About the boots

In 1986 after Kauko Röyhkä & Narttu had stopped playing, guitar player Jarmo J Heikkinen moved to Tampere. There he got excited about making his own songs and about starting a band. Soon he had a group of three ready with Pete Heikkinen, Raimo Raappanen and Jamppa which was called The boots. The band sent a demo to Jari Väänänen (Euros Records). Right away Euros agreed to publish the first single of the band, Dinosaur Walk / Soul Man and made 2 LP's: Alligator river and Funky road.

The boots gigged diligently around Finland, mainly in small clubs. Very often those experiences are absurd stories which include plenty to ponder about. One performance experience even ended up among the hilarious stories in Timo Rautio's book "Rokatessa roiskuu" which reflects the continuous wretchedness of gig life from which no one working in this field will be saved. Sometimes keyboard player Satu Koho (Tavaramarkkinat, Xtaasi, Raine Salo Band) joined the gigs and she also plays on the first two records.

The single I`m so Lazy that came out in 1990 was one of the most played songs on Radio Mafia.

After a few years of quiet living Tapio Korjus from Rockadillo Records got so interested in the band that the band started working on a new record. Turn to Tree was recorded in Tampere with Veli-Petteri Rajanti. During the recording new members joined the band when singer Satu Pohja, violinist Pike Kontkanen, keyboard player Arto Piispanen and guitar player Tommi Laine joined the lines of The boots.
In 1995 the band played its songs abroad, all the way in Malaysia and Canada. The next year the band grew even bigger when singer Merikukka Kiviharju joined the band. Director Mikko Mattila got interested in The boots and directed two music videos: Moonchild and The Night. The production of the band can also be heard on the TV comedy series called "Kaverille ei jätetä" in the episode “Ostaja”.

After a few years Jamppa ran into Pauli Hanhiniemi and suggested that Pauli would write a few lyrics for some songs. This cooperation led to making the record album Joutomies (-99). The record was voted the 3rd best record in a competition by the local radio stations.
After Joutomies the band slowed down and other things limited the training but this band has never been controlled by the linear conception of time so it continues it journey yesterday, today and tomorrow.

The ambitious work of making new songs has continued and a new album is coming out in 2008.

The players on The boots new album "Long way to morning" as well as the current composition of the band:

- Raimo Raappana                drums
- Jamppa J. Heikkinen           guitar, vocals
- Arto Piispanen                    keyboard
- Pike Kontkanen                  the violin
- Merikukka Kiviharju             vocals (background)
- Satu Helminen (former Pohja) vocals (background)
- Kari Södö                           bass

 MySpace.com - The boots

 
Other bands of the players:

PIKE KONTKANEN:
-Kumma heppu & lopunajan voidellut kumma heppu & lopunajan voidellut
-Inkvisitio
-Juice Leskinen Sinä (album) – Wikipedia
-Harri Marstio
-Jing & Jangsters Rockadillo zencd 2044 (cd)
-Tango orchestra kipinä
-Anssi Tikanmäen filmorchestra
-Buster keaton orchestra
-Yö
-Dave Lindholm
-Ektroverde
-sirkle
-Darling
-Romales
-Oulu Symphony Orchestra / Lipposet

 
Arto Piispanen (arto piispanen homepage)

SATU HELMINEN:
-Them heavy people
-One O`clock Humh,
-Doobie Twisters
-Eve
-Remotor
-Remington
-Popeda
-Kikka
-Mojo Hoop
-Eero Jones
-Screamin thunders
 
Södö Kari (Kari Södö’s homepage)