Petri Walli
Encyclopedia
Petri Ilari Walli was the founder, vocalist, guitar-player, songwriter and producer of the Finnish psychedelic rock-band Kingston Wall
.
Petri was born in Finland
, and has an older brother named Hasse Walli
who is also a famous Finnish guitarist.
Petri (aka Pete) founded the band called Kingston Wall in 1987, and he was the spirit behind the whole band. They came out with three albums in 1992, 1993 and 1994, and broke up in December the same year as the last album was released. The break-up was Walli's idea, as he wanted Kingston Wall to be on a hiatus for an unspecified time. After the break-up Petri travelled to Goa
, India
, where he had been many times before with his friend Ior Bock
. (There is not much written text about Petri's and Ior's friendship, so nobody knows exactly how good friends they were). He died by jumping off the balcony of the Töölö Church in Töölö
, Helsinki
the following summer. Walli was later buried in the Hietaniemi Cemetery
, only about one kilometer away from his place of death.
Petri was a mysterious person who loved the eastern culture, philosophy, Scandinavian mythologies and most of all, playing guitar.
There have been numerous rumours and speculation about the reasons of his suicide. Some say that he committed suicide because of his failed relationship with a Finnish girl called Tanja or Tanya, others say that he was in a spiritual turmoil which reflected on the lyrics and themes on Kingston Wall's last album, Tri-Logy
. The song *For All Mankind* from Tri-Logy is considered by many to be Walli's suicide note.
Petri's co-musicians in Kingston Wall were Jukka Jylli
(bass) and Sami Kuoppamäki
(drums). Sometimes they had guest musicians performing on their albums and live shows, such as Sakari Kukko
(saxophone) and Kimmo Kajasto (synth). Drummers Petteri Ståhl and Timo "Tinde" Joutsimäki played drums in Kingston Wall before Kuoppamäki joined the group.
Kingston Wall
Kingston Wall was a psychedelic/progressive rock group from Helsinki, Finland, originally formed in 1987. Influenced by such artists as Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd, the group combined eastern themes, mysticism and vivid psychedelia with acid-rock.The band consisted of Petri Walli ,...
.
Petri was born in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, and has an older brother named Hasse Walli
Hasse Walli
Hannes Mikael Waldemar "Hasse" Walli was born on 10 February 1948 in Helsinki. His father Aarno Walli was a musician and bandleader, his mother Anne-Marie Strandberg a singer. Hasse Walli was about ten years old when he started playing drums. He drummed in various bands in early 1960s such as The...
who is also a famous Finnish guitarist.
Petri (aka Pete) founded the band called Kingston Wall in 1987, and he was the spirit behind the whole band. They came out with three albums in 1992, 1993 and 1994, and broke up in December the same year as the last album was released. The break-up was Walli's idea, as he wanted Kingston Wall to be on a hiatus for an unspecified time. After the break-up Petri travelled to Goa
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, where he had been many times before with his friend Ior Bock
Ior Bock
Ior Bock [i:or bok] was a Swedish-speaking Finnish tour guide, actor, mythologist and eccentric...
. (There is not much written text about Petri's and Ior's friendship, so nobody knows exactly how good friends they were). He died by jumping off the balcony of the Töölö Church in Töölö
Töölö
Töölö is the collective name for the neighbourhoods Etu-Töölö and Taka-Töölö in Helsinki, Finland. The neighbourhoods are located next to the city centre, occupying the western side of the Helsinki Peninsula....
, Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
the following summer. Walli was later buried in the Hietaniemi Cemetery
Hietaniemi cemetery
The Hietaniemi cemetery is located in the Töölö district of Helsinki, the capital of Finland...
, only about one kilometer away from his place of death.
Petri was a mysterious person who loved the eastern culture, philosophy, Scandinavian mythologies and most of all, playing guitar.
There have been numerous rumours and speculation about the reasons of his suicide. Some say that he committed suicide because of his failed relationship with a Finnish girl called Tanja or Tanya, others say that he was in a spiritual turmoil which reflected on the lyrics and themes on Kingston Wall's last album, Tri-Logy
III - Tri-Logy (album)
III – Tri-Logy is the third and final studio album from the Finnish group Kingston Wall. The album name is sometimes cited as Tri-Logy or Tri~Logy....
. The song *For All Mankind* from Tri-Logy is considered by many to be Walli's suicide note.
Petri's co-musicians in Kingston Wall were Jukka Jylli
Jukka Jylli
Jukka Kalevi Jylli is a Finnish bass-player who played in a band called Kingston Wall.After Kingston Wall was disbanded, he played in a group called Saunabadh.At the same time as his rock career flourished Jylli was also active in the Helsinki pub music scene, playing with the pioneering...
(bass) and Sami Kuoppamäki
Sami Kuoppamäki
Sami Kuoppamäki is a Finnish drummer who has been a very prolific jazz and popular music session musician after the break-up of his early-90s band, Kingston Wall. His current, most active group in which he plays in is called Zook...
(drums). Sometimes they had guest musicians performing on their albums and live shows, such as Sakari Kukko
Sakari Kukko
Sakari Kukko, Born on July 8, 1953, Kajaani, Finland, started his career in the early 1960s as a singer participating in several singing contests and performing in radio stations ,TV programs and other venues. At the age of 7, He began taking piano lessons. Soon after that he started to play also...
(saxophone) and Kimmo Kajasto (synth). Drummers Petteri Ståhl and Timo "Tinde" Joutsimäki played drums in Kingston Wall before Kuoppamäki joined the group.