Working on a double Freak Guitar album, one electric disc, one acoustic. It will take time before it's completed since I am also preparing tons of other freaky things (live-DVD, the next Freak Kitchen CD, e t c) + gigs and clinics every now and then.

I've signed a deal with Yamaha on the acoustic front, using both their traditional instruments as well as the great Silent Guitar, both nylon and steel. The electric stuff is a 100% Caparison, of course.


(Photo by Anders Treptow)


This year's Freak Guitar Camp is very, very full but if you are interested we can always put you on the waiting list. Please write to freakguitarcamp@freakkitchen.com.


Far beyond happy to tell you the future Freak Guitar Generation is secured! My son, Gabriel Johannes Eklundh, was born the 18th of June 2007 and I am completely floored by becoming a Father to the precious little creature. Read the Diaper Diaries at www.freakkitchen.com.

From the Freak Guitar Camp archives comes a double download tuition album called Freak Guitar - Growing Your Own Moustache Vol. 1. Having received tons of e-mails and questions over the years from dedicated guitar players wondering where to get backing tracks to practice to I decided to dig deep in the vaults and pick the best, nastiest, most challenging camp tunes for a beefy collection of wild songs that will keep your fingers busy for a long time to come.


There is one version of every track with guitar, as I play it (CD 1), and one without for you to jam to; "grow your own moustache" so to speak (CD 2). Along each song comes a PDF-file to print. The music is written down in both traditional notation and tablature. There is also a CD-cover available for print and an A4 back and front and back page that you can use for the notation.

You get to learn odd time signatures, monstrous tuplets, loads of tapping, picking, string skipping, harmonics, wild riffs, reduction, finger picking, arpeggios, exotic modes and then some. Not for the squeamish. Freak Guitar - Growing Your Own Moustache Vol. 1 is available from the online store this very moment. Download if you dare…

Tracklist:

1. Disco Diabolique
2. The Masala Conspiracy
3. Freak Guitar Camp 2005 Anthem
4. From the Desk of Dr. Benson Ukulele
5. What Kind of Whammy Pedal Do You Use?
6. Fifth Arpeggio Pseudo Punk
7. Circle of Wankers
8. For Those About to Camp
9. Ugly Side of You
10. Jacobi's Floor
11. Whole Lotta Whole Tone
12. Fat Chance
13. Freak Guitar Camp 2004 Anthem
14. Hateful Little Beatle
15. Bjorn Borg Deodorant
16. Church Mode Mood
17. Zoo Me
18. Wake Up and Smell the Species
19. Gringo Starr
20. Chromium Cheese
21. Freak Guitar Camp 2003 Anthem
22. Eureka! I am Happy

Super-duper happy to have been voted Best New Talent in Guitar Player's May issue! Thanks a bunch to everyone who voted! Very, very, very appreciated! (Did I say it's very appreciated?).


Listen to a cover of KISS I Want You, performed by Swedish band Electric Earth, and a solo by yours truly here.

Brand new interview at US Rock Squad's Favored Nations Fest.

Together with Robert Fripp, Nuno Bettencourt, Bumblefoot, Steve Lukather, Stevie Salas, Neil Zaza, Pierre Bensusan and other stunning players, I am happily participating on the Artists for Charity CD entitled Guitarists 4 the Kids. Get it now and help out World Vision and their causes!
Visit the new site of the Jonas Hellborg Art Metal Trio at www.hellborggroup.com.

After an intense German-French tour maestro Hellborg and moi are now working on an album together with some stunning musicians which will be out later this year on Bardo Music. Don't miss!

Check out the tune Escape from New Morning, Paris, France. (Thanks to FX for shooting the gig).

Check out the tune Leal Souvenir from Mumbai, India on video here.


The Cooking blog is updated with tales (and tons of photos) from the roads of India and Sweden! Read the brand new chapters:

Viking Weekend
Cooking in India
Live in Delhi
What else?
Hotter Than Hell in Mumbai
Nut Freezing Time

Also check out the new, stimulating chapters from the recent travels to Los Angeles and Mexico City:

City of Tiny Lights
Anaheim Feet Pain
Burrito Boy in Mexico City
Ca Ca Con Leche

Happy reading!

New interview in Shred Planet!


