The Swedish indie rock band Caesars came together in 1995 when lifelong friends César Vidal (lead singer) and Joakim Ahlund (lead guitar) joined forces with David Lindqvist (bass guitar). Jens Orjeheim started behind the drumkit but was quickly dismissed in favor of Nino Keller. Fans of old-fashioned garage rock, the group banged out Shake It, their debut EP in 1995, and their second EP, Rock De Puta Mireda, the next year. The addition of a Farfisa organ to their sonic palette drove home their devotion to classic rock sounds which they regularly combined with modern rhythms, a combination heard on their debut LP, 1998’s Youth Is Wasted on the Young. Cherry Kicks followed in 2000, but it was 2002’s Love for the Streets that established them as superstars. That album’s leadoff single, “Jerk It Out” went top ten in the UK, and even hit number 70 in the U.S. The song was used in numerous video games and television shows, and was showcased in a TV ad for the iPod. The song would reach charts around the world in various remix forms. Their 2005 album, Paper Tigers, hit number 40 in the UK, and 2008’s Strawberry Weed, a double album, maintained their star status in Sweden. After three years without live performances or any new releases, the group announced a hiatus in 2012.
