Finland's longest-lived "President of the Republic"

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By Ilkka Mattila
     
      Urho Kekkonen may have been Tasavallan Presidentti (President of the Republic) for 25 years, from 1956 to 1981, but the name has been held considerably longer by Tasavallan Presidentti the progressive rock band.
      Thirty-seven years ago, in Kekkonen’s third term in office, Tasavallan Presidentti released their first album, and now the band are performing again this week in their original line-up.
      The head of state and Tasavallan Presidentti have always enjoyed close and cordial relations.
     
“I met Kekkonen several times”, recalls vocalist Frank Robson. "You had to queue up for permission to get an audience at the President’s Office, but Kekkonen was a good laugh and he simply told us to go for it.”
      British-born Robson took Finnish citizenship way back in 1975, and has voted in all elections since then. The only one of the four presidents he has not met in his time here is Mauno Koivisto.
      "Martti Ahtisaari came to see our festival gig at Ruisrock in 1995. We were introduced as 'Tasavallan Presidentti' and Ahtisaari grinned and said 'Me too'. He also sent each of us a thank-you note later.”
     
The current President of the Republic, Tarja Halonen, saw the progressive rock outfit in concert five years ago, on the occasion of saxophonist/flautist Juhani Aaltonen’s 65th birthday.
      “She sent us a bouquet of flowers with a card that read: 'From the Other One'", says Robson. “I’ve had this nutty idea that I might invite her along to my forthcoming 60th birthday bash. She could sing with us for a change.”
     
It is no coincidence that Tasavallan Presidentti got back to work and together precisely during the presidential elections.
      A couple of weeks ago, the winning team on an instalment of the Finnish version of the TV-show Have I Got News For You received copies of the band’s new CD-EP Six. The three tracks on the mini-album are also available for download online, and later this year a full album is scheduled.
      Robson and guitarist Jukka Tolonen will continue putting songs together immediately after the band’s current winter tour is complete. The last time TP released an album of new material was in 1974.
      “Nah, it doesn’t raise the bar any higher”, retorts Robson.
      “It’s never been too high, but it does lift the vibe. And these days we know how to play a bit, and at our age there’s no need any longer to go doing the splits onstage.”
     
Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print in the Nytweekly supplement on 3.2.2006
     
Tasavallan Presidentti at Tavastia Club (Helsinki, Urho Kekkosen katu 4-6), Wed. 8.2.2006, 21:00-02:00, gig starts at 22:00. Tickets EUR 10.00


Links:
  Tasavallan Presidentti (an unofficial fansite)
  Jukka Tolonen

ILKKA MATTILA / Helsingin Sanomat
ilkka.mattila@hs.fi