Biography

Best known for the iPod commercial-soundtracking single Jerk It Out Swedens Caesars -- originally known as Caesars Palace -- formed in 1995 Singer Csar Vidal and guitarist Joakim Ahlund who had known each other since kindergarten began playing with bassist David Lindqvist and original drummer Jens Orjeheim who was soon replaced by Nino Keller and despite their lack of chops they began recording demos soon after Three of these early songs were released as the bands debut EP Shake It by Dolores Records in 1995 Along with Shake It the string of 7 discs and the mini-album the band released in 1996 reflected the raw garagey sounds of inspirations like the early Stones the Sonics Billy Childish and the 13th Floor Elevators Ahlunds discovery of a vintage Farfisa organ also had a major impact on the Caesars sound as reflected on their first full-length Youth Is Wasted on the Young which the group released in the States via Minty Fresh under the name Twelve Caesars The album was a respectable hit in Sweden as was its follow-up Cherry Kicks However it was 2002s Love for the Streets that was the Caesars breakthrough album in their homeland not only did it go gold it also won the band a Swedish Grammy for Album of the Year The following year the compilation 39 Minutes of Bliss In an Otherwise Meaningless World was released internationally including American distribution courtesy of Astralwerks and Jerk It Out -- which originally appeared on Love for the Streets -- became a hit The Caesars toured Europe Japan and the US that year and began recording their fourth album late in 2003 In 2004 and 2005 Apple Computers featured Jerk It Out in their iPod TV commercials resurrecting the song on the charts just in time for the release of Paper Tigers in spring 2005 Heather Phares All Music Guide