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POPEDA
"Just go straight for your music, everything else comes after that"
Pate: Costello will translate it Danie.
Suiciderock: You are a cult band in Finland and your name is also more than well-known in the rest of the world but would you be so nice and give us a short view into the history of popeda as a band? Maybe a short summery how you guys came together and the band was built up? Pate: Costello is 60 years old. Costello: The band started in 1977. There will be the 30 anniversary-party next year. They started as a Punk band. They played like the Sex Pistols, The Ramones and The Clash. So the first album Popeda did, was a punk rock album. And the next albums have been like heavy rock, old school heavy metal. I joined the band, in 1983 when I was 18 years old. I'm a old punkrocker. We made a new record called „Mustat Enkelit" and it became a hit and we played lots of gigs. Everything went quite well and it was great. Suiciderock: Who made up your name? Costello: It was more like a joke. In Finland we have a band called „Cadillac" and Popeda is an old russian type of car. So we made a joke about that. It was punk rock Popeda first, that`s the story. Suiciderock: Your band has a very long history since it was found back in 1977 in Tampere. If you compare the past and today what changed? Costello: No, I like the 80's. The time between 1983 and 1985 was so great. Of course, I also like what's happening now. We have a lot more audience, better equipment, better guitars, even better hotels than we had. I think it`s fine now. Suiciderock: If you take a look back, what was the most remarkable, the most beautiful and what the most sad experience for you? Costello: I have a few highlights. For example our first gold album and the second great memory was when we have been to Japan to play there. Everytime when I looked into the audience in Japan, it was so great to see the people waving and having fun. It was unbelievable. Suiciderock: The most sad one? Costello: It was when our guitar player Arwo Mikkonen got killed before a gig by heartattack in 1985. This was a very sad moment, but there aren`t lots of sad moments. We always have fun. Suiciderock: I heard that somebody called you "The Finnish Rolling Stones". Would you agree? Jani (laughs): We are the finnished Rolling Stones. Costello: We have played so many years like the Rolling Stones did, too. We haven't changed the music so much like the Rolling Stones have done. I think it`s a great honor. Suiciderock: When you started did you expect such a great success to come up? Costello: Of course, we didn`t. We only dreamed about it, but it turned out to be very successful anyway, but it's not the most important thing. Rock`n Roll is more important. Suiciderock: Let`s talk a bit about your lyrics. They are mostly concerning girls, cars and drinking. Are this the olny elements that you deem to be necessary in order to create a typical popeda song? Who is responsible for the lyrics in general? Costello: The lead singer of course. It`s always about girls, cars, dirt and drinking and Rock`n Roll. Yes, that's what we do. There is no reason for it. Everybody seems to know us like that, but there are different lyrics as well. Suiciderock: The lyrics are in Finnish only. Did you ever consider to sing in English? Costello: No, because our English is so bad and the English of our leadsinger is worse. I have made a few albums in English. Suiciderock: You can also look back on a long list in your discographie. You released a new record almost every year. Where did and do you take all the inspiration from? Costello: It was much easier when we were younger. It's like when you get a stone rolling, it get's slower and slower. Now it takes almost 5 years til we finnish the album, but we have so many lyrics left. And we almost don't have time to make new songs. Suiciderock: Many young bands, esp. many finnish young bands see you as their idols. After all this time in the Rock bizz do you have any idols yourself? Costello: I`m really pleased about that. They are talking about us as their idols. I like Aerosmith and the Rolling Stones. Suiciderock: What kind of advice would you give a young band, who has just started? Costello: Just go straight for your music, everything else comes after that. Suiciderock: What made you become a musicain and when did you start? Costello: Girls. Pate: Hey Ms. Cameraman, come up and sing a song. Suiciderock: No wouldn`t be a good idea. Costello: When I was young, I was like a nerd. I thought that when I start playing the guitar I can pick up the better girls. Suiciderock: And did you manage to get them? Costello: You never know. Jani: Okay greetings to all of suiciders. *everbody laughed* and greetings to Udo Dirkschneider. Suiciderock: Who is Udo Dirkschneider? Jani: You don't know Dirkschneider? He is from Accept - a German band. You`re from Germany and you don't know him? Shame on you. Suiciderock: Also if you have adchieved so much already. Would you say that all your dreams have cometrue already or is there still something left you would like to get or do? Costello: I hope that we will tour in Germany some day and to support „Elekeläiset". They are great. They are Number 1. Suiciderock: What about the image that Rock `n Roll has, "Sex, drugs and Rock`n Roll", is it true or is it simply a image that was made up? Costello: I have played almost 30 years now, so I think every word in this sentence is true. Also nowadays. It's getting worse. Suiciderock: Do you have any plans for a new album release so far? If yes have you already started to work on new ideas? Costello: Of course, I hope we can do the new record soon, but it will take time. It will take about 2 years. I have one house to built. So give us two years. Suiciderock: How long do intend to rock on as band? Costello: In Finland you retire when you are 65 years old and our leadsinger is 50 now. So it takes 15 years, still. Suiciderock: Your future plans for the remaining year 2006? Costello: We will have holiday and I will go to Greece. We play a few gigs before christmas and than we start to plan our anniversary. Suiciderock: Any nice words for our readers of suiciderock? Costello: Just come to Finland esp. in summer time and have a midnight summer festival here. It's great fun, the sun is shining all night long. Photos of that interview and their performance can be found in the gallery!
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