Ben Granfelt
Encyclopedia
Ben Granfelt is a guitarist from Helsinki, Finland and best known from his work in Leningrad Cowboys
, Wishbone Ash
, Gringos Locos, Guitar Slingers and his solo band Ben Granfelt Band
.
Granfelt's most active and recent band named Ben Granfelt Band
was formed in 1993 and since then they have toured clubs and festivals in Finland, United Kingdom, Germany, United States, Austria, Switzerland and United Arab Emirates where they appeared at the Abu Dhabi and Dubai Jazz Festivals. Ben Granfelt Band’s latest album Kaleidoscope was released on Feb 4, 2009 in Finland with the rest of Europe following later that spring.
Ben Granfelt Band began working on their 11th album in February 2010 but Granfelt's family issues forced him to put both the album and the band on hiatus in June 2010. Soon after making this decision, Granfelt was asked to join Finnish Rock'n'roll sensation Los Bastardos Finlandeses
by the band's lead singer Bryn Jones
. It did not take too long for Granfelt to join Los Bastardos Finlandeses full time and contribute to songwriting for their next album.
Granfelt has achieved nidan
(二段:にだん) second degree black belt in karate
and brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
.
Guitars
Main setup
The BIG RIG:
Made by Danish Steen Skrydstrup
Granfelt uses two amps either as A/B preamps or both amps' power sections in stereo. Currently Granfelt uses two Naylor SD60's amps or two ENGL Slow Hands amps. Cabinets are either two ENGL E112's or an ENGL Horizontal E212H cabinet in stereo. All cabinets are equipped with Celestion V30s speakers.
Pedalboard includes Buddah Wah, Roland Vol-pedal, SC-1 with EXT+, TC Polytune + power supply and Skrydstrup custom buffer.
The small pedal board:
Naylor Duel 38 amp and ENGL Classic head with two ENGL cabinets, one E112 and one C210.
Leningrad Cowboys
The Leningrad Cowboys is a Finnish rock band famous for humorously making rock and roll covers of popular songs, exaggerated pompadour hairstyles, long, pointy shoes, often featuring a Russian military band, the Alexandrov Ensemble.-Beginnings:...
, Wishbone Ash
Wishbone Ash
Wishbone Ash are a British rock band who achieved success in the early and mid-1970s. Their popular records included Wishbone Ash , Argus , There's the Rub , and New England...
, Gringos Locos, Guitar Slingers and his solo band Ben Granfelt Band
Ben Granfelt Band
Ben Granfelt Band is a Finnish progressive blues-rock band formed in 1993. Led by singer-guitarist Ben Granfelt, Ben Granfelt Band has released ten albums worldwide and toured clubs and festivals in Finland, United Kingdom, Germany, United States, Austria, Switzerland and United Arab Emirates...
.
Granfelt's most active and recent band named Ben Granfelt Band
Ben Granfelt Band
Ben Granfelt Band is a Finnish progressive blues-rock band formed in 1993. Led by singer-guitarist Ben Granfelt, Ben Granfelt Band has released ten albums worldwide and toured clubs and festivals in Finland, United Kingdom, Germany, United States, Austria, Switzerland and United Arab Emirates...
was formed in 1993 and since then they have toured clubs and festivals in Finland, United Kingdom, Germany, United States, Austria, Switzerland and United Arab Emirates where they appeared at the Abu Dhabi and Dubai Jazz Festivals. Ben Granfelt Band’s latest album Kaleidoscope was released on Feb 4, 2009 in Finland with the rest of Europe following later that spring.
Ben Granfelt Band began working on their 11th album in February 2010 but Granfelt's family issues forced him to put both the album and the band on hiatus in June 2010. Soon after making this decision, Granfelt was asked to join Finnish Rock'n'roll sensation Los Bastardos Finlandeses
Los Bastardos Finlandeses (band)
Los Bastardos Finlandeses is a band from Helsinki, Finland with raw attitude and the lyrics about Harleys, skulls and rock‘n’roll. Influenced by the likes of Motörhead, Thin Lizzy and a range of Southern Rock and Blues Rock bands all the way from The Allman Brothers to ZZ Top, Los Bastardos...
by the band's lead singer Bryn Jones
Bryn Jones
Bryn Jones is the name of:*Bryn Jones , Welsh footballer*Bryn Jones , Welsh footballer*Bryn Jones , Welsh footballer*Bryn Jones , Welsh footballer...
. It did not take too long for Granfelt to join Los Bastardos Finlandeses full time and contribute to songwriting for their next album.
Granfelt has achieved nidan
Dan (rank)
The ranking system is a Japanese mark of level, which is used in modern fine arts and martial arts. Originally invented in a Go school in the Edo period, this system was applied to martial arts by Kanō Jigorō, the founder of judo and later introduced to other East Asia countries.In the modern...
(二段:にだん) second degree black belt in karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
and brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art, combat sport, and a self defense system that focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting...
.
