OVERDRIVE was formed in Karlshamn during August 1980 from the union of the two Swedish bands OCEAN and PARADIZE. Drummer Kenta Svensson and guitarist Kjell Jacobsson had released two previous singles and the album entitled 'The But' with OCEAN, whilst PARADIZE had a single release in 1979. Jacobsson's early career tracked back to 1974 outfit REACTION and subsequently SPÄNNFLÄSKET and BRANDALARM.

OVERDRIVE began primarily as a cover band, playing songs by the like of DEF LEPPARD and RIOT. However, in 1981 they released a self financed 12" titled 'Reflexions', which gained the band a deal with Planet Records.

During 1982 OVERDRIVE contributed two tracks, 'Damnation Angel' and 'Tonight', to the S.O.S. Records compilation album 'Rockslaget' and in April 1983 their debut album 'Metal Attack' was released to excellent reviews. OVERDRIVE would play as support to E.F. BAND, MERCYFUL FATE and PRETTY MAIDS following the record's release.

After the 1984 sophomore effort 'Swords And Axes', bassist Kenth Eriksson left to join INTERACTION, making way for another erstwhile OCEAN member in Zoltan Djember. However, this union would be short-lived as OVERDRIVE split the same year.

Guitarist Janne Stark and vocalist Pelle Thuresson formed a new outfit titled OVERHEAT as Thuresson made the move to bass guitar and the duo completed their new band with former HIGH VOLTAGE vocalist Gernot Iverson and drumming colleague Paul Gustavsson, a veteran of HIGH VOLTAGE, MERCY and TURBO, but this group only ever recorded demos.

Whilst their former bandmates attempted to move forward with OVERHEAT, Svensson and Jacobson formed PRIDE prior to the latter joining E TYPE and recording a track for a compilation album. Janne Stark maintained his presence on the scene by contributing solo pieces to the 'Guitar Heroes Of Sweden' collection released by the B.O.R.G. label during 1990 and on the 'Guitar Heroes Of Sweden Vol 2' issued the following year on the Ghost imprint.

OVERDRIVE briefly reformed in 1992 with Stark, Thuresson, Svensson and ex-E TYPE vocalist Jørgen Aspring joining together for a demo, although things would pretty much dissolve afterwards. OVERDRIVE have been known to play the odd reformation gig from time to time since, especially after both albums were re-issued on CD by Megarock Records in late 1995 through the Rock Treasures imprint.

Janne Stark has since put together a brand new group - LOCOMOTIVE BREATH (named in honour of the JETHRO TULL song of the same moniker) - and signed a deal with the German Bluestone label for the release of the band's debut album in late 1997. His erstwhile OVERDRIVE colleague Kjell Jacobsson also contributes.

Janne also published his excellent 'The Encyclopaedia Of Swedish Hard Rock And Heavy Metal' in 1996, the definitive work on the subject. He also continues to contribute to a number of Rock publications around the world. Stark also made his presence felt on the 1997 debut album from acclaimed Christian Metal act NARNIA, 'The Awakening' featuring a guest solo from the man.

Incidentally, 1998 also saw further evidence of the OVERDRIVE old guard making themselves known with a new project, CROSSEYED MARY, featuring Svensson and Thuresson.

Two tracks from OVERDRIVE's 1980 demo 'Overdrive' and '20th Century' would be pressed up as a 7" picture disc during 2000. This revival of interest in the band was further fostered by the 2001 album 'Mission Of Destruction' released by the American Crook'D concern comprising live material from 1982, the band's farewell gig at Gräsvik in 1985 and their 1997 'Karlshamn Rock' reunion gig. The Rock Treasures label weighed in with re-issues of the original albums adding bonus cuts in the form of five demo tracks to 'Metal Attack' and the 'Reflexions' EP material to 'Swords And Axes'. Stark issued his second volume of 'The Encyclopedia Of Swedish Hard Rock And Heavy Metal' in September of 2002.

In late 2004 a previously anonymous Blues Rock project dubbed FROM BEHIND and seeing SAMSON veteran Nicky Moore as lead singer was revealed to include Janne Stark alongside his LOCOMOTIVE BREATH colleagues Matthias Osbäck and Ted Wernersson. This new band recorded demos in December of 2004.

Working with engineer Johan Blomström OVERDRIVE issued a five track EP, entitled 'Resurrected', released to coincide with the band's gig at the Sweden Rock Festival on June 10th 2006. Limited to 500 copies this release comprised re-recordings of 'Back On The Hunt', 'Black Revenge', 'Overdrive', 'Burn In Hell' and 'Ride The Fire'. The latter track had been written in 1984 but never recorded.

December 2nd 2006 saw Janne Stark forming up a one off "all-star" Metal band assembled for a 'Sweden Rock' concert at Stockholm's Nalen venue. Joining him for this performance, headed up by ACCEPT and U.D.O. singer Udo Dirkschneider, would be guitarists Ryan Roxie, of the ALICE COOPER band, SLASH'S SNAKEPIT and ELECTRIC ANGELS, Oscar Dronjak of HAMMERFALL, Mia Coldheart of CRUCIFIED BARBARA, bass player Nalle Påhlsson of TREAT and ZAN CLAN plus EUROPE drummer Ian Haugland.

In March 2007 OVERDRIVE entered the recording studio to cut tracks for the album 'Let The Metal Do The Talking' with producer Johan Blomström. Janne Stark featured as a solo artist on the February 2009 compilation album 'Shredding All Over The World: Vol II'.