Solitaire - Biography
This band's profile is 'invisible', meaning that it's much less prominent on the site - either because it's incomplete, or maybe doesn't entirely fit MS format.
Biography
1 9 9 5
* May 95:
Guitarist Riku Salminen joins forces with bass player Mikko Rautiainen in order to form a band in the Riku's idea of classic 80's Heavy Metal mixed with old school Speed'n'Thrash influences.
* Summer 95:
Searching for likeminded musicians to fill the line-up.
* Nov 95:
Drummer Rami "Manu" Koivisto (ex-Hilpeä Roger) joins the band and the three-piece starts to rehearse.
1 9 9 6
* Mar 96:
Mika Savolainen, at the time the voice and guitar of punk band Beathovens, joins the band and fills the open vocalist slot.
* Rest of 96:
Rehearsing, but Manu starts to fall behind and is finally sacked in December.
1 9 9 7
* Feb 97:
New drummer Onni Kilkku (ex-Veltot Koirat) joins Solitaire. Onni was recommended for the band by guitarist Mika "Waaqqu" Vaakanainen, who at the time hadn't joined the band yet.
* May 97:
The band starts to function properly and records their first demo on an 8-track portable recorder at their rehearsal room. First Solitaire gig ever on 24th May at the local Eura Go Go festival.
* July 97:
After a couple of more gigs Mika Savolainen and the rest of Solitaire parts company and Mika carries on with Beathovens.
* Aug 97:
Solitaire becomes a five-piece. Guitarist Waaqqu joins the band now and vocalist Juha Alam comes along in October.
* Nov 97:
Juha doesn't fit in and the band goes on as a four-piece with Riku temporarily on vocals alongside his guitar work.
1 9 9 8
* May 98:
Ville Kilkku, Onni's brother and ex-Anthelion bass player & vocalist takes to the mike.
* Aug 98:
Ville quits due to his studies. In the meantime Beathovens break up and Mika rejoins Solitaire.
* Rest of 98:
Onni is about to quit. Former Mental Hangover drummer Kalle "Kalu" Valanne replaces Onni in December.
1 9 9 9
* Jan 99:
Onni's last stand with the band recording the 2nd Solitaire demo.
* June 99:
Solitaire's first appearance on official release, "The Spirits Of The New Age" compilation CD released by Hateball Records.
* Nov 99:
Recording the band's 3rd demo.
2 0 0 0
* May 2000:
Solitaire signs to German internet music distributor Sonicattack.
* Aug 2000:
Sonicattack's Online Project is launched and Solitaire's 3rd demo is released in mp3's in the web. However, due to free mp3 distributing in the net, Sonicattack closes down in December.
2 0 0 1
* Early 01:
Solitaire takes part to a national Turku Bandstand competition ans reaches Top 25 being the top Heavy Metal band in the ranking.
* Mar 01:
Recording the 4th Solitaire demo.
* Apr 01:
Filming the band's first music video "Listen To The Priest".
* Sept 01:
The band signs a record deal with German Heavy Metal label Iron Glory Records.
* Nov 01:
Solitaire's 2nd compilation appearance, "Pounding Metal vol. 4 -- Destroy Mainstream!" released by Pounding Metal 'zine editor Steel Commander.
* Late 01:
The band works on the material for their debut album.
2 0 0 2
* Early 02:
Finishing the studio work for the album in January. After a few month delay "Rising To The Challenge" is finally released on 30th September.
* Oct 02:
A large coverage of the "Rising..." album with an interview on Metalliliitto, Solitaire's first bigger appearance on a national radio station.
2 0 0 3
* Jan 03:
Filming the music video for the song "Rising To The Challenge".
* July 03:
Solitaire's first gigs outside Finland -- Two German festivals, Headbangers Open Air on 11th July and Keep It True on 19th July.
* Rest of 03:
Writing and rehearsing material for the band's 2nd album.
2 0 0 4
* Jan 04:
Recordings for "Extremely Flammable" begin. The album is released on 30th August. Solitaire is also featured on "Keep It True 2003" compilation DVD.
