Francine is a finnish rock'n'roll band, althought the word "rock'n'roll" may not give right picture of the band. Some would say rockabilly or something else, but the fact that this band is using a bull fiddle instead of the commonly used electric bass gives this band a special nature - the look, the feel and the sound (And the bigger the instrument, the harder the rumble on the stage). Another characteristic of Francine is wild performances on the stage - if the drums ain't broken or at least rolling at the end of the gig - it ain't Francine. Francine was formed in 1987 and it has over the recent years "stabilized" its composition to a three men group.
During these 18 years Francine's music has got many nicknames, such as the rockabilly of 90's, punkbilly, hardbilly, powerbilly... the list is endless. Guys themselves prefer to call their music simply rock'n'roll, which combines styles like rockabilly, rhythm'n blues, punk, pop, jazz... In other words pure Francine.
Sounds Like
This trio is the hardest working rock'n'roll band in Finland.
Between their numerous tours they had time to record their brand new album "King For a Day", their 10th studio album so far.
The album has got all the Francine's trademarks:
killer rock riffs, catchy melodies coupled with in your face attitude.
Try to imagine Motorhead playing Stray Cats, and you are pretty close indeed.
Record Label
Poko Rekords (member of the EMI group) www.poko.fi
IN FINLAND:
Lena Haapala
Telekatu 10
20360 TURKU
GSM 0400 265 327
E-mail: lena.haapala@dexviihde.fi www.dexviihde.fi
Discography
Albums
New album "ONE STEP FURTHER" in stores 3.9.2008!!!!!
The Story of Francine (2007) King for a day (2005) Level 8 (2003) Fullahead (2001) The Playmate (1999) The Francinest (1997) Animal beat (1995) Pitkäsoitto (Pääesiintyjät, 1993) Fire+ (1993)(=Fire LP +Shake my bones EP) A piece of noise (1992) Hard enough (1990) Fire (1990)
Singles
You get me wrong (2005)
Call Me (2003)
She bop (2000)
Almost alive (1994)
Sua aattelen (Pääesiintyjät, 1993)
Iiris (Pääesiintyjät, 1993)
Downtown (1991)
Three cool cats (EP, 1990)
Three cool cats (1990)
Till the day I die (1990)
Shake my bones (EP, 1989)
THE STORY OF FRANCINE
1987 - 1988 "I wanna play in a Rock'n'Roll band..."
-Francine was formed in 1987 and the original composition was:
Pete Salomaa (Bull fiddle, Backin' vocals)
Mika Jokinen (Vocals, Guitar)
Esa Nurminen (Drums)
-Francine was named after ZZ top song, "Francine" and the band described their music as psychoblues...
-The first gig 6.11.1987 in Joutsa, after that several gigs as warm-up band
-Two demo tapes, where you could find pre-versions of several known Francine-songs.
1989-1990 "I'm on fire"
-In January 1989, the current drummer, Tude Usvaala, joined in the band.
-Jari Paksunen came to play acoustic guitar and Pete Salomaa changed his electric bass to a bull fiddle.
-Francine had lot of gigs, warming up some famous Finnish bands, like Miljoonasade, Hearthill, Melrose, etc.
-A small Finnish record company, My Way Records, took Francine on their list in summer 1989. The MyWay boss Marko Hakala was at the Tawastia club, to watch the British Howlin Wilf orchestra, that was warmed up by Francine. After the gig Hakala rushed into backstage and immediately offered to make a contract with Francine.
-Francine's first record, Shake my Bones EP was released in autumn 1989.
-Francine's first album Fire was published in February 1990, and it gained great publicity in the Finnish media.
-The best-known pieces in the Fire album are: I'm on fire, Sweet lovin' and
the single Till the day I die.
-Francine continues as a trio, after Jari Paksunen quitted.
-Francine made a visit to a city called Zaporjoshe, in Russia.
On their best gig there they had an audience of some 15 000 peole...
-Late in 1990 Francine's second album, Hard enough came to daylight. This record was produced by Englishman Pete Gage. The best known songs on this record are such as Rumble on the bayou and Three cool cats.
1991-1992 "Money talks"
-After the release of Hard enough, Francine decided to seek a for bigger record company, which would have better resources to take care of the band.
-In September 1991 Francine released their first single, Downtown for Poko Rekords.
-Early in 1992 the album A piece of noise was released and immediately after release, it made its way to the Finnish top 40, staying there for
a month, best ranking was 24. Best known songs from the album are Downtown, Money talks and On my backyard
-Late in 1992 Francine was left rest, because the band felt that the joy of playing was lost.
1993 "Älä ota pitkätukkaa"
-As a counterblow to hard rockin' and wild performances on stage, boys formed an another band, called Pääesiintyjät , which played finnish pop.
-Pääesiintyjät made two singles during 1993 ( Sua aattelen and Iiris )
and also an album, called Pitkäsoitto.
-Pääesiintyjät made a number of gigs and their songs conquered audiences and radio stations all over Finland.
-Unfortunately, the career and success of Pääesiintyjät lasted only a while, because Pete Salomaa's and Tude Usvaala's hearts' still had a beat for rockin' hard again.
1994-1996 "Almost alive"
-Early in 1994, Mika Jokinen decided to quit playing, which caused a new problem; Francine had to find a new guitarist/vocalist.
-Ana Kukkola joined Francine and Francine's almost two-year break finally ended.
-In autumn 1994 a single Almost alive is released.
-In February 1995 the album Animal beat came out and it was produced by T.T.Oksala
-The best known pieces on the record are Almost alive and Rock on rudy
-Tour with Long Tall Texans (UK).
