Kent consists of Harri Mänty, Joakim Berg (singer, songwriter), Markus Mustonen (drums), Martin Sköld, Sami Sirviö.
Kent is a Swedish rock band founded in Eskilstuna in 1990, with the name Coca-Cola Kids, later Jones & Giftet ( Jones & the Poison), and Havsänglar ( Sea angels). In the band's logotype, the 'k' is lower-case. Kent have had several big Swedish radio hits since the breakthrough single Kräm (Så nära får ingen gå) (Cream (No One Should Go That Close)). As of 2005, they are probably the most popular rock band in Sweden, but are more or less unknown outside Scandinavia. They have tried an international career with English versions of the albums "Isola" and "Hagnesta Hill" with accompanying US tours for the former, but gave up after not reaching the break-through they had hoped for.
Joakim Berg – Lead vocals, guitar Martin Sköld – Bass Markus Mustonen – Drums, backing vocals Sami Sirviö – Lead guitar Harri Mänty – Rhythm guitar (from 1995) Thomas Bergqvist – Keyboards (1990–92) Martin Roos – Rhythm guitar (1992–95)
In 1995 Kent released their epynomous debut Kent. It was distorted and not much reminiscent of what Kent would release in later years. It got almost no commercial reputation at all. Four singles were released, with "Frank" closest to being a hit.
Only one year after, in 1996, Kent released Verkligen (Really). Guitarist Martin Roos had left the band for his career at Kent's record company BMG, but has since become the band's manager. The pre-release single "Kräm (Så nära får ingen gå)" immediately became a radio hit and gained Kent some serious fame for the first time. Two more singles were issued, "Gravitation" and "Halka" - The latter one later to be hated with a passion by the group. Musically, the album was slower with less distortion and more emotion. A Japanese release of "Verkligen" featured the group's first English-language song, an altered version of "Kräm (Så nära får ingen gå)" entitled "What It Feels Like".