language at age 16, taking classes for one year in school, though his real contact with Spanish began two decades ago, mainly during The Hives’ early tours in Latin America.
“Actually, the last tour with My Chemical Romance was my first attempt at not speaking English at all between the songs, and it worked out,” he adds, speaking in English. “I even did Portuguese in Brazil, and that worked out, too. People seem to really like me doing it, so I’m going to keep doing it regardless of my skill level.”
The connection between the quintet from Fagersta, Sweden, and their Latin American fans is nothing new. The rock band has been visiting countries like Mexico, Brazil and Argentina for over 20 years, first arriving with their 2004 album Tyrannosaurus Hives. Since then, they’ve been slowly incorporating Spanish and Portuguese into their shows, as seen in their documentary, which premiered Thursday (June 25) on their YouTube channel.
The Hives Live in Latin America follows the band through Peru, Colombia, Chile, Brazil, Argentina and Mexico, documenting not only some of their most explosive stadium performances in front of thousands of people but also behind-the-scenes moments and parts of their journey through Latin American cities.
Beyond the language, local culture is also integrated into their live shows. In Mexico, during their performance at Estadio GNP Seguros as the opening act for My Chemical Romance this past February, the group was introduced by luchadores El Hijo del Santo and Santo Jr., both heirs to the iconic masked wrestler El Santo.
“Santo is in the kind of ’90s garage rock that we were really into,” says Almqvist. “There were bands that wrote songs about Santo — a band called Southern Culture On The Skids that had a record maybe, so we were aware of him from garage rock. And we were wrestling fans when we were kids. It’s got the same physical show element, the same physical entertainment value that our shows have.”
Part of the experience of touring Latin America has also allowed the members of The Hives to dive into the region’s vast cuisine. Mexican tacos al pastor have been a special discovery for the band’s frontman, he shares in the interview. “I recently started eating meat a little bit after 20, 30 years as a vegetarian. So I’m into the al pastor, which is kind of new to me,” he reveals.
The Hives Live in Latin America combines live performances with everyday moments of the band in the main capitals of Latin America. “First, more music from Los Hives,” Almqvist shouts in Spanish to the crowd in the opening scene of the film, announcing the emotional journey the viewer will take alongside the band. With more than a quarter of a century of experience, The Hives traveled through Latin America earlier this year, reaffirming a timeless truth night after night: no one leaves unchanged after seeing them live.
“We already miss all of our Mexican and South American fans and we hope we can come back sooner rather than later,” Almqvist says. “I don’t really know in what form or shape, but you know we really like it here. Can’t stress that enough.”
Watch The Hives Live In Latin America in full below.
