The Rasmus
The Rasmus |
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The Rasmus are a Finnish band that formed in 1994 in Helsinki, while the band members were still in high school. Before releasing their album Into (2001), they were simply known as Rasmus, but changed their name to The Rasmus in order to avoid being confused with a Swedish DJ of the same name. Their 2003 hit "In The Shadows" made them famous outside Scandinavia and received worldwide press attention.
Career history
The Rasmus formed at the end of 1994 when the band members were still in high school, and were initially known as Sputnik, then Antilla, and then simply Rasmus (a Scandinavian man's name that has no particular meaning). They recorded their first single, '"1st" (released independently through Teja G. Records in late 1995) before signing with Warner Music Finland to release their first album, Peep, when the band members were only aged 16. It went Gold as the band played over 100 shows in Finland and Estonia.
Rasmus released their second album, Playboys, in 1997. This record also went gold in Finland, with the single "Blue". Rasmus' gruelling live schedule included supporting Rancid and Dog Eat Dog and appearing at a Festival on the Helsinki Olympic Stadium. The band would also win a Finnish Grammy Award for "Best New Artist" in 1996.
The band's third album, Hell of a Tester, was released in 1998 with a video for the single "Liquid". It made regular appearances on Nordic MTV. This song was voted Song of the Year by Finnish music critics. The band achieved further recognition supporting Garbage and Red Hot Chili Peppers when they toured Finland.
Rasmus became The Rasmus in 2000, after replacing drummer Janne Heiskanen with drumming merchandise-seller Aki Hakala. In 2001, they released the album Into, which went double platinum in Finland, debuting at #1. The first single "F-F-F-Falling" was #1 in Finland for three months in early 2001. The second single, "Chill", was released in Scandinavia and reached #2 in Finland. The Rasmus toured throughout Scandinavia and Europe, promoting the album, and being the supporting acts to bands HIM and Roxette.
The band recorded Dead Letters in 2003 at Nord Studios in Sweden, reuniting with Mikael Nord Andersson and Martin Hansen who had produced Into. It was released in Europe in early 2003, reaching the top of the album charts in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, as well as in Finland. Its European success led to the release of the album in other parts of the world. Dead Letters went Top 10 in the UK, and its first single, "In the Shadows", went Top 3. Both also went Top 50 in the Australian ARIA charts in 2004, as well as topping the New Zealand singles chart. The single also reached the top 20 of the American Billboard Heatseeker charts. "Guilty" was the band's second single for the American market. Recently, iTunes Music Store offered the second track on Dead Letters, "In the Shadows", as one of its free singles.
The Rasmus tend to provoke strong opinions in people. They made a notable appearance at the Reading Festival in 2004, where they were a victim of bottling, being pelted with plastic bottles and mud until they eventually walked offstage, immediate medical attention being required for bassist Eero's eye.
The Rasmus also are a part of a three-band community called Dynasty, alongside modern rockers Killer and hip-hop band Kwan. Dynasty also have a studio in Helsinki, where they recruit new Finnish talent. Band members Pauli and Lauri flaunt their loyalty to Dynasty by sporting identical tattoos on their arms.
Their newest album is Hide From The Sun, which was released in 2005. Three singles have been released from it: "No Fear", "Sail Away" and "Shot".
On April 28, 2006 they received an exclusive statue at the ESKA Music Awards in Poland (it is their second ESKA statue, the first being in 2004) for the category Best World Rock Group. Their most famous song is "In The Shadows".
Hide From The Sun was released in the U.S. on October 10 2006 from their new U.S. label, DRT Entertainment.
Band members
Current members
Vocals: Lauri Ylönen (1994-present)
Guitarist: Pauli Rantasalmi (1994-present)
Drums: Aki Hakala (1999-present)
Bassist: Eero Heinonen (1994-present)
Former members
Drums: Janne Heiskanen (1994-1998)
The lead singer. He was born as Lauri Johannes Markus Päävo Ylönen in Helsinki on April 23, 1979. Lauri is the main song writer and has also worked on various collaborations with fellow Finns Apocalyptica and Ville Valo from the band HIM. He has also worked in the production of music for fellow Dynasty members Killer and Kwan, together with bandmate Pauli. In 2005 Lauri and other 'Dynasty' members opened their own recording label, Dynasty Recordings. Lauri has 5 nick names; Lintu, Birdy, Jumsala, Pauri and Baby Face
Pauli Rantasalmi
Is the guitarist of The Rasmus. His full name is Pauli Esko Antero Rantasalmi, born on May 1, 1979 in Helsinki. He produces and manages other bands, such as Killer and Kwan. Pauli also plays the kantele, although not in the band. In addition, Pauli owns a studio called "the grotto", and runs a record label called "Dynasty Recordings" along with Lauri Ylonen, which both Kwan and the von Hertzen Brothers are signed to. Since october, 2006 he is dating a brasilian girl.
Aki Hakala
The drummer. His full name is Aki-Markus Juhani Hakala and he was born in Espoo, Finland, on October 28, 1979. He joined the band in 1999, after the former drummer, Janne Heiskanen, left. Aki originally sold band merchandise at their shows and joined the band after "jamming" with Pauli. He says that the only thing he was ever good at was drumming, and he "sucked at everything else", although he has done some acting in the past in "Siamin tytöt" (a Finnish drama series) and can play the guitar. Before joining The Rasmus, he was a drummer for Killer and Kwan (he was replaced by Risto). At the beginning of the summer of 2006, Aki decided to finally get eye surgery, and now no longer needs his trademark black glasses.
Eero Heinonen
The bassist. He was born as Eero Aleksi Heinonen in Helsinki, Finland, on November 27, 1979. Eero is a great fan of Sahaja Yoga and is a quiet and well-balanced person, but also well-known for playing tricks on bandmates and others. He is currently the only member of the band who is married and he is also a father of two. After playing in Korpi Ensemble for many years he now has a new side project (since 2004) called Hay and Stone, where he is bass player and lead singer. Eero also plays the violin.
Discography
Full length albums
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Peep 1996 -
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Hellofatester 1998 -
Into 2001 -
Compilations
- Hellofacollection (2001). Includes songs from Peep, Playboys, Hellofatester and Into.
Singles
- "1st" (1995)
- "2nd" (1996)
- "3rd" (1996)
- "Kola" (1997)
- "Blue" (1997)
- "Playboys" (1997)
- "Ice" (1998)
- "Liquid" (1998)
- "Swimming With The Kids" (1999)
- "F-F-F-Falling" (2001)
- "Chill" (2001)
- "Madness" (2001)
- "Heartbreaker / Days" (2002)
- "In The Shadows" (2003) (2004- UK)
- "In My Life" (2003)
- "First Day Of My Life" (2003) (2004- UK)
- "Funeral Song (The Resurrection)" (2004)
- "Guilty" (2004)
- "No Fear" (2005)
- "Sail Away" (2005)
- "Shot" (2006) (Also available for digital download in UK)
Dynasty
The Rasmus along with Kwan and the now-separated band, Killer are or were part of a brotherhood of Finnish bands known as "Dynasty". Several members of this brotherhood have tattoos with the Dynasty text. One can be found on both Pauli's left and Lauri's right arms. Pauli and Eero also have instruments and gear bearing the Dynasty logo.
Pauli, the guitarist, has helped with the production of Kwan.
External links
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Official sites Record labels Biographical or discographical |
Fansites |