0421: The legendary Renegades, of Birmingham, UK, playing their first concert in Helsinki, since the 60's. The band came to Finland for the first time in 1963, and their first performance in Helsinki took place at the top floor of the department store "Stockmann". (The show was also witnessed by the then 15 years old Hasse Walli, who was greatly impressed by the band's crazy stage show). Fronted by singer/guitarist/songwriter Kim Brown, The Renegades conquered the hearts of the Finnish audience, and had several number 1 Hit Records, most of them written by Kim. Songs like "Matelot", "My Heart Must do the Crying", "Cadillac", "Seven Golden Daffodils" and many others, boosted the popularity of the band, and these songs were also later recorded by several well known Finnish artists. In the late 60's The Renegades also toured Germany, until they finally settled in Italy, where they had a huge popularity, comparable to the one in Finland. Credit for the reforming of the band goes to Finnish promoter Ande Päiväläinen (of o.a. the "Back To The 60's" organisation), who persistently convinced the guys to reform The Renegades, for a reunion tour of Finland, in autumn 1997. The first gig of that tour took place at Katin Kulta Hotel, where the "Back to the 60's" weekend was held, with lots of Finnish 60's bands also performing. The audience, of about 5.000 people, greeted the band with the same enthusiasm, as in the old days, and when the audience demanded an encore, the guys returned to the stage with tears in their eyes. Left to right: Ian Mallet (bass), Mick Webley (lead guitar), Kim Brown (vocals and rhythm guitar) and Graham Johnson (drums).
The Old Student House, Helsinki, Finland, October 8th, 1997
© H. Walli
0420: Kim Brown, the legendary leader of The Renegades, of Birmingham, UK, here performing for the first time in Helsinki since the 60's. Singing and playing rhythm guitar, he also is a productive song writer, who wrote several number 1 hits for his band. Kim started working with Hasse Walli in January 2000, by which time he was already permanently resident in Helsinki.
The Old Student House, Helsinki, Finland, October 8th, 1997
© H. Walli