Name: Oscar Fredrick Dronjak
Year of birth: 1972
Height: 192 (without high heels)
Instrument: Guitar, backing vocals
Fave record(s): Judas Priest "Painkiller", Europe "Out Of This World" and everything with Udo Dirkschneider on vocals.
Fave movie: The Punisher, Blazing Saddles, Jurassic Park
Fave author: Stephen King and Dean R. Koontz.
Influences: Playingwise, I admire Wolf Hoffman, who probably is the best guitar player/song writer I know. Others include Randy Rhodes, Yngwie Malmsteen and Ritchie Blackmore. As for the songwriting, I lean heavily on the heavy, bombastic avalanche of Accept/U.D.O. and majestic riffing of Helloween, Judas Priest and Stormwitch.
Currently the best record: Nothing in my collection ever gets old!
Other than music: Professional wrestling! Preferably the World Wresting Federation, but ECW and WCW will suffice as well! A couple of years ago, I published a wrestling fanzine here in Sweden called "Wrestlingens Giganter". I kept it up for a year, and it was a lot of fun! Apart from wrestling, which in all honesty doesn’t occupy much of my time, I like to watch television and partying with my friends. Being able to be outdoors in the summer is also very dear to me.
Family: Single
Fave drink: Marinella/Cider (1/3 Marinella, 2/3 Cider) Yummee!
Fave food: Burgers and fries
Musical history:Started guitar playing at the age of fourteen, and shortly thereafter put together my first band, the Hippie Killers! Moved on to Striker, playing heavy metal covers mixed with my first experience with writing songs (naturally in the same vein). Founded death metal act Desecrator, later Ceremonial Oath, where I functioned as song writer, vocalist and part time lead guitarist. Recorded one album, the conceptual "The Book Of Truth", but quit the band due to musical differences before it was released. The early stages of HammerFall then saw the dawn of light. Shortly thereafter, I broke my right arm playing soccer. When I had recovered, a new death metal experience was waiting for me, by the name of Crystal Age. Crystal Age took off well for a start, including a mini-tour in Poland, an appearance on the Metallica tribute album "Metal Militia", and a full length record deal. "Far Beyond Divine Horizons", another concept album, was recorded in April of 1995, but not released until the fall of 1996, due to reasons beyond our control. By then, the interest among us was long since gone, and HammerFall was in full swing. The band quickly dissolved.
Life history: Born and raised in Mцlndal, a town just outside of Gothenburg. Still reside there, but not for very long. Worked as a number of things, most recently as a teacher on a college level. Taken courses in history, archeology and the ancient Greek and Roman cultures at Gцteborgs Universitet for some years. This is probably where I’ll return when I stop playing (which won’t be for a LONG while!).
Ten years from now: I have no idea what I’ll be doing, but I know one thing; I will be content with my life and what I have achived!