Crew & Bio

Crew

  • Hynde Hynönen – Vocals & Guitar
  • Arto “Pieni” Iso-Antila – Bass & B. vocals
  • Tommi ™ Manninen – Drums
Hella-klubi 060424
Pieni – Tommi – Hynde @ Hella-klubi 06042024 Photo: Barry Kling

Alumni

  • Tapo Leppänen – Drums & B. vocals (08/09-05/23)
  • Matti Kettunen – Guitar, Slide Guitar & B. vocals (08/09-03/16)
  • Jomi Vaaltola – Bass & B. vocals (10/13-03/16)
  • Teemu Muikku – Bass (10/09-10/13)

Bio

SHORT
Devil Dog Road is a rock band from Helsinki, Finland. Founded 2009 as a quartet and reborn as a trio 2016. The name comes from a road sign lead singer/guitarist Hynde saw while driving the Historic Route 66 near Williams, Arizona, USA.

Band has released four albums “Devil Dog Road” (2014), “Next Exit” (2017), “Drive And Out” (2018) and “Keep Rock’n’Roll Alive” (2021). Next Exit and Drive And Out albums were both recorded in Helsinki and mixed by Eric “Roscoe” Ambel in Brooklyn, New York, USA where they were also mastered by Mario Viele. Albums were produced and published by the band.

Drive And Out changed the band’s focus more towards classic hard rock and album’s “stockholm-new yorkish” vibes were extended further on “Keep Rock’n’Roll Alive” as the mixing and mastering was done by a Swede, Ola Ersfjord. Madrid based Ersfjord has worked with bands like Imperial State Electric, Lucifer, Tribulation, Grande Royale, Night Viper, etc. as well as The “mighty” Hellacopters.

There are 11 tracks on the Keep Rock’n’Roll Alive physical album. All originals, written and arranged by the band. Album is also produced and published by Devil Dog Road. In the same process two bonus tracks were recorded and the other one a cover, Rock and Roll by Lou Reed, was released as a single on December 4th 2020.

Keep Rock’n’Roll Alive sounds slightly more Scandinavian than the two previous Devil Dog Road albums. Songs are still though from all corners of the rock genre and sometimes shake the boundaries. Maybe the boundaries are this time a little closer to each other. Listen and find out! Keep rock’n’roll alive!

LONG / SUOMEKSI ALEMPANA

Band was founded in August 2009 after Hynde, Matti and Tapo decided it was time to play in a same band again. They hadn’t played together since mid 90’s so it was about time. Hynde immediately had a name for the band: Devil Dog Road.

Devil Dog Road is a crossroad on Historic Route 66 near Williams, Arizona and one day when Hynde was driving from Las Vegas to Williams to continue to see the Grand Canyon

The Sign
Visiting “the sign” again in 2011.

he saw the exit sign and immediately knew that it would be a great name for a great band. And how right he was! After finding bass player the original line up saw the day of light on October 23rd 2009.

All members have played different kinds of music in different bands for years. Still it is rock’nroll with all it’s genres that is close to their hearts and which ties the group together.

Original line up started recording the debut album on 20th January 2012 and after a looong wait the self-titled album was released on October 10th 2014 under RetroU Art label. Ten originals and three covers; stories which can be interpreted subjectively and no tricks nor gimmicks style of band playing are the cornerstones for this album.

Logo originally created by Tom Slup. 2017 version by Petri Rotsten.
2014 crew. Left to right: Tapo, Hynde, Matti and Jomi. Photo: Pia Räsänen
2014 line up. Left to right: Tapo, Hynde, Matti and Jomi. Photo: Pia Räsänen

A change in the line up happend when Teemu moved to Eastern Finland and Jomi became the bass player in October 2013. Second change happened in March 2016 Devil Dog Road took another turn changing into a trio format with a new bassman Pieni. This crew has a mission: “Keep rock’n’ roll alive!”

Trio started working on the band’s second album in October 2016. Recordings in the near legendary YellowGarage ended in November. Tracks were sent to Brooklyn, NY where none other than Eric “Roscoe” Ambel mixed the 13 original tracks. Mastering was done at Cowboy Technical Services by Mario Viele. Mix and mastering was done by mid January 2017. Album titled NEXT EXIT was released on March 17th 2017.

