Editing Ismo Alanko (section)

== Biography ==
=== Background ===
Alanko was born on November 12, 1960, in [[Kerava]], but grew up in [[Joensuu]], [[North Karelia]].<ref>[http://yle.fi/elavaarkisto/?s=s&g=4&ag=26&t=477&a=3170 yle.fi – Elävä arkisto] – Retrieved on April 9, 2008</ref> As a 15-year-old he played in a band called Sight, already writing some of his own songs. In the Finnish Rock Championship, an annual competition for young musicians, the band finished second in the [[progressive rock]] category. After completing his secondary education degree (''[[ylioppilastutkinto]]''), he took a break from music to move to work in [[Stockholm]].<ref>[http://yle.fi/maanmainiot/henkilot/ismoalanko.html yle.fi – Maan mainiot] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090319004844/http://www.yle.fi/maanmainiot/henkilot/ismoalanko.html |date=March 19, 2009 }} – Retrieved April 9 2008</ref>

=== Hassisen Kone ===
{{Main|Hassisen Kone}}
After returning to Finland in 1979, Alanko, then 19 years of age, gained immediate success as the singer, songwriter and rhythm guitarist of the [[New wave music|new wave]] group [[Hassisen Kone]]. They won the Finnish rock championship in 1980 and recorded three very successful albums, ''[[Täältä tullaan Venäjä]]'', ''[[Rumat sävelet]]'' and ''[[Harsoinen teräs]]'', where the band went from punk-related new wave to [[progressive rock]]. All three remain among the best-selling records in Alanko's career. Hassisen Kone disbanded in 1982.

=== Sielun Veljet ===
{{Main|Sielun Veljet}}
Soon after Hassisen Kone broke up, Alanko and former Hassisen Kone guitarist Jukka Orma started [[Sielun Veljet]]. Some of their early audience was expecting another Hassisen Kone, but instead the band played aggressive and repetitive [[post-punk]]. Only one Sielun Veljet album came close to reaching Hassisen Kone's album sales (''[[L'amourha]]'', 1985), but the band gained fame for their powerful, loud and intense live performances. The band toured constantly and played a wide variety of musical styles, including old [[schlager]] hits under the alias Kullervo Kivi & Gehenna. Sielun Veljet quit in 1991, after seven studio albums, two [[Extended play|EPs]], a [[box set]] and a 1991 documentary film titled ''Veljet''.

=== Solo career ===
Alanko's solo debut, ''[[Kun Suomi putos puusta]]'', was released in 1990. At this point Sielun Veljet still existed, but the band had become less and less active. After the band broke up, Alanko recorded the [[electronic music]] -influenced ''[[Jäätyneitä lauluja]]'' and toured Finland with his band that was named Tuonelan Lukio. The band's keyboardist was Izmo Heikkilä of the band [[Raptori]].<ref name="pomus"/> Alanko went on to release two more solo albums, ''[[Taiteilijaelämää]]'' (1995) and ''[[Irti]]'' (1996).

In 1997, a four-CD [[box set]] ''Alangolla – Ismo Alangon lauluja'' was released. It spanned his entire career starting from Hassisen Kone and including material from different side projects. Until then, very few Finnish artists had released a box set. Sielun Veljet had released ''[[Musta laatikko]]'' in 1991 and [[CMX (band)|CMX]] their collection ''[[Cloaca Maxima (album)|Cloaca Maxima]]'' in 1997.

Alanko's most popular song, "[[Pop-musiikkia]]", was recorded in 1997 with fellow rock stars [[Ilkka Alanko]] (of [[Neljä Ruusua]]), Kalle Ahola (of [[Don Huonot]]) and [[A. W. Yrjänä]] (of CMX) under the name Neljä baritonia (Four Baritones). The single has been [[Music recording sales certification|certified platinum]] in Finland<ref>[http://www.ifpi.fi/tilastot/kplista.html?action=vapaa&tyyppi=koti&haku=artisti&julkaisuntyyppi=single&teksti=Nelj%E4+baritonia ifpi.fi] – Retrieved on April 17, 2008</ref> and is one of the most successful songs of all time on the Finnish singles chart.<ref>[http://finnishcharts.com/bestall.asp finnishcharts.com] – Retrieved on April 17, 2008</ref>

In 2002, Alanko appeared on [[Timo Rautiainen (musician)|Timo Rautiainen]]'s [[Music recording sales certification|platinum]]-selling ''Tiernapojat'' play with [[Jarkko Martikainen]], [[Toni Wirtanen]] and Rautiainen himself, playing [[Herod the Great|King Herod]].

In 2009, Alanko continues his varied projects playing with contemporary Finnish artists. In April he joined former Alanko Säätiö percussionist Teho Majamäki onstage as Teholla at Helsinki's mini-festival Arctic Paradise Live, having the same evening performed a solo concert in the Ateneum Art Museum series (A Land Without Kantele) with resident houseband of Jarmo Saari (guitars), Arttu Tolonen (bass) and Abdissa "Mamba" Assefa (drums).

=== Ismo Alanko Säätiö ===
{{Main|Ismo Alanko Säätiö}}
In 1998, Alanko started the semi-ironically named [[Ismo Alanko Säätiö]] (Ismo Alanko Foundation). Though Säätiö performed many of Alanko's old hits, the arrangements were radically revamped to fit with their unique acoustic sound, heavily featuring the [[avant-garde]] [[accordion]] sound of [[Kimmo Pohjonen]], a successful artist in his own right. Even though Säätiö is a band, it can be said that it is a backing band for solo performances by Alanko, as members of the band have changed rapidly.

=== Ismo Alanko Teholla ===
In 2007, Alanko ended Säätiö in its current form, and began touring with multi-instrumentalist Teho Majamäki as "Ismo Alanko Teholla". The name of the band is a play on words, and can mean either "Ismo Alanko with Power" or "Ismo Alanko in ICU (Intensive Care Unit)".<ref>Tapio Ahola: [http://www.vertigo.cd/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2457&Itemid=27 Ismo Alanko Teholla – suuruudenhullu pienyhtye] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706220904/http://www.vertigo.cd/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2457&Itemid=27 |date=July 6, 2011 }}, ''Vertigo'', March 3, 2008</ref>