The Rhinos was formed in the spring of 2000 by Lasse Hindberg (guitar, vocals), Pontus Bengtsson (drums) and Göran Frennesson (bass). A few months later they were joined by Björn Persson (guitar and vocals). The summer of 2002 saw the entry of lead-singer Leif Svensson. Marcus Eldh took over on bass in 2016.

Pontus and Göran are childhood mates already wrecking their parents’ living-room floors with their amps and drums in back the 70’s. The members have all bumped into each other in different constellations during the 90’s but never at the same time. Lasse came from an 11-year stint with powerpop-veterans the Moptops, where he played guitar, sang and wrote some of their material.

In 2001 the band sent a demo to Goran Obradovic, host of the “Popism” radio-show in Serbia. He liked it and passed it on to Jim McGarry of Rainbow Quartz records. After sending another batch of songs (including “She’s a lucky girl” and “On bus #9”) Jim decided it was time to release a record.

The album “Year of the Rhinos” was released in October and critics have so far been very kind in their reviews, comparing the band’s sound with giants like the Byrds and the Hollies.

Not a bad thing really. Since two of the band’s trademarks are the extensive use of the 12-string Rickenbacker and the three part harmonies.

Sometimes the band can be almost too confident in their harmony singing. Like the time when three members of the band were celebrating a successful gig in an illegal club very late at night, and one of them told the bouncer to shut off the techno music so that “The Rhinos could present the guests with some acappella versions of their greatest hits”. Shortly after the band members left the building…

Lasse writes all of the band’s material. His ambition is to someday write a “pop classic” like “Waterloo sunset”, “Bus stop” or “God only knows”. Until then you might get to hear some fairly good pop songs. He claims his song writing is inspired by people like are Matthew Sweet, Brian Wilson, Roger McGuinn and Stephen Duffy.