Next Exit cover. Photo: Kimmo Virta, artwork: Petri Rotsten
Next Exit cover. Photo: Kimmo Virta, artwork: Petri Rotsten

On April 7th 2018 Devil Dog Road began to record their third album. Once again the recordings took place at the YellowGarage. The mix was done in July by our main man Eric “Roscoe” Ambel and mastering was done by the one and only Mario Viele. Album was titled DRIVE AND OUT and it was released on November 2nd 2018. Album changed the band’s focus more towards classic hard rock. Music still has rootsy origins but emphasis is now more on catchy choruses and driving rhythm. Some vibes from 70’s and classic Aussie rock as well as other “stockholm-new yorkish” influences.

Band released their fourth album KEEP ROCK’N’ROLL ALIVE on January 29th 2021. The “stockholm-new yorkish” vibes were extended further on “Keep Rock’n’Roll Alive” as the mixing and mastering was done by a Swede, Ola Ersfjord. Madrid based Ersfjord has worked with bands like Imperial State Electric, Lucifer, Tribulation, Grande Royale, Night Viper, etc. as well as The “mighty” Hellacopters.

Keep Rock'n'Roll Alive album cover. Photo: Kimmo Virta. Artwork: Petri Rotsten
Keep Rock’n’Roll Alive album cover. Photo: Kimmo Virta. Artwork: Petri Rotsten

There are 11 tracks on the Keep Rock’n’Roll Alive physical album. All originals, written and arranged by the band. Album is also produced and published by Devil Dog Road. In the same process two bonus tracks were recorded and the other one a cover, Rock and Roll by Lou Reed, was released as a single on December 4th 2020.

Keep Rock’n’Roll Alive sounds slightly more Scandinavian than the two previous Devil Dog Road albums. Songs are still though from all corners of the rock genre and sometimes shake the boundaries. Maybe the boundaries are this time a little closer to each other.

Drive And Out album cover. Artwork: Petri Rotsten

On May 2023 founding member and drummer extraordinaire Tapo decided that his time in the band has come to an end and retired from the action.Band salutes him for the excellent service!

December 2023 band recruits a new drummer. Man with a heart of rock’n’roll – Mr. Tommi ™ Manninen. Some might know him from The Milestones. Tommi lays a firm beat and keeps us tightly in rock music! Keep Rock’n’Roll Alive!!

New line up - Tommi, Hynde & Pieni
New line up Dec 2023: Tommi, Hynde & Pieni

***

Sign and guitar
The Sign which was made to us by Mr. Hintsa.

Devil Dog Road on rock-bändi, joka sävyttää soittoaan eri musatyylien vivahtein mottonaan “Keep rock’n’ roll alive!”.

Bändi perustettiin elokuussa 2009, kun Hynde, Matti ja Tapo totesivat, että he eivät olleet soittaneet samassa bändissä sitten 90-luvun puolivälin ja asia pitäisi korjata välittömästi. Nopein päätös ikinä ja bändin nimikin oli heti valmis: Devil Dog Road.

Bändin nimi tulee Hynden yhdeltä USA:n reissulta. Ajaessaan Historic Route 66:ta Las Vegasista Grand Canyonille, ennen Williams nimistä kaupunkia Arizonassa, oli highwayn varrella kyltti, jossa luki Devil Dog Road. Täydellinen nimi bändille! “Päätin antaa nimen seuraavalle bändilleni ja nyt ollaan tässä”.

Left to right: Tapo, Hynde & Pieni - crew on a break
Left to right: Tapo, Hynde & Pieni

Kaikki jäsenet, entiset ja nykyiset, ovat pitkän linjan soittajia ja kokemusta löytyy monista eri musatyyleistä. Devil Dog Roadin maanläheinen meininki on kuitenkin kaikkia yhdistävä ja soittamisen ilon esiin nostava tekijä. Levyllä bassot soittavan alkuperäisen jäsenen Teemun muutettua Itä-Suomeen, tuli Jomi hänen tilalleen basistiksi lokakuussa 2013. Seuraava muutos tapahtui maaliskuussa 2016, kun bändi muuntautui trioksi ja Pieni liittyi ryhmään basistin tontille.