-Couple of gigs together with the legendary Pirates -band. (Shakin' all over...)
1997 "Lost in space"
-Francine celebrated their 10-year career
-A new album, The Francinest came to daylight in February 1997, and the producer was T.T.Oksala
-The new album includes eleven old "Francine-hits" in new versions and five entirely new songs ( Set me free, A real good man, Francine, Lost in space ja Don't come back home ).
-Francine's first website was opened
-Francine performs on finnish television in programs Lista (TV1) and Jyrki (MTV3) on 18.10.1997
1998 "Set me free"
-Francine is enjoying of well-earned break in the spring and starts touring in May.
-After seven year with Poko Rekords, Francine moves on to Bluelight Records.
-Mini-tours with Restless (UK) and Mad Heads (UKR).
-In September, Francine starts the recordings of the new album.
-In October, producer-guru Mikko Karmila was gotten into the studio with Francine - just fantastic finish on the record..
1999 "The Playmate"
-The new album The Playmate sees daylight on 22.1.1999
-Francine's website was changed at the same time as The Playmate was released.
-The Playmate -Tour begun in the end of February and it consisted of approximately 50 gigs all around the Finland.
-Francine performed on several summer festivals: Provinssi Rock, Down by the laituri, Puistoblues, Ilosaarirock, Down by the
Kemijoki...
-The Playmate tour ended in Lahti on 26.11.1999 and Francine took a four month break in touring.
-Favourite songs from The Playmate are Goodbye Forever, Annie and Raindance.
2000 "Silence is golden..."
-Francine is taking rest and composing new songs for the next album.
-In the fall Francine makes a mini-tour of 11 gigs.
-A Single from the next album, She bop, is released in December 2000.
2001 "FULLAHEAD!"
-New album FULLAHEAD! unleashed on 2.2.2001.
-FULLAHEAD is also produced by Mikko Karmila.
-Francine's website moves (For the third and hopefully, the last time), and is updated as the new album is released.
-Francine is starting the FULLAHEAD tour in April 2001.
Album was a great succes and Francine got a lot of new friends.The hit of the album was Francine's version of the old Cindy Lauper-song "She bop". The song got a lot of radiotime in Finland.
2002 "ON THE ROAD..."
-Francine played a lot of gigs including one gig in Spain (Calella festival).
-In the beginning of the year Pete started booking agency called BooKing(!) which concentrates only in rockabilly music. Not so suprisingly Francine is one of those 15 bands in BooKing company...
2003 "NEW LEVEL"
-In the end of March FRANCINE released a brand new album "Level 8"!! In their eighth album Francine is better than ever. Songs are powerful Rock'n'Roll with great melodies and sounds are really tough!
-Level 8 has got a very good feedback and in Finnish Top 40 Chart it made it's way up to place 11.!!
-Level 8 was recorded in VILLVOX Studio which is Tude's brand new studio located in his house's cellar.
2004 "RUMBLE BROS."
-Because Francine has booking agency and studio of its own, was the next step to start own record company of course! Rumble Bros. started by releasing a live album from Grand Arena Rock'n'Roll Party held in Lahti in February 2004. CD includes 20 livesongs from Restless, Long Tall Texans, Francine, Whistle Bait and Flat Broke Trio. Livesongs by Francine in that CD are the first ever relased live songs from Francine!
-In Fall Francine will do a tour in Finland ( 17 gigs) and do some new songs to next album...
-There is also some plans to do gigs in Spain,USA,Germany and Russia in the beginning of 2005.
2005 "KING FOR A DAY"
-In January Francine did record deal with Poko Rekords (member of EMI group).
-In the beginning of the year Francine was in Villvox studio, working with the forthcomin' album.
-In July Francine did two gigs as Brian Setzer's warm-up act in Finland.
-New sigle "You get me wrong" hit the single charts (16..).
-Francine's 9.album "King for a day" was relesed 31.8.2005 and it hit the finnish album chart at 27.
-King for a day-tour started 9.9.2005 from band's hometown Lahti ( tour included 18 gigs).
-New Video (King for a day by mr. Teemu Nikki).
2006 "ON THE ROAD AGAIN"
-Francine played 48 gigs promoting the newest album.
-in the end of the year Francine recorded a new song," Taxi Driver" for their Best of album, which will be out in January 2007.
- In December Francine traveled to Germany for a six piece tour!
2007 "THE STORY OF FRANCINE"
-Francine released "The Story of Francine" CD/DVD 7.2.2007
-CD includes the best Francine songs from the last 10 years and DVD includes videos,TV-shows,pics and history document telling the story of Francine's 20 years on the road!!
-In Finland's DVD chart the album hit the 3!!!
- In February band started 20th anniversary Tour including 20 gigs in Finland
- In the main concert in their hometown Lahti over 1000 people came to celebrete with Francine. It was such a great night!!!
-Wolverine Records released "King for a day" CD in Germany 9.11.2007!
2008 "ONE STEP FURTHER!!!"
- In the beginning of the year,Francine is recording their next album in Villvox Studio. It will be in stores in September 2008!!
- In March Francine hit the road and did "King for a day 2008 Tour" in the middle Europe, mainly in Germany
- New album "One Step Further" hit the stores 3.9.2008!!
In the finnish album chart it was number 21.
- Francine did record release tour in Finland (September-November)
-Wolverine Records released "One Step Further" CD in Germany 5.12.2008!
2009 "DOIN SOME TOURIN'... "
- Francine is doin' a lot of liveshows during the year ( about 70 gigs)
- In November Francine will also tour in the middle Europe!
Online Now!
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