Clawfinger

Clawfinger
From left to right: André Skaug, Zak Tell, Micke Dahlénn, Jocke Skog and Bård Torstensen.
Background information
Origin	, Sweden
Genres	Nu metal, rap metal, alternative metal
Years active	1989–2013 (occasional reunion shows in 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017)
Labels	Nuclear Blast, WEA/WMG
Website	clawfinger.net
Members	Zak Tell Jocke Skog Bård Torstensen André Skaug Micke Dahlén
Past members	Henka Johansson Erlend Ottem Morten Skaug Ottar Vigerstøl

Clawfinger was a rock band from Sweden. Clawfinger is known for aggressive but melodic music and tackling political and anti-racist themes in their songs.

The band's origin dates back to the summer of 1989, when Zak Tell and Jocke Skog met while working together at Rosenlund Hospital in . In 1990, they were joined by the Norwegian guitarists Bård Torstensen and Erlend Ottem who were also working at the hospital. The four soon realized their similar interests in music. Bård and Erlend played previously in a band called Theo in their hometown Arendal in Norway. They invested their free time exploring the musical world, composing and writing songs while eventually evolving into a band.

Their original demo comprising three tracks ("Waste of Time", "Nigger" and "Profit Preacher") quickly secured local radio airplay for them and consequently brought them to the attention of the music label MVG Records. "Nigger" is an anti-racism statement that caused quite a stir and was a massive success; it was also released as a single. By the beginning of the 1990s, Clawfinger self-released their debut Deaf Dumb Blind. This sold in over 600,000 copies worldwide and was critically acclaimed by the Swedish press. With the addition of André Skaug and drummer Morten Skaug, Clawfinger went on tour and played at European festivals, including opening for Anthrax and Alice in Chains.

The band received many awards, including two Grammies "at home" during the Swedish Grammy Awards in 1994 for best hard rock band and for best music video. After the subsequent touring, they went straight back in the studio to record their second album, Use Your Brain. The album was released 1995 and yet another touring campaign followed, most notably participating at Ozzy Osbourne's Monsters of Rock Festival in Argentina, Brazil and Chile in that year, rocking alongside American metal counterparts like Megadeth, Faith No More, and Alice Cooper. Back in Europe they continued the touring campaign by taking part at festivals and countless gigs.