Tiekyltin näkemisestä debyyttilevyn ilmestymiseen kului aikaa, kuten äänityksistäkin, jotka alkoivat jo 2012. Bändin nimeä kantava pitkäsoitto lopulta valmistui. Se julkaistiin 10.10.2014 ja lopputulos on loistava. Kymmenen omaa ja kolme lainabiisiä; erilaiset tarinat, joissa on tulkinnan varaa oman mielen mukaan sekä konstailematon, toimiva “yhteen hiileen” soitto, ovat Devil Dog Roadin debyyttilevyn kulmakivet.

Photo: Saara Planting/Planting Pictures

Trio kokoonpano aloitti toisen pitkäsoiton äänitykset lokakuussa 2016 ja ne saatiin loppuun marraskuussa. Raidat lähetettiin miksatavaksi ison veden taakse New Yorkin Brooklyniin. Miksauksen teki lähes legendaarinen Eric “Roscoe” Ambel. Masterointi hoidettiin myös Ambelin Cowboy Technical Services studiolla ja sen teki Mario Viele. Masterointi valmistui tammikuun 2017 puolessa välissä. Levy sai nimen NEXT EXIT ja se julkaistiin virallisesti 17.3.2017.

Bändin kolmas albumi tehtiin lähes samalla kaavalla kuin Next Exit. Äänitykset aloitettiin huhtikuussa 2018 YellowGaragessa, miksaus heinäkuussa ja sen teki jälleen Eric Ambel. Masterointi myös luottomiehen tekemänä eli Mario Viele hoiti homman kotiin. Albumi, joka sai nimen DRIVE AND OUT,  julkaistiin marraskuun 2. päivä 2018. Albumi painottuu enemmän klassiseen hard rock meininkiin, mutta juurimusaa ei unohdettu.

KRRA photo sessions Tavastia-klubi. Photo: Kimmo Virta

Devil Dog Road julkaisi neljännen pitkäsoittonsa tammikuun 29. 2021. Levy kantaa nimenään bändin mottoa KEEP ROCK’N’ROLL ALIVE. Aänityssessiot hoituivat jälleen YellowGaragessa Helsingissä, mutta miksauksessa ja masteroinnissa puhalsivat uudet tuulet. Näitä hoitamaan pyydettiin ruotsalainen Ola Ersfjord. Madridissa päämajaansa pitävä Ola on työskennellyt aiemmin mm. Imperial State Electric, The Hellacopters, Lucifer, Tribulation, Grande Royale, Night Viper, jne. bändien kanssa. 

Keep Rock’n’Roll Alive on edeltäjiänsä tiiviimpi paketti ja asettuu rock genreen tiiviimmin. Ersfjord uudisti bändin soundia skandinaavisempaan suuntaan ja se toimii. Albumin 11 omaa biisiä rokkaavat mainiosti. Sessioissa äänitettiin myös kaksi bonus biisiä, joista toinen Rock and Roll, Lou Reedin kirjoittama klassikko, julkaistiin sinkkuna 4. joulukuuta 2020.

Toukokuussa 2023 Tapo jää eläkkeelle bändistä ja se on tietty enemmän kuin harmillista, mutta bändihommat on kuitenkin vapaaehtoisia, joten pakkohan hänet oli päästää virvelin äärestä virvelin varteen.

Joulukuussa 2023 Devil Dog Roadin rumpalin postin otti haltuunsa Tommi ™ Manninen. Jotkut tuntevat hänet myös The Milestones bändin rumpalina. Henkeen ja vereen rockmiehenä tunnettu Manninen tuo vielä lisää rock’n’rollia Devil Dog Roadiin. Luulimme, että se ei ole mahdollista, mutta niin se vaan on!

Livenä Devil Dog Road toteuttaa samaa tyylikästä meininkiä ilman erikoisefektejä, soittamisen ilon ollessa näkyvää ja kuuluvaa. Tätä iloa on nastaa jakaa kuulijoille ja siten saada aikaiseksi hyvä rock-meininki, juuri sillä tavalla kuin keikoilla pitääkin olla!

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Logo 2009-18 created by Tom Slup. All rights reserved