Ben Granfelt Band is a Finnish progressive blues-rock band formed in 1993. Led by singer-guitarist Ben Granfelt, Ben Granfelt Band (BGB) has released ten albums worldwide and toured clubs and festivals in Finland, United Kingdom, Germany, United States, Austria, Switzerland and United Arab Emirates where they appeared at the Abu Dhabi and Dubai Jazz Festivals. BGB’s latest album Kaleidoscope was released on Feb 4, 2009 in Finland with the rest of Europe following later that spring. The band is currently working on their 11th album due for release in September 2010. BGB's music is described as a pure cocktail of rhythm, melody and soul where even progressive and heavy rock music styles blend in naturally. Some of their musical influences include the likes of Gov’t Mule,

Jeff Beck Geoffrey Arnold Beck (born 24 June 1944) is an English rock guitarist. He rose to prominence with the Yardbirds and after fronted the Jeff Beck Group and Beck, Bogert & Appice. In 1975, he switched to a mainly instrumental style, with a fo ...

Peter Frampton Peter Kenneth Frampton (born 22 April 1950) is an English musician and songwriter who was a member of the rock bands Humble Pie and the Herd. As a solo artist, he has released several albums, including his major breakthrough album, the live ...

and

Robin Trower Robin Leonard Trower (born 9 March 1945) is an English rock guitarist who achieved success with Procol Harum throughout 1967–1971, and then again as the bandleader of his own power trio known as the Robin Trower Band. Biography Robin Trowe ...

. Ben Granfelt is a guitarist best known from his work in

Leningrad Cowboys The Leningrad Cowboys are a Finnish rock band who perform rock and roll covers of other songs. They have exaggerated pompadour hairstyles and wear long, pointy shoes. They often work with the Russian military band the Alexandrov Ensemble. Be ...

Wishbone Ash Wishbone Ash are a British rock band who achieved success in the early and mid-1970s. Their popular albums included '' Wishbone Ash'' (1970), ''Pilgrimage'' (1971), '' Argus'' (1972), '' Wishbone Four'' (1973), ''There's the Rub'' (1974), and ...

, Gringos Locos, Guitar Slingers and his solo band Ben Granfelt Band. Granfelt appears on a total of 26 albums and schedules his life according to the family and hobbies that include martial arts. Drummer Miri Miettinen has played with BGB since its incarnation. In his extensive career, Miettinen has played drums on over 300 albums as a studio musician and in numerous bands, films and theatrical plays. He is best known for playing with the 1980s rock groups

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and Gringos Locos. He also works as a drum teacher and runs his own studio. John Vihervä plays bass and was involved in the early stages of Finnish power metal band

Stratovarius Stratovarius is a Finnish power metal band that formed in 1985. Since their formation, they have released sixteen studio albums, five DVDs and six live albums. In its history, the band has gone through many chaotic lineup changes, and after fo ...

in 1982-84. "Groovemaster" Vihervä has also played with Five Fifteen, Monsterbore, Käsityöläiset,

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just to name a few.

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is the newest member of BGB and plays keyboards. His previous musical experience includes working with Swedish progressive rock group

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, metal singer

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, battle metal band

Turisas Turisas is a Finnish metal band from Hämeenlinna. They were founded in 1997 by Mathias Nygård and Jussi Wickström, and named after an ancient Finnish god of war. Turisas are a folk metal band, incorporating elements of power metal and s ...

and Finnish legendary rockband

Dingo The dingo (''Canis familiaris'', ''Canis familiaris dingo'', ''Canis dingo'', or ''Canis lupus dingo'') is an ancient ( basal) lineage of dog found in Australia. Its taxonomic classification is debated as indicated by the variety of scienti ...

Band members

* Ben Granfelt (guitar, vocals) * Miri Miettinen (drums, vocals) * John Vihervä (bass, vocals) *

(keyboards, vocals)

Former band members

* Kari Leppälä (bass) * Kasper Mårtensson (keyboards) * Ako Kiiski (bass, vocals) *

Lauri Porra Lauri Porra (born 13 December 1977) is a Finnish bass guitarist and a composer who has written scores for films and other media, as well as commissions from orchestras such as the Lahti Symphony and the Finnish Radio Symphony. He is also known fo ...

(bass, vocals) * Anssi Växby (bass, vocals) * Harri Rantanen (bass, vocals)

Additional musicians on albums

* Tero Pennanen (keyboards) * Pekka Gröhn (keyboards) * Abdissa "Mamba" Assefa (percussions) * Petri Korpela (percussions)

Discography

*''The Truth'' - 1994 Megamania *''Radio Friendly'' - 1996 Megamania *''Live'' - 1997 Megamania *''E.G.O.'' - 1999 Megamania *''All I Want to Be'' - 2001 Megamania *''The Past Experience'' - 2004 Megamania *''Live Experience'' - 2006 Bonnier/Amigo *''Sum of Memories'' - 2006 Bonnier/Amigo *''Notes from the Road'' - 2007 Bonnier/Amigo *''Kaleidoscope'' - 2009 Windseekers *''Handmade'' - 7 March 2014 Turenki

References

External links

Ben Granfelt Band official website

Ben Granfelt Band official Myspace

Ben Granfelt Band Facebook profile
{{Authority control Finnish progressive rock groups