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ABOUT

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About

The origins

STORY of SERPICO

The band:

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  • Jani Serpico - Drums

  • Matt Gee - Bass

  • Vee Dour - Lead vocals

  • Snage - Guitars

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Serpico is a Finnish rock band founded in 2005. From the original lineup, vocalist Vee Dour (Kalle Virtanen) and guitarist Snage (Mika Muinonen) remain. The current lineup also includes drummer Jani “Serpico” Järvelin and bassist Matti “Matt Gee” Gustafsson.

With its first lineup, Serpico recorded a full-length album titled Utopia +358, which was never officially released. However, the EP Bad Commercial was released in 2011. These recordings were produced at Headline Studio in Tampere under the direction of Jani Viitanen, known from the band Yö.

In 2011, Serpico supported Mad Juana, the band led by Hanoi Rocks bassist Sami Yaffa. Three years later, the band released its first full-length album, Shallow Mistress, which was accompanied by a music video. In Levykauppa X’s annual poll for new bands, the album ranked fifth. Shallow Mistress was recorded at Headline Studio in Tampere. Serpico actively toured abroad, performing in the Baltic countries and Sweden alongside Bloody Heels, Rust’n’Rage, and Princess.

In 2018, Serpico released the album Rock Tattoo, featuring the first single Shout, which also received a music video. The video gained exposure on Klaus Flaming’s late-night music program on Radio Rock. Following the album’s release, the band embarked on a two-week tour of the UK, performing with Rust’n’Rage and various local bands.

That same year, Serpico performed alongside Michael Monroe at the MotoRockFest in Pori. In 2016, the band released Rock Tattoo's second single and music video, Ain’t Better to Leave.

In 2016, Serpico opened for Hanoi Rocks guitarist Andy McCoy and also performed with Flesh Roxon. In 2017, the band continued touring and recorded the remaining tracks for Rock Tattoo. The album received positive international attention, with Slade’s frontman Noddy Holder mentioning Ain’t Better to Leave in his music column. Additionally, the Canadian YouTube channel A&P Reacts gave the album high praise.

A New Phase

In 2019, Serpico continued as a four-piece after Eddy’s departure from the band. This change also brought in producer Anssi Kippo, best known for his work with Children of Bodom. The band rehearsed intensively and recorded new material entirely in analog format on reel-to-reel tape.

That same year, Serpico signed an international recording and distribution deal with the Italian label Rockshots Records. Their album The Chosen Four was released in the summer of 2022 and received widespread positive feedback from various media outlets. Kamelot’s drummer Alex Landenburg personally praised the album. The track The Last Days of Monopoly features composition work by Kassu Halonen. Following the album’s release, the band appeared on the television show Soittakaa Paranoid, which included a Ville Juurikkala-directed music video for Dark Energy.

The following year, the band underwent a lineup change when bassist Matti Gustafsson replaced Antti Fager. Additionally, Serpico signed an international booking deal with Metal Bookings for the years 2021–2023. The agency arranges performances across Europe, Japan, South America, and Asia. In 2022, Serpico secured domestic booking representation with Stupido Live Booking.

In 2023, Serpico supported The 69 Eyes and, on short notice, traveled to England to perform at Geoff Tate’s Operation: Mindcrime 35th anniversary concert at the sold-out The Garage club in London.

In 2024, Serpico signed a release and distribution deal with the U.S.-based label Golden Robot Records. The new album Dressed in Flesh is set for release in September 2025. The album was once again recorded entirely in analog format at Astia Studio under Anssi Kippo’s direction, utilizing traditional production methods. Three singles will be released ahead of the album’s launch.

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Vee Dour

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Jani Serpico

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Snage

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Matt Gee

DISCOGRAPHY

The Chosen Four, album (2022)

  1. Riverbanks

  2. Midnight Cowboy

  3. Rock Your Brain

  4. I Am A Rocker

  5. Dark Energy

  6. Silent Love

  7. Smokin’ Hot Mama

  8. Holy Rocks Outta Body

  9. The Last Days Of Monopoly

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Dark Energy, single (2022)

  1. Dark Energy

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I Am A Rocker, single 2022)

  1. I Am A Rocker

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Dark Enery, single 2022

  1. Dark Energy

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Midnight Cowboy, single (2020)

  1. Midnight Cowboy

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Rock Tattoo (2018)

  1. Rock Tattoo

  2. Shout

  3. Irish Roots

  4. A.O.F.

  5. No Confusion

  6. This is What I Am

  7. Half Step

  8. July

  9. Ain't Better To Leave

  10. Lightning Thunder Baby

  11. Ex-Serpico

  12. Let It Burn

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Lightning Thunder Baby, Digital Single (2018)

  1. Lightning thunder baby

Ain't better to leave, Digital Single (2017)

  1. Ain't better to leave

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SHOUT, Digital Single (2016)

  1. Shout

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SHALLOW MISTRESS (Debut album, 2014)

  1. Intro

  2. Oriental clash

  3. Documents

  4. (I've got a hard on) drugs

  5. Supernatural outlaw #1

  6. Cozy

  7. Tie us down

  8. Mosquito

  9. Cabare'

  10. Shallow Mistress

  11. Always?

  12. Outro

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BAD COMMERCIAL single-EP (2011)

  1. Bad Commercial

  2. Rainy day

  3. Well known risk

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© 2024 Serpico

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