Howlin' Pelle Almqvist

Pelle Almqvist
Almqvist on stage at Eurockéennes 2007
Background information
Birth name	Per Almqvist
Also known as	Howlin' Pelle Almqvist
Born	(1978-05-29) 29 May 1978 (age 39) Fagersta, Sweden
Genres	Garage rock garage punk
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter
Instruments	Vocals bass piano
Years active	1989–present
Associated acts	The Hives Moneybrother

Per "Pelle" Almqvist (born 29 May 1978), also known as Howlin' Pelle Almqvist, is a Swedish singer and songwriter. He is the lead singer of garage rock band The Hives.

Almqvist and his brother Nicholaus formed the band in 1993, and, according to a biography about the band, attracted the attention of promoter/manager/songwriter Randy Fitzsimmons (largely believed to be a fictional character), who propelled the band to fame. He had previously worked as a postman and a sixth-grade teacher.

Almqvist is known for being particularly animated during live shows, and his onstage antics have earned the band the title of "The best live band in the world" from Spin Magazine, which also puts Almqvist in their list of the "50 Greatest Frontmen of All Time". Some of his onstage antics include regularly mixing with the crowd, climbing on amps/ladders/stairs, and saying very ridiculous, nonsensical and seemingly arrogant things between songs.

Almqvist used to be the boyfriend of Maria Andersson (lead vocalist of the Swedish rock band Sahara Hotnights) until a 2006 breakup. He is believed to be in a current relationship with Catrin Nilsson.

In January 2007 Almqvist led the P3 Guld Awards.

In 2016 he presented Musikhjälpen which was broadcast from Örebro.

Almqvist is a vegetarian.

Almqvist performed a collaboration with Swedish rock artist Moneybrother, a cover of an Operation Ivy song "Freeze Up". They used Swedish lyrics and called it "Jag skriver inte på nåt", which translates as "I Won't Sign Anything". He was also the featured singer in the DJ Duo Punks Jump Up single 'Dance to our Disco'.