Better Be Cool

The Zoo Crew is spinning the sleaze rock anthem "Better Be Cool" by Crashdïet, a track released as a single in 2023 that’s got the Zoo Freaks headbanging. This song, recorded between 2020 and 2021, didn’t make it onto the band’s 2022 album Automaton but was later unleashed as a standalone banger. According to a post on Crashdïet’s official Facebook, the track captures the band’s raw energy with all members at the time—Gabriel Keyes on vocals, Peter London on bass, Martin Sweet on guitar, and Eric Young on drums—pouring their hearts into it. The band revealed on X that it was a deliberate choice to hold this song back, as it didn’t quite fit the Automaton vibe but deserved its own spotlight. Fans on the Crashdïet Official Forum have speculated it carries the gritty, rebellious spirit of their earlier work, with lyrics that swagger like a leather-clad night out.

One juicy piece of trivia comes from a 2023 interview on Sleaze Roxx, where Martin Sweet hinted that "Better Be Cool" was born during a chaotic studio session fueled by late-night jams and a bottle of whiskey. The band wanted a track that felt like a punch you didn’t see coming, blending their signature glam metal riffs with a modern edge. On Instagram, Crashdïet shared a behind-the-scenes clip of Gabriel Keyes laying down vocals, captioning it with a nod to the song’s attitude: “It’s not just a song, it’s a lifestyle.” The Zoo Freaks have embraced this vibe, with fan posts on the Crashdïet Fans Facebook group calling it the perfect anthem for cruising with the windows down, evoking the wild energy of their 2005 debut Rest in Sleaze.

Crashdïet kicked off their journey in Stockholm, Sweden, in 2000, founded by vocalist Dave Lepard. The band’s early days were all about channeling the sleaze and glamour of 1980s hair metal, inspired by bands like Mötley Crüe and Guns N’ Roses. Lepard, along with guitarist Martin Sweet, bassist Peter London, and a rotating cast of drummers, built a cult following by sharing demos on their official website. These raw tracks, downloadable for free, spread like wildfire among fans, as noted on Wikipedia. Despite a split in 2002, Lepard reformed the band with the current core lineup, announcing Martin and Peter’s return on Christmas Day via the website, complete with a call for drummers. Their debut album, Rest in Sleaze, dropped in 2005, hitting No. 12 on the Swedish charts and spawning singles like “Riot in Everyone.”

Tragically, Dave Lepard’s suicide in 2006 at age 25 nearly ended the band. The remaining members, with support from Lepard’s family and fans, chose to carry on, as shared in a heartfelt statement on their website. This resilience defined Crashdïet’s ethos, leading to a string of albums like The Unattractive Revolution (2007) and Generation Wild (2010), which hit No. 3 in Sweden. Over the years, they’ve cycled through vocalists like H. Olliver Twisted, Simon Cruz, and Gabriel Keyes, each adding their own flavor to the band’s sleaze rock sound. Fans stay connected through the official forum and the Crashdïet Fans group, where they share everything from concert stories to rare demo downloads, keeping the band’s gritty legacy alive.