I must reckon I’m not a fan of Gyllene Tider, but I’ve always thought there are similarities between them! As an ABBA fan, I know the Hep Stars and even have one CD by them. This is what I’ve found...

Similarities:

- Both groups have five members
- Both groups wore long hair
- Both groups were very very successful in Sweden
- Both recorded under the EMI label (Hep Stars for Olga, owned by EMI)
- I find the sound and group attitude is very similar in many points. Look these pics:
http://www.buggat.nu/artiklar/recensioner/skivor/bilder/Hep_Stars_groups...
http://www.stenudd.se/scen/images/gyllene.jpg

- Per Gessle was later known as a member of Roxette, and found worldwide success
- Benny Andersson was later known as a member of ABBA, and found worldwide success
- Other GT members were later involved in Roxette (Mats Persson, Anders Herrlin)
- Other Hep Stars members were later involved in ABBA (Björn Ulvaeus was in The Hep Stars for a little time, and co-wrote some of their best songs)
- Gyllene Tider has some things in common with Rolling Stones
- The Hep Stars were called “the Swedish Beatles”
- Both Hep Stars and Gyllene Tider has had one #1 hit in Norway. Hep Stars with “Cadillac” (week 26 in 1965), Gyllene Tider with “När Vi Två Blir En” (weeks 12,13 & 14 in 1981) [thanks Bengt, for this info]
- Gyllene Tider have recorded the song “Ska Vi Älska Så Ska Vi Älska Till Buddy Holly”
- The Hep Stars have recorded the song “A Tribute To Buddy Holly”
- First concert Per attended was The Hep Stars, in Karsefors (1966). Maybe that’s the reason of their influence in GT.
- Both groups loved cars! (check these pics)
http://www.musicbaron.com/60s65.JPG
http://shop.textalk.se/shop/219/art83/3883-pic-a26c2c.jpg

Differences:

- Gyllene Tider recorded mostly in Swedish, and some tracks in English
- The Hep Stars recorded mostly in English, and some tracks in Swedish

I will let you know if I find more!