Oz (Finnish band)
OZ | |
---|---|
Origin | Nakkila, Finland |
Genres | Heavy metal, power metal |
Years active | 1977-1991; 2010-present |
Members |
Mark Ruffneck Peppi Peltola Juzzy Kangas Johnny Cross Vince Koivula |
Past members |
Ape DeMartini Jay C. Blade Markku Petander Costello Hautamäki Michael Lundholm Fredrik Thörnholm Jörgen Schelander Tobbe Moen Spooky Wolff Speedy Foxx Esa Niva Kari Elo Tauno Vajavaara |
OZ (written always OZ) is a heavy metal band originally from Nakkila, Finland. It was formed in 1977, split in 1991 and re-established 2010.
Since 1983 OZ has been active mostly in Sweden as the band members moved to Stockholm after the release of their second album. In 2010 drummer Mark Ruffneck (born Pekka Mark), bassist and main songwriter Jay C. Blade (born Jukka Homi, but has changed his name to Jukka Lewis) and vocalist Ape De Martini (born Tapani Hämäläinen) re-formed the band together with Costello Hautamäki and Markku Petander. As of 2017, Oz is consisted of four different members with Ruffneck being the original sole member.
They made a splash with their 1983 album Fire in the Brain, a NWOBHM-flavored energetic metal affair that won over critics and fans alike. The subsequent albums, however, failed to elicit the same response, and the band faded from worldwide view. The band reformed in 2010 and released Burning Leather in 2011. The latest album Transition State was released on 20 October 2017 by AFM Records.
Line-up
Current members
- Mark Ruffneck (Pekka Mark) – drums, percussion (1977–1991, 2010–present)
- Peppi Peltola - bass, vocals (2017-present)
- Juzzy Kangas - guitars, vocals (2017-present)
- Johnny Cross - guitars, vocals (2017-present)
- Vince Koivula – lead vocals (2017–present)
Former Live musicians
- Michel Santunione - guitar
- John Berg - guitar
- Johannes Sandberg - bass
Former members
- Ape De Martini (Tapani Hämäläinen) – lead vocals (1977–1991, 2010–2016)
- Jay C. Blade (Jukka Lewis) – bass, vocals (1982–1987, 2010–2016)
- Markku Petander – guitars (2010–2011)
- Costello Hautamäki - guitars (2010)
- Michael Lundholm – guitars (1990–1991)
- Jörgen Schelander – keyboards (1990–1991)
- Fredrik Thörnholm – bass (1990–1991)
- Tobbe Moen – bass (1990)
- Spooky Wolff – guitars (1983–1987)
- Speedy Foxx – guitars (1983–1987)
- Esa Niva – guitars (1982–1983)
- Tauno Vajavaara – bass (1982)
- Kari Elo – guitars (1982)
Discography
- Heavy Metal Heroes(Oz) (1982)
- Fire in the Brain (1983)
- III Warning (1984)
- Turn the Cross Upside Down(EP) (1985)
- Decibel Storm (1986)
- Roll the Dice (1991)
- (Promo) CD Dominator (2011)
- Burning Leather (2011)
- Transition State (2017)