The highly rated SPIRITUAL BEGGARS, hailing from Halmstad, was originally formed as a side project by ex-CARNAGE and CARCASS guitarist Mike Amott to CARCASS. Amott also operates the equally successful Death Metal band ARCH ENEMY. Although the band's heritage was placed firmly in the extreme Metal spectrum SPIRITUAL BEGGARS offered up a distinct contrast with tripped out retro Riff Rock.

Amott united with ex-AEON man Christian Sjöstrand, the band becoming a full time venture following Amott's split from CARCASS after the 'Heartworks' album. Having released an early mini album on Wrong Again with Pingo Sjöholm contributing session bass tracks,, the fully fledged 'Another Way To Shine' was originally intended to be released by Swedish label Megarock Records. However, a decision had been taken to fold the label in order to relaunch themselves as a production company, so the album was eventually issued by Music For Nations in a licensing deal.

Music For Nations showed enough faith in the band to issue the third album, 'Mantra III', in January 1998. Produced by Fredrik Nordström, the band continued to defy all trends by offering a tirade of 70s influenced heavy riffs. 'Mantra III' found Sjöstrand adopting the name 'Spice' and the inclusion of keyboard player Per Wiberg. Heavy touring saw support dates to FU MANCHU.

In 1999 SPIRITUAL BEGGARS contributed their version of 'Mr. White' to the TROUBLE tribute album issued on Freedom Records. Witt founded side project FIREBIRD in 2000 in alliance with CATHEDRAL's Leo Smee and ex-CARCASS guitarist Bill Steer.

Spice also figured as lead vocalist on the 'Music For The World Beyond' 2000 album by Stoners THE MUSHROOM RIVER BAND, a group he had been involved with dating back as far as 1997. Rumours circulated during 2001 that Spice was set to leave the band. Although officially denied at first Spice did indeed decamp in October, committing to the THE MUSHROOM RIVER BAND full time. SPIRITUAL BEGGARS brought in GRAND MAGUS vocalist Janne Christoffersson and THE QUILL bassist Roger Nilson as replacements.

In June of 2002 bassist Roger Nilsson too would join up with ex-NAPALM DEATH and CARCASS guitarist Bill Steer's FIREBIRD act. SPIRITUAL BEGGARS European March and April 2003 'Monstergroove' tour found the band heading up a line up of CLUTCH, SPIRITU and DOZER. Together with CLUTCH the band also scheduled Japanese dates for late April.

SPIRITUAL BEGGARS entered Studio Fredman in Gothenburg, Sweden in July 2004 with producer Fredrik Nordström to cut a new album entitled 'Demons' for new label InsideOut Music. ARCH ENEMY's Sharlee D'Angelo would cut the bass guitar for these tracks. Meantime, ex-singer SPICE founded KAYSER, a union with Mattias Svensson of THE DEFACED, Bob Ruben, an ex-THE MUSHROOM RIVER BAND member, and former AEON player Fredrik Finnander.

SPIRITUAL BEGGARS supported DIO on Japanese dates in May 2005.