History:
Jacks of All Trades was started in early fall 1997, by efforts of guitarist Lary Launonen who desired to gather around him a band which would play groovy and aggressive hardcore filled with pure energy. After the right guys were found for the job - Tuomas Rajala - drums / Tomi Lehto - bass - they started to work on their music which already in the beginning seemed to have great possibilities to succeed in every hard music scene. Band worked out nice as a trio, but after some time of playing bit punk-influenced shout-based hardcore, they wanted to move on to more modern way of their scene, so they asked for J-Blast to join the band in the beginning of year 1998 and after few shows he was a permanent member of the band. Their music came known as rapcore after this improving change in the line-up. The bassist Tomi left the band to work elsewhere and Jorma Rantalainen joined Jacks in January 2000. Jacks of All Trades has played with this line-up for more than a three year's now and rocks harder than ever. Jacks are originally from Jyväskylä and it is still consired as their "city" even though most band members live now in Helsinki.
In December 2001, Jacks of All Trades signed a record deal with Warner Music Finland. This deal was a long waited dream come true for Jacks. First single from new album was released on in the beginning of April 2002. Name of this song is Blacklist of No Good and Jacks shot a video of this song in February 2002. Release of the new album took place on 31st of May 2002.
In the summer of 2002, the same time when superior had finally found it's way to your local record store, the jacks were facing their biggest change ever. J-Blast noticed that he was no more able to continue in the band. He felt he needed to give more time to his family and finish his studies in the university. This announcement was hard to make to all our fans and it shook the foundations of the band heavily. And now all the remaining band members light candles next to J-Blast's photo every evening:) The Jacks played their last gig with J-Blast in october 2002.
So, new buttocks had to be found on the throne J-Blast left empty, and the band started to look for a new vocalist, and it found out to be a real quest for a voice. After testing about 10 potential throats, they still couldn't find a guy with a personal sound and the right kind of a character. But after a long search a guy from the record company called that a king was born, and that he sounded like one (no, he's not Elvis -and he's dead by the way). Actually the king was born long time ago, and he didn't even know that someday he was going to rule over thousands of kids' ears with the mighty Jacks. After few meetings, studio sessions and gigs, Simba became the new vocalist for the Jacks. They started to make music together for the becoming album, and the new songs with the new guy sounded marvellous. On their first gig with Simba the fans were just staringon the stage at first, but after a couple of songs they were thrilled. And much more people will be.. after the new album is coming out in the beginning of 2004...
Our Music and Performance:
Jacks music is totally unique from any other mainstream artist with it's nasty guitar riffs with kicking support of drums and bass. J-Blast masters his fast-paced rap with long experience despites his young age and supports Lary while he screams and sings thru catching choruses. Their music is a nice, modern mixture of best elements of rock and rap, with sound which reminds you of bands like Hanoi Rocks, P.O.D and R.A.T.M. Jacks are dangerous on stage! They have such an intense energy and drive in their "in your face" music, that it makes the crowd go crazy show after show. Jacks have learned in years how to take and please their hard music loving audience and how to make everyone swet. And they dont forget to tell the audience why they are on stage and people really feel that in their hearts and ears after the show. Jacks of all Trades have played over 130 shows and they've toured in 10 different countries.
Recordings:
In summer 1998 Jacks started to work with their producer/manager, which led the band to studio in the end of the year to record their first EP-CD "Give Way". This EP got really good feedback from the fans, public and also from the media and music magazines. For example it was judged as the best demo of the month in the largest Finnish rock magazine, Soundi. The most important result was that a Finnish record label, Little Rose Productions signed Jacks to their just established hardcore label Bullroser Records. This contract led Jacks back to studio to record their first full-length album "R U Ready?", which was something totally new in this northern part of the world. Three well-known finnish guest vocalists - Benny Majabacka, Rände Rännäli, Miika Partala - and rap-artist Baby Blue from USA brought their own energy and style on the album. R U Ready? was released in November - 1999 in Finland at Maata Nakyvissa -festival and in other countries in December 1999.
Jacks of All Trades recorded their new cd-EP in November 2000. This record was made for promotional purposes and to help out all fans who are waiting for next album. This EP has 3 rocking tracks, filled with new energy, new tricks and features skilled turntables by Jonny Bro.
Jacks started to work with their new full-length album, Superior, in May 2001. Final recordings and mixing took place in November 2001 at Studio Watercastle, Jyväskylä. Since this Blaclist of No Good has been re-mixed in Hip-Studios, Helsinki and Jacks have re-recorded Point of No Return in this same studio. And again we had a great pleasure to have Jonny Bro in turntables.
Currently Jacks have recorded bunch of tracks for their next album. These songs were recorded in spring 2003 and during that time they did not have vocalist at all. So this summer and early fall Jacks will record all songs again with Simo and during next winter they are heading to studio and make the best album ever made by white men.
