Run With The Pack

The Zoo Crew is spinning the infectious "Run With The Pack" by Talisman from their 1993 album Genesis, a track that captures the Swedish hard rock band's knack for blending melodic hooks with gritty energy. One piece of trivia about the song comes from its recording process at Stocksund Recording Studios in December 1992, where the band laid down the entire Genesis album in just three weeks. According to liner notes from the 2012 Digipak reissue, "Run With The Pack" was a standout for its driving rhythm, credited to drummer Jamie Borger's dynamic performance, which was later enhanced with new drum recordings for the reissue's bonus demos. Fans on the Talisman Fan Club Facebook group have shared stories of hearing the song live during the band's 1993 Swedish club tour, noting how frontman Jeff Scott Soto's soulful delivery made it a crowd favorite, often sparking impromptu sing-alongs among the Zoo Freaks of its era.

Another tidbit about "Run With The Pack" surfaced in a 2012 interview with Soto on Metal Music Archives, where he recalled how bassist Marcel Jacob wrote the song's core riff while jamming in his Stockholm apartment, inspired by a mix of classic rock and funk influences. The track's lyrics, penned by Soto, reflect themes of freedom and camaraderie, resonating with the Zoo Crew's hippie vibe and their listeners' free-spirited ethos. The 2012 reissue of Genesis included four revisited demos from 1990, and while "Run With The Pack" wasn't among them, the band—Jamie, Fredrik Åkesson, and Pontus Norgren—reworked similar tracks to honor Jacob's legacy after his passing in 2009, a process fans on Talisman’s Instagram praised for its emotional depth.

Talisman began in 1989 as the brainchild of bassist Marcel Jacob, a seasoned musician who had played with acts like Rising Force and John Norum Group. Jacob, frustrated with the direction of his previous projects, started demoing tracks he initially intended for Norum’s second solo album. When those plans shifted, he recruited American vocalist Jeff Scott Soto, whose powerful voice and soulful style—honed through work with Yngwie Malmsteen and others—brought Jacob’s vision to life. The duo, joined by drummer Christopher Ståhl, recorded their self-titled debut in 1990, which laid the foundation for their melodic hard rock sound infused with rhythm and blues and funk. As detailed on AllMusic, Talisman’s early days were marked by Jacob’s meticulous songwriting and Soto’s dynamic stage presence, quickly earning them a cult following in Sweden and Japan.

The band’s formation wasn’t without challenges. Jacob, as noted in a Spirit of Metal biography, faced label disputes and lineup changes, but his persistence kept Talisman alive through the 1990s. Soto’s then-girlfriend, Julie Greaux, even joined the Genesis sessions, playing grand piano on "All I Want," as mentioned in the album’s liner notes. By the time Genesis was released, Talisman had solidified their lineup with Borger and guitarist Fredrik Åkesson, touring small Swedish venues to enthusiastic crowds. Their official website, talismanband.bandcamp.com, offers a digital hub for their discography, while their Facebook and Instagram pages keep fans updated on reissues and rare archival posts. The band’s X account occasionally shares throwback photos and fan interactions, though it’s less active.

For Zoo Freaks looking to connect with other fans, the Talisman Fan Club on Facebook is a vibrant community where members swap stories, rare live bootlegs, and memories of the band’s 2003 Cats and Dogs tour. Another fan-driven site, Heavy Harmonies, catalogs Talisman’s discography with detailed tracklists and user reviews, perfect for diving deeper into their work. While Talisman’s active years wound down after their 2007 farewell tour, their 2019 reunion to record "Never Die" for Jacob’s memory—shared widely on Facebook—showed their enduring bond with fans, making "Run With The Pack" a timeless anthem for the Zoo Crew’s airwaves.