The Freak Brothers and I had a ball in India! Thank you so much for you stunning support, friends. See you soon again.


New Delhi


Mumbai


Sink your freaky teeth into (and JOIN) the new religion called "Mattiasology"! From the creator of the "Adventures of Mattias IA Eklundh" comes THE GRAND CHURCH OF FREAKINESS! Hilarious stuff!


What's in the CD-player?, Guitar Hero Stuff as well as the Wanking page have been updated.

I wish to deeply thank everyone who supported Jonas Hellborg and moi's recent tour in India as well as Mexico! I had an absolutely stunning time and look forward to be back soon! Read the beefy Cooking - The Mother of All Updates weblog and other freaky tales on www.freakkitchen.com.


Jonas Hellborg Group lurking in the dark alleys of Hollywood...

New Apple Horn model available! Caparison Guitars has once again outdone themselves in building me a stunning instrument: the Apple Horn HGS (Heavy Gauge Strings)! Proud to the bone as usual. The guitar is outstanding for playing beefy, tuned down songs like Chest Pain Waltz, Look Bored, Propaganda Pie, e t c. For technical specifications, please check out the Apple Horn page.


The one, missing album in your freak collection, my first solo release (without a single note of guitar!) Mr Libido, Sensually Primitive, that hasn't been available for years is now finally seeing the light of day again in a brand new pressing! The CD, an outrageous lo-fi techno parody, will available on upcoming gigs and later on via the Freak Store online. Sensually Primitive includes the following tracks:

1. The Serious Musician 2. How are we feeling today? 3. Big Ugly Secret 4. Daddy´s box of no-no´s 5. Your left arm 6. Train leaves at 04:00 7. Techno Moron 8. Not that kind of bird 9. Herbert the Pervert 10. Dead on Arrival 11. Sit on my face 12. I thought it was a horse 13. Hard to the core 14. Sensually primitive 15. Bite of King


Organic, the new Freak Kitchen album, is out in the open, spreading throughout the planet. Swedes (dist. Bonnier Amigo), the Danish (dist. Universal), the Finnish (dist. Bonnier Amigo), Norwegians (dist. Bonnier Amigo), the French (dist. Replica Records), the English (dist. Proper Music), the Japanese (dist. JVC/Victor Entertainment) and the Spanish (dist. Avispa) can now sink their teeth into the album.

On Organic, we're joined by the amazing Bumblefoot on vocals and guitar on the track "Speak When Spoken To". We have also shot a video for the track which is feautured on a special, first printing bonus DVD. The DVD also includes three exclusive live clips from Paris ("Hateful Little People", "Taste my Chopstick") and Montpellier ("Blind") + the "Nobody's Laughing" and "Print This!"-videos.

The cover painting is made by fabulous French expressionist Thierry Cardinet.

Swedes can place their order at www.ginza.se. The rest of Scandinavia can order from www.cdon.com. Excellent site Guitar Nine ships worldwide, buy at www.guitar9.com.

UK's Total Guitar wrote: "Any good? Imagine Steve Vai, Jimi Hendrix, Devin Townsend and Frank Zappa feeding each other acid in a sauna. Throw in a few Wylde-style pinch harmonics, a heart attack, an Italian dictator, wall to wall distortion and a barklingly catchy, rap-metal influenced first single, and you're close to acheiving Freak Kitchen's avant-garde brand of spazz jazz metal. If the Alice in Chains-meets-Offspring simplicity of the songs doesn't win you over then Eklundh's rococo guitar style will have you reaching for the rewind button".

Guitarist wrote: "Eklundh and pals on the brink of genuine greatness"! ****

Yes, it's finally happening! The Apple Horn Orange, Apple Horn Sandstone and the Apple Horn HGS, my splendid signature models by Caparison Guitars, are now available for everyone on planet Earth.

Interested in buying one? Write to applehorn@freakkitchen.com.



Apple Horn Orange

Check out the latest issue of Guitar Player for a cool article by Jude Gold and Guitar Player TV for Voodoo Harmonics.


I have been completely floored (to say the least) by Swedish inventor Anders Thidell's ground breaking True Temperament frets! Two Caparison Apple Horn guitars have been equipped with this amazing invention so far. The intonation is superior to anything else out there. To be heard on both Land of the Freaks and the next Freak Guitar album.

