MUSTA PARAATI: A CONCISE HISTORY OF THE FINNISH BLACK PARADE

   1982 marks the year when the most well-known Finnish post punk band emerged into the light: Musta Paraati.

The Finnish "Black Parade" (as the band's name would be in english) was only active for three years, releasing two albums and three singles, before disbanding in 1985. In their short lived career they carved their name permanently on stone, making history and setting standards in goth music not only in the local scene, but worldwide. Despite being active for such a short time, they went through many lineup changes, with guitarist Saku Paasiniemi and bassist Panda Nikander being the only members that remained until 1985. However, neither of these stopped them from becoming the most well known and influential post punk/ goth band to come out of Finland, and that is not a small feat, considering the sheer amount and quality of goth bands to come out of this small, frozen country.


 

    The band's career started probably in some small club chokefull of cigarette smoke, just before they released their first single, "Romanssi" ("Romance"). The 7" single came out on Johanna records in 1982, with "Kädet" ("Hands") as the b-side, and Jore Vastelin on vocals.

   The next year, "Romanssi" was followed by the release of the band's first full length album, "Peilitalossa" ("In A House of Mirrors") and a new single, "Toinen Johtaja", B-side "Jää" ("Ice"). Guitarist Saku Paasiniemi joined the band on "Peilitalossa", thus leaving Jore room to concentrate on singing. However for the "Toinen Johtaja" ("Second Leader") single, Jore was replaced by Jyrki Leo Jantunen, aka General Njassa.

"Toinen Johtaja", 1983

   Following in 1984 came the single "Myrsky Nousee" ("Storm Arising"), with many of the original members replaced: drummer Ykä Knuuttila was replaced by Sami "Sande" Teemu Henrik Vettelranta, keyboardist Jari Kääriäinen left the band, and General Njassa was replaced by Jari "Epe" Kalevi Kronholm (famous as the vocalist of the punk band "Lama" from 1979 to 1982). This line-up would record the band's second and final album, "Käärmeet" ("Snakes"), accompanied by bassist Jesu Hämäläinen on keyboards (who had formelly played the keyboards for Hanoi Rocks). The following year, the band promptly dissolved.

   Musta Paraati's original lineup came together to perform a gig once in 1987. Unfortunately, vocalist Jore Vastelin died of cardiac arest, just a few years later, in 1993, aged just 30 years old. 

   The early 00s goth revival created renewed interest in the band, which led to the release of "Peilitalossa" on CD, with several added bonus tracks. This, alongside fellow finnish goth icon Jyrki69's incessant promotion of the band's material on his DJ setlists both in Finland and abroad, has introduced younger, international audiences to Finland's original goth rock band, particularly in Jyrki's beloved United States, where Musta Paraati had, unbeknownst to them, developed a cult following. As a result, Jyrki69's american record comapny, California-based Cleopatra records, developed interest in the band, recently releasing Peilitalossa on vinyl. (did I mention Danzig seems to be a fan?!)

   

   In 2015, the remaining Peilitalossa members, together with vocalist Herra Ylppö, came together to play the Provinssirock festival where they announced that they are finally back, and their plans to release new material. The band released a new single, "Uusi Musta/ Uudet Juhlat" ("New Black/ New Party"), and it was announced since that they have taken to the studio to record a new album, with Jyrki69 on vocals, set to be released in 2018...And the wait might finally be coming to an end!

 


   Yes, the waiting might indeed be coming to an end very soon... when the vague "set to be released in 2018" is finally begining to take material form and we can finally feel it in our guts. So hold on to your wallets, denounce any plans for new tattoos, and whatever you do, DON'T BUY EVERY SINGLE COPY BEFORE I GET MY HANDS ON ONE!!!


   In the meanwhile, you can keep up with the band on their official facebook page....