MP3 Ironcross - Steel Warrior
Typical 80s European Sounding Metal with a lot of NWoBHM-influences.
16 MP3 Songs
METAL/PUNK: 80''s Metal, METAL/PUNK: Heavy Metal
Details:
IRON CROSS – History
Ironcross was formed in 1976 in Turku, Finland.
Founding members were Esa "Gona" Leinonen (drums and
vocals), Kimmo Vanne (guitars), Pekka "Body" Nummela
(guitars) and Tero Ovaska (bass). The band began with
cover songs but soon they started to compose a
material of their own which was mainly written by
Gona. At some point Tero Ovaska left the group and
Pekka "Body" Nummela started playing bass. The new
second guitarist for Ironcross was Jari "Mizz"
Lundqvist. Tero Ovaska later resurfaced with bands The
Fabrics and Pepe Le Moko. Ironcross made a couple of
demos and they were signed by a little record company
called Master/Turun kasettituotanto.
The first Ironcross single "Let''s Get Down to
Business/Harder Than Stone" was released in the early
autumn of 1982 and the band started making their first
lp "Bloodhounds".
Before the recording of "Bloodhounds" took place
Ironcross added ex-Noitawaimo skinsman Esko "Eddy"
Mänty-Sorvari into the line-up. After "Bloodhounds"
was recorded the band also recruited the keyboard
player Kari "Case" Laihonen into fold.
In the early 1983 Ironcross parted ways with Kimmo
Vanne and he was replaced by Peter Bredbacka. Vanne
sadly passed away later. The new line up went to
record a song called "Dealer" into the compilation
album "Uusi Musa". Bredbacka wasn''t a long time member
in Ironcross and soon Ari "Steeler" Suomi took his
duties.
Ironcross had a new record deal with Finnlevy/Warner
which was one of the biggest record companies in
Finland. Single "Get Down''N''Get Away/Not Good For Your
Health" was released in the spring 1984 and album
"Steel Warrior" followed in summer. Ironcross did some
gigs but nothing happened. The album didn''t sell
enough and as a result the band was shown the door in
Finnlevy. In the spring 1985 Ironcross split up with
the drummer Eddy. He has later played and recorded
with bands called Skädäm and The Sharonees. In 2006
Eddy and his band Cold Sweat released a tribute album
for Phil Lynott and Thin Lizzy. Mänty-Sorvari also
appears in Hanoi Rocks'' Another Hostile Takeover album
handling drums in Lynott cover Dear Miss Lonely
Hearts.
In the mid 80''s big hair and make up bands started to
happen in Los Angeles and Ironcross realised that as
well. They had a new drummer Jari Mäkeläinen and also
started to create "an image" (read "to look like Ratt
or Mötley Crue but Finnish..."). Before that they had
been an usual NWOBHM-inspired "leather jackets and
jeans"-band.
The EMI Finland signed the band and in July 1986 they
went to record a new album "Too Hot To Rock".
Ironcross released a single "Too Hot To Rock/Paradise
Of Stars" in September and they even appeared in
Finnish TV performing the title track.
In February 1987 Ironcross appeared again in
television. This time in Finnish National TV (YLE),
with the track "Fight For The Strangers". The
announcement party of "Too Hot To Rock" in Cafe
Metropol, Helsinki was pompous; Rolls Royce, top
models... Each member of Ironcross even had big
crosses of iron done of precious metals and jewels.
But again... Despite the strong publicitity and some
touring, "Too Hot To Rock" didn''t sell enough to
confess the EMI people ''cause it was very expensive
album to make. The band also got frustrated because of
bad reviews and discouraging atmosphere.
In March-April 1987 Ironcross started to plan a
promotional trip to the US . In the fall 1987 they
went to the States for six weeks and made some
performances like in Roxy, LA and Cat Club, NY. They
also appeared in Manhattan Cable TV.
After they returned to Finland they made some gigs in
Turku and demoed their more US-oriented new material.
In the end of 1988 they made a 6 track promo cassette
to show up for US record companies. There was also a
smallprint single release "Immoral Love/Eye For An
Eye" which was published by their own Brilliant label.
After that entered the silence. In Summer ''89 Case
left the band and moved to Florida, USA. Ironcross
made their last gig in Turku December 1989 as a
fourpiece. In 1990 their manager Anne St. James
started marketing Ironcross with a new name,
Dillinger. The band still struggled and there were
plans for the 4th album but all of a sudden Gona
turned into a jehovah''s witness. He left the band and
the music business for good. Jimmy would have wanted
to continue the band with Steeler handling the vocals
but Steeler and Buddy didn''t want to continue and that
was the very end of Ironcross. The final recording
from Ironcross/Dillinger was a 1990 3 track demo with
songs "Rock''N''Roll People", "My Credit Teacher" and
"Shoot, Shoot Me".
Jari "Jimbo" Mäkeläinen was the sole survivor
continuing playing hard rock in a band called Minx.
They released a self financed mini-lp in 1990. After
Minx he formed a band called Wardance. In 1994 Wardance
disbanded and vocalist Pekka Rautiainen started a solo
career as Julius.
After Wardance Jimbo played in various jazz-orientated
projects. Mäkeläinen also continues as a loyal sticksman
for the Jaakko Niitemaa''s melodic hard project House
Of Mirrors which has released so far two albums for
Escape Music.
Discography:
Ironcross – Bloodhounds 1983 LP / 2008CD-rerelease on KARTHAGO RECORDS / Twilight
Ironcross – Steel Warrior 1984 LP /2008 CD-rerelase
On KARTHAGO RECORDS / Twlight
Ironcross – Too hot to rock 1986 LP / 2001 CD-rerelease on EMI
Ironcross – Immoral Love / Eye for an eye 7inch 1989 / rereleased on CD “Bloodhounds” 2008 by KARTHAGO RECORDS / Twilight
People who are interested in Saxon Praying Mantis should consider this download.