New blog from the Beethoven Triple Concerto, Land of the Freaks photo session and more! Read Land of the Freaks VIII and Land of the Freaks VIIII.


New blog from the Metal meets Brass concert, the Mats/Morgan All Star Team at the Melloboat, the Frankfurt Musik Messe and short trip to Croatia. Read Land of the Freaks VI and Land of the Freaks VII.

Had a stunning time on stage on Freak Kitchen and LJO's Metal meets Brass concert Had a stunning time on stage on Freak Kitchen and LJO's Metal meets Brass concert March 1st!


Yet another blog update on freakkitchen.com: Land of the Freaks V.

New blog on freakkitchen.com about the forthcoming Freak Kitchen album! Read Land of the Freaks.

The mighty Jonas Hellborg and yours truly on the cover of new Fuzz magazine!


Thrilled to be guest writing on Favored Nations MySpace blog.

Brand new interview at Abstract Logix.

New blog on freakkitchen.com! Read Autumn Leaves.


The long-awaited Art Metal album, featuring Jonas Hellborg, Selvaganesh, the Johansson brothers and myself, is to be released September 18th through Bardo Records.

Combining Selvaganesh's South Indian rhythm structures with Hellborg's frantic, groovy bass, freaky, beefy guitar riffs and vivid leads, Jens Johansson's virtuoso fingers and Anders Johansson's heavy beats this is something you have never heard before. Plain and simple: it's Art Metal. Don't miss.

Tracklist:

1. Muthucutpor (Hellborg/Selvaganesh/Eklundh)
2. Manirambha (Hellborg/Selvaganesh/Eklundh)
3. Nataraja (Hellborg/Selvaganesh)
4. Solitude (Hellborg/Selvaganesh)
5. The Three Princes of Serendip (Hellborg/Selvaganesh)
6. Round Metal Hat (Hellborg/Selvaganesh/Eklundh)
7. Vyakhyan - kar (Hellborg)
8. Art Metal (Hellborg/Selvaganesh/Eklundh)

AMT Pedals, Russia have designed my very first signature distortion pedal, simply called Freak Guitar. It's a kick ass device that is road proof to the bone.



New interview on InstruMentalCase.com!

The Freak Blog has just been updated with splendid news: Growth of the Freak Family! as well as a report from this year's Frankfurt Messe entitled Musik Messe Madness

Finally, there is an official Freak Guitar myspace-page out there. It looks kind of cheesy at the moment but there will be music and videos and whatnot up soon.

Thanks to YOU, dear Freak Fans around the globe, the Favored Nations release, The Road Less Traveled is voted top fivefor the second month in a row (entered on #2 and is currently on #3). Keep on voting! (Click here to vote). You rule!

In addition to the recent Cooking chapters, we are happy to have Chris writing his first entry. Read about his Russian martial art experience:
Cheboksary Fight Night

It took a good while but now, finally, the Cooking blog on www.freakkitchen.com is (beyond) updated. Stretching from July to December, these are the beefy chapters:

Nasty Pointy Fingers - Freak Kitchen live in Blanes
The Road Rats in Germany and France
The Atlanta Viking Invasion
Swedish Sweat on the Canary Islands
United Kingdom of Lichtenstein
Freak Kitchen goes to Russia
Oslo & German Clinic Tour
Magic in Gothenburg

Tons of photos included too. (You may have to do a bit of scrolling to get to the various chapters).

Happy reading, friends!

The long awaited online store (finally!) is now open at www.freakkitchen.com! Sink your teeth into tons of freaky T-shirts, hoods, caps, belt buckles, necklaces and CDs including the Jonas Hellborg catalogue and other freak related releases like the re-release of Mr Libido, Petrus and Johan Randén.

We are now finishing the work on the Art Metal album which will feature, besides Jonas and myself, the stunning Selvaganesh on kanjira, Anders Johansson on drums and Jens Johansson on keyboards. The album will be out before Christmas and also available from the web shop. Don't miss!

Voting time! From the Favored Nations newsletter:

E-mail your five favorite Favored Nations releases (or send comments on any of the releases) at mytop5@favorednations.com.

