The Maharajas was formed in the late 90's by Jens Lindberg with the intention of playing Greek-inspired moody 60's music. After being in fuzzdriven, hard stompin..garagerockbands since the mid 80's (Crimson Shadows, Stomachmouths, Highspeed V, Blind Shag etc.) he was looking for a new take on the genre. The first Maharajas album was out in 1998, a 10" 8-track album on the Italian label Teen Sound Records called "Something moody... & groovy!" In the beginning the band saw some members come and go until drummer Anders Öberg brought Ulf Guttormsson in on bassguitar.
Together with Pake on organ they released a 7" on Loser Records ("Wait & Wonder") and later on in 2001 ex-Strollers singer Mathias Lilja joined the band after Pake had left. They were now ready for their first full-length album: 13 songs recorded&mixed during 5 hectic days in the autumn of 2001 and "H-minor" saw the light late 2002 on Teen Sound Records.
2004 ment a new record and also a new label. Low Impact Records (responsible for all Strollers releases) decided to sign the band and with "Unrelated Statements" the Maharajas presented a tighter and more genuine sound. Still true to the trademark of moody songs with a lot of sad harmonies, it had a lot more fuzzguitars, farfisa organs and howlin..vocals than earlier recordings with the group. The album was produced by MÃ¥ns P. MÃ¥nsson, the singer of The Maggots; a band that he along with Jens & Anders had started previous to Maharajas. The record was well received especially among 60's enthusiasts but it seemed to strike a nerve with all kinds of people and was heavily rotated on the "Little Steven's Underground Garage" radio show.
In 2005 the album "A Third Opinion" was released, recorded in the same tradition as always; manifesting what they love in 60's Garage/Pop/R&B and Rock'n'Roll. During summer 2006 Ricard Harryson took over the drum stool and shortly after the "Weekend Sparks" EP was released on Crusher Records..
As 2007 turned in to 2008 a fourth full length album saw the pale Swedish winter light and named it self "In Pure Spite". And Jens has once again found himself to be back in the fuzz-swamp (and sometimes off to the pub). To be continued...
