Born on: 30.04.1975

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Date of birth: April 30, 1975

Character:
Small but sensitive

Gear:
Custom Microphone designed by Ilkka Hietamäki (electronics by Sami Koivisto), Shure 55 SH (modified by Sami Koivisto), Superlux WH5 (modified by Sami Koivisto), Audix OM 5

Idols/musical influences:
Joanitor (Xysma), Jörgen (Grave), Glenn Danzig, Mark Lanegan, E (Eels), Albert (Reverend Bizarre), Nick Cave, Keith Caputo (Life of Agony), Mike Patton (Faith No More)

Sources of musical inspiration:
Music, feelings, intuition, interpersonal chemistry, nature

All-time favourite songs:
Love Boat Theme
Procol Harum: A Whiter Shade Of Pale
Grave: You Will Never See
Napalm Death: Unfit Earth
Sepultura: Dead Embryonic Cells
Turbonegro: I Got Erection (live version)
Nick Cave: Stagger Lee
Fu Manchu: Weird Beard
Manic Street Preachers: Ocean Spray
Entombed: Morning Star
Xysma: Can´t Get My Eyes Off You
Pelle Miljoona: Väkivalta ja päihdeongelma
Risto: Kateelliselle ystävälle
Metallica: Seek and Destroy
Slayer: Seasons In The Abyss
Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová: Falling Slowly
Lou Reed: Perfect Day
MC5: Kick Out The Jams
Black Sabbath: Children Of The Grave
Mana Mana: Kuolla Elävänä
Roky Erickson: I Think Up Demons

All-time favourite albums:
Xysma: Deluxe
Xysma: Lotto
Entombed: Wolverine Blues
Magyar Posse: Kings Of Time
Amorphis: Tales From The Thousand Lakes
Danzig: Danzig 4
Eels: Souljacker
Slayer: South Of Heaven
Khoma: Tsunami
Swallow The Sun: The Morning Never Came
Massive Attack: Mezzanine
Porcupine Tree: In Absentia
Tool: Aenima
A Perfect Circle: Mer De Noms
Turbonegro: Apocalypse Dudes
Risto: Aurinko Aurinko plaa plaa plaa
Therapy?: Infernal Love
The Nightwatchman: One Man Revolution
Nick Cave: Murder Ballads

Best gig ever seen:
Mew at Provinssirock 2005

Favourite Amorphis song:
Into Hiding

Least favourite Amorphis song:
Cares

Personal highlight with Amorphis:
First rehearsals with the band, after that nothing has felt like anything anymore

Funniest tour memory:
Playin "Hard Ball" with officers at U.S. border

Most memorable studio session:
Working with Marco Hietala during the recording of Eclipse

Worst moments on stage:
- Losing my voice during the US tours in 2005 and 2008
-Playing in the pouring rain at Extreme Power Open Air in Ukraine with water flowing all over the stage. The whole gig I was afraid someone of us might get an electric shock. On the other hand an electric shock is as "Extreme Power" as it gets, so in a way it would have been quite appropriate.

Recipe against boredom on tour:
Books, music, movies, internet, exercise and getting to know new cities.

Motto/philosphy of life:
"Try to be happy without hurting others" - usually I fail in both aspects

Other bands/side projects:
Sinisthra (voc), Feelings (dr), Käsi (voc), Corpse Molester Cult (g)

Hobbies/interests:
Music, fitness training

Good & bad habits:
Yes, please!

First instrument:
Drums, Pearl Export Series

First album ever bought:
Kiss: Animalize

Favourite-

-Kalevala character: Tuonelan Joutsen - the Swan of Tuonela
-songwriter: Nicke Andersson
-visual artist: Pekka Kainulainen, Sami A. Hynninen
-movie director: Stanley Kubrick, Quentin Tarantino
-actor/actress: Harvey Keitel, Juliette Lewis
-magazine: Rumba, Inferno
-cartoon: Gary Larson's Far Side
-concert venue: Z7, Pratteln/Switzerland
-sport: Press-ups and kicking the football around
-game: Table ice hockey
-holiday destination: Paris