Anders Johansson was born in
Stockholm. He and his mum and younger brother later moved to
Malmö after his father died in a car accident. The first instrument he 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 five albums and made five world tours with Malmsteen. 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.
Johansson was a guest drummer on
Narnia's album The Great Fall. Johansson is best known for his time in Malmsteen'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.
Now Johansson plays with
Manowar, his first concert was on 25 March 2019 in Brno, Czech Republic.
In 2016, Anders founded
power metal band
Tungsten together with his sons Nick and Karl Johansson.[1]
Anders has played concerts with
Uli Jon Roth in 2023.
Personal life
Johansson also plays the upright bass (double bass) in a jazz duo together with his brother Jens Johansson.
He released his memoirs "Trumslagarpojken" 2016.
Today Anders lives with his family outside Malmö in south Sweden. He is interested in cars and martial arts.
Discography
With Silver Mountain
Skånsk Rock (1982)
Shakin' Brains (1983)
Breakin' Chains (2001)
With Yngwie Malmsteen
Marching out (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)
Jonas Hellborg Group: E feat. Anders and Jens Johansson (1991), Day Eight Music
Raf: Ode to a tractor (with Peter Brötzmann 1992)
Shining path: No other world (with Mudbone Cooper 1993)
Sökarna: Sound track (tracks with Chilly White and Power United)
Billionaires Boys Club: Something Wicked Comes (1993)