Dingo is a Finnish rock band formed around 1982 in Pori, Finland. They fused Finnish melancholy with catchy rock melodies, headed by the charismatic singer Neumann (a.k.a. Pertti Nieminen). Their first two albums, Nimeni on Dingo (1984) and Kerjäläisten valtakunta (1985) both sold over 100,000 copies in Finland and they caused mass hysteria among teenage girls as they were seen as the finnish equivalent of Duran Duran. The hysteria took its toll as the band crashed and burned fast, splitting up in October 1986, after their third album Pyhä Klaani had failed to match the sales of its predecessors. Failure however was a relative concept, as their sales of 70,000 copies pretty much outsold everybody else with a large margin.
Band’s first attempt at comeback was in 1993, but they disbanded next year (1994) after their album Via Finlandia failed to match former glories. Another reunion came in 1998 and they have continued to perform to this day. Neumann is the sole survivor from their glory years’ line-up as the others (guitarist Jonttu Virta, bassist Pepe Laaksonen, keyboardist Pete Nuotio and drummer Quuppa) handed in their resignations in 2002. However, Dingo has kept on performing in various different line-ups. They also have published new albums: Purppuraa (2005) and Humisevan harjun paluu (2008).
A collection of Dingo hits released in 1999 was very successful, which indicates that at least part of the newest generation of listeners have found the group.
Dingo’s English songs: The House Without a Name (1986), Tell Me Now (1986) and Tobacco road (1986). |
