When Pete was 13 years old, he and his family moved to Sweden. Not much later he joined a band at school and it completely took over all of his previous interests. Pete became totally hooked when he read Bob Dylan's brilliant lyrics, and when he heard Jimi Hendrix he knew that music was what he wanted to do! He tried to concentrate on school like all the other kids, but all that meant something was the music. Pete started his first band called "Rubbish Bin" at the age of 14, "we played classic AC/DC songs such as "The Jack", "Rock 'n' Roller" etc, it was a great time". He quickly realized that his voice was more suitable for melodic rock, so he started to listen to a lot of AOR [Adult Oriented Rock].
Pete signed his first recorddeal with bassplayer Magnus Rosén [Jorn Lande, HammerFall, Billionaires Boys Club, Keegan, Solo] as the duo "Von Rosen" back in 1986. The debutsingle "Like A Dream" [1986], produced by Mats Olausson [Jean Beauvoir, Talisman, Malmsteen, ARK], was a great experience for this still very young man with rockstar dreams. Von Rosen even got around to do a tour as supporting act for Samantha Fox, who was HUGE back then, Pete remembers the whole experience as "an incredible time in my life when all was new and exciting". During his time with Von Rosen Pete got to know Göran Edman [John Norum, Malmsteen, Glory, Brazen Abbot, Street Talk, Kharma, Karmakanic, Xsavior], who at that time was the singer in Madison. Since Pete lived in the same town as Göran, Gothenburg, they became friends and Pete invited Göran to do some harmony vocals on Von Rosen's 2nd [and final] single "Someone Like You" [1987].
When Göran decided to leave Madison to join John Norum [Europe, Dokken, Solo] he told the guys in the band to check Pete out, they watched one of his gigs and offered him the job. The recordcompany wanted Madison to record a single as soon as possible, because they were scheduled to do a tour as supporting act for the Canadian band Helix. Madison went to Norway and recorded the single "Northern Light" [1989], "it was heavier than the Von Rosen stuff, but it came out pretty good, and the Helix-tour too". Madison had already recorded demos for all the songs for their 3rd album, with the workingtitle "Where There Is A Will", but...
One night when Pete was playing with Andy La Rocque [King Diamond, Illwill], Pete Blakk [King Diamond, Blakk Totem], and Hempo Hildén [Slash, Glenn Hughes, Don Dokken, John Norum], guitarplayer Tony Borg of Alien and this English speaking guy came backstage afterwards to have some drinks and a laugh, or so Pete thought. The guy in question was Alien's manager Steve Barnett [AC/DC, Gary Moore, Cyndi Lauper, Foreigner, to name a few, he is now President and CEO of Epic Records], he asked Pete if he was interested in joining Alien, later that night Pete decided to do so.
Alien's selftitled debutalbum was already released, but Pete recorded two additional tracks for the release of the US version of "Alien" [1989]. The album was produced by Chris Minto [Santana, Kiss, Whitesnake, L.A. Guns], and the vocals was produced by Duane Byron [Mötley Crüe, Heart]. Alien went to the USA to do some extensive promotion, and to make a video for "Tears Don't Put Out The Fire" with producer Doug Freel [Poison, Def Leppard, Roxette]. The video came out great, Pete remembers that: "it felt pretty strange since I only sang on two tracks on the US version of the album, but it worked out well. The video - which was very expensive to make - was oddly enough never released officially, a well kept secret in the Virgin archives".
When Alien was about to record the next album, "Shiftin' Gear" [1990], all members but Tony and Pete had quit the band, they decided to do the album as a duo. Once again Göran Edman was asked to do some harmony vocals on a bunch of songs, "I love his voice, and he's a great guy". The album was produced by Svein Dag Hauge [TNT, Tindrum], they also recorded some additional singles in England at Town House Studios - owned by Phil Collins - with producer Mark Dearnly [Malmsteen, Transvision Vamp]. A video was made for the single "The Air That I Breathe".
On the Shiftin' Gear-tour the drummers mother tragically died in an accident and the whole tour got a bad vibe to it, and on top of that Alien had some difficulties with their recordcompany. They wanted Alien to tour Russia but Alien didn't have an album released there yet, and the security was very bad at that time so Pete refused to go. Tony insisted on going so Pete finally chose to quit the band, "I and Tony parted as friends, he’s a great guy and guitarplayer and we still have contact". After that Pete decided to move to the USA for a while and worked at Empire Studios in Burbank, California, as a songwriter/singer with guitarwizard John Tapella.
Not much later Magnus Rosén called Pete up and invited him over to jam with some friends of his: Anders Johansson [HammerFall, Malmsteen, Silver Mountain, Solo], Jörg Fischer [Accept, Billionaires Boys Club] and John Sykes [Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake, Blue Murder]. Anders was working with John on demos for Blue Murders 2nd album for Geffen Records, but Anders had heard some of Pete's earlier stuff and wanted to work with him instead, "Goodnight L.A." featuring Pete, Anders, Magnus and Jörg was formed. They recorded some demos, but the material didn't come out as good as they wanted to, so they decided to do a "covertour" while writing new material. Everybody was up for it except Magnus, who got a gig with Frank Marino's Mahogany Rush, Anders called bassplayer Per Stadin, fellow bandmember in Silver Mountain. The guys did an excellent European tour as "Coverboys", playing songs from their former bands Alien, Accept, Malmsteen and Silver Mountain, plus songs from their "old heroes" like Thin Lizzy, Deep Purple and Whitesnake.
