Hurriganes

Early years

Hurriganes was founded in 1971 in North Haaga, Helsinki, where a similar rock band Jig-Saw played. Influenced by the name of the North American band Johnny And The Hurricanes, Remu Aaltonen devised the name for his own band. Hurriganes practiced in a garage in Ohjaajantie.

Rock and Roll All Night Long (1972–73)

Hurriganes' first album Rock and Roll All Night Long was released in 1973. It included songs such as "Say Mama" and "Keep On Knocking". The album's A-side was recorded in concert Klaukkala, such as the B-side of the first paragraph, but the rest was recorded in the studio. This album became the first gold selling record for the band's record label, Love Records.

Roadrunner (1974)

Hurriganes' commercial high point was with the release of Roadrunner in 1974. The album included the band's most famous song "Get On", which won the International European Pop Jury competition. It also included the songs "Roadrunner," "It Ain't What You Do", "I Will Stay" and "The Phone Rang". Roadrunner was recorded in Stockholm at Marcus Music Studios, and the album was also mastered in Stockholm. Roadrunner is still considered one of Finnish rock music's most important albums, and it is Finland's seventh-best-selling album of all time. It was Finland's best-selling album by a Finnish band from 1974 until 1985, when Dingo's Kerjäläisten valtakunta exceeded the volume of sales. The album's cover art (by Risto Vuorimies) was the only Finnish album cover in 1977's Hipgnosisin and Roger Dean's work Album Cover Album (Dragons, World Book). The cover's stylish motif was chosen by Hurriganes' bassist Cisse Häkkinen, who owned a light blue 1954 Cadillac Series 62 sedan. The cover shows the Hurriganes' Remu Aaltonen, Cisse Häkkinen and Albert Järvinen posing elegantly in suits sitting on the back seat of the Cadillac. The car ended up in the ownership of Kari Niiranen, or "DJ Nite," a highly popular disc jockey who also toured with Hurriganes. Roadrunner is regarded as one of the best Finnish rock records ever released, and in 2007, it was re-released as a SACD mixed to a 5.1 format.

Crazy Days: Kallio returns (1975)

Järvinen left the band in the summer of 1975, and Ile Kallio returned to the band after a break of three years. After Roadrunner, the band's popularity was at its highest, and not until the late 1970s did new wave and rockabilly genres succeed in prying Hurriganes from their spot as number one on the Finnish band scene, although in Hurriganes' early career Hullujussi also momentarily stole some acclaim. In the neighboring country of Sweden, the band was a popular live performer well into the 1980s, and broke the concert venue Folkpark's record in audience numbers several times. The same in 1975, when Hurriganes released the album Crazy Days, which reached diamond disk status quickly, but never did beat the Roadrunner album in terms of sales. Crazy Days contained one major hit, originally released by Jim & The Beatmakers in 1964: "My Only One", which had long been on Hurriganes's concert repertoire, a song sung by Cisse in a bravura performance until the end. The album also covered the Lennon-McCartney composition "Bad to Me".

Hot Wheels (1976)

After Crazy Days, Hot Wheels's sound was rawer and heavier than its predecessor. This album differs from its predecessors in that it contains only Remu's and Cisse's names in the writing credits of the band's own songs. Ile also took part in the songwriting but Remu deliberately left his name out of the credits. The album was recorded in Lahti by Pekka Nurmi at Microvox studio, which was a cheap, seedy, and not very classy basement studio. In Sweden, Hot Wheels was a real breakthrough and is considered at least equal in importance to Roadrunner. Familiar songs from the album, such as the title track, "Hot Wheels", was heard in 1976-produced, low-budget film Hot Guys, Hot Wheels. The film does not have any particular plot, but it portrays a boy and a girl who end up on a date at a Hurriganes concert. It also shows Remu, Cisse and Ile jamming and spending their free time, including playing football. The movie was directed by Jussi Itkonen, and it aptly describes life in the 1970s. Hurriganes members played themselves in the movie.

Tsugu Way and Hanger (1977–78)

Hurriganes recorded the album Tsugu Way (1977) in Love Records' brand new studio, and there were some technical problems, but the content was familiar Hurriganes with some covers, like the Beatles' "Hold Me Tight". The album was released in Sweden, Germany and the Netherlands with the name of "Use No Hooks". The album sold well enough to become a Gold Record easily, even though the record sales were generally down in Finland due to a recession.

