Members

10.6.1977

Helsinki, Finland

Back in elementary school, sang twice in the theatrical pageant "Star Boys" ("Tiernapojat"), a traditional musical play that has its roots in Finnish medieval Christmas folklore. Took private electric guitar lessons ca. 1988-1993. Never really even learned how to read notes, but I can whistle the guitar solo from Hotel California in my sleep. Rap artist from 1997 onward.

I still think Joensuu's Kerubi club in 2001 was bad-ass, but it was such a long time ago, the truth of it may well have been distorted by the mind. Out of more recent shows, Kuudes linja in Helsinki in June 2006 was mad nuts.

Huey Lewis & The News @ Helsingin jäähalli, 1987
The Roots @ Vanha ylioppilastalo, Helsinki, 1997
Kid Koala @ Ilosaarirock, Joensuu, 2006

Being named Man of the Week in Me Naiset (Us Women) magazine in spring 2003.

On a more serious note, the greatest joy usually comes from little fleeting moments on stage or in the studio. One particular Sunday night at Hollola's Petrax Studios comes to mind, during the last album sessions. It was time for one of the final takes of the weekend, and with my wool socks and white long johns on, I introduced a new bit of lyrics and melody to the last chorus of "Road" (the part that starts "Leave a light on…"). I hadn't said a word about it to anyone, and I was convinced I'd get laughed out of the recording booth and scorned for days. Much to my amazement, the band's response was one of immediate cheer. I was one happy camper.

Can't remember the exact time or place, but there was one incident after a gig some years ago, when some eager young man came up to me and wanted to share his thoughts on the Support de Microphones liner notes which had made a big impression on him. A mysterious smirk on his face, the fella made the following remark: "I know what the text means, it's just… I don't like to talk about it." He then quietly made his exit, with an air of cool around him, and left me in a state of speechless awe.

I also vividly recall walking down the hallway late at night on the Viking Cinderella ferry with a very cheerful saxophone player still clad in the same uniform the ship's crew had granted us for the show earlier that night. I cracked up as marine officer Mikkonen - in his most impressive officer's voice - reprimanded the young students on board for being too loud and rowdy. I'll never forget the look of disappointment on Pekka's face when a real member of the ship's crew finally pulled the plug on his act, and insisted the uniform to be removed at once. I believe Pekka's exact response to the order was: "Heeeeeyyyyy, c'moooon!"

Despite my desire to engage in deep discussions on the nature of time and being, most of the time there's no choice but to settle for sleep, music, Pekka Kuusisto's jokes, Felix Zenger's jolly good British accent, or the activities of the Totally Lost club at the back of the bus. I also try to keep company with the driver, should the driver appear lonesome. And every now and then, one gets all poetic and just stares out the window at the all the wonderfully impressive landscapes that come and go.

Eat (if I have the time), sleep (if I have the time), take a shower (if I've had time to eat and sleep), get my joints (the ones in my body) oiled up, go through my wardrobe and carefully choose the most elegant pieces of clothing for the night, make my way backstage, come up with a set list (unless I manage to delegate the task to Juuso), take one last loving look at all my dear band mates, do some last minute bouncing and stretching, warm up the voice in Gregorian monk style with Tero, get everyone huddled up and come up with some bangin' ass pre-show cheer. I then pick a nice spot behind someone else and nervously march up on stage.

The Roots, MC Solaar, IAM, De La Soul, Beastie Boys, Paris, Massive Attack, Giant Robot, Tom Waits, Nick Drake, Sizzla, Capleton, Jim O'Rourke, Egotrippi, Fabrizio de Andrè, Coldplay, Johann Sebastian Bach, Thelonius Monk, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Dire Straits, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Eric Dolphy, Eric Cartman, Beck, Common, J. Karjalainen, José Gonzalez, Bob Dylan, Blur, Saul Williams, Salif Keita, Sigur Rós.

Bon Jovi: Slippery When Wet (1986).