Equipment
Equipment as of 12/2009Guitars
- Fender -62 Strat Black
- Fender -63 Strat Daphne Blue over sunburst
- Fender -64 Strat Sherwood green (refinished)
- Fender - 2007 NAMM limited edition relic Strat
- Fender - 2004 Limited Edition black over sunburst relic Strat
- Tyler SE - Shoreline gold
- Tyler - Landau Classic
- Gibson - Bonamassa Les Paul
- Gibson - 61 Les Paul (SG model)
- Gibson – 76 Les Paul Custom
- Duck - BG Custom
- Tyler – Burning Water
- Gibson - 59 Historic Collection Les Paul
Main setup
The BIG RIG:
Made by Danish Steen Skrydstrup
- Skrydstrup Custom Power Center
- TC G-Force
- TC 1210
- H&K Rotosphere
- Captain Coconut (Vibe, Fuzz, Octavia)
- King Of Tone IV (boost and OD)
- Discombobulator (Auto wah)
- Skrydstrup Custom interface
Granfelt uses two amps either as A/B preamps or both amps' power sections in stereo. Currently Granfelt uses two Naylor SD60's amps or two ENGL Slow Hands amps. Cabinets are either two ENGL E112's or an ENGL Horizontal E212H cabinet in stereo. All cabinets are equipped with Celestion V30s speakers.
Pedalboard includes Buddah Wah, Roland Vol-pedal, SC-1 with EXT+, TC Polytune + power supply and Skrydstrup custom buffer.
The small pedal board:
- Real McCoy wah
- Captain Coconut
- H&K Rotosphere
- KOT
- Skrydstrup Custom Power Supply
- Skrydstrup buffer/line driver
Naylor Duel 38 amp and ENGL Classic head with two ENGL cabinets, one E112 and one C210.
Ben Granfelt Band
- The Truth - 1994 Megamania
- Radio Friendly - 1996 Megamania
- LIVE - 1997 Megamania
- E.G.O - 1999 Megamania
- All I Want to Be - 2001 Megamania
- The Past Experience - 2004 Megamania
- Live Experience - 2006 Bonnier/Amigo
- Sum of Memories - 2006 Bonnier/Amigo
- Notes from the Road - 2007 Bonnier/Amigo
- Kaleidoscope - 2009 Windseekers
Gringos Locos
- Gringos Locos - 1987 Mercury
- Punch Drunk - 1989 Atlantic
- Raw Deal - 1991 Fazer
- Second Coming of Age - 2009 Windseekers
Wishbone Ash
- Bona Fide, CD - 2002 Talking Elephant
- Live in London and Beyond, DVD - 2003 Classic Rock
- Phoenix Rising, DVD - 2004 Classic Rock
Guitar Slingers
- Guitar Slingers - 1994 Sony
- Song and Dance - 1996 Sony
- That Little Something - 1998 Guitar Slinger Records
- Guitar Slingers (Double-CD) - 1998 RAWK Records
Leningrad Cowboys
- We Cum From BrooklynWe Cum from BrooklynWe Cum from Brooklyn is a 1992 album from the Leningrad Cowboys.-Track listing:-References:...
- 1992 BMG - Total Balalaika Show - Helsinki ConcertTotal Balalaika Show - Helsinki ConcertThe Japanese release was only one disc and had a different cover.-References:...
- 1993 BMG - Live in ProwinzzLive in ProwinzzLive in Prowinzz is the third album from the Leningrad Cowboys. It was recorded at Provinssirock–festival, Seinäjoki on 6 June 1992. It was released in 1992.-Track listing:-References:...
- 1993 BMG - Happy TogetherHappy Together (Leningrad Cowboys album)The Japanese issue of the album has a different track order and adds two bonus tracks:BMG Ariola released a special "six pack" set of six CD singles comprising the entire album:-Personnel:The Leningrad Cowboys:*Twist Twist Erkinharju - drums...
- 1994 BMG - Go SpaceGo Space-Personnel:The Leningrad Cowboys:*Twist Twist Erkinhariju - drums*Ben Granfelt - guitar*Sakke Järvenpää - vocals*Vesa Kääpä - guitar*Jore Marjaranta - vocals*Esa Niiva - saxophone*Pemo Ojala - trumpet*Silu Seppälä - bass...
- 1996 BMG
Filmography
- Leningrad Cowboys Meet MosesLeningrad Cowboys Meet MosesLeningrad Cowboys Meet Moses is a 1994 film directed by Aki Kaurismäki. It is a sequel to the popular 1989 film Leningrad Cowboys Go America that introduced the fictional Russian rock band Leningrad Cowboys which, subsequently, became a notable real life rock band in Finland.-Plot:Picking up where...
(1994) film directed by Aki KaurismäkiAki Kaurismäki-Career:After studying Media Studies at the University of Tampere, Aki Kaurismäki started his career as a co-director in the films of his elder brother Mika Kaurismäki. His debut as an independent director was Crime and Punishment , Dostoyevsky's famous crime story set in modern-day Helsinki...
. - Total Balalaika ShowTotal Balalaika ShowTotal Balalaika Show is a 1994 film by director Aki Kaurismäki featuring a concert with the Leningrad Cowboys and the Alexandrov ensemble.The concert took place on 12 June 1993 on Senate Square in Helsinki, Finland...
(1994) documentary directed by Aki KaurismäkiAki Kaurismäki-Career:After studying Media Studies at the University of Tampere, Aki Kaurismäki started his career as a co-director in the films of his elder brother Mika Kaurismäki. His debut as an independent director was Crime and Punishment , Dostoyevsky's famous crime story set in modern-day Helsinki...
.