The Hives returned to the throne with an intimate show and interview at the KROQ Sound Space in Los Angeles. Hosted by Miles the DJ, about 175 lucky fans got to hear the scoop on their new album, “The Hives Forever Forever the Hives,” which is dropping August 29th.
This is their first album since 2023’s “The Death of Randy Fitzsimmons,” which ended an 11-year hiatus that left fans waiting with bated breath for new music.
Co-produced by Mike D of the Beastie Boys, the album features Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age, and 13 tracks that are each a single.
Front-man Pelle Almqvist said the record is “full of energy, joy, anger and life” and will make you question your reality. The first single, “Enough Is Enough,” is out now to give you a taste of what’s to come.
As with all things Hives, the news just got bigger and better and was already buzzing with their fans. In addition to the album, The Hives announced a world tour playing multiple continents.
September 25th, 2025
For us SoCal fans, we’ll get a stop at the Hollywood Palladium on September 25th (tickets on sale now!), which will be their biggest headlining show ever in Los Angeles. They will also have a stop at The Sound in Del Mar on September 22nd.
Of course, during the interview, we got some fun tidbits of Hives lore. When asked if they ever got to meet The Stones while playing with them during the 40 Licks Tour, drummer Chris Dangerous shared that they asked Mick Jagger for advice on handling success. Jagger’s response? “Never buy your own yacht; always borrow a friend’s.”
Photo by Skyler Barberio courtesy of KROQ
The Hives weren’t there just to be funny; they came to give this small gathering of lucky fans a show only they know how to deliver. On such a small stage, they had to make room for each other.
Almqvist still found a way to jump off a stage monitor and swing his mic, while Nicholaus Arson, with his fast, frantic guitar playing, seemed as if it was just him and his guitar. Still, he blew me away with his stage awareness.
Photo by Skyler Barberio courtesy of KROQ
What we got was a six-song jet-fueled setlist. These guys – who also include Vigilante Carlstroem on guitar, and The Johan and Only on bass – never put on a half-assed effort, so these six songs felt like a blast from an afterburner.
Photo by Skyler Barberio courtesy of KROQ
The setlist included two new songs, “Enough is Enough” and “Paint a Picture.” These two songs have the Hives’ signature formula, but with a freshness from the colors of Mike D and Josh Homme’s paintbrush.
During the interview, Almqvist explained they chose these collaborators because they make “great shit” and now their music is being shared again with all of us.
Photo by Skyler Barberio courtesy of KROQ
Other songs included a perfect opener, “Bogus Operandi,” from their last release, along with fan favorites “Hate to Say I Told You So,” “Come On,” and the always explosive “Tick Tick Boom.”
Fortunately you can see the whole thing for yourself when it drops on YouTube on April 20th.