Per and Pete wrote a lot of material at hotels and on the tourbus during the Coverboys-tour, it came out great so they decided to make an album together. Jörg wasn't up for it because he had some tax difficulties back in Germany, and wanted to record with his own project "Billionaires Boys Club". Instead they called this young great guitarplayer from Sweden, Sven Cirnski [Bad Habit], and the band "Snake Charmer" was formed. They released their debutalbum "Smoke And Mirrors" in 1993, the band was voted #1 in respected Japanese "BURRN! Magazine" May issue that same year.
While in Canada on vacation with his wife, Pete went to this club to check out some bands, an amazing guitarplayer made a big impression on Pete. Pete introduced himself after the gig, and the guy - Dick Bewarp - turned out to be from Sweden as well, Dick was only visiting his Canadian father. They hit it off immediately and decided to do something together, Dick had already done one album with his band "Bewarp". They started writing songs for "In Your Face" [1994] shortly after they met, they wrote the songs in the studio while recording, Pete had never worked that way before, but found it "different but very refreshing". Besides playing in Bewarp Dick also held guitarseminars and directed musicvideos, Bewarp made three videos to promote "In Your Face": "Child's Play", "Love Me Or Leave Me" and "Wild Side".
Pete started writing songs for his 1st soloalbum and then hooked up with Björn Dahlberg at MRC Studios [where Snake Charmer recorded Smoke And Mirrors] to record some demos, the demos got him signed immediately. A wide range of musicians was used during the songwriting and recording of Pete's 1st soloalbum, in order to get each and every song just right. When workaholic Pete had some spare time he recorded an album with bassplayer extraordinaire Jonas Reingold [The Flower Kings, Reingold, Karmakanic], the duo "Sand & Gold" released their critically much acclaimed debutalbum "Remember My Name" in 1997. Kee Marcello [Easy Action, Europe, K2] made a guestappearance and played some really kicking guitars, an excellent video was shot for the single "Remember My Name".
Both Jonas and Pete were involved in other projects, but eventually became very good friends and wanted to start a band that they could put all their energy into. Midnight Sun was originally formed in the summer of 1996, they released their debutalbum "Another World" in 1997. The follow-up "Above & Beyond", featuring guestmusicians John Norum and Hempo Hildén, was released a year later. After the release of their 3rd album "Nemesis" in 1999 [a video was shot for the titletrack "Nemesis"] Pete felt that it was time to move on and left the band saying: "my departure with Midnight Sun felt natural for me and everyone involved, I wish Midnight Sun all the best because they are truly a great bunch of guys".
When Pete started to lay down the first tracks for "Back In Business" [1998] he realized that he always had wanted to make soloalbums, "it's a great feeling to know that so many talented musicians wants to work with you, it's a real kick and it pushes me to get better as well!". Pete worked very closely with his good friend Sven Cirnski on his 2nd soloalbum "Push" [1999], that's why he - more or less - came to use the entire band Bad Habit on the album. Videos was shot for the songs "Little Lover" and "Babe".
While hanging out in Copenhagen, Denmark, Pete and a friend, Ken Hamer from Pretty Maids, got around to see a band - Jade - who was playing Rainbow, Boston and Whitesnake covers. Pete was totally blown away by the bands competence, he went backstage after the show to complement the guys, later Jade invited Pete to some other gigs and they eventually became friends. Pete asked the band if they wanted to record some songs he had written, they recorded a five-song demo, after a ten-day pre-production, they cut the debutalbum "Pete Sandberg's Jade" [1999] in only seven weeks. "This was the first time I produced an album, with Anders "Theo" Theander [Midnight Sun, Majestic, Pain of Salvation, Last Tribe, Allen/Lande] assisting me, so this was a really big challenge for me, but I'm very satisfied with the result". The follow-up album "Origin" was released 2001.
At the end of 2000 Pete received a phonecall from his old recordlabel Virgin, he was asked to co-ordinate the Alien "Live In Stockholm 1990"-album [2001] found in the Virgin archives. Pete and Anders "Theo" Theander digitally restored, mixed and mastered the original tape that was recorded at one of the 62 shows that Alien did on the Shiftin' Gear-tour. "It's a true live album with no overdubs, all the highlights and faults are there. I'm very proud to have been part of Alien and Swedish hard rock history".
Late 2000 Pete met up with his Swedish recordcompany, Regain Records, and was asked if he wanted to record an album with keyboardwizard Richard Andersson [Majestic, Time Requiem, Space Odyssey], drummer Peter Wildoer [Majestic, Darkane, Arch Enemy], guitarist Birch [Jade] and bassplayer Jens Lundahl [Blakk Totem, Jens also worked with Pete on his 2nd soloalbum Push], Silver Seraph was born! The selftitled debutalbum was released early 2002 and received great reviews, Pete and the guys said that: "the album turned out exactly the way we wanted it to, back to the roots of hard rock".
