bass'n Helen

Biography

Bass'n Helen is a christian rock band founded in Nokia, Finland in 1992. Their name comes from their original line-up: bass-player Petri Ryöti and the brothers Olli Helenius (drums) and Harri Helenius (vocals, guitar). Their musical style was described something as "hardfunk" in the early years, though it has been shifting towards a more rock-ish sound in the 2000s. Their early years bass'n Helen gained a big audience with their new style of finnish christian music and fresh lyrics. It is still...

Bass'n Helen is a christian rock band founded in Nokia, Finland in 1992. Their name comes from their original line-up: bass-player Petri Ryöti and the brothers Olli Helenius (drums) and Harri Helenius (vocals, guitar). Their musical style was described something as "hardfunk" in the early years, though it has been shifting towards a more rock-ish sound in the 2000s. Their early years bass'n Helen gained a big audience with their new style of finnish christian music and fresh lyrics. It is still one of the most popular and known christian rock bands in Finland.

Releases:
Minulleko? (album, 1993)
Mitä jää? (album, 1994)
Tähti (single, 1996)
Valo (album, 1996)
Light (album, 1997)
2 (single, 1998)
Futu (album, 1998)
Unplugged (album, 2001)
Ei kukaan (single, 2003)
Salattu (album, 2004)
Lasienkeli (single, 2005)
Varjojen maa (single, 2005)
Kauas täältä (album, 2006)
Onnellinen (album, 2008)

Current lineup:
Antti Kokkola - guitar, bg vocals
Simo Kapiainen - guitar
Harri Helenius - lead vocals
Timo Mäki-Marttunen - bass, bg vocals
Markus Vainiomäki - drums, bg vocals


HISTORY

1992 - 1995
Soon after the band was formed, Mikael Lindell joined as a second guitarist. The following year they released their debut album Minulleko?, which caught the attention of many. In the spring of 1994 Marko Nyberg replaced Petri as the bassist. The second album titled Mitä jää? was also released that year, and was followed by touring through 1995.

1996 - 1997
Again, the band got a new bass-player in the form of Mikko Oinonen. Also, a new young guitarist Miika Colliander was introduced, thus letting Harri concentrate more on his vocals. Two new releases were also put out, Tähti -single and Valo -album. The album's opening track Taisteluni is their most legendary and one of the most known songs in the finnish gospel front. The following year saw them touring all over Finland, contributing to some compilations and releasing Light, the english version of Valo with a couple of bonus songs. There were some TV-appearances too.

1998 - 1999
In the spring, a new single titled 2 was recorded and released. In the autumn, a new album titled Futu was recorded and released. They also appeared on TV again. The following year takes bnH on tour to support Futu. Funny thing, no line-up changes on this period...

2000 - 2002
Well, it's about time for a new bassist: Sami Korhonen. The summer was a time to start recording an acoustic album. It was released in 2001, titled Unplugged, and was again followed by touring. By the end of the year, Sami had gained other interests and again, a new bass-player was wanted. They also spent a couple of months off the band, thinking about the future. On February 2002 they were on the road again, with Jaakko Kämäräinen on the bass. By the end of the year, Olli, Miika and Mikael moved on to other projects, and were replaced by Simo Kapiainen and Timo Vuorela as guitarists and Markus Lintunen on the drums.

2003 - 2004
In 2003 the band was searching for a new sound with the new line-up. The constant changes brought new vibes and faded some old ones. A new single Ei kukaan, was released in the summer, followed by a change of drummer, the new one being Markus Vainiomäki. Also, by the end of the year, the almost legendary position of the bass-player was changed yet again. Timo Mäki-Marttunen has been intact since. In 2004, a new album titled Salattu was released, and was followed by touring.

2005 - 2007
New material is being rehearsed from the beginning of 2005. Lasienkeli -single was released in the summer and Varjojen maa before christmas holidays. Timo Vuorela was replaced by Markku Ollikainen. Both singles got some air time on the finnish (secular) radio stations. Between 2005 and 2006 the material for the album was polished until released in the form of Kauas täältä. A music video was made from the song Liekeissä. The next year saw touring and writing of new material.

2008 - 2009
In August 2008 a new album was released, titled Onnellinen. bass'n Helen keeps touring and writing new material. Markku Ollikainen was replaced by Antti Kokkola in 2009.

Official website: www.bassnhelen.com
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