Kauko Röyhkä, (born Jukka-Pekka Välimaa, February 12, 1959, Valkeakoski), is Finnish rock musician and author. Since early 1980s he has been one of the most foremost rock artists in Finland known especially as a strong lyricist.
Röyhkä lived his youth in Oulu and has later lived in Turku and Helsinki. His recording career began in 1980 with the debut album Steppaillen. Today he has recorded 23 full length albums. His most famous backing band has been Narttu that was together in various line-ups throughout the years 1980-1990. There has been many side projects including a band called 500 kg lihaa. In 2007 Röyhkä performed his songs with Mikkeli town string orchestra.
Röyhkä has studied literature and has got praise of his profound lyrics especially during late 1980s. Röyhkä is singer and guitarist. He has told that after he realized that he cannot learn to play similarly as his idols, he wanted to create his own style of playing. In public Röyhkä has been a slightly provocative figure. He managed to raise some fuss in the early 1990s by claiming to be satanist (later he explained that the statement was just an experiment with publicity). Some of the most well known songs by Röyhkä include "Lauralle", "Talo Meren Rannalla", "Paska Kaupunki" and "Paha Maa". Albums Maa on voimaa and Pikku enkeli found their way to Soundi magazine's list of alltime 50 greatest Finnish popular music albums.
Röyhkä began publishing books in the same year as his debut album appeared in 1980. Originally he wanted to be an author rather than musician. So far Röyhkä has written ten novels or short story collections and some other works including the biography of Finnish porn star Henry Saari and a book about Velvet Underground. He has also written columns for newspaper Kaleva and record reviews for Rytmi magazine.
Albums Steppaillen (EMI, 1980) Uusia tansseja (EMI/Parlophone, 1981) Mikki Hiiren myöhemmät vaiheet (Kerberos, 1982) Onnenpäivä (Euros, 1983) Lauralle (Euros, 1984) Maa on voimaa (Euros, 1985) Pikku enkeli (Euros, 1986) Mielummin vanha kuin aikuinen (Euros, 1987) Ihmelapsi (Euros, 1988) Joko-tai (Euros, 1990) Kaksi koiraa (Euros, 1990) Tyttöjen ystävä (Herodes, 1991) Olennainen välittyy (Euros, 1992) (live) Jumalan lahja (EMI/Herodes, 1993) Kaunis eläin (EMI/Herodes, 1994) Akti (EMI/Herodes, 1995) Sinä olet tähti (Ranka, 1997) Puiden alle (Ranka, 1998) Rock'n'roll-klisee (Ranka, 1999) Miss Farkku-Suomi (Ranka, 2001) Etsijät (Ranka, 2002) Elämä ja Kuolema (Ranka, 2005) Kauko Röyhkä & Riku Mattila (Ranka, 2008) Zaia (with Mikkeli City Orchestra) (Ranka, 2008) Hiekkarantaa (with krautrock-duo Rättö ja Lehtisalo) (Ektro, 2009)
EPs Paha maa (Euros, 1988) Mutta, mutta (Euros, 1989)
Collections Bossanova 80 – 82 (1982) Kulta-aika (1986) Extra (1988) Lauluja rakastamisen vaikeudesta (1989) Olen Messias (1992) Talo meren rannalla (1996) Pohjoinen taivas (1997) 20 suosikkia – Lauralle (1998) Räyhähenki muistelee – Kokoelma 1980-2000 (2000) Pohjoinen taivas Osa 2 (2000) 20 suosikkia – Talo meren rannalla (2002) Selkäranka 1996-2004 (2004) Lauluntekijä (2006)
Singles Yhdeltä viimeistään pois go-go / Dora (1980) Steppaillen / Ihmisen paras ystävä (1980) Uusia tansseja / Astraalitasolla (1981) Preerian kuu / Miljoonapulu (1982) Herra presidentti / Viiltäjä / Kun olin kuollut (1983) Onnellinen laiva / Majuri Thompson (1983) Lauralle / Annina (1984) Maa on voimaa / Me (1985) Paska kaupunki / Kovat pojat / Tuhlausta (1986) Pikku enkeli / Laulujen nainen (1986) Ennen olin kokonaan toinen / Kolme asetelmaa (1987) Matkustaa / Mainostaulujen taakse (1987) Majavalakki / Paha maa (1988) Tuntemattomalle / Crescendo (1988) Tulit vastaan mua / Eno ja hänen omatuntonsa (1989) Soita se taas, Rainer / Humalassa (1990) Kevät / Hän toiselta puolelta (1991) 80-luvun absurdismi / Kuuntele mua / Näin on käynyt monta kertaa (1992) Kultainen aasi / Noita (1993) Pohjoinen taivas / Oikea asenne (1993) Helena / Nuo keskellä olevat / Rauno rokkaa (1994) Pyhä kaupunki / Mies jolla on maine (1994) Tuon sulle Alfredo Garcian pään / Virheet (1997) Sinä teit sen taas, Marjaana (1998) Hipit vanhemmat (1998) Kauniit pelastetaan (1999) Rock'n'roll-klisee (1999) Disko-Datsun / Pitkätukkainen poika / Mimio (2001) Pauliina, rantatyttö / Melankolia (2002)
Fiction Tien laidalla Waterloo (Weilin+Göös, 1980) Aave joka maalasi taulun (Weilin+Göös, 1982) Oskar Koposen seikkailut (Weilin+Göös, 1985) Magneetti (Weilin+Göös, 1987) Kaksi aurinkoa (Like, 1996) Silvia (Like, 1997) Ocean City (Like, 1999) Faust ja muita kertomuksia (Like, 2001) (novellikokoelma) Miss Farkku-Suomi (Like, 2003) Henry ja minä (Like, 2004) Avec (Like, 2006) Job (Like, 2007)
