Talisman was a Swedish hard rock band. Founded in 1989 by the songwriting bassist Marcel Jacob and fronted by the American singer Jeff Scott Soto, the band released seven studio albums from 1990 to 2006, before going on a farewell tour in 2007. While mainly described as hard rock and heavy metal, the band's sound had also been influenced by a variety of genres outside the rock music scope, such as rhythm and blues, soul, and funk in particular.
After Marcel Jacob died in 2009, Talisman has reunited three times for one-off festival shows held in 2014, 2016, and 2017 with Johan Niemann filling in on bass. In 2019, to mark a ten-year anniversary of Marcel Jacob's passing, Talisman reunited once again to record and release a commemorative song "Never Die". Five years later, in January 2024, the band released another newly recorded song "Save Our Love", celebrating what would have been Marcel Jacob's 60th birthday and the band's legacy.
Contents
History
Formation
Talisman was formed by bass player Marcel Jacob, who had previously played with: Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force, John Norum Group and Power. Jacob found himself with record label interest but no band after John Norum rejected the songs that Jacob worked on which he thought would end up on Norum's second solo album. So, he contacted Jeff Scott Soto who was interested in what Jacob had done. Once the songs were completed and mixed Marcel changed the working title for his solo project from Guitars on Fire to Talisman.
Recordings for the first album took place in Stockholm in February 1989. Jacob programmed some drums and played all rhythm guitars with the help of the producer Mats Lindfors on "Women, Whiskey and Songs".
1990s
Just when the mixing was finished the album's release was delayed. Meanwhile, Soto's US-based project Eyes got signed and Jacob left for Los Angeles to help Eyes demo and record what would be their first release. During this time an employee of the label that had originally signed Talisman moved to a new label and the masters of the first album were bought from the bankrupt label. So Talisman was eventually released in February 1990 on the Airplay/Vinyl Mania label. The first single "I'll Be Waiting" reached number 2 in Sweden's singles chart and 33,000 copies of the album were sold in two months in Sweden.
Live the band featured: Jason Bieler on guitar (Saigon Kick), Jakob "Jake Samuel" Samuelsson on drums and Thomas Vikström on keyboards and backing vocals. Talisman was one of the top ten drawing acts in Sweden that summer. Unfortunately, the label went bust – ending any chances of international exposure for the album.
Following the summer of 1990 Soto signed to the Pasha label with Eyes, Bieler was enjoying some success with Saigon Kick, and Jacob signed to Warner Sweden. A trip to the US and the UK followed, looking for talent but without success. After a few auditions back home Jacob chose then 19-year-old guitar player Fredrik Åkesson.
Eventually Marcel met again Matti Alfonzetti (an old acquaintance from grade school) and they started writing and recording together in 1992. However, a change in personnel at Warner resulted in Talisman leaving that label and spending most of 1992 looking for a new label, Alfonzetti left to join Skin Trade.
Christer Wedin was interested in releasing a second Talisman album if Soto was available. Soto agreed and the band returned to the studio. The new album "Genesis" was recorded in three weeks in December 1992 at Stocksund Recording Studios. Soto joined the recording along with his then-girlfriend Julie Greaux (Billy Idol, Axel Rudi Pell) who ended up playing the grand piano on "All I Want". In conjunction with the release of "Genesis" early 1993 Dino Music re-released the first album Talisman adding six live tracks recorded in Sweden in 1990. When "Genesis" was released the single "Mysterious" got some airplay and the album immediately sold more than 15,000 copies in Sweden. Furthermore, both Talisman and Genesis garnered some international interest throughout Europe and Japan.
2000s
DJ Dr. Rock from the Swedish Radio Rock Klassiker persuaded the band to perform at Sweden Rock Festival. When Talisman played in Stockholm two nights before the festival gig Marcel's entire kit (bass included!) was left at the venue. Marcel wanted to leave the festival but decided to stay for the fans . The show went great and Christer Wedin managed to get it recorded as well.. Marce's sound at the show was not too exciting and some out-of-tuned guitars needed some fixing so he and Pontus went into the studio to record live together the entire show exactly the same way they would have done it on stage. The live album was released in October 2002 in Sweden only through Empire Records, charting at number 18 the first week. In the same year the entire back catalogue of Talisman was re-issued with bonus tracks on Frontline Records in Brazil.
Jeff, Marcel and Pontus later joined established a short-lived music project Humananimal (2002–2003) with drummer Tomas Broman (Great King Rat, Electric Boys, Amaze Me) and released the self-titled debut album of Humanimal in 2002. The band's name idea come from Marcel Jacob who used the following quote: "...we might be human but in the end, we still being animals". The main idea was to have a hard rock record with three singers: Leif Sundin (Great King Rat, John Norum, Michael Schenker Group), Jeff Scott Soto (Talisman, ex-Yngwie Malmsteen) and Mats Levén (Krux, At Vance, ex-Yngwie Malmsteen). After some research and testing, they decided to go with one singer, because they also thought it would be easier for the listeners if they only used one, and well they chose Jeff Scott Soto. After that, again Norgren and Jacob were thinking about who could be the best drummer that they should use for that kind of musical project and they chose Tomas Broman (Great King Rat, Electric Boys, Amaze Me, Hughes Turner Project, Glenn Hughes). They released their only record on January 28, 2002 in USA and February 1 in Europe, but by popular demand the record label made a second edition to reach at least three European countries. Also on June 17, 2002, the record label released a 3-track EP called "Find My Way Home". In May the band played a couple of shows to support it. After some personal, professional and legal problems, Pontus and Marcel had a falling-out and Pontus was out both of Talisman and Humanimal, then on October 19 of that year, Humanimal split. On June 14, 2019, another record label Sun Hill Production re-released the complete Humanimal album to all digital platforms as well on CD.
In May, the band played a couple of support shows. Pontus and Marcel had a falling out and this meant that Pontus was out both of Talisman and Humanimal. Marcel and Jeff had a meeting with Christer Wedin who explained that they were basically free to go into business without him. Since Jeff had already signed a deal with the Italian label Frontiers for his solo album Love Parade he talked to them about doing a new Talisman album. Humanimal was a musical project featuring Pontus Norgren (Great King Rat) and Marcel Jacob (Talisman).
Band members
Discography
Compilations
1996: Best Of... (Swedish, Scandinavian & European compilation)
1996: BESTerious (Japanese compilation)
2015: Vaults (2CD compilation with demo versions features vocals from Jeff Scott Soto, Goran Edman, Matti Alfonzetti, Thomas Vikstrom and Stefan Berggren)
DVDs
2005: The World's Best Kept Secret
2005: Various Artists – United: Where Is The Fire DVD
Singles and promos
1990: "I'll Be Waiting" (7" single)
1990: "I'll Be Waiting" (CD single)
1990: "Just Between Us"
1993: "Time After Time"
1993: "Mysterious (This Time It's Serious)"
1994: "All + All"
1994: "Todo y Todo" ("All + All" Latin American release under nickname Genaro)
1994: "Colour My XTC"
1994: "Doing Time with My Baby" (German release)
1995: "Frozen" (German radio release, not released commercially)
1998: "Crazy" (Sweden radio release, not released commercially)
2019: "Never Die (A Song for Marcel)" (digital release, limited 7" vinyl)
2024: "Save Our Love"