* Oct 04:
Solitaire appears in Holland at the Heavy Metal Maniacs festival.
* Dec 04:
Iron Glory Records finishes it's activities and the band is searching for a new label.
2 0 0 5
* July 05:
Solitaire plays at the biggest Heavy Metal festival in Estonia, Hard Rock Laager.
* Aug 05:
Solitaire signs a deal with German label Battle Cry Records.
* Oct 05:
The band moves to new rehearsal facilities and prepares material for their next album.
2 0 0 6
* Early 06:
Solitaire works in the studio recording "Invasion Metropolis".
* May 06:
The band returns to Germany for a show in Itzehoe. "Invasion Metropolis" is released on 29th May.
* July 06:
Solitaire makes it's first trip to Luxembourg and performs at Rock Am Éislek festival.
* Sept 06:
Solitaire's first TV-appearance on Perjantaimakasiini at a local station Ganal TV.
* Nov 06:
Another compilation appearance for Solitaire, "Metal On Metal II".
* Dec 06:
Mika splits from the rest of the band and Solitaire carries on as a four-piece with Riku on vocals and guitar.
2 0 0 7
* Feb 07:
The first gig of the band's "new" line-up on 23rd February at Vastavirta-klubi in Tampere.
* Summer 07:
Solitaire's gig at Maksim in Salo is premiered on Rock-Rooster web & mobile TV in July and re-runs of the show follow the rest of the summer.
* Rest of 07:
Rehearsing material for the next Solitaire album.
* Nov 07:
Solitaire gets signed to Finnish indie label Ektro Records.
2 0 0 8
* Most of 08:
Solitaire begins the recordings for "Predatress" in February and the studio work is prolonged up to 6 months.
* Summer 08:
Solitaire is featured on "Keep It True Festival History Book" released by Jowita Kaminska and Simone Peruzzi from Metal On Metal Records.
* Dec 08:
"Predatress" is released on 10th December. Meanwhile Kalu and Mikko get sacked from the band due to not having enough time for Solitaire anymore. Waaqqu and Riku start looking for a new drummer and a bass player.
https://www.facebook.com/pg/solitairemetal/about/?ref=page_internal
* May 95:
Guitarist Riku Salminen joins forces with bass player Mikko Rautiainen in order to form a band in the Riku's idea of classic 80's Heavy Metal mixed with old school Speed'n'Thrash influences.
* Summer 95:
Searching for likeminded musicians to fill the line-up.
* Nov 95:
Drummer Rami "Manu" Koivisto (ex-Hilpeä Roger) joins the band and the three-piece starts to rehearse.
1 9 9 6
* Mar 96:
Mika Savolainen, at the time the voice and guitar of punk band Beathovens, joins the band and fills the open vocalist slot.
* Rest of 96:
Rehearsing, but Manu starts to fall behind and is finally sacked in December.
1 9 9 7
* Feb 97:
New drummer Onni Kilkku (ex-Veltot Koirat) joins Solitaire. Onni was recommended for the band by guitarist Mika "Waaqqu" Vaakanainen, who at the time hadn't joined the band yet.
* May 97:
The band starts to function properly and records their first demo on an 8-track portable recorder at their rehearsal room. First Solitaire gig ever on 24th May at the local Eura Go Go festival.
* July 97:
After a couple of more gigs Mika Savolainen and the rest of Solitaire parts company and Mika carries on with Beathovens.
* Aug 97:
Solitaire becomes a five-piece. Guitarist Waaqqu joins the band now and vocalist Juha Alam comes along in October.
* Nov 97:
Juha doesn't fit in and the band goes on as a four-piece with Riku temporarily on vocals alongside his guitar work.
1 9 9 8
* May 98:
Ville Kilkku, Onni's brother and ex-Anthelion bass player & vocalist takes to the mike.
* Aug 98:
Ville quits due to his studies. In the meantime Beathovens break up and Mika rejoins Solitaire.
* Rest of 98:
Onni is about to quit. Former Mental Hangover drummer Kalle "Kalu" Valanne replaces Onni in December.
