1997
January
Johannes Häger (lead vocals, bass), Massi Björkgren (drums, backing)
and Leif Eriksson (guitar) form the band Three-Sixteen, in Turku, Finland. The
band performs at the qualifications for the Finnish championships for Christian
artists, Gospel SM.
February
They change their name to Remedy, and perform at the Gospel SM final. A fourth
member is added to the band, Robert Ståhl on keyboards.
April
Remedy plays at Wapp Rock, which is located in Pörkenäs, Finland.
Except for Johannes (lead vocals, bass) and Massi (drums) the line-up has changed
to: Anders Eklund (guitar, backing), Isabella Häger-Björkgren (backing),
and Maria Eklund (backing). Remedy plays mostly covers by Petra and Jerusalem.
July
Remedy is invited to play at the Humlefestival, and starts rehearsing new-written
material by Johannes and Anders. The music is influenced by the swedish music
scene, the lyrics are also in swedish. Robert Ståhl is back on keyboartds,
and Robert’s friend Robert Lillrank is added on bass. Johannes changes
instrument from bass to acoustic guitar.
August 16th
Remedy performs at the Humlefestival, outside of Munsala, Finland.
The band members feel that it is time to change the name of the band. Guitarist Anders comes up with the name Paddington (influenced by the nice little bear...), and the band decides to go for it - Paddington suits better for both the music and the lyrics.
October-November
The organization Kran rf. is planning a school project against drugs. They need
musical contribution, and ask if Paddington is interested. The band records
three songs, "Kl 7", "Liljorna på ängen", and
"Se till mej som liten är", at Martin Kantola Audio. "Liljorna
på ängen" is chosen for the project.
1998
February
They feel that they want to release the three songs, and goes to the studio
a second time, to make the recordings more up to date. This time the band choose
Studio Dread in Jakobstad, Finland.
March 28th
Paddington’s first single is released, at the Svenska Gården,
Jakobstad.
May
Paddington gets a phone call from FST (the swedish division of the Finnish Broadcasting
Company), who wants to make a music video with the band. Together with Nykarleby
Konstskola (art-school) Paddington makes a video of the song "Se till mej
som liten är"
July
The music video is shown in the TV program "Möten".
August
During the summer Paddington records a demo of two songs, "Torka"
and "Bomull", for promotional use. Both the keyboard and bass player,
Ståhl and Lillrank, begin to lose inspiration, and decide to leave the
band.
Autumn ’98
Paddington decides to take a break. During the break, the band is writing new
material.
Paddington changes music style and language. The music becomes more guitar-oriented, the sound more 70s, and the new songs are all written in english.
1999
February
Paddington begins rehearsing new songs, on new location - Station 1, Jakobstad.
Johannes changes instrument, from acoustic guitar to bass guitar.
May
Paddington needs a keyboard player, and Nicklas Storbjörk fills the requirements.
June 26th
The Midsummerfestival at Pörkenäs, outside of Jakobstad, becomes
Paddington’s first appearence with the new line-up, songs, and sound.
December 4th
Paddington performs at Gospel Countdown in Jakobstad. The concert contains
several of the Finnish Christian artists, and is filmed by FST (to be shown
in April 2000). Paddington’s contribution are the songs "Breathe"
and "Want to be where love is".
2000
April
Paddington begins recording a new full-length album, at Studio Steiron in Jakobstad.
Two of the members own, together with Christian Lund, the studio. Paddington
decides to record 12 songs - 9 in english, and 3 older ones in swedish
During the summer Paddington spends most of their time in the studio, leaving little time off to live performances.
September 22nd - 28th
The Paddington album is mixed in Helsinki, at Arcada Attic, by Svante
Forsbäck, who also has worked with Ville Pusa. The final mix is sent to
Polar Studios in Stockholm, for mastering by Henke Jonsson (who has mastered
the new Tomas Ledin album among others).
October 28th
Paddington performs in Globen, Stockholm, Sweden, at Rock the Globe. Paddington
is the only band outside of Sweden, to participate in a contest of 10 bands.
Rock the Globe is a big youth event, and the contest is one of many happenings
during the weekend.
November 24th
"Wake up and
relax", which is the name of the new CD, is being released during the concert
The Rock in Jakobstad.
2001
May
Petter Näse (guitar) and Jeanette Kecklund (voc.) join the band.
- Due to Jeanette's strange dialect, we had at first a hard time understanding
her - "todde", what's that?
May 12th
Performing at the Hope-festival in Vasa
- Petter and Jeanette on stage with Paddington for the first time.
- To guitars and four backing vocalists produce a massive sound.
May 18th
Performing at the "aMAYzing Rock" event in Turku.
- Sound engineer Kim Engblom produces an amazing sound and is very pleasent
guy to work with.
July 9th
The arrival of Anders and Marias first born baby.
July 20-21
Two concerts at the annual Joensuu Gospel Festival.
- On a hot Friday evening Paddington plays at the Joyful Beat cafe. A somewhat
strange happening.
- Lasse Heikkilä (well known musician/composer) exclaims: "Splendid!"
- On Saturday evening the band appears at the main event of the festival, on
the same stage as The Tribe (UK).
- Some bananas are given to some fans standing in front of the stage. The looked
hungry.
- Massi has to sign his Vater drumsticks to an eager little boy.
August 10th
Performing at the annual youth-festival "Nuorten Kesä" in Ryttylä.
- The audience didn't find the old big barn where we played.
- We drove back with no lights functioning on the Merzedes.
- A journalist from the magazine Music Mission was anxious to get good pictures.
August 11th
Performing at Humle Festival for the 4th time.
- Anders plays 2:nd guitar.
- The audience go wild.