In early 2002 Pete re-united with long time "brother in arms" Jonas Reingold and formed "Opus Atlantica" together with drummer Jaime Salazar [Bad Habit, The Flower Kings, Midnight Sun, Karmakanic, Allen/Lande] and young guitarwizard Johan Reinholdz and recorded the debutalbum "Opus Atlantica".
Pete's 3rd soloalbum "Reflections" - which has been described as "a very acoustic album, accompanied by the Copenhagen String Orchestra" - features musicians Jonas Reingold [bass], Johan Glössner [guitar], Jaime Salazar [drums], Henrik Hansson [keyboards], Thomas Nyberg [backing vocals], Rasmus Kilberg [drums], Thomas Pettersson [keyboards], Niklas Fredin [horns] and Ola NordQvist [horns]. The talented Almaz Yebio makes a special guest appearance and sings a duet with Pete on the song "Heaven Belongs To You".
No Way Out
Pete Sandberg's Jade Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
P. Sandberg, J. Birch
Down on love once again
River of tears
Who's to blame?
Love's just a loser's game, I know
The lady told me on the line, yes she did
Said boy you suit me just fine, just fine
No way out
I'm hooked on your line pretty babe
No way out
I'll pay for your time little girl
What's the use it I loose my mind?
You don't care what's going on
I know you've been the one for longest time
I've been out of town
Now I'm home
I'll drop you a dime
I've heard: "Hey stranger, long time no see"
No wav out
I'm hooked on your line pretty babe
No way out
I'lI pay for your time little girl
I don´t mind
I don´t care about the costs
I will pay for your love
You know you´re the one for me
I want you to do it
In Pete Sandberg's song "No Way Out," the lyrics delve into themes of love, heartbreak, and desperation. The singer finds themselves in a state of longing and confusion, trapped in a cycle of failed relationships and emotional turmoil. The first verse sets the scene, describing the singer's repeated experience of being let down in love, metaphorically represented as a river of tears. They question who is to blame and acknowledge that love feels like a losing game.
The lyrics mention a "lady on the line," who the singer connects with and feels a strong attraction towards. This woman makes them feel desired and suited for each other. However, the chorus of the song reveals a sense of helplessness and dependency. The singer admits to being hooked on this woman's attention and is willing to pay for her time. Despite knowing that this relationship may be unhealthy or unbalanced, they feel unable to break free from the hold this person has on them.
The second verse suggests that the singer has been away from home, possibly seeking solace or escape from their troubled love life. They reach out to the woman by phone, implying that they are hoping for a connection or reunion. The lyrics reflect a sense of nostalgia, as they refer to being greeted by familiar phrases like "Hey stranger, long time no see." It's clear that the singer holds a deep longing for this person, despite the difficulties they may have faced in the past.
The chorus is repeated, emphasizing the singer's desperation and willingness to endure any cost or sacrifice for love. They state that they don't mind the expenses or consequences; they are willing to pay for this person's love. The lyrics convey a sense of vulnerability and surrender, suggesting that the singer believes that this woman is the one they have been searching for all along.
Overall, "No Way Out" paints a picture of a protagonist entangled in a tumultuous love affair. They are aware of the potential dangers and consequences, yet they persist in pursuing this relationship, as they believe the person is their soulmate. The lyrics speak to the complexities of love, the desire for connection, and the lengths one may go through to hold onto it, even in the face of despair.
Line by Line Meaning
Down on love once again
Feeling disappointed in romantic relationships again
River of tears
Overwhelmed with sadness and crying
Who's to blame?
Questioning who is responsible for the failed love
Love's just a loser's game, I know
Aware that love can often lead to disappointment and heartbreak
The lady told me on the line, yes she did
A woman conveyed her message to me during a phone call, she really did
Said boy you suit me just fine, just fine
She complimented me and expressed that I am a perfect match for her
No way out
Feeling trapped and unable to escape a situation
I'm hooked on your line pretty babe
I am deeply attracted and emotionally attached to you
No way out
No escape from the current circumstances
I'll pay for your time little girl
I am willing to invest and give my resources for your attention and company
What's the use it I loose my mind?
Questioning the worth or purpose if I were to go insane
You don't care what's going on
You show indifference towards the situation or events
I know you've been the one for longest time
I am aware that you have been the most significant person in my life for a considerable duration
I've been out of town
I have been away from home or unavailable
Now I'm home
Currently in my place of residence
I'll drop you a dime
I will make a phone call to you
I've heard: 'Hey stranger, long time no see'
Received a greeting from someone who recognizes me but we haven't met for a while
I don't mind
I am not bothered or concerned
I don't care about the costs
The expenses do not matter to me
I will pay for your love
I am willing to financially support and invest in a romantic relationship with you
You know you're the one for me
You are aware that you hold a special place in my heart
I want you to do it
I desire for you to reciprocate my feelings and engage in a romantic relationship with me
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Jörgen Birch-Jensen, Pete Sandberg
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind