The Crash (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1991 |
| Founder | Teemu Brunila, Samuli Haataja |
| Defunct | 2009 |
| Headquarters | Turku , Finland |
| Products | Pop rock music |
The Crash was a pop rock ensemble originating from Turku, Finland. Initially drawing inspiration from Britpop, their sound later evolved to include elements of Motown, disco, new wave, and 1980s rock. Established in 1991 by Teemu Brunila and Samuli Haataja, the group’s lineup was finalized with the addition of Erkki Kaila and Dani Aavinen. The band experienced multiple name changes—beginning as Ladies & Gentlemen, then New Deal, followed by The Crush, before adopting the name The Crash in 1998, coinciding with keyboardist Toni Ahola replacing Aavinen.
History
Their first album, Comfort Deluxe, was released through Warner Music Finland in 1999. This launch was supported by a European tour and a performance at Manchester’s In The City event, garnering recognition from Melody Maker and MTV Nordic. After Ahola’s departure, Jussi Lehtinen joined the band. Their sophomore Warner release, Wildlife (2001), included the single "Lauren Caught My Eye"—later re-recorded as "Lauren" on Pony Ride—which became the first video by a Finnish artist to receive powerplay rotation on MTV. This achievement, along with the follow-up single "Star" (retitled "Solitudinarian" on Pony Ride), led to a nomination for Best Nordic Artist at the 2002 MTV Europe Music Awards. Subsequently, Lehtinen left and was succeeded by Tomi Mäkilä.
With their third album, Melodrama, the band shifted away from their previously somber tone. The lead single "Still Alive" expanded their listener base; the album debuted at number two on Finnish charts and remained there for eleven weeks. The track "Star" gained further exposure through a major German eBay commercial and peaked at #21 on German sales charts. The Crash undertook extensive touring in Germany, both as headliners and supporting acts such as Reamonn and Sportfreunde Stiller. Despite promotional efforts by Warner Music Germany, Melodrama did not chart upon its release there.
Following success across Scandinavia and Central Europe, The Crash aimed to penetrate the US market amid interest from prominent labels including Capitol Records, Maverick Records, Warner/Atlantic, and Hollywood Records. In March 2005, they appeared at the SXSW Festival in Austin, Texas, where Billboard Magazine recognized them among standout performers alongside Bloc Party and M.I.A. They also played renowned venues like the Viper Room in Los Angeