History
The boots’ music is difficult to categorize in a certain category because so many things have had an effect on it over the years. The original composition, Jamppa Heikkinen, Rape Raappana and Pete Heikkinen, represents a certain type of variation of many different colours because the men are musicians from different generations and they have all added fresh visions to the band from their own musical backgrounds right from the start.
Rape represents the generation of musicians who embraced rock also as a more professional and ambitious activity. He has played for example in the following bands: Matti Pellonpää’s "Jurtsanta" children’s record, the TTT-Theatre, the Ahaa-Theatre and the Henry O`band, Timjam (two drummers as specialty), in assemblies called Express and Rocket. Rocket was one of the first bands from Oulu who wore leopard skin fur coats and ragged jeans and they had their own gear and a gig bus.
Jamppa has been involved in many different types of band projects such as the popular rhythm`n blues pump Ramblers, Kauko Röyhkä & Narttu, Pelle Miljoona as well as a blues project with Henry Ojutkangas. Important role models for Jamppa, in addition to the rhythm`n blues pioneers the Beatles, are among others The Doors, The velvet underground as well as Electric Light Orchestra and Pink Floyd who play more progressive rock music.
Jamppa’s little brother, contrabass master Pete, has been a rockabilly/psychobilly man and he started playing after jamming with Marko Tapio. He has been in a band from Tampere called One O`clock Hump and Pete also plays on the album “Ehkä joskus” by the band Pentti Amore & Montana moon. Role models are for example The Cramps, Meteors, Matchbox and Grazy Cavan. Even though Pete doesn’t play actively with The Boots he is with us in spirit. All in all, The Boots is not just a rhythm’n blues, rock or pop band but the musical line of the band has developed throughout the years into a whole that has been inspired by experience and the role models.
My first memory related to rock music is when I was two years old and I heard the song Tutti Frutti on the radio and I twisted up and down. Later on Yesterday and Michelle by the Beatles have had a strong impact on me. – Jamppa Heikkinen
Jamppa’s first band was called Rock Stars. It’s story began when Eski Partanen blurted: ”Guys, why don’t we start playing” in the elevator of an apartment building. After Rock Stars Jarmo and Eski and Seppo Hotti set up the band Dolls, which even got to go on gigs. The man’s next band project was called Flash. For example Jamppa’s uncle Matti Soini played in the band. Flash is mentioned in Kauko Röyhkä’s book ”Miss Farkku-Suomi” where it apparently reflects Jamppa’s next composition, Ramblers.
Ramblers was the first band from Oulu to achieve such extensive national popularity. On the first record We don’t Mind Rockin Tonite Jamppa played the bass but when guitar player Riku Mattila left the band Jamppa became the guitar player. The musical line of the band changed after this and soon Heikki Tikka left the band too. The second record Talkin `bout Ramblers also included own songs of the band. Jamppa also played the saxophone which he had learned to play in a conservatoire when he was younger.
After this Jamppa was the bass player in Henry Ojutkangas’ world-famous barrelhouse-pianist, Champion Jack Dupree’s legendary blues project. After the project ended Heikkinen joined Kauko Röyhkä & Narttu, the assembly of which was almost the same as the original Ramblers. At this point Jamppa had moved on to play the guitar. The band recorded the album Uusia tansseja
After leaving Narttu Jarmo moved on to Spiders, which had begun to play again and which even got a gig together with its big role model The Pirates. Still some kind of state of stagnation seemed to disturb the rock life in Oulu so Jamppa decided to distance himself from his hometown. In 1984 while hanging around in Stockholm and Helsinki Jamppa was asked to play the guitar in Pelle Miljoonaliiga and he accepted the offer. Unfortunately you won’t hear him on the record because right before he joined the band it had published the album ”Jos…”.
Jamppa moved back to Oulu but soon at Rattori-lupi Heikki Tikka asked Heikkinen would he be interested in taking Riku Mattila’s place again in Kauko Röyhkä & Narttu. The offer sounded good and soon the man moved to Helsinki again. The composition made the EP Paska kaupunki/vihaiset miehet, the album Pikku enkeli and the live record Kulta-aika.
While living in Tampere Jamppa also played in Joe Vestich’s band which had moved from America to Finland. Jamppa has also been on the new version of Garbo, which was famous in 1985-1995. Garbo published a new record in 2005 called Kruunaa ja klaavaa which includes three compositions by Heikkinen. He composed and produced music to director Annika Nykänen`s films and also produced and implemented a children’s record together with a preschool teacher´s from Kempele in 2005.
The compositions of the bands:
Rocket
- Kari Värri vocals
- Hannu Karjalainen bass, vocals
- Arto Piispanen keyboard
- Raimo Raappana drums
- Matti Prepula guitar
Timjam
- Markku Keskinarkaus bass
- Risto Järvenpää guitar, vocals
- Tapu Mylly drums
- Henry Ojutkangas guitar, vocals
- Raimo Raappana drums
Express
- Junnu Sippola vocals, bass
- Unski Kaikkonen keyboard
- Raimo Raappana drums
- Risto Järvenpää guitar, vocals
Henry O`band
- Henry Ojutkangas guitar, vocals
- Dave Lindholm guitar, vocals
- Raimo Raappana drums
- Vesa Hyrskykari wind instruments
- Pentti Hänninen bass
Rock stars: 1974
- Esa Partanen guitar, vocals
- Hannu Rouvari guitar, vocals
- Jamppa Heikkinen bass, vocals
- Matti Soini drums
Dolls 1975-1977
- Esa Partanen guitar, vocals
- Seppo Hotti drums
- Jamppa Heikkinen bass, vocals
Flash: 1977-1978
- Esko Lassila bass, vocals
- Jamppa Heikkinen guitar, vocals
- Matti Soini drums
- Ari "Hossa" Holappa guitar
Ramblers 1. 1978-1979
- Köpi Kurikka guitar, vocals
- Riku Mattila guitar
- Heikki Tikka drums, vocals
- Jamppa Heikkinen bass
Ramblers 2. 1980-1981
- Köpi Kurikka guitar, vocals
- Jamppa Heikkinen guitar, vocals
- Tero Siitonen bass
- Jussi Haapalainen drums
- Jamppa Heikkinen guitar, vocals
Kauko Röyhkä & Narttu -1981
- Kauko Röyhkä guitar, vocals
- Riku Mattila guitar
- Heikki Tikka drums, vocals
- Jamppa Heikkinen guitar, vocals
- Kaj Backman bass
Henry Ojutkangas & Champion Jack Dupree 1982
- Champion Jack Dupree piano, vocals
- Henry Ojutkangas guitar, harmonica, vocals
- Heikki Tikka drums,
- Jamppa Heikkinen bass
- Riku Mattila guitar
Spiders 1982-1983
- Esko Lassila guitar, vocals
- Tero Siitonen bass
- Jussi Haapalainen drums
- Jamppa Heikkinen guitar, vocals
Spiders 1987-1988
- Esko Lassila guitar, vocals
- Timo Rusanen guitar, vocals
- Jussi Haapalainen drums
- Seppo Elsilä bass
- Jamppa Heikkinen guitar, vocals
Pelle Miljoona ( Miljoonaliiga -1984)
- Pelle Miljoona guitar, vocals
- Stefan Piesnak guitar
- Wando Suvanto drums, vocals
- Jesu Hämäläinen bass
- Jamppa Heikkinen guitar
Kauko Röyhkä & Narttu 1985-1986
- Kauko Röyhkä guitar, vocals
- Heikki Tikka drums, vocals
- Jamppa Heikkinen guitar, vocals
- Jari Paulamäki bass
- Mats Hulden guitar
Joe vestich Band -1988
- Joe vestich guitar, vocals
- Aki Rihu bass
- Vesa Sytelä drums, vocals
- Jamppa Heikkinen guitar, vocals
One O`clock humph LP: I don`t want to lose you -1993
- Jussi Raulamo guitar, vocals
- Petri Pylvänen drums
- Pasi Saharinen guitar
- Vesa Hyrskykari saxophone
- Petri Heikkinen contrabass
- Heidi Perello keyboard
- Satu Helminen (Pohja) vocals (background)
- Erika Supponen vocals (background)
- Tommi Laine slide
- Torsti Tenhunen bass (no wheels-A)
- Harri Raudaskoski acoustic guitar
Garbo 2005-2007
- Esa Eloranta guitar vocals
- Tapsa Louhimo keyboard, vocals
- Kari Södö bass, vocals
- Kai Penttilä drums
- Jamppa Heikkinen guitar, vocals