MEET THE BAND


RIKU: Lead Guitar, Vocals

a.k.a.: Riku Salminen
Born: 8th April 1976
Has been in the band since the beginning in 1995.
Main influences: NWOBHM, Twisted Sister, Motörhead
Favorite albums: Judas Priest: Painkiller, Motörhead: No Sleep 'Til Hammersmith, Twisted Sister: Come Out And Play
Hobbies: Music, watching sports, learning computer nerdism
Favorite food: Ground meat 'n' Noodle casserole
Favorite drink: Orange juice and coffee
Favorite movies: Yön Saalistajat, Hard Boiled
Favorite TV shows: Knight Rider, Miami Vice

• May 95: Guitarist Riku Salminen joins forces with bass player Mikko Rautiainen in order to form a band in the Riku's idea of classic 80's Heavy Metal mixed with old school Speed'n'Thrash influences.
  
• Summer 95: Searching for likeminded musicians to fill the line-up.
  
• Nov 95: Drummer Rami "Manu" Koivisto (ex-Hilpeä Roger) joins the band and the three-piece starts to rehearse.
  

• Mar 96: Mika Savolainen, at the time the voice and guitar of punk band Beathovens, joins the band and fills the open vocalist slot.
  
• Rest of 96: Rehearsing, but Manu starts to fall behind and is finally sacked in December.
  

• Feb 97: New drummer Onni Kilkku (ex-Veltot Koirat) joins Solitaire. Onni was recommended for the band by guitarist Mika "Waaqqu" Vaakanainen, who at the time hadn't joined the band yet.
  
• May 97: The band starts to function properly and records their first demo on an 8-track portable recorder at their rehearsal room. First Solitaire gig ever on 24th May at the local Eura Go Go festival.
  
• July 97: After a couple of more gigs Mika Savolainen and the rest of Solitaire parts company and Mika carries on with Beathovens.
  
• Aug 97: Solitaire becomes a five-piece. Guitarist Waaqqu joins the band now and vocalist Juha Alam comes along in October.
  
• Nov 97: Juha doesn't fit in and the band goes on as a four-piece with Riku temporarily on vocals alongside his guitar work.
  

• May 98: Ville Kilkku, Onni's brother and ex-Anthelion bass player & vocalist takes to the mike.
  
• Aug 98: Ville quits due to his studies. In the meantime Beathovens break up and Mika rejoins Solitaire.
  
• Rest of 98: Onni is about to quit. Former Mental Hangover drummer Kalle "Kalu" Valanne replaces Onni in December.
  

• Jan 99: Onni's last stand with the band recording the 2nd Solitaire demo.
  
• June 99: Solitaire's first appearance on official release, "The Spirits Of The New Age" compilation CD released by Hateball Records.
  
• Nov 99: Recording the band's 3rd demo.
  

• May 2000: Solitaire signs to German internet music distributor Sonicattack.
  
• Aug 2000: Sonicattack's Online Project is launched and Solitaire's 3rd demo is released in mp3's in the web. However, due to free mp3 distributing in the net, Sonicattack closes down in December.
  

• Early 01: Solitaire takes part to a national Turku Bandstand competition ans reaches Top 25 being the top Heavy Metal band in the ranking.
  
• Mar 01: Recording the 4th Solitaire demo.
  
• Apr 01: Filming the band's first music video "Listen To The Priest".
  
• Sept 01: The band signs a record deal with German Heavy Metal label Iron Glory Records.
  
• Nov 01: Solitaire's 2nd compilation appearance, "Pounding Metal vol. 4 -- Destroy Mainstream!" released by Pounding Metal 'zine editor Steel Commander.
  
• Late 01: The band works on the material for their debut album.
  

• Early 02: Finishing the studio work for the album in January. After a few month delay "Rising To The Challenge" is finally released on 30th September.
  
• Oct 02: A large coverage of the "Rising..." album with an interview on Metalliliitto, Solitaire's first bigger appearance on a national radio station.
  

• Jan 03: Filming the music video for the song "Rising To The Challenge".
  
• July 03: Solitaire's first gigs outside Finland -- Two German festivals, Headbangers Open Air on 11th July and Keep It True on 19th July.
  
• Rest of 03: Writing and rehearsing material for the band's 2nd album.
  

• Jan 04: Recordings for "Extremely Flammable" begin. The album is released on 30th August. Solitaire is also featured on "Keep It True 2003" compilation DVD.
  
• Oct 04: Solitaire appears in Holland at the Heavy Metal Maniacs festival.
  
• Dec 04: Iron Glory Records finishes it's activities and the band is searching for a new label.
  

• July 05: Solitaire plays at the biggest Heavy Metal festival in Estonia, Hard Rock Laager.
  
• Aug 05: Solitaire signs a deal with German label Battle Cry Records.
  
• Oct 05: The band moves to new rehearsal facilities and prepares material for their next album.
  

• Early 06: Solitaire works in the studio recording "Invasion Metropolis".
  
• May 06: The band returns to Germany for a show in Itzehoe. "Invasion Metropolis" is released on 29th May.
  
• July 06: Solitaire makes it's first trip to Luxembourg and performs at Rock Am Éislek festival.
  
• Sept 06: Solitaire's first TV-appearance on Perjantaimakasiini at a local station Ganal TV.
  
• Nov 06: Another compilation appearance for Solitaire, "Metal On Metal II".
  
• Dec 06: Mika splits from the rest of the band and Solitaire carries on as a four-piece with Riku on vocals and guitar.
  

• Feb 07: The first gig of the band's "new" line-up on 23rd February at Vastavirta-klubi in Tampere.
  
• Summer 07: Solitaire's gig at Maksim in Salo is premiered on Rock-Rooster web & mobile TV in July and re-runs of the show follow the rest of the summer.
  
• Rest of 07: Rehearsing material for the next Solitaire album.
  
• Nov 07: Solitaire gets signed to Finnish indie label Ektro Records.
  

• Most of 08: Solitaire begins the recordings for "Predatress" in February and the studio work is prolonged up to 6 months.
  
• Summer 08: Solitaire is featured on "Keep It True Festival History Book" released by Jowita Kaminska and Simone Peruzzi from Metal On Metal Records.
  
• Dec 08: "Predatress" is released on 10th December. Meanwhile Kalu and Mikko get sacked from the band due to not having enough time for Solitaire anymore. Waaqqu and Riku start looking for a new drummer and a bass player.
  

All photo material © Solitaire 2009. All rights reserved.