JIMI SERO

ORDER NEW SMACK ALBUM "Smack In Your Face 1982 - 1990"
In fall 1983 I met Johnny Lee Michaels and he asked me to play with his band "Sound Storm Shock". Right away we went to studio and recorded a single called "Things After War"/Bad Luck Boy". During winter we did couple of gigs. Spring 1984 we did another single called "Mr. America/Open You Up". We have some disagreement and I smashed my bass on the floor and broke it. After that I got fired from that band. In summer 1984 when I was a roadie for bands “Sielun Veljet” and “Musta Paraati” I met Stefan Piesnack. He asked me to come and play with Finnish Punk Legend, Pelle Miljoona. During that fall we did one gig. After that Pelle went to Far East to write a book. Christmas time Pelle came back and wanted to start a punk band. It was called “Miljoonaliiga”. Pelle, Tumppi Varonen, Stefan Piesnack and me. During spring 1985 we did lots of gigs and a single called “Down And Out”, and all summer we toured festivals. In fall we went to studio to record an album called “Enkelten Kaupungissa”. Just before the record was released I left the band.
December 1985 I met Veeti Kallio who had a band called “Neighborhood Brats”. They needed a bass player so I joined them. We did four gigs and one demo.
In spring 1986 Rane from Smack asked me to come and play with them. So I joined Smack. During that fall we recorded a live album called “Live Desire”. November we went to Trident Studios, London, to record “Salvation” album. Released spring 1987. That spring we played lots of clubs and festivals. End of July 1987 we went Los Angeles to play. We did six sold out shows there. When we came back we recorded “Radical”, which was released 1988. December 1988 we had our last gig. After that we decided to have year off. During that time Rane started a band called “The Balls”, Kinde and me left the band. In summer 1989 Rane, Claude and Manchuria decided to move to L.A.
I joined “The Balls” in summer 1989. That fall we recorded an album called “Drunkfish”, which was released in 1990. We did hundred of gigs during next year. March 1991 we went to Toronto to play for three weeks. We did some club gigs there. After that I left the band. End of that year I realized I could not live without playing. So I went back for more… Following year we did hundreds of gigs and during that spring we run a club every Friday in Ravintola Kaisaniemi, Helsinki. January 1993 we went to studio to record our next album. “Balls Change When Balls Wants To Change” album was released following fall. Year and half we toured a lot. January1995 we went to studio to record an album called “Jungle In The Barrel”. That album includes couple of my songs also. I didn’t like at all how this album sounded.
Fall 1995 I went back to school to get my high school degree. I still played with “The Balls” until the summer 1996. Marjo, the singer of the band was about to have a baby so we took a break from playing and I went to study to be a tailor. That break ended up being eight and half years for me…. 1999 I graduated and I started a small tailoring shop.
I missed playing and I even guest played in one of “The Balls’ shows in spring time 2000. In that fall my life changed big time. I got diagnosed with thyroid cancer and I got divorced at the same time. Right away I got operated. The operation was successful. Following next couple of years I had some radioactive treatments, which were hard and I had to stay in hospital several times. I got well and I met my soul mate. One day in 2005 she asked, why I was not playing if I was a musician and enjoyed playing? That was it again. Right then I walked to a store and bought a first Fender Precision in eight years. That same week Sande from “The Balls” called and asked if I wanted to play a gig with them. They had a release party for a compilation album called “Fastlane Trought The History Of Balls”. I went and played. Since then we have gigs here and there. In fall my amplifier tech asked if I wanted to play in a band that was going to Moscow to play a gig in blues club. The band was named “Stonencold Flames”. We played old blues and 50’s rock’ n’ roll and Moscow was blown away. In spring 2006 we had a weekly gig in a club in Helsinki, until the singer/guitar player moved back to Madrid.
I had some setbacks with my cancer so I got operated in 2005. I also had to go through some more treatments. It was hard but I am well now, and that is all that counts. Also 2005 Eduardo Martinez from “Flaming Sideburns” asked me to play with him in Smack Tribute band. We played in Tavastia, Helsinki at Flaming Sideburns’ ten years anniversary party. We also played Claude’s Fishfaces tunes, so the band was named “Smackfaces”.
Now I am playing also with couple of old cats. We play blues, my all time favorite music around town. One of the guys also teaches me to play blues guitar at the moment. And I love it!
Currently I am working on “Smack In Your Face 1982-1990” compilation album. Which will be released this May 30th. I am also working on the release party for that album. The party will be held in Tavastia, Helsinki June 7th. The profit of that whole evening will be donated to Cancer Clinic, Helsinki. It has a special meaning for me. I want to thank everybody, who is involved in this project!!!
5.5.2007
To be continued………
Well...well...welll
This year has been a great year even though the year ended with a month long cancer treatment. End of this ruff month I had to stay in the hospital over the weekend to get radioactive treatment.All looks well now again. I am back on a saddle……Life always has its ups and downs.Finally I got rid of my drinking habit and that has given me a new boost of energy.This year I met Tumppi Varonen (after 22 yrs not really seeing him) and I joined his band “Problems?. We have done great shows and the band has developed one of its best levels on its 30 yr history. Beginning of 2008 we put lots of effort on our new record which is ready now, and it sounds great. When we looked for a record company to release this CD, we got offers that we had to refuse! So I made my long time dream come true: I started my own record label, it is called BOOGIEMILL RECORDS, which now will release our newest “Problems” CD (Haluisitko Tietää).“The Balls” is playing gigs with the old line up and it grooves better than ever.This year I met the legendary Rekku Reckhardt (Wigwam), who lives in my neighbourhood. We have been jamming with him, which has been incredible experience. What a devil of a guitar player he is!! Let’s see what that brings….Next day after I got home from the hospital, “Problems?” played at Tavastia at Sampo’s Bday bash. The gig was most unbelievable which lead to new things for the band, but more about that after the summer…
Jimi 9.5.2008
1983
1983 - DOESN..T TIME JUST FLY!? - 2008
2008