Dire Straits: Brothers in Arms
Mötley Crüe: Theatre of Pain
Kiss: Animalize
W.A.S.P.: W.A.S.P.
Michael Jackson: Bad

The Roots: Do You Want More?!!!??!
Miles Davis: Bitches Brew
John Coltrane: A Love Supreme
Marvin Gaye: What's Going On
IAM: L'école du micro d'argent
Mos Def and Talib Kweli are Black Star
Tom Waits: Closing Time (and just about all of his other albums)

Blind Boys of Alabama - I Shall Not Walk Alone
The Mamas & the Papas - Make Your Own Kind of Music
Billie Holiday - Strange Fruit
Damien Rice - Older Chests
Kid Koala - Moon River (Live @ Ilosaarirock 2006)

"You All Everybody" by Driveshaft

Can't help it, I have to go with "Walk of Life", just because that song really got my eight year old soul jumping when I saw the band live for the first time in 1985.

All the instrumentals.

"Island Girl". Always nice and quiet on stage, and I get the chance to stand still for a couple of minutes. Plus it's always fascinating to see how the crowd responds to it. Cuz it's different, you know.

Samuel Beckett: Waiting For Godot
Paul Auster: The New York Trilogy
Primo Levi: The Periodic Table
Carl-Gustaf Lilius: Eimikään. Kaikkeudessa. Eräs maailmanselitys.
Eduardo Galeano: Football in Sun and Shadow
Paul Auster: In The Country of Last Things
Kjell Westö: Missä kuljimme kerran
Albert Camus: The Stranger

Spike Lee: Do The Right Thing
James Gray: Little Odessa
Pedro Almodovar: Habla con Ella
Jim Jarmusch: Night On Earth
Aki Kaurismäki: The Man Without a Past
Wong Kar Wai: 2046
Robert Altman: Kansas City
John Hughes: The Breakfast Club
Rob Reiner: Stand By Me

"South Park". Especially when in the mood for laughs. If a more serious mood should arise, any of the following work with varying success: "Lost", Jack Bauer's torment (his own and that which he inflicts on others) in "24", Michael Scofield's tattoos in "Prison Break", or Hiro Nakamura's comedic outbursts in "Heroes".

All Italian food (preferably in Italy). Chinese, Indian, Nepalese, and Thai cuisine are also close to my heart. Carelian stew by my mother.

Coffee (espresso)

It's a really close call between Kari Saarilahti, the cat, and the horse. Out of utility animals, I'd say Kari. And out of pets, the cat. The horse is still the most noble animal of all.

Anywhere with warm weather, warm people, or warm food. Preferably all three. I could start with Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Chile, Cuba, Barcelona, Iceland, or the Maldives. And I know I'll keep going back to Italy.

All seasons at first. And summer all the way through.

Seeing the sun rise is such a rare and wondrous event, it always fills me with delight.

I'm quite content with all my precious friends who are just a phone call away. There's hardly enough time to even meet all of them as much as I'd want to.

Being forced to watch an entire live show by Black Eyed Peas, or a solo gig by Fergie. A bee hive above the bedroom window would be almost as bad.

Anything related to music, and even more importantly, anything completely unrelated to music. Staying up late, waking up late, drinking coffee, warm socks, running, riding the bicycle, soccer, badminton, books, conversations, movies, sitting in the sun, reminiscing times past, planning times ahead, all acts of love. Now and then, I also enjoy having a go at some real jobs in my spare time.

Cigarettes. Potato chips. A far-too-prevalent general laziness. Endless bouts of Mini bowles with Tero in hotel hallways.

Hips don't lie.

Hips don't lie.

Accepting your own mortality and turning it into your advantage. All that's good in life is a result of respect towards other human beings. Without it, all you're left with is noise, loneliness, and bad music on some insignificant little dwarf of a planet somewhere out there.

Love! Love! Love!

Shure SM58 Microphone, Puma Fiery (Silver) Indoor Sports Shoes. Spring water.

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