What do Swedish Punk rockers Millencolin and Vans have in common?

A love for skateboarding, Punk Rock music and as of mid July, their very own Vans model.

In 2009, the Vans Warped Tour will celebrate its 15th anniversary and become the longest standing concert tour in US history. So much of Vans’ background is linked to music, as well as a heritage of over 40 years, deep rooted in the skate scenes around the globe. So Vans can proudly look back on a long list of illustrious band collaborations: Iron Maiden, Slayer and Bad Brains are just a few landmark names to have linked up with Vans.

Millencolin have been part of the Warped Tour band roster for a long time making them the perfect match for a European-exclusive co-operation. These passionate skateboarders from Sweden grew up with Californian Punk Rock, which inspired them to start their band in the first place.

Founded in 1992, Millencolin have risen to global repute since first signing with Burning Heart Records and releasing their debut album in 1995, Life on a Plate. They share stages from Europe to the US to Australia with bands like The Foo Fighters and Queens of the Stone Age. Their song No Cigar became a huge hit in the US and ended up as a feature track on Tony Hawk’s videogame Pro Skater 2. Their own annual skate contest in their Swedish hometown of Örebro, the Millencolin Open, represents just one facet of Millencolin’s continuous devotion to their roots in skateboarding.