1 9 9 9
* Jan 99:
Onni's last stand with the band recording the 2nd Solitaire demo.
* June 99:
Solitaire's first appearance on official release, "The Spirits Of The New Age" compilation CD released by Hateball Records.
* Nov 99:
Recording the band's 3rd demo.
2 0 0 0
* May 2000:
Solitaire signs to German internet music distributor Sonicattack.
* Aug 2000:
Sonicattack's Online Project is launched and Solitaire's 3rd demo is released in mp3's in the web. However, due to free mp3 distributing in the net, Sonicattack closes down in December.
2 0 0 1
* Early 01:
Solitaire takes part to a national Turku Bandstand competition ans reaches Top 25 being the top Heavy Metal band in the ranking.
* Mar 01:
Recording the 4th Solitaire demo.
* Apr 01:
Filming the band's first music video "Listen To The Priest".
* Sept 01:
The band signs a record deal with German Heavy Metal label Iron Glory Records.
* Nov 01:
Solitaire's 2nd compilation appearance, "Pounding Metal vol. 4 -- Destroy Mainstream!" released by Pounding Metal 'zine editor Steel Commander.
* Late 01:
The band works on the material for their debut album.
2 0 0 2
* Early 02:
Finishing the studio work for the album in January. After a few month delay "Rising To The Challenge" is finally released on 30th September.
* Oct 02:
A large coverage of the "Rising..." album with an interview on Metalliliitto, Solitaire's first bigger appearance on a national radio station.
2 0 0 3
* Jan 03:
Filming the music video for the song "Rising To The Challenge".
* July 03:
Solitaire's first gigs outside Finland -- Two German festivals, Headbangers Open Air on 11th July and Keep It True on 19th July.
* Rest of 03:
Writing and rehearsing material for the band's 2nd album.
2 0 0 4
* Jan 04:
Recordings for "Extremely Flammable" begin. The album is released on 30th August. Solitaire is also featured on "Keep It True 2003" compilation DVD.
* Oct 04:
Solitaire appears in Holland at the Heavy Metal Maniacs festival.
* Dec 04:
Iron Glory Records finishes it's activities and the band is searching for a new label.
2 0 0 5
* July 05:
Solitaire plays at the biggest Heavy Metal festival in Estonia, Hard Rock Laager.
* Aug 05:
Solitaire signs a deal with German label Battle Cry Records.
* Oct 05:
The band moves to new rehearsal facilities and prepares material for their next album.
2 0 0 6
* Early 06:
Solitaire works in the studio recording "Invasion Metropolis".
* May 06:
The band returns to Germany for a show in Itzehoe. "Invasion Metropolis" is released on 29th May.
* July 06:
Solitaire makes it's first trip to Luxembourg and performs at Rock Am Éislek festival.
* Sept 06:
Solitaire's first TV-appearance on Perjantaimakasiini at a local station Ganal TV.
* Nov 06:
Another compilation appearance for Solitaire, "Metal On Metal II".
* Dec 06:
Mika splits from the rest of the band and Solitaire carries on as a four-piece with Riku on vocals and guitar.
2 0 0 7
* Feb 07:
The first gig of the band's "new" line-up on 23rd February at Vastavirta-klubi in Tampere.
* Summer 07:
Solitaire's gig at Maksim in Salo is premiered on Rock-Rooster web & mobile TV in July and re-runs of the show follow the rest of the summer.
* Rest of 07:
Rehearsing material for the next Solitaire album.
* Nov 07:
Solitaire gets signed to Finnish indie label Ektro Records.
2 0 0 8
* Most of 08:
Solitaire begins the recordings for "Predatress" in February and the studio work is prolonged up to 6 months.
* Summer 08:
Solitaire is featured on "Keep It True Festival History Book" released by Jowita Kaminska and Simone Peruzzi from Metal On Metal Records.
* Dec 08:
"Predatress" is released on 10th December. Meanwhile Kalu and Mikko get sacked from the band due to not having enough time for Solitaire anymore. Waaqqu and Riku start looking for a new drummer and a bass player.
https://www.facebook.com/pg/solitairemetal/about/?ref=page_internal