Along with
Eppu Normaali and Juice Leskinen,
Popeda is one of the cornerstones of Manserock -- a movement of bands from Tampere, Finland that took root during the late '70s. Inspired primarily by
the Rolling Stones' heavier and less serious material, the band was formed in 1977 by Ilari Ainiala and
Pauli "Pate" Mustajärvi. Signed by the Poko label the same year,
Popeda went on to release nearly 20 studio albums between 1978 and 2005, along with live albums and numerous compilations. The band has gone through several lineups, with
Mustajärvi the lone constant. ~ Andy Kellman