PRIVATE LINE - "PIRATES FROM HELLCITY - FINLAND"

- Formed | 1996
- Current line-up | 2002
- Sammy | Vox/Guitar
- Jack | Guitar/Vox
- Illy | Guitar/Vox/Synths
- Spit | BassVox
- Eliaz | Drums/Vox


STARTING THE BAND

When teachers at a comprehensive school in a small town in central Finland tried to make 11-year-old Sammy study in maths and geography instead of his overwhelming interest in acts like W.A.S.P, Motley Crue and Hanoi Rocks they intentionally left out the fact that another kid named Eliaz - on another class next door had exactly similar interests.

Private Line was originally formed in the mid-90s by Sammy, guitar-player Jari and some of their school mates. Eliaz the kid in the block. erm.. at school some years earlier - joined the band shortly after meeting Sammy at a house party. They soon came to notice it was not only music they shared in common but found themselves interested in the overall wisdom of Rocknroll Decadence as well. Private Line won a band competition and used the prize money to record and release their first EP in 1998. The material on Smooth Motions combined hard-rock influences and fierce rhythms. The band started touring and went through some line up-changes. The new line-up including Sammy, Eliaz, Jari, Spit and Illy recorded a 5-song promo-CD which got quite nice response, especially from outside of Finland. Despite of the good reception of the Promo-CD, the year 2001 was uncertain time for the band Jari left the band and joined Finnish metal kings Timo Rautiainen ja Trio Niskalaukaus and Sammy moved to Helsinki Rock City and was soon after followed by the rest of the band. In the beginning of 2002 Sammy bumped into Jack (ex- Palmcut) while exploring the nightlife of Helsinki and they decided to join their forces and breathe new life into Private Line.

The band started intense rehearsing period and went on to record new kick-ass material. In December 2002 Private Line released a new Mini-CD Six Songs Of Hellcity Trendkill (released by Bad Habits/ Krklund Records). The Mini-CD got rave reviews from the Finnish rock media and also many international print- and webzines were enthusiastic about these Finnish newcomers. The band did a 40-show tour in Finland and created a fanatic fanbase. Private Lines loud as f**k mix of 80..s sleaze and early 90..s alternative punk was now starting to make bigger and bigger waves. The lead singer Sammy..s vocals, stage presence and showmanship was more than often compared to the likes of Vince Neil (Motley Crue) and Sebastian Bach (Skid Row).

2004 HITTING THE CHARTS

The title of the full-length debut album "21st Century Pirates" (released by Bad Habits Records / Playground Music) tells a whole lot about the band, their music and their attitude. They have practiced piracy by borrowing and stealing the most essential elements from their childhood heroes and turned it into their own 21st century modern sound. After touring Finlands rock..n roll harbors for two straight years they went straight to number 3 on the finnish Top 20 single-chart with "Forever And a Day" in February 2004. The single also included an original soundtrack "Sleep Tight" of the movie Levottomat 3. Second single and the video song (filmed by Thomas Hencz) "1-800-Out-Nowhere" came out in Finland on the 30th June 2004 and hit the single chart at number 4. The video stayed the full 10 weeks in the MTVs Up North video chart. The great success continued with the 3rd single "Already Dead" making it too to the top 5 single-chart.

2005

After the 21st Century Pirates was released in Finland (Bad Habits Records), Japan (JVC Victor), Italy (Edel Italy), Russia (Playground) and Ukraine Private Line tour took the band to Italy, Spain, England, Sweden and Russia.

The band also got the great honour to play with the bands like Motley Crue, Alice Cooper and D-A-D.

February 2006 Private Line singed a new licensing deal inked between Playground Music Scandinavia and 456 Enterprises & Entertainment in the USA for PRIVATE LINE's debut album 21th Century Pirates and the new upcoming album for North & South America. 21st Century Pirates will be released in the U.S.A near future.

BROKEN PROMISED LAND & EVEL KNIEVEL FACTOR - 2006

Private Line released their first single "BROKEN PROMISED LAND w/UNIFORM" May 31st 2006 from their forthcoming album "EVEL KNIEVEL FACTOR". New single hit straight to the Finnish single charts number 5 at the first week, number 4 second and third week and stayed in the top20 full 10 weeks!

Second Private Line album "EVEL KNIEVEL FACTOR" was released November 2006 in Finland and December 2006 in Japan. Album was also released in Russia, Italy, Brazil, Chile, Argentina and Sweden.

2007-2008

2nd single "Sound Advice" from the album was released January 2007 and it hit the Finnish charts number 2. Video of the song stayed 10 weeks number 1 at the finnish music channel VoiceTV. Sound Advice was also in the Finnish box-office hit movie "V2-Jäätynyt Enkeli" and soundtrack.

After the album release band have been staying on the road playing numerous gigs and writing new material. Third Private Line album will be released in the year 2009.