jmke booklet1

Vtftj from Yeliktje Łukt (the bard, not the city), Vermo from Yerme Puhapaew, Iarvo from Nowikov and Mati from somewhere formcdJ.M.Kf. m Taflrnn on January l8th, 1986 The origtntl singer, Mati. left the band soon afterwards, leavmg Vefmo on drums, Tarvo on bass, and Yillu on wocałs and gurt ar, sometimes working together with gueit singers (with Tflnu Trubetsky from Yennaskond they played under the name ‘Yurst Trubetsky & J M.Kf.*}. For the firjt three years they mamły played concerts in Estonia, and a couple of tmes in Latwia, lithuanta, and Russia łt was aimost impossłle to trawę! outside the US.SR. m those days. especały if the RGB took an mterest in you.

J MXf came mto wogue due to ther lyrits. which were at the same time angry and fumy, ronić and melancholie. fJ of care yet cynical, and also because of ther pecuiiar melodie yrt harde a e punk rock They became the most popular punk band m Estonii, and remain m this posrtwn unti now.

In 7987 VtOu wrote “Tere Perestroika”, mitially smgmg it alone withguitar. liter the band madę numerous different wersions of the song. It became a big hit because of rts humorous topicalrty, and tn 7988 won hands down a song contest on a popular Estontan TY show. The prize, a holiday ih Eirope. never amwed.

In 1988 came the frst łine-up change - Tarvo skipped from JKKf. to Róovel Óćbik and a new bass player, lembn. jomed the band

In 1989 two men from Helsinki, Joose Berglund and Jorma Risttt, founded a new record label. Stupido Twtns, with the aim of pubłishmg some Estontan bands- J M.Kf ‘s “Itrt Pcrestrotka* was release # 001. The wind* of chang* in the Sowiet Union had ałready Wown some chains away, and so JUKĘ. were able to trawel abroad for the first tsme in Aprd 1989. playmg ther first concert m Finland to middle-aged communists at the lefttst Forum in Helsmkt later that autumn they recorded for Stupido Twins ther first IP, 'Kuknale Maile* (To the Coid Country), which was the first Estoman rock record madę abroad Manmum Rock'n'Roll called it "absoluteły ewellent*

At the end of 1989 Yenno mowed to P.YA declanng that J M Ki has become too commerctal for him, and Ardo took his place The band toured Estonia, the Hordic countrtes, and Germany, madę a couple of EPs, and only by 1993 started to record a new album, 'Grtngode Kultu**’ (Ciiture of Grmgos) Meanwhde Estonia had regamed its mdependence and J.M.KE couidn't contmue with their ant 1-Sowiet songs iwhat was the point?), so they found ther new “enemy* m the mvading burger-cultire. inereasmg powerty, and other early-capitalistic distresses. lembit left the band in 199* and was replaced by Sten. JJiKi got ałso a new drummer. Andres Aru, who plays the majority of gigs nowadays whie Ardo, who is constantfy travelling somewhere. has played on all studio recordings up to now.

Ther third album, 'Sputniks in Pectopah" (7995). is an edectic collectłon of popular Russian songs, sung in high energy Russian. The cower wersions include the national anthem of czarist Russia, oM rewołutionary marches, sokhers' songs from WW2, and melodies from popular cartoons

In January 1996JWKE. celebr ated ther lOth birthday with the longest listing concert of their histery presentmg

on st age almost all persons who had ever played with the band,

\

; permanently or temporarrły, ar.d

with a cassette-only-release, “Rumał (W (Silly Jcfce, on Fuckmg t Ctart Records) Thts contained oW

[■ Dlf. recordmgs makiły from T986 and 1987. JłU£ didn't make ther fint "tidy* studio retordrg untd 1989 in Ftnland although by that stage they had enough songs for three or four albums It wajjust impossibie to retease punk rock records under the wgilant gfance of sickle and hammer

JMK£. hayegradujHyabanócncd ther directly political siogans i and now tell morę raried Stones | than before Iheir newest album, “Janeste lnvasioor>* (Inyasion of Rabb*ts), 5 a gcod eiampie of ther present character. Bes-des. rt can be consideredJłiKf.'s best |f product Since the legendary ■j “KulmaleMaale*

Toomas-frik Mathaus, lallinn, April 7997.