SWEDE SENSATION

In 2022, says Placebo bassist Stefan Olsdal, making music includes using challenging and intriguing forms. The band’s eighth album, Never Let Me Go, had its genesis in 2019—and Olsdal explains that bandmate Brian Molko came up with a fascinating concept for it.

“He came to me with the photograph that is now on the cover, and basically said, ‘Let’s take things, turn them on their head, and work backwards. Let’s start with the photo.’ It was a place to start again. Venturing into new horizons, starting a new chapter. It was the first time we’d begun an album without a permanent drummer. It harked back to the days of me and Brian in his council flat just messing with broken toy keyboards and badly-tuned guitars. The only