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About Lockman

In February 2005, Heikki "Hermo" Portaankorva and Taito Palvanen were tipped off of each other by a mutual friend. Taito has played drums in such groups as Sivulliset, Livin' Drops, Machinegun Macbeth, Ferryboat Family ja Bird In the Bush. Hermo's career as a singer and guitarist had started in Oulu, in Xtaasi ja later in Helsinki in a band called Swamp.

They had in mind a new rock'n'roll band, where primitive and rootsy rock is mixed with a crooked attitude and indie-aesthetics.

At first Hermo could dig from a large collection of his old masterpieces, but soon new songs began to emerge and the guitar-drums-line-up developed into a bloodthirsty outfit of raw power. In the end of the spring 2005 the guys did their first demo with the help of reknowned Finnish indie-veterans Mother Goose. It worked, but something was missing. After all a bass player would be needed to make Lockman the outfit guys had in mind. However, although there were lots of candidates, no one quite appropriate turned out.

Instead, Hermo and Taito put an ad on an internet-forum for a guitarist. Markku "Feggy" Roinila was not able to resist it since the ad craved for a guitarist who liked Tom Verlaine, Robert Quine and Marc Ribot. "My all-time favourite guitarists!", he sighed to himself and proceeded to give the guys a call. As the leading idea of Lockman was to combine Bo Diddley and Television, Feggy (ex-bands include Brian Jones Swimming Club, Popheads, The Lunatunes and Tampere) could not hope for a better band for himself.

The bass player is called Jean Ramsay and he's a songwriter in his own right. His other projects include The Disappointments and the Love Death Club. He also performs solo under his own name. His favourite bassists are Tracy Pew, Phil Lesh, Mario Cipollina and Derek Smalls. We are proud to have him aboard.

Lockman has done their first few gigs and made their first official demo. We're hungry for more gigs and a record deal, so be our guest. We are a nice band. If you would like to book us for a gig, we are listening.