Killer (Finnish band)
Encyclopedia
Killer was a rock band
founded in 1999 in Helsinki, Finland. Although Killer was a quartet, vocalist Siiri Nordin
was by far the most visible member. Notable were the different music styles that influenced their tracks: Siiri grew up with jazz & blues but the influences of the band included grunge pioneers such as Pearl Jam & Nirvana (Timo), electronic music (guitarist Tumppi) and even funk & folk (drummer Teijo, who used to earn a living in a folk-based outfit).
The group's debut single Hurricane was released in February 2001. In August 2001 the debut was followed up by All I Want - a track that topped the local airplay list and made it to No. 2 on the charts, moving the band's debut album 'Sickeningly Pretty And Unpleasantly Vain' up to gold.
Their second album, Sure You Know How To Drive This Thing was internationally released in 2003 and entered the Finnish charts on position 7. Sure You Know How To Drive This Thing includes the song Naughty Boy which became the bands biggest hit. The song was one of the most played songs on Finnish radio during the summer of 2003; it also made it to number one on the MTV's
Up North
charts. One year later, Killer were invited to play at the legendary Rock am Ring
festival in Germany.
On February 5, 2005, bass player Timo Huhtala announced on the band's website the group will take an "undetermined break";
As a result, Timo and Teijo formed their new band Killer Aspect
, the name being a combination of the band names Killer and Personal Aspect - the former band of the guitarist.
and The Rasmus
, were part of the initially unofficial association Dynasty
, a loose association which joined the disparate bands. The association was found out of a friendship and joined interests and resulted in several co-operations: The Rasmus' members Lauri Ylönen
and Pauli Rantasalmi produced both Killer's and Kwan's (the latter one only Rantasalmi) albums, Siiri appeared on Kwan's tracks Padam and Chillin' at the Grotto and Aki Hakala first played drums for Killer, later for Kwan before finally joining The Rasmus. Lauri also contributed lyrics to a special version of Killer's All I Want which was released as a b-side on the single.
Rock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
founded in 1999 in Helsinki, Finland. Although Killer was a quartet, vocalist Siiri Nordin
Siiri Nordin
Siiri Nordin is a Finnish singer. She was the lead singer of the now defunct Finnish rock band Killer. In 2003 Nordin had a hit on her own with the song "Sydämeni osuman sai" included on the soundtrack of the movie Helmiä ja sikoja...
was by far the most visible member. Notable were the different music styles that influenced their tracks: Siiri grew up with jazz & blues but the influences of the band included grunge pioneers such as Pearl Jam & Nirvana (Timo), electronic music (guitarist Tumppi) and even funk & folk (drummer Teijo, who used to earn a living in a folk-based outfit).
The group's debut single Hurricane was released in February 2001. In August 2001 the debut was followed up by All I Want - a track that topped the local airplay list and made it to No. 2 on the charts, moving the band's debut album 'Sickeningly Pretty And Unpleasantly Vain' up to gold.
Their second album, Sure You Know How To Drive This Thing was internationally released in 2003 and entered the Finnish charts on position 7. Sure You Know How To Drive This Thing includes the song Naughty Boy which became the bands biggest hit. The song was one of the most played songs on Finnish radio during the summer of 2003; it also made it to number one on the MTV's
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
Up North
Up North (television)
Up North was an MTV television show, broadcast on MTV Europe and several national TV stations in Northern Europe. Every week the viewers could vote for their favourite song as they were presented in the show, viewers voted either by SMS or on the MTV Europe website...
charts. One year later, Killer were invited to play at the legendary Rock am Ring
Rock am Ring
The Rock am Ring and Rock im Park festivals are two simultaneous rock music festivals held annually in Germany....
festival in Germany.
On February 5, 2005, bass player Timo Huhtala announced on the band's website the group will take an "undetermined break";
As a result, Timo and Teijo formed their new band Killer Aspect
Killer Aspect
Killer Aspect is a Finnish rock band from Helsinki. Its members are Max Paananen , Samuli Relander , Valeri Drobych and Teijo Jämsä ....
, the name being a combination of the band names Killer and Personal Aspect - the former band of the guitarist.
Dynasty
Killer, along with KwanKwan (band)
Kwan is a hip hop/pop music group from Helsinki, Finland. Most visible members of the band are the two vocalists Mariko and Tidjan...
and The Rasmus
The Rasmus
The Rasmus are a Finnish rock band that formed in 1995 in Helsinki while the band members were still in upper comprehensive school. The original band members were Lauri Ylönen , Eero Heinonen , Pauli Rantasalmi and Janne Heiskanen...
, were part of the initially unofficial association Dynasty
Dynasty (association)
Dynasty is an association founded in 1999 by the Finnish bands The Rasmus, Killer and Kwan. Killer has since disbanded and are no longer considered members.-Philosophy:...
, a loose association which joined the disparate bands. The association was found out of a friendship and joined interests and resulted in several co-operations: The Rasmus' members Lauri Ylönen
Lauri Ylönen
Lauri Ylönen is the frontman of the Finnish alternative rock band The Rasmus.-Early days:Ylönen was born and grew up in Helsinki. He learned to play the piano when he was five years old, and later learned to play guitar and drums...
and Pauli Rantasalmi produced both Killer's and Kwan's (the latter one only Rantasalmi) albums, Siiri appeared on Kwan's tracks Padam and Chillin' at the Grotto and Aki Hakala first played drums for Killer, later for Kwan before finally joining The Rasmus. Lauri also contributed lyrics to a special version of Killer's All I Want which was released as a b-side on the single.
Albums
- Sickeningly Pretty & Unpleasantly Vain (2001)
- Sure You Know How to Drive This Thing (2003)
Singles
- All I Want (2001)
- Hurricane (2001)
- Fire (2002)
- Naughty Boy (2003)
- Watching - Waiting (2003)
- Liar (2003)
Members
- Siiri NordinSiiri NordinSiiri Nordin is a Finnish singer. She was the lead singer of the now defunct Finnish rock band Killer. In 2003 Nordin had a hit on her own with the song "Sydämeni osuman sai" included on the soundtrack of the movie Helmiä ja sikoja...
(vocals, pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
) - Timo Huhtala (bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
) - Teijo Jämsä (drums)
- Tuomas "Tumppi" Norvio (guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
)