Zen Café was a Finnish rock band that was founded in

Turku Turku ( ; ; sv, Åbo, ) is a city and former capital on the southwest coast of Finland at the mouth of the Aura River, in the region of Finland Proper (''Varsinais-Suomi'') and the former Turku and Pori Province (''Turun ja Porin lääni''; ...

in 1992. The band derived its name from the book ''

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance ''Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values'' is a book by Robert M. Pirsig first published in 1974. It is a work of fictionalized autobiography and is the first of Pirsig's texts in which he explores his concept of Qua ...

'' by Robert M. Pirsig at the suggestion of band's bassist Kari Nylander. Other original members were Samuli Putro (vocals, guitar), Mikko Oesch (guitar) and Tuomo Mäkipaavola (drums). Oesch soon left the group and Mäkipaavola was replaced by Pete Parkkonen (drums). Their latest album ''Stop'' was released in 2006, after which the band began a long hiatus without officially disbanding. According to Putro, it is unlikely that the band will ever return as Zen Café. Meanwhile, band members are following their own personal projects. Lead vocalist Samuli Putro has released four solo albums, an EP, and a number of singles. Two of his albums have topped the Finnish albums chart.

Members

;Current line-up * Samuli Putro – vocals, guitar, lyrics * Kari Nylander – bass * Pete Parkkonen – drums ;Past members * Mikko Oesch – guitar, vocals * Tuomo Mäkipaavola – drums

Current member biographies

Samuli Putro

Samuli Tapani Putro (born in

Helsinki Helsinki ( or ; ; sv, Helsingfors, ) is the capital, primate, and most populous city of Finland. Located on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, it is the seat of the region of Uusimaa in southern Finland, and has a population of . The city ...

on 21 August 1970) is a Finnish musician, vocalist and songwriter. His family moved to live in

Raahe Raahe (; sv, Brahestad; ) is a town and municipality of Finland. Founded by Swedish statesman and Governor General of Finland Count Per Brahe the Younger in 1649, it is one of 10 historic wooden towns (or town centers) remaining in Finland. Exam ...

a short time after his birth. He was a founding member of Zen Café and its lead singer, guitarist and songwriter. Even while the band was very active, he pursued some personal projects including a solo EP released on 7 September 2004 titled ''Täysikasvuinen'' containing music from film soundtracks. When the band went on a hiatus after 2006, he focused on developing a solo career. On 11 February 2009, he released his first solo studio album ''Elämä on juhla''. In 2009, Putro composed the music for

Mika Ronkainen Mika Ronkainen (born 6 August 1970) is a Finnish film director and screenwriter from Oulu, Northern Finland. Ronkainen is the co-creator and director of successful crime drama ''All the Sins'' and he has also worked with documentary films and theat ...

's documentary film '' Freetime Machos''. His second solo album, ''Älä sammu aurinko'' appeared on 16 March 2011 followed by ''Tavalliset hautajaiset'' on 24 August 2012. His eighth and most recent album ''Ikävä mummoa'' was released in 2023. Samuli Putro was nominated for a Jussi Award for "Best Music" for his work in ''Menolippu Mombasaan'' (One-way ticket to Mombasa) in 2003. In 2010 he was nominated for three awards during the Emma-gaala for his 2009 album ''Elämä on juhla''. These were for "best debut album", "Best solo act" and "critics choice".

Kari Nylander

Kari Michael Nylander (born in

Suomussalmi Suomussalmi () is a municipality in Finland and is located in the Kainuu region about northeast of Kajaani, the capital of Kainuu and south of Kuusamo. The municipality has a population of () and covers an area of of which is water. The popul ...

in 1971) is a Finnish musician, and the bass player in Zen Café bassist. He spent part of his childhood and youth in Raahe. In 1989, he moved to

, and was a founding member of the band.

Pete Parkkonen

Pete Parkkonen (born in Helsinki on November 4, 1964) is a Finnish drummer in Zen Café. Prior to becoming a member of the band, he had been in Kebas during the 1980s, in Toni Rossi's Sinitaivas-orchestra and in Inkvisitio whose debut album Paratiisi was released in 1989. In addition to the drums, Parkkonen plays percussion. Both his brothers Tom and Jussi are well-known drummers as well.

Members

Current member biographies

Samuli Putro

Kari Nylander

Pete Parkkonen

Discography

Albums

Singles

Discography: Samuli Putro

See also

References