Swedish 60s pop band started in 1963 by Lennart Hegland (bass) and Christer Pettersson (drums). Soon joined by Hans Östlund (organ) and Janne Frisk (guitars and vocals). They won a band contest the same year in Bromma (Stockholm). In 64 at a gig they were missing Janne Frisk who was touring the north with accordion player Erik Frank and Svenne Hedlund from Clifftones replaced him. Svenne left his former band to join Hep Stars. Åke Gerhard, songwriter and director of Olga record label took them under his wings and began managing them. They started touring in folk parks in the summer of 64. They released their first singles the same year and when Hans Östlund left the band he was replaced by Benny Andersson (Elverkets Spelmanslag and later of ABBA fame). In '65 the band became full time musicians and they scored their first hit single with Cadillac ending up on 9th on Kvällstoppen, staying there for 14 weeks. After playing in national TV they managed to place two more songs on the billboards, having three top list positions simultaneously for a time and leading to their great break through. Hep Stars broke up in 1970 ca. Svenne Hedlund had a successful career with his wife Lotta Hedlund (born Charlotte Walker in 1944) as Svenne & Lotta.