In November 1977, Hurriganes' Swedish Sonet label arranged a small tour for the band in London. It was also agreed that next summer they would play 30 gigs in Europe as Status Quo's opening act. Hurriganes failed to conquer London, however, and also the Quo gigs were canceled when Remu and Cisse quit the tour and went back to Finland. The reason was apparently the fact that the band was unknown in England, and the tour arrangements and the reception reflected that. For example, they were not headlining their most important gigs. Remu states, "I fucked up to the whole system so we went away".

For the time being, Ile Kallio's last Hurriganes album was Hanger, where the drummer Beaver Aittojärvi-Oja performed, and keyboardist Jim Pembroke. Remu's back problems prevented him from playing, and the short-lived five piece Hurriganes went on tour to Sweden, but the reception was a little contradictory. The drummer in the concerts was Tomi Parkkonen.

Kallio changed again to Järvinen (1979–1981)

After the band had failed to find success in Britain in 1977, Ile Kallio began to lose interest and eventually was replaced by Albert Järvinen in early 1979. Kallio's last recording with the band was the single Shorai Shorai which was not published until after Kallio's departure from the band.

Järvinen's second stint with the band lasted two albums – Jailbird (1979) and 10/80 (1980), the latter of which was a major critical and commercial success, and included the song "Bourbon Street". The album was recorded in Stockholm, ABBA's Polar studios, and it was produced by Pave Maijanen. The album's first track "Made in Sweden", which Järvinen and Aaltonen's earlier band Kalevala had already played, and the last song "Just For You" are unusual for Hurriganes instrumentals.

Louhivuori to guitarist (1981–83)

Järvinen separated from the band in September 1981, apparently mainly due to drinking problems, and he came to be replaced by the renowned studio musician Janne Louhivuori. He played in two Hurriganes albums – 1981's Fortissimo, and the following year's Rockin 'Hurriganes. Hurriganes concert's popularity at this stage was still hard.

Kallio's third round (1983–84)

Louhivuori left the band in the summer of 1983, and he came to the place of the Ile Kallio, who played the band's last underserved studio talents Seven Days, Seven Nights (1983), and Hurrygames (1984), which was made to a long video.

Albert, the third and Louhivuori second round (1988)

The band spent four years trying to come back in 1988, this time with guitarist Albert Järvinen, but failed to get the first Finnish band, although a number of summer concerts of the Hurriganes were very popular. The last concert was recorded live album Live at Metropol, with guitarist Janne Louhivuori. The band broke up soon after the live album, the required material was obtained from the heap.

Musicians' memories

Bassist Cisse Häkkinen, died in 1990 in Espoo, Jorvi, of alcohol related illnesses. The guitarist, Albert Järvinen, died the following year in March in London. Häkkinen and Järvinen death Remu Aaltonen stuff Hurriganes brands including Remu Plays Hurriganes tour, which was playing a leading Finnish musicians.

Live In Stockholm 1977

In 1996, the Hurriganes appeared at Live In Stockholm 1977. The album has been stored on the C-cassette, concert sound clip, the guitarist Ile Kallio found among their goods in connection with removal the tape having been missing for years. The album sold gold in Finland & Estonia quickly, and was recorded in Sweden's breakthrough concert Jarla Theatre in 1977. That same evening, two consecutive concerts: the first was sold out immediately, it was decided to organize the same way the other.

New Hurriganes since 1998

Remu Aaltonen re-introduced the Hurriganes name in 1998, when the band consisted of two new players. Older members (Ile Kallio, Janne Louhivuori) weren't part of the new line up. New players were Harry Merilahti, bass and vocals, and guitar, his son, Rocka Merilahti. Configuration published in 2001 a 30th Anniversary album, which included the old hits of the 2000s (decade) versions. The configuration was changed in 2004 when the band joined guitarist Jukka Orma and bassist Mikko Löytty. In 2006, guitarist Jukka Orma changed to Nipa Niilola. In 2009, Juho Pitkänen joined to Hurriganes as guitarist. In 2011, bassist turned Hike Kärppä (Daltons-band) and Pitkänen long stayed away from the composition.

Hurriganes is a kind of autobiographical film made in 2007, Ganes, who came to the premiere of 28 September 2007. The movie was directed by JP Siili. Remu Aaltonen, was closely involved in film making. He has also announced that a new Hurriganes album recording sessions would begin in late 2007.

Former members

• Hugo Christer "Cisse" Häkkinen - bass (1971-1990)
• Ilkka "Ile" Kallio - guitars (1971-1972, 1975-1979, 1983-1984)
• Pekka "Albert" Järvinen - guitars (1972-1974, 1979-1981, 1983-1984)
• Janne Louhivuori - guitars (1981-1983, 1988-2018)