Johnny

Date/place of birth: Oct-26-1979 Helsinki, Finland

How did you end up in Rock Royale?
-I formed it back in 2004. Before that I was in various bands as a guitarist. I`ve always wanted to make my own music so Rock Royale was a natural result of my ambition.

Tell us something about your musical history
-I started playing guitar at the age of 14. I had played piano as a little kid so I had some idea of music before this. I’ve never had guitar lessons, although maybe I should have... Anyway, I taught myself how to play just by jamming over songs from the radio or cassettes. I think too much music studies can also be harmful in a way for the feeling of playing in some genres of music. I mean, there is a difference of using your studied skills to play and playing the same things with feeling. Some people can combine this, other can`t. True music comes from the inside. My first band was a punk band, much due to lack of playing skills, ha ha ha. After this noisy experiment I have played in blues cover bands and some other projects. I am a big blues fan, so after learning a bit of playing, I played blues and fell in love with the work of old blues masters like Buddy Guy, Albert King Charles Brown, B.B. King...

What other hobbies do you have?
-My other hobbies are skiing, occasional jogging, and reading.

Name some artists/bands that you like?
Kingston Wall, Sinatra, Elvis, Blues in general, Led Zeppelin, Hellacopters, Sonata Arctica

Books/ Movies?
I like books by Dean Koontz, Stephen King... mostly horror. At the moment I’m in the middle of Phantoms by Dean Koontz.

What gear you use at the gigs/studio?
I use a Fender Stratocaster U.S.A Standard and a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe amp.
Other parts like effects I vary in use.