Jekyll & Hyde: Jake Samuel and Pontus Norgren

Swedish Melodic band Jekyll & Hyde are based around vocalist Jacob Samuelson (known as Jake Samuel), a man who's pedigree includes a vocal position with TOTEM and being drummer for YALEBATE and TALISMAN. Previous to his exposure with TALISMAN Samuel put in a stint with FREDDIE FIELD during 1985 where he acted as both drummer and vocalist. Samuelson also contributed to the 1990 demo by JUNGLE JAM, the band founded by former PAGAN, RAISE CAIN and BAD HABIT man Sven Cirnski and also formed part of JET SET BABY together with Cirnski once more.

In between TALISMAN albums Samuel set up the shortlived GRAND SLAM in collusion with EASY ACTION's Zinny Zan. The band floundered upon lack of progress forced by illness on Zan's part. Samuel, still playing with JET SET BABY, joined TOTEM as a stop gap before resuming action with TALISMAN. Previous to setting up Jekyll & Hyde Samuel had demoed with JET LAG (later SNAKES IN PARADISE), toured with JAKE THE SNAKE in the mediterranean before a planned solo effort materialised into Jekyll & Hyde. The inaugural Jekyll & Hyde line-up saw Samuel joined by bass guitarist 'Tin Star' (a.k.a. Stephan Molander) and lead guitarist Marcus Yidell with drummer Peter Henrix. The first album 'Schitzophrenia', released in 1995 through Empire Records, spawned two promotional videos in 'Carry My Cross' and 'You're The One'.

With Yidell decamping, subsequently to join PUNCHLINE, Jekyll & Hyde added erstwhile GREAT KING RAT and DAMAGE DONE guitarist PONTUS NORGREN following completion of the debut album. Having reshuffled the group and redefined the sound, Jekyll & Hyde returned in early 1998 with high hopes and a deal with the Liverpool based record label Z Records for the 'Heavenly Creatures' album. The record sold well in Japan and the group also put in a mini tour of the UK.

Tin Star and Henrix exited to form a Power / Pop Rock band called PLASTER, uniting with ex-PUSSY GALORE guitarist Magnus Bierfeldt and bass player Occy Söderlund. PLASTER released a five track EP 'Landslide' through Viper Records in 1999. Samuel also released an album the same year with his other act TREASURELAND. After the band's collapse PONTUS NORGREN issued a solo album 'Damage Done'. During March of 2003 an ambitious Tolkein based musical project dubbed THE RING was announced by guitarist Pontus Norgren and ex-Jekyll & Hyde frontman Jakob Samuel. The Jekyll & Hyde affiliation was strengthened as Marcus Jidell too joined THE RING project. Both Tin Star and Henrix were to be found in Glam Rock band GEMINI FIVE during 2003.

Marcus Jidell joined Danish Rockers ROYAL HUNT in early 2005. Norgren and Samuel achieved national acclaim in in February 2006 when it was revealed they were members of spoof Rock band THE POODLES. The band won one of the four qualifying rounds in Sweden's competition to find an entrant for the Eurovision Song Contest with their '80s styled track 'Night Of Passion'. THE POODLES in fact comprised a cast of seasoned veterans and, alongside Norgren and Samuel, involved bassist Pontus Egberg of LION'S SHARE repute and drummer Christian Lundqvist.

It's hard to find a CD of Jekyll & Hyde! I'm trying, i'm trying...

Yes Personne I have a couple of them: Heavenly Creatures and Fallen Angel , both from 1998.

Maybe I have to listen again to say how good are they.

Talking about J&H, here is a webpage that have a short history about them
Gemini 5's Tin Star

The Jekyll & Hyde story

Me and Slim Pete hooked up back in 1993. Inspired by bands such as Led Zeppelin and Badlands we formed a three piece band with guitarplayer Marcus Yidell (now Punchline), and started rehearsing day and night. We got in contact with lead singer Jake Samuel (ex. Talisman, now The Ring) through an add. Everything clicked from the very first start and Jekyll & Hyde was born. After months of touring we decided to record some tunes. 12 songs were recorded and during the summer of '94, we went to Greece to play in clubs for two months. The first album Schitzophrenia was released in '95 through Empire Records. Two videos was made for "Carry my cross" and "You're the one".

Later that year guitarist Pontus Norgren (ex. Great King Rat, now Damage Done) joined the band. We made a shit load of shows before entering the studio to record the Heavenly Creatures album. This album was released in '98 through a british label called Z Records. We went on a tour in England playing five shows in the spring of '98. It was a blast. Rumours say that the Heavenly Creatures album sold 8.000 copies in Japan only. The record company really fucked us up, cuz we haven't got a dime yet. May the heavens fall down on their sorry asses. At that time me and Pete decided to depart from Jekyll & Hyde. We needed a break from the guys and especially from heavy metal.