Go to www.guitarplayer.com and place your votes in Guitar Player magazine's annual Reader's Poll. Make your voice heard!!!


Thank you UK, Germany, France, USA, Spain, Russia, Norway and Sweden! We had an absolutely splendid time and will be back soon. Spread the word! Stay freaky!


(Sweaty like a pig in Las Palmas)

Thank you India for kicking serious butt! We had a ball in Delhi and Mumbai and promise to be back soon! We also would like to thank our fellow fantastic Swedes for making us feel downright tiptop in Västerås and Örebro right before the trip to India as well the recent sold-out gig in Borås as well as Borlänge, Linköping, Sommersted and the Rock the Boat trip!


Check out the debut album of my far beyond gifted friend Petrus. Petrus is truly a unique artist with a highly personal touch and integrity. The song writing is top-notch and the man possesses divine vocals cords.
The album is called Come What Might and is produced and recorded by yours truly in the Apple Horn Abusement facilities. Freak Brother Björn is playing the drums (I play a few notes here and there as well) and the record is mixed by the groovy Roberto Laghi. The album is released by Playground Music in Scandinavia the 27th of March. For a sneak preview, visit Petrus' site at www.petrusmusic.com. Place your order at www.cdon.com.



Freak Guitar articles in French Guitar Part!

Great, funny new review in Guitar Player! Go to Wanking! Kick ass review in Guitar One as well!


Had a ball jamming with Steve Vai on stage during his current tour recently. Check out more photos from the show at Wanking.


Groovy to be on the cover of Spain's Guitarra Actual with my big, Swedish face!


"Freak Guitar - The Road Less Traveled" out worldwide now! Get it here.


Favored Nations released it in the US, Canada, Germany, Italy, Holland, Belgium, Switzerland, Greece, Portugal, Australia, New Zeeland and elsewhere August 23rd 2005.

Visit www.favorednations.com for more information, tour dates, mp3-clips, e t c

Read Ken Sharp's bio here.

The album has so far been released in Japan (JVC/Victor Entertainment), France (NTS/Replica Records. Click here to buy) and Scandinavia (Bonnier Amigo in Sweden, Finland and Norway, Universal Music in Denmark. Click here or here to buy), England (Proper Music Click here to buy) and Spain (Avispa Music).

The new CD is about an hour long and contains the following tunes:

1. The Road Less Traveled, 2. There's No Money in Jazz, 3. Print This!, 4. Father, 5. No Strings Attached, 6. Caffeine, 7. Fletch Theme, 8. The Battle of Bob, 9. Chopstick Boogie, 10. Toxic Donald, 11. Happy Hour, 12. Smoke on the Water, 13. Insert Coin, 14. The Woman in Seat 27A, 15. Ketchup is a Vegetable, 16. Samba Caramba, 17. White Trash Hyper Blues, 18. Toxic Mickey, 19. Minor Swing, 20. One-String Improvisation, 21. Asteroid 3834, 22. Little Bastard, 23. Difficult Person Music

The fabulous artist Anders Nyberg has outdone himself once again on the cover.


Cool to be on the cover of Italian Axe magazine a second time!

For all of you who write to me and ask about that way the guitar is tuned on the various albums in the freak catalogue I have put together the Tunings page to help out.


Amazing news from the UK! "Freak Guitar - The Road Less Traveled" was Album of the Month in a recent issue of Guitar Techniques and got a serious ***** review! Kerrang gave the CD some KKKK and Powerplay 7/7! I am stunned and very grateful.

As if this wasn't enough the album also got + + + + in UK's Guitarist!

Now how about this: "Eklundh's ear for melody is spot on, even during his most avant-garde moments, and an insane cover of Smoke on the Water is just the tip the iceberg. Faster than Malmsteen, smoother than Michael Lee Firkins and, dammit, better than Vai - this is undoubtedly the future of this style of guitar playing".

In the December issue of the magazine there are none less than two interactive CDs featuring my zany playing! Hail to England!


Posing my brains out together with my French dog Maya at a men's clothing commerical. Now, is this really guitar hero kind of activities? I don't know. Got me a nice tailor made smoking though...

For all of you who have written and asked about my sound, I have put together a simple "map" on how to turn the knobs on the Laney amplifiers I use. Go here (Apple Horn).