Morgan Ågren

Morgan Ågren (born 1967) is a Swedish drummer, and a former member of the progressive rock band Kaipa.

Biography A native of Umeå, Västerbotten, Ågren began playing drums at a young age, eventually joining forces with Mats Öberg in 1981. Together they formed "Zappsteetoot" in 1984, a band known for performing Frank Zappa's music. Ågren later shared the drummer's seat with Terry Bozzio on Dweezil and Ahmet Zappa's band AZ/DZ's album Shampoohorn.

In 1996, Ågren toured throughout Europe as a member of Glenn Hughes's band, and later to Japan in 1997. 1996 also saw the formation of Morgan Ågren's own record label, Ultimate Audio Entertainment, dedicated to the release of "new" music.

Ågren has recorded several albums as a member of Fleshquartet (Swedish: Fläskkvartetten), among them What's Your Pleasure? and the Grammy Award-winning Goodbye Sweden in addition to his international performances with Zappa's Universe and with Mats Öberg in Mats/Morgan Band.

Ågren was also the drummer in the Swedish prog band Kaipa since 2002, having recorded several albums with the band.

In May 1997, Ågren was featured in a unique project of the Swedish Film Institute, making his debut in movie theaters and at several international film festivals. Described as a sound experience, the 4-minute 35 mm short-film Lullaby for Lost Souls showcases him in "a free-form Stereo Dolby drum explosion".

Ågren is also highly recognized by fans of extreme and heavy music for his studio performance on Fredrik Thordendal's solo album, Sol Niger Within, released in 1997.

He is the subject of a 2013 two-hour documentary directed by Carl King a.k.a. Sir Millard Mulch, called Morgan Ågren's Conundrum: A Percussive Misadventure. It also features Devin Townsend, Dweezil Zappa, and Brendon Small, creator of Metalocalypse.

Ågren was also featured on the eponymous album by Casualties of Cool.

Discography Solo 2015 – Batterie Deluxe 2016 – Through the Eyes of a Morgchestra

Mats/Morgan Band 1996 – Trends and Other Diseases 1997 – The Music or the Money 1998 – Radio DaDa 1998 – The Teenage Tapes 2001 – Live 2002 – On Air with Guests 2005 – Thanks for Flying with Us 2008 – Heat Beats Live (+ Tourbook 1991–2007) (DVD+CD) 2014 – Schack Tati 2016 – 35th Anniversary Collection 2018 – Live with Norrlandsoperan Symphony Orchestra

Kaipa Notes from the Past (2002) Keyholder (2003) Mindrevolutions (2005) Angling Feelings (2007) In the Wake of Evolution (2010) Vittjar (2012) Sattyg (2014) Children of the Sounds (2017)

With other artists 1987 – Chinese Garden — Cabazz 1990 – Far Away — Cabazz 1988 – What's Your Pleasure? – Fläskkvartetten 1990 – Goodbye Sweden — Fläskkvartetten 1993 – Open Your Eyes — Agamon 1993 – Zappa's Universe — various artists 1993 – Flow — Fläskkvartetten 1994 – Shampoohorn — Dweezil & Ahmet Zappa 1995 – The Zombie Hunter (APM) — Simon Steensland 1996 – The Music of Captain Beefheart – Live — various artists 1997 – Spare Parts — Denny Walley 1997 – Sol Niger Within — Fredrik Thordendal's Special Defects 1999 – Led Circus — Simon Steensland 2000 – Automatic — Dweezil Zappa 2001 – Glass Finger Ghost — Jimmy Ågren 2003 – Close Enough for Jazz — Jimmy Ågren 2011 – BLIXT — Morgan Ågren, Raoul Björkenheim & Bill Laswell 2012 – Live in the US - Karmakanic 2013 – Freak Guitar: The Smorgasbord – Mattias IA Eklundh 2013 – Into the Void of Fear – Octopus 2014 – Casualties of Cool – Devin Townsend 2016 – DOT - Karmakanic 2019 – Empath – Devin Townsend 2019 – Zëss – Magma 2019 – Requiem – Evan Marien & Fredrik Thordendal 2020 – Of the Sky – Hassan Iqbal 2023 – Layers – Anatole Muster (feat. Hadrien Feraud & Morgan Ågren) 2026 – Rosendals Garden – Yelena Eckemoff feat. Svante Henryson