Ben Granfelt Band
Encyclopedia
Ben Granfelt Band is a Finnish progressive blues-rock band formed in 1993. Led by singer-guitarist Ben Granfelt
, Ben Granfelt Band (BGB) has released ten albums worldwide and 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. BGB’s latest album Kaleidoscope was released on Feb 4, 2009 in Finland with the rest of Europe following later that spring. The band is currently working on their 11th album due for release in September 2010.
BGB's music is described as a pure cocktail of rhythm, melody and soul where even progressive and heavy rock music styles blend in naturally. Some of their musical influences include the likes of Gov’t Mule, Jeff Beck
, Peter Frampton
and Robin Trower
.
Ben Granfelt
is a guitarist best known from his work in Leningrad Cowboys
, Wishbone Ash
, Gringos Locos, Guitar Slingers and his solo band Ben Granfelt Band. Granfelt appears on a total of 26 albums and schedules his life according to the family and hobbies that include martial arts.
Drummer Miri Miettinen has played with BGB since its incarnation. In his extensive career, Miettinen has played drums on over 300 albums as a studio musician and in numerous bands, films and theatrical plays. He is best know playing with the 80's rock groups Broadcast
and Gringos Locos. He also works as a drum teacher and runs his own studio.
John Vihervä plays bass and was involved in the early stages of Finnish power metal band Stratovarius
in 1982-84. "Groovemaster" Vihervä has also played with Five Fifteen, Monsterbore, Käsityöläiset, Boycott
, Tommi Läntinen just to name a few.
Robert Engstrand
is the newest member of BGB and plays keyboards. His previous musical experience includes working with Swedish progressive rock group The Flower Kings
, metal singer Timo Kotipelto
, battle metal band Turisas
and Finnish legendary rockband Dingo
.
Ben Granfelt
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....
, Ben Granfelt Band (BGB) has released ten albums worldwide and 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. BGB’s latest album Kaleidoscope was released on Feb 4, 2009 in Finland with the rest of Europe following later that spring. The band is currently working on their 11th album due for release in September 2010.
BGB's music is described as a pure cocktail of rhythm, melody and soul where even progressive and heavy rock music styles blend in naturally. Some of their musical influences include the likes of Gov’t Mule, Jeff Beck
Jeff Beck
Geoffrey Arnold "Jeff" Beck is an English rock guitarist. He is one of three noted guitarists to have played with The Yardbirds...
, Peter Frampton
Peter Frampton
Peter Kenneth Frampton is an English musician, singer, producer, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist. He was previously associated with the bands Humble Pie and The Herd. Frampton's international breakthrough album was his live release, Frampton Comes Alive!. The album sold over 6 million copies...
and Robin Trower
Robin Trower
Robin Leonard Trower , known professionally as Robin Trower, is an English rock guitarist who achieved success with Procol Harum during the 1960s, and then again as the bandleader of his own power trio.-Biography:...
.
Ben Granfelt
Ben Granfelt
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....
is a guitarist best known from his work in Leningrad Cowboys
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. Granfelt appears on a total of 26 albums and schedules his life according to the family and hobbies that include martial arts.
Drummer Miri Miettinen has played with BGB since its incarnation. In his extensive career, Miettinen has played drums on over 300 albums as a studio musician and in numerous bands, films and theatrical plays. He is best know playing with the 80's rock groups Broadcast
Broadcast
Broadcast or Broadcasting may refer to:* Broadcasting, the transmission of audio and video signals* Broadcast, an individual television program or radio program* Broadcast , an English electronic music band...
and Gringos Locos. He also works as a drum teacher and runs his own studio.
John Vihervä plays bass and was involved in the early stages of Finnish power metal band Stratovarius
Stratovarius
Stratovarius are a Finnish power metal band that formed in 1984. Since their formation they have released 13 studio albums and one live album. Along with Helloween, Blind Guardian, Rhapsody of Fire and Gamma Ray, Stratovarius are considered one of the leading groups of the power metal and symphonic...
in 1982-84. "Groovemaster" Vihervä has also played with Five Fifteen, Monsterbore, Käsityöläiset, Boycott
Boycott
A boycott is an act of voluntarily abstaining from using, buying, or dealing with a person, organization, or country as an expression of protest, usually for political reasons...
, Tommi Läntinen just to name a few.
Robert Engstrand
Robert Engstrand
Karl Robert Oscar "Bob" Engstrand is a keyboard player currently living in Helsinki, Finland.In 1999, Robert graduated from Malmö Academy of Music and has since then toured/recorded with bands/artists such as:...
is the newest member of BGB and plays keyboards. His previous musical experience includes working with Swedish progressive rock group The Flower Kings
The Flower Kings
The Flower Kings are a Swedish progressive rock group. Formed in August 1994 by veteran guitarist Roine Stolt as a touring band to support his solo album The Flower King, the band stayed together after the tour and have gone on to become one of the most prolific studio recording units in rock music...
, metal singer Timo Kotipelto
Timo Kotipelto
Timo Antero Kotipelto is the vocalist of the Finnish power metal band Stratovarius and is the creator and vocalist of the power metal band Kotipelto...
, battle metal band Turisas
Turisas
Turisas is a Finnish folk metal band from Hämeenlinna. It was founded in 1997 by Mathias Nygård and Jussi Wickström and named after an ancient Finnish God of war....
and Finnish legendary rockband Dingo
Dingo (band)
Dingo is a Finnish rock band formed around 1982 which fused Finnish melancholy with catchy rock melodies, headed by singer Pertti Neumann...
.
Band members
- Ben GranfeltBen GranfeltBen 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....
(guitar, vocals) - Miri Miettinen (drums, vocals)
- John Vihervä (bass, vocals)
- Robert EngstrandRobert EngstrandKarl Robert Oscar "Bob" Engstrand is a keyboard player currently living in Helsinki, Finland.In 1999, Robert graduated from Malmö Academy of Music and has since then toured/recorded with bands/artists such as:...
(keyboards, vocals)
Former band members
- Kari Leppälä (bass)
- Kasper Mårtensson (keyboards)
- Ako Kiiski (bass, vocals)
- Lauri PorraLauri PorraLauri Porra is a Finnish bassist and composer. Best known for his work in Stratovarius and Sinergy. Lauri Porra is a fourth generation musician, He is the great grandson of the famous Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. He started to study music at age 6 when he started to play cello in a local music...
(bass, vocals) - Anssi Växby (bass, vocals)
- Harri Rantanen (bass, vocals)
Additional musicians on albums
- Tero Pennanen (keyboards)
- Pekka Gröhn (keyboards)
- Abdissa "Mamba" Assefa (percussions)
- Petri Korpela (percussions)
Discography
- 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