Old School Finnish Rock Legends

Over the last 15 years there has been a marked increase in the emergence of Finnish Rock music.Many of the current bands now lightened on to singing in English which is really a must to gain any international hearing and recognition.With bands such as;The Rasmus,HIM,Nightwish,Children of Bodom,Apocalypitica,Stratovarius and External Tears of Sorrow you will be hard pressed not to have heard their music pumping out in clubs and on radio worldwide.So what are some of the legends of Finnish Rock

Early Days of Finnish Rock

• The Hurriganes in Finnish Rock

One of the first and a legend in Finland was the Finnish Rock Band,Hurriganes that rocked from the early 1970`s and 80`s.Their music was a form of nostalgic rock most tracks being former track copies but beefed up with excellent guitar playing from Albert Järvinen.Albert Järvinenis considered by many today as Finland`s best guitarist.Unfortunately he died in London in the same hotel as where Jimi Hendrix died.The official cause of death was registered as myocardial infarction..He was known to be a heavy drinker which forced him to leave the Hurriganes and join The Sleepy Sleepers.

• Hanoi Rocks Finnish Rocks

Hanoi Rocks is another Finnish Rock band,”The Rock Band that changed the course of Rock”.Very few bands can claim this title.Some such bands include,Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin,Black Sabbath,The Beatles,Hanoi Rocks can safely join this list of legendry bands

Hanoi Rocksreally started their career back in 1980 playing often in Finland and Sweden.They were loud and proud and when performing appeared flamboyant and one would say full of attitude.They quickly went on to gain recognition in The UK,Asia,Europe and finally America.Hanoi Rocks had gained such a large following that it was necessary for them to do live gigs yearly or else face dropping out of notoriety and fame.Unfortunately for the band the drummer(Razzle) died in a fatal car crash on December 9th 1984.This was a traumatic time for the remaining band members.Eventually as a result Hanoi Rocks cancelled their remaining American tour dates and finally decided to disband in 1985,

After years of little if no contact with former band members,Andy McCoy and Mike Monroemet in a club in 2001 and after jamming immediately hit it off again,noting that they both felt they had new material to be explored. The rest is history and the band still performs live.Of  interest in 1998 I and my wife were drinking in our local bar(Kultainen Kulaus)when a man and his wife asked to sit on our table.First impressions were of a hippy couple but well dressed.We spent some 8 hours laughing and drinking and it was only later at home that my wife informed me it was Andy McCoy and Angela McCoy.That is one of the nice things about Finland having a small population,you bump in to famous Finnish People frequently.I must add the Any McCoy evening was both interesting and hilarious as McCoy was in plaster as he had fallen from a balcony a few days previously.Something only a Finnish Rock Star can carry out

Andy McCoy

I shall be looking at more Finnish Rock bands and if any reader wishes for information please post your query.I hope you enjoy watching some of the Finnish Rock Legends