Pasi Yli-Paavola - Bass

(as know by Jouni)

I recall meeting Pasi the first time some years ago in '95. Back then, Pasi hadn't yet got into playing bass but I got to know him as one of my friend's younger brother. Things started rolling in '97 when Pasi started playing bass in a band called Offal he and his friends had put up, and I took the post as the band's drummer.

This was the starting point in Pasi's formation into a bass player above anything else. Pasi had already earlier got into listening Iron Maiden, which was a band to really influence this newly formed band and its bassist. From that point on Pasi's musical influences consisted mostly of Maiden alongside few other top-drawer acts. However, Pasi does enjoy various kinds of music although heavy metal is the driving force behind this bass player. You can rarely meet Pasi without seeing him bashing on with his bass along with his favourite music; and I tell you: he can keep up with it! Pasi is eager to take on gigs whenever the opportunity rises, and collaborates with Mark to get the lyrics working for the songs.

Taking a look at Pasi's playing technique, the first thing you notice is the 'old school'-attitude of not having a plectrum to interfere with the playing. Pasi can handle it from galloping to the faster notes with his speedy fingers like anything. How about powerchords? No problem. On stage Pasi fits in like a glove, and if you look close enough you can find a hint of a certain familiar bass legend in his act. As a flaring showman, this guy leaves no-one regretting they came to see the band. If the stage carries monitors, you are bound to get a lot of the mandatory foot-on-monitor stance.

As a person, Pasi is a mixed case: usually very composed and a man of few words, but at times a real storyteller. Pasi likes to crack jokes and is a fun guy to have around in general.

With the band, as well as outside, Pasi is really uncompromising man of his word. Working with him in a band is easy knowing that what is said gets done. Pasi is also a hard man to turn around when he's fixed his opinion on something.

Pasi is a graduate fróm the Degree Programme for International Business, which gives him a good deal of confidence in getting the band's English lyrics set. Among his mates, Pasi is known as a walking encyclopedia who never lets his friends down.

All in all, Pasi is a great bass player and a friend who takes life as it comes.

Equipment:
Fender Precision Special -78 Bass
Lyon Bass by Washburn
Fender Precision Bass copy

Hartke HA3500 Transient Attack bi-amp
Harkte VX410 cabinet
Carvin ProBass 150 combo amp

Boss DS1 distortion pedal

Elixir Nanoweb Light strings

DiMarzio instrument cables

Favourite bands:
Iron Maiden, Thin Lizzy, Helloween.

Primary musical influences:
Steve Harris, Eddie Casillas, Markus Grosskopf

Interests: Women of low moral fibre