Rockstar Suffers 'Massive Heart Attack': Refused's Dennis Lyxzén Speaks Out

Lyxzén called the incident "extremely painful and wildly scary."

By Ashley Turner

Dennis Lyxzén, the frontman of the hardcore band Refused, has revealed that he suffered a "massive heart attack" on June 13th in Uppsala, Sweden. The 51-year-old musician shared the news with fans via an emotional Instagram post, detailing the terrifying experience and its immediate impact on the band's upcoming performances.

Lyxzén, who is set to celebrate his 52nd birthday next week, described the incident as "extremely painful and wildly scary." He thanked the medical professionals who attended to him, stating, "Thanks the the wonderful doctors and nurses at the Uppsala hospital, I'm still around to fight another day."

The unexpected health crisis forced Refused to cancel their show scheduled for June 14th at the Rosendal Garden Party in Stockholm. This performance was particularly significant as it had been billed as the band's "final festival" show in their home country when announced in March. The cancellation came as a blow to both the band and their devoted fans, with Lyxzén acknowledging the disappointment: "A complete bummer, as I was really looking forward to it. But hopefully I/we will be able to make up to you soon."

Refused, formed in Umeå, Sweden, in 1991, has long been recognized as one of the most influential rock bands of the early 2000s. Their groundbreaking 1998 album, The Shape of Punk to Come, is widely regarded as the cornerstone of post-hardcore music. The band's innovative approach to music, blending elements of electronics and jazz with hardcore punk, coupled with their politically charged lyrics and energetic live performances, has inspired diverse artists, including Linkin Park, Rise Against, Paramore, and Blink-182.

After a 14-year hiatus, Refused reunited in 2012, reigniting their career with high-profile performances at festivals like Coachella. Their comeback was further solidified when the Swedish Ministry of Trade awarded them the "Special Prize for Music Exports" in 2013. Since then, the band has continued to evolve its sound, releasing two studio albums: Freedom in 2015 and War Music in 2019, both of which were met with critical acclaim.

Lyxzén's heart attack comes when Refused's influence continues to be felt throughout the music industry. Their classic track "New Noise" recently won Best Sync Usage at the American Association of Independent Music (A2IM) Libera Awards in New York, following its prominent feature in season 2 of the popular FX on Hulu series The Bear.

Despite the severity of his condition, Lyxzén remains optimistic about his recovery. In his post, the singer shared with fans, "The good news is that with medication, I can get back to my rocking self hopefully sooner than later." However, he also emphasized the need for a temporary hiatus from performing, stating, "I real[ly], really hate cancelling show[s], but the doctor said no rock for a couple of weeks."

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Lyxzén concluded his message with a meaningful reminder to his followers: "Life is weird and precious. Take care of each and tell your loved ones that you love them."

Lyxzén's influence extends beyond Refused, as he has also been involved with other musical projects such as International Noise Conspiracy, INVSN, and Fake Names. As an artist, he's versatile and committed to pushing boundaries, earning him respect across genres.

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