Anders Johansson

Anders Johansson (born 25 May 1962 in Gothenburg) is a Swedish drummer, best known as the former drummer of HammerFall and Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force. He is the son of jazz pianist Jan Johansson, and brother of Stratovarius keyboardist Jens Johansson.

The first instrument Anders played was the piano, but at the age of 14, after a bicycle accident, he switched to drums. From 1979 through 1982 he attended an electronics engineering school.

In 1984 he moved to the United States to join his brother Jens in Yngwie Malmsteen's band. He recorded 5 albums and made 5 world tours with Yngwie. After that, he worked with a huge number of artists, including bassist Jonas Hellborg, Benny Jansson, and with his brother Jens (as "The Johansson Brothers"). He initially joined HammerFall on the "Legacy" tour in 1999, at first only as a session drummer but later as a full-time member.

He is co-founder of Heptagon Records with his brother, created to promote their discs, their father's and some other Swedish musicians' work.

Anders was a guest drummer on Narnia's album The Great Fall. Anders is best known for his time in Yngwie's band, besides his former role as HammerFall's drummer. He has been praised for his technical talent, in metal as well as other genres.

Anders also plays the upright bass (double bass) in a jazz duo together with his brother Jens Johansson.

Anders and Jens Johansson performing on double bass

With Silver Mountain

• Skånsk Rock (1982)
• Shakin' Brains (1983)
• Breakin' Chains (2001)

With Yngwie Malmsteen

• Studio/Live (1985)
• Marching out (1985)
• Live in Tokyo (1985)
• Trilogy (1986)
• Odyssey (1988)
• Trial by Fire/Live in Leningrad (1989)
• Inspiration (1996)

Solo, side projects and session work.

• Blue Murder: Cry for love (1990)
• Jens Johansson: Fjäderlösa Tvåfotingar (1991)
• Sökarna: Sound track (tracks with Chilly White and Power United)
• Billionaires Boys Club: Something Wicked Comes (1993)
• Johanssons/Allan Holdsworth: Heavy Machinery (1996)
• Svullo: Radio KRM (1996)
• Martin Svensson: Pojkdrömmar (1997)
• Anders Johansson: Red Shift (1997
• Jens Johansson: Fission (1998)
• Mansson: Arch of Decadence (1997)
• Aces High: Pull no punces (1998)
• Johansson: Sonic Winter/Johansson Bros (1998)
• Johansson: The Last Viking (1999)
• Benny Jansson: Flume Ride (1999)
• A. Johansson & J. Hydén : Elvis Pelvis (2000)
• Aces High: Forgive and forget (2001)
• Empire: Hypnotica (2001)
• Jason Becker trib: Warmth in the wilderness (2001)
• Yonna: Heartbeat (2002)
• Winterlong: The second coming (2003)
• Blackmore's castle: Space Truckin' (2003)
• Snake Charmer: Backyard Boogaloo (2003)
• Magnus Rosén: Imagine a place (2003)
• Mistheria: Messenger of the god (2004)
• Owe Thörnqvist: Recovered (2005)
• Empire: Trading Souls (2003)
• Narnia: The great fall (2003)
• Planet Alliance: Planet Alliance (2006)
• Time Requiem: Optical Illusion (2006)
• Janne Stark: Mountain of Power (2007)
• Jonas Hellborg, V. Selvaganesh, IA Eklundh, Jens Johansson: Art Metal (2008)
• Geff: Land of the free (2009)
• Full Force: One (2011)
• Full Force: Next level (2012)
• Joacim Cans: Nu kan mörkret falla (2013)
• Jens and Anders Johansson: Live in Sweden (2014) (On Cd Baby, iTunes and Spotify)

With HammerFall

• Renegade (2000)
• Crimson Thunder (2002)
• One Crimson Night (2003, live album)
• Chapter V: Unbent, Unbowed, Unbroken (2005)
• Threshold (2006)
• Steel Meets Steel: Ten Years of Glory ("Best Of") (2007)
• HammerFall (2008)
• No Sacrifice, No Victory (2009)
• Infected (2011)
• (r)Evolution (2014)

Cymbals (Meinl)

• 14" Mb10 Medium Soundwave Hi-Hat
• 16" Mb10 Medium Crash (x2)
• 17" Mb10 Medium Crash
• 18" Mb10 Medium Crash (x3)
• 17" Mb10 China
• 19" Mb10 China (x2)

Drums (Tama)

• Starclassic Bubinga

Drum heads (Evans)

• G2:s
• Coated power center reversed dot

Sticks (Promark)

• 5 B Hickory wood tip