Albert Järvinen
Encyclopedia
Pekka "Albert" Johannes Järvinen (born October 25, 1950 in Iitti
, Finland, died March 24, 1991 in London, England) was a Finnish
guitar
ist. He is most well known as a fast-fingered and skilled guitar player of Finnish rock
band Hurriganes
. He got his stage-name Albert from one of his idols, blues guitarist Albert King
.
. He got his first electric guitar (Gretsch) in 1965. He played in numerous bands, including blues
band The Harp, Poison, the background band of singer Kristian, and later Eero Raittinen and Kalevala before replacing Ile Kallio as a guitarist of Hurriganes in May 1972. He also worked as a studio guitarist for many Finnish singers in that time.
In 1975 Järvinen left Hurriganes and played with Rock-Jerry before founding a new blues rock band, Royals which tried to challenge the success of Hurriganes. In 1979 Royals was broken up and Järvinen was planning to continue his career in England. Elvis Costello
and many others wanted him to became their guitarist. This was result as a contacts with Nick Lowe
, who had earlier come to Finland to record Järvinen's guitar solos. However Järvinen came back to Finland and played in the band of Dave Lindholm
before joining back to Hurriganes in 1979. His second spell in Hurriganes lasted two years. In that time the band recorded two albums.
In 1981 Järvinen joined Sleepy Sleepers
but was sacked due to his heavy alcohol
drinking. Together with former Sleepy Sleepers drummer Harri Lemola Järvinen formed a new band The Quips which lasted only a year. In 1984 Järvinen published a maxi-single Countdown under the name of Albert Järvinen Band. The single was produced and also signed by Lemmy Kilmister
from English band Motörhead. In the middle of 1980s Järvinen kept low profile practising his guitar skills. At the end half of the decade he played with various artist and recorded a solo album Braindamage – Or Still Alive together with Albert King and William Clarke
.
had died. The official cause of death was myocardial infarction
. No illegal drugs were found in his body. Järvinen is buried in Honkanummi cemetery in Vantaa
.
Iitti
Iitti is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Southern Finland and is part of the Kymenlaakso region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water...
, Finland, died March 24, 1991 in London, England) was a Finnish
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...
guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
ist. He is most well known as a fast-fingered and skilled guitar player of Finnish rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Hurriganes
Hurriganes
Hurriganes is a Finnish rock band that was formed in the early 1970s. They were very popular in Finland in the 1970s and early '80s; they were also a popular live act in Sweden during this time. Their classic line-up consisted of Remu Aaltonen, Albert Järvinen and Cisse Häkkinen. What seems like...
. He got his stage-name Albert from one of his idols, blues guitarist Albert King
Albert King
Albert King was an American blues guitarist and singer, and a major influence in the world of blues guitar playing.-Career:...
.
Career
Järvinen started playing acoustic guitar at the age of eight. He studied classic guitar playing under the teaching of Ivan Putilin before switching to electric guitarElectric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
. He got his first electric guitar (Gretsch) in 1965. He played in numerous bands, including blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
band The Harp, Poison, the background band of singer Kristian, and later Eero Raittinen and Kalevala before replacing Ile Kallio as a guitarist of Hurriganes in May 1972. He also worked as a studio guitarist for many Finnish singers in that time.
In 1975 Järvinen left Hurriganes and played with Rock-Jerry before founding a new blues rock band, Royals which tried to challenge the success of Hurriganes. In 1979 Royals was broken up and Järvinen was planning to continue his career in England. Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
and many others wanted him to became their guitarist. This was result as a contacts with Nick Lowe
Nick Lowe
Nicholas Drain "Nick" Lowe , is an English singer-songwriter, musician and producer.A pivotal figure in UK pub rock, punk rock and new wave, Lowe has recorded a string of well-reviewed solo albums. Along with vocals, Lowe plays guitar, bass guitar, piano and harmonica...
, who had earlier come to Finland to record Järvinen's guitar solos. However Järvinen came back to Finland and played in the band of Dave Lindholm
Dave Lindholm
Ralf-Henrik ”Dave” Lindholm is Finnish guitarist and singer-songwriter who has made a career under his own name and also participated in some noteworthy groups. He has written songs and recorded in both Finnish and English....
before joining back to Hurriganes in 1979. His second spell in Hurriganes lasted two years. In that time the band recorded two albums.
In 1981 Järvinen joined Sleepy Sleepers
Sleepy Sleepers
Sleepy Sleepers is a Finnish pop/rock/punk band. The band released 19 albums between 1975 and 1989. Sakke Järvenpää and Mato Valtonen were the main members of the band...
but was sacked due to his heavy alcohol
Alcohol
In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
drinking. Together with former Sleepy Sleepers drummer Harri Lemola Järvinen formed a new band The Quips which lasted only a year. In 1984 Järvinen published a maxi-single Countdown under the name of Albert Järvinen Band. The single was produced and also signed by Lemmy Kilmister
Lemmy Kilmister
Ian Fraser "Lemmy" Kilmister is an English heavy metal musician....
from English band Motörhead. In the middle of 1980s Järvinen kept low profile practising his guitar skills. At the end half of the decade he played with various artist and recorded a solo album Braindamage – Or Still Alive together with Albert King and William Clarke
William Clarke
William or Bill Clarke may refer to:People*Sir William Clarke , English politician and Secretary to the Council of the Army*William Clarke *William Clarke...
.
Death
Järvinen died on a concert trip in London in the Spring of 1991, in the same London quarter in which Jimi HendrixJimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
had died. The official cause of death was myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
. No illegal drugs were found in his body. Järvinen is buried in Honkanummi cemetery in Vantaa
Vantaa
Vantaa is a city and municipality in Finland. Helsinki, Vantaa, Espoo and Kauniainen make up the Helsinki Metropolitan Area.Vantaa, with its population of , is the fourth most populated city of Finland. The biggest airport in Finland, the Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, is located there...
.
Solo albums
- Ride On (1974)
- Braindamage - Or Still Alive (1988)
- Guitar (1990) (compilation album)
- Mirror Tower (1991)
- Aspects Of Albert Järvinen (1995) (compilation album)
- Patchy Moss – 30 Big Ones (2000) (compilation album)
- Let It Roll: Rocks & Rarities (2004) (compilation album)
With Hurriganes
- Rock And Roll All Night Long (1973)
- Roadrunner (1974)
- Sixteen Golden Greats (1977) (compilation album)
- Hurrigane By The Hurriganes (1977) (compilation album)
- Jailbird (1979)
- 10/80 (1980)
External links
- Videos of Albert Järvinen Band in YLE Elävä arkisto