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The History of Bonafide, by Fredrik Ek (updated by Mats Rydström)
Bonafide’s journey began in Malmö in southern Sweden in 2006, when Pontus Snibb and Micke Nilsson recorded the self-titled debut album. Snibb took on guitar, drums, and lead vocals, while Nilsson played bass. Shortly thereafter, Mikael Fässberg (previously with Paul Di’Anno) joined as the new lead guitarist, and Sticky Bomb (of Wilmer X fame) was announced as the drummer.
Bonafide made their live debut at the Silja Rock Cruise on May 19th 2007, and in June announced that their debut album would be released on October 1st. Recorded in Snibb’s home studio, the album included standout tracks like Down, 50 Cent Millionaire and Gambling Blues. Released via Black Lodge Records, the album was praised for its raw energy and no-frills, three-chord rock sound. Bonafide quickly hit the road, supporting iconic acts like Deep Purple and The Quireboys. On November 7th, the band released their first music video, Loud Band, and celebrated with live performances in Malmö and Stockholm.
In 2008, Bonafide performed at several high-profile shows, including opening for Europe and Deep Purple at the Cloetta Center in Linköping and at Öja Krog in Ystad – which received positive reviews, with critics praising their energetic riff-driven rock, powerful guitar solos, and Snibb’s gravelly vocals. That same year, Bonafide penned the official anthem for Sweden Rock Festival, Fill Your Head With Rock, which was featured on a compilation album, distributed for free to all attendees who purchased a four-day ticket to the 2008 edition of the festival. By November, Bonafide revealed that pre-production for their second album was underway, with plans to record with renowned producer Chips Kiesbye in February 2009.
Bonafide’s sophomore album, Something’s Dripping, was recorded at Music A Matic Studios in Gothenburg. The new album, released in September of 2009, showcased a fresh direction for the band, with Snibb and guitarist Mikael Fässberg co-writing songs for the first time. Bonafide embraced a more aggressive, riff-heavy style, which they dubbed ”genuine cock rock”. The album received widespread acclaim, with tracks like Fill Your Head With Rock and Straight Shooters earning special praise. The expanded version of their debut album was also released globally, featuring bonus tracks and a cover of Nazareth’s Miss Misery. Bonafide also embarked on a European tour in late 2009, playing alongside Crucified Barbara.
In 2010, Bonafide continued to build momentum, playing several gigs across Europe, including in Austria with Nazareth and The Quireboys. The year also saw the departure of drummer Sticky Bomb, who was replaced by Niklas Matsson – a former member of Backdraft and Raging Slab – who joined the band just in time for their spring 2010 tour of Spain. In December, they announced the release of a new EP, which included covers of classic rock songs like I Don’t Need No Doctor and I Can’t Explain. This new EP, Fill Your Head With Rock – Old, New, Tried & True was released in January 2011, it quickly gained critical and commercial success, and started a significant year for Bonafide.
Bonafide’s dynamic live performances continued to captivate audiences, earning them a loyal following as they toured extensively across Scandinavia and Europe. During this period, the band underwent a lineup change when founding member and bassist Micke Nilsson departed and was replaced by Martin Ekelund, a seasoned musician with a rich history in bands like Waterdog and as a studio owner (which will come into play later). Ekelund’s arrival brought a fresh surge of energy to the group, and their performances were met with even greater enthusiasm from fans. In November 2011, Bonafide delivered a standout show at Debaser Medis, which earned widespread acclaim, particularly after Snibb’s daring jump into the crowd during a guitar solo. That same year, the band’s song Fill Your Head With Rock, written for Sweden Rock Festival, was named one of the best songs of 2011 by Classic Rock Magazine.
In 2012, Bonafide – again – made waves at the Sweden Rock Festival and also released their third full length album, Ultimate Rebel. With tracks like Too Fired Up and Rebel Machine, the album’s energy and raw intensity captured the band’s evolving sound. Bonafide embarked on an extensive Scandinavian and UK tour to promote Ultimate Rebel, playing in clubs, theaters, and festivals. The year also featured memorable performances at classic Stockholm pub Akkurat, where the band debuted in February and returned in December.
One of Bonafide’s standout moments in 2013 was the release of their live DVD Messin’ in Wales – Live at Hard Rock Hell 2012. Released on July 1st, it gave fans a chance to experience the band’s explosive live performances in a whole new way. It had been filmed during the final show of their Ultimate Rebel tour, where they delivered 120 decibels of rock’n’roll on the main stage of Hard Rock Hell Festival – a performance that was hailed by many fans and critics as the highlight of the festival.
At the same time, the band was preparing for the next step in their career. Following the success of Ultimate Rebel, Bonafide released their fourth studio album, Bombo, in 2013. The album was a natural progression, blending hard rock and blues rock, showcasing the band’s ongoing evolution and received positive reviews. Ulf Classon of Artrock described it as “bright and fresh… very easy to settle into,” rating it 8/10 and highlighted tracks like Bombo, Bad As Clint and Rock ‘N’ Roll Skål as particularly memorable.
Guitarist Mikael Fässberg left the band after the album’s release and was replaced by Anders Rosell on January 6th 2014. This new lineup released Denim Devils in 2015, an album that showcased a more polished yet still gritty. The critics lauded the band’s skilful blend of classic rock influences and a more modern edge, with tracks like 50/50 and Hold Down the Fort quickly becoming fan favourites. The band toured extensively across Europe, steadily growing their following, and capped off the year with a Swedish tour alongside Black Star Riders.
