SOUTHPAW included former EUROPE bassist John Levén. Fronting the band is the veteran ex-CAPRICORN, SWEDISH EROTICA, TREAT, ABSTRAKT ALGEBRA, TALISMAN and YNGWIE MALMSTEEN singer Mats Levén. Guitarist Fredrik Åkesson quit TALISMAN to create EYEBALL with the duo rounding off the band with erstwhile MANIC DEPRESSION, SORCEROR and IT'S ALIVE drummer Richard Evensand. A name change from EYEBALL to SOUTHPAW followed. Promoting the 1998, self titled debut album the band supported DIO on his November Swedish dates that year.

Evansand later figured in Death Metal formations EBONY TEARS and DOG FACED GODS. By June 2003 the drummer had teamed up with the swiftly rising SOILWORK. Before the year was out he had joined US outfit CHIMAIRA. Early 2005 found Fredrik Åkesson joining the touring line-up TIAMAT, replacing regular guitarist Thomas Petersson who had been detained by "parental duties". That September, Åkesson enrolled himself into the ranks of ARCH ENEMY.

In early 2006 it was learned that Mats Levén was working up a band project with an esteemed roster of players dubbed FATAL FORCE. This unit comprised Danish guitarist TORBEN ENEVOLDSEN and the XSAVIOR, MIND'S EYE, SPEEDY GONZALES, FARO and PHILIP BARDOWELL credited drummer Daniel Flores. A self-titled, Tommy Hansen produced debut album emerged in April via MTM Music.

It was revealed in early 2007 that Evansand was also involved with a high profile side act, DEAD BY APRIL, featuring M.A.N guitar player Martin Meyerman, DRAGONLAND guitarist Olof Mörck, bassist Staffan Persson of WHEN WE FALL plus the PAINFIELD, DEATHDESTRUCTION and NIGHTRAGE credited singer Jimmie Strimell.