Mummypowder
Encyclopedia
Mummypowder are a four-piece alternative rock
band from Helsinki
, Finland
. Their frontman and the only remaining original member is the singer, guitar player and songwriter Janne Lehtinen. They've been compared to a range of bands, including 60's acts such as The Beatles
and The Zombies
, but also more recent bands like The Flaming Lips
and Sunny Day Real Estate
.
famous CBGB's-club, followed by a performance at the Austin
, Texas
rock festival South by Southwest
.
Their debut album, The Heavyweight Champions, was released in 1999 to a great critical acclaim, although sales were moderate. The second album, V. Strange (2003), was written and almost exclusively performed by Janne Lehtinen. Touted one of the albums of the year by some of the press, the album went mostly unnoticed by the audience. Finally in 2004 Mummypowder joined the ranks of Finnish MTV
bands with the video of the first single release, Don't Hold Your Breath, from their third album, Consternation! Uproar! (2004).
In May 2006 the album "Consternation! Uproar!" was released in Japan
by SuperSonic, which took the band to a small tour in Tokyo
. The band are currently working on their fourth album.
Aleksi Mänttäri – bass (2001–)
Staffan Turbanov – guitar (2003–)
Roope Palomäki – drums (2005–)
– bass (1996–2001)
Aleksi Pahkala – guitar (1998–2001)
Janne Nissilä – drums (1996–2001
Heikki Tikka – drums (2001–2005)
Ville Alajuuma – keyboards (2001–2002)
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band from Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
. Their frontman and the only remaining original member is the singer, guitar player and songwriter Janne Lehtinen. They've been compared to a range of bands, including 60's acts such as The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
and The Zombies
The Zombies
The Zombies are an English rock band, formed in 1961 in St Albans and led by Rod Argent, on piano and keyboards, and vocalist Colin Blunstone. The group scored a UK and US hit in 1964 with "She's Not There"...
, but also more recent bands like The Flaming Lips
The Flaming Lips
The Flaming Lips are an American alternative rock band, formed in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in 1983.Melodically, their sound contains lush, multi-layered, psychedelic rock arrangements, but lyrically their compositions show elements of space rock, including unusual song and album titles—such as "What...
and Sunny Day Real Estate
Sunny Day Real Estate
Sunny Day Real Estate is an American rock band from Seattle, Washington. In the 1990s, the group expanded upon the grunge style that was popular in the local scene to make a more melodic sound. While not the first band to be classified as emo, they were instrumental in establishing the genre. In...
.
History
Mummypowder were formed in 1996 in Helsinki. They quickly signed a record contract with Straightedge Records in 1997 and subsequently played their tenth concert at New York'sNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
famous CBGB's-club, followed by a performance at the Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
rock festival South by Southwest
South by Southwest
South by Southwest is an Austin, Texas based company dedicated to planning conferences, trade shows, festivals and other events. Their current roster of annual events include: SXSW Music, SXSW Film, SXSW Interactive, SXSWedu, and SXSWeco and take place every spring in Austin, Texas, United States...
.
Their debut album, The Heavyweight Champions, was released in 1999 to a great critical acclaim, although sales were moderate. The second album, V. Strange (2003), was written and almost exclusively performed by Janne Lehtinen. Touted one of the albums of the year by some of the press, the album went mostly unnoticed by the audience. Finally in 2004 Mummypowder joined the ranks of Finnish MTV
Music television
Music television is a type of television programming which focuses predominantly on playing music videos from bands, usually on dedicated television channels broadcasting on satellite or cable. Music TVs may host their own shows charts, award prizes. Examples are VIVA, Scuzz, MTV, JBTV, MuchMusic,...
bands with the video of the first single release, Don't Hold Your Breath, from their third album, Consternation! Uproar! (2004).
In May 2006 the album "Consternation! Uproar!" was released in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
by SuperSonic, which took the band to a small tour in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
. The band are currently working on their fourth album.
Current members
Janne Lehtinen – vocals, guitar, songs and lyrics (1996–)Aleksi Mänttäri – bass (2001–)
Staffan Turbanov – guitar (2003–)
Roope Palomäki – drums (2005–)
Former members
Tero KarhuTero Karhu
Tero Karhu is a Finnish footballer who currently represents FC Viikingit of the Finnish First Division. He usually plays as a central midfielder....
– bass (1996–2001)
Aleksi Pahkala – guitar (1998–2001)
Janne Nissilä – drums (1996–2001
Heikki Tikka – drums (2001–2005)
Ville Alajuuma – keyboards (2001–2002)
Albums
- The Heavyweight Champions (April 28, 1999)
- V. Strange (May 16, 2003)
- Consternation! Uproar! (April 23, 2004)
- Consternation! Uproar! (Japan edition) (May 10, 2006)
Singles
- I Think I'm Pregnant-EP (March 14, 1998)
- Blackout-day (June 11, 1999)
- Trying to Ride a Donkey (May 16, 2003)
- Don't Hold Your Breath (February 26, 2004)
- No-one There to Entertain You (September 20, 2004)
Videos
- Blackout-day (1999)
- Trying to Ride a Donkey (2003)
- Don't Hold Your Breath (2004)