In March 2016, Bonafide released the single and video for Michelangelo, a duet between Pontus Snibb and Ralf Gyllenhammar (Mustasch). This cover of legendary Swedish singer Björn Skifs’ 1974 classic was praised by Skifs himself and was performed live for the first time at the Sweden Rock Festival that summer – with the band joined on stage by Gyllenhammar. Bonafide also re-released their first two albums, Bonafide (2007) and Something’s Dripping (2009), on high-quality vinyl. The band toured across Europe, including Switzerland, Germany, Spainand the UK, with notable performances at prestigious venues like the O2 Academy Islington in London. The year concluded with their by-now traditional Christmas holiday shows at Akkurat in Stockholm.
Bonafide released their next album Flames on February 24th 2017, which received positive reviews for its energetic blend of AC/DC-inspired rock, gospel, and soul – with new fan favourites like Back in the Flames, Bottle of Jack and Power Down. Bonafide was nominated for two Gaffa Awards, for “Best Group” and “Best Hard Rock/Metal,” confirming their strong presence on the Swedish rock scene.
In 2018, Bonafide’s intense touring schedule continued, both in Sweden and internationally, with two notable concerts as special guests to Deep Purple in Finland as well as the recording of a live album at KB (Kulturbolaget) in Malmö in February. Tragically, the year was marked by the passing of their former guitarist Mikael Fässberg in February, a huge emotional loss for the band.
Their first live album, Live at KB, was released in early 2019, and perfectly captured the raw energy of their live shows, Live at KB (2019) not only captured the essence of Bonafide’s sound but also served as a powerful summary of the band’s first six albums. On the album, the band delivers timeless classics like Dirt Bound, Night Time (on the CD version) and Peg Legged Pete from their self-titled debut, while putting their own stamp on tracks such as and Fill Your Head With Rock from 2009’s Something’s Drippin’, and truly shining on later songs like Bottle of Jack and Hold Down the Fort.
The performance on Live at KB underscores Bonafide’s core ambition: to deliver hard rock as it was meant to be played — rooted in electric blues and early rhythm and blues. Bonafide then performed at several festivals, including Bonfest in Scotland (commemorating Bon Scott), Malmöfestivalen and Kopparbergsfestivalen, as well as club gigs in Germany and Switzerland. A special highlight was the Bonafide & Friends at Zum Franziskaner concert in Stockholm, a Christmas show celebrating the restaurant’s 130th anniversary.
2020 brought challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, halting live performances and recording. However, Bonafide used the time creatively, recording new material and engaging with fans through social media. By 2021, they were preparing for their return to the stage and the release of new music. In 2022, Bonafide hit the road again, playing several major festivals both in Malmö and Stockholm as well as returning to Sweden Rock Festival, and delivering an explosive performance at the Rock at Sea cruise in November.
In 2023, Bonafide released their highly acclaimed album Are You Listening? – again produced by Chips Kiesbye, like their second album Something’s Drippin’ from 2009. The album garnered widespread praise for its fresh sound and compelling songwriting, marking a collaborative effort within the band. Main songwriter Snibb shared songwriting credits with Rosell on three tracks, and with Matsson and Ekelund on one track each. Additionally, Filippa Nässil, Pär Hellberg, and James Braban also contributed to the songwriting process. Matsson made his first lead vocal contribution on the track Tonight I’m Wild. Additionally, the band dropped the single Snacket, a collaboration with Swedish rock legend Nisse Hellberg (Wilmer X) – sung in Swedish in the Scanian dialect – and delivered a standout performance at the Skogsröjet Festival.
Bonafide began the year 2024 with a highly anticipated return to Malmö, followed by shows in Germany and the Netherlands, leading up to a by-now classic performance at the Rockpalast/Crossroads Festival in Bonn. The show was broadcast internationally, both online and on regular TV in all German speaking countries, and adds Bonafide to the list of bands that have performed under the Rockpalast banner – such as Rory Gallagher, Thin Lizzy, Little Feat and ZZ Top.
In the summer of 2024, the band also played at major festivals like Azkena Rock in the Basque country of Spain, and later at festivals in Germany. The year also marked a significant milestone with Pontus Snibb’s nomination for International Frontman at the Hard Rock Hell Awards. Bonafide performed at the Time To Rock Festival in Knislinge, Sweden in July 2025, for which an official anthem – aptly titled Time To Rock – was written by Pontus Snibb and performed by Bonafide. With Pontus Snibb’s extensive musical career and the band’s reputation for delivering hard-hitting rock anthems, this new song is poised to be another classic.
July of 2026 saw the announcement that long-time drummer Niklas Matsson had left the band, in order to focus on his duties in the Swedish band Mustasch. Guitarist Anders Rosell immediately took over as Bonafide’s drummer, and the band performed as a trio at festivals such as Datscha Open Air in Germany, Hojrock and Malmöfestivalen in Sweden. Bonafide will continue as a power trio and have made an announcement that new songs are being written, and have already announced several concerts for the fall of 2026, including the Mediterranea Cruise, as well as another Holiday special set of shows at Akkurat in Stockholm.
Pontus Snibb
Few Swedish musicians are as busy as Pontus Snibb. In addition to leading his own projects such as PS3, Wreck of Blues, and From the Sky, he is also active in A Tribute to Led Zeppelin and previously with the legendary American cow-punk pioneering band Jason and the Scorchers, as well as with The Wildhearts.
Martin Ekelund
Ekelund has an extensive background as a tour manager, including six years with The Ark. During his time on the road with Takida, he survived two tour buses that caught fire. Today, he works as a music producer in his own recording studio in Klippan.
Anders Rosell
Besides Bonafide, Rosell maintains a successful solo career. Recently, he released the single Forever Traveling Man. A self-taught musician, Rosell began as a drummer before switching to guitar, drawing influences from artists like Hendrix and Springsteen. His journey through music has been unconventional, with no formal guidance through the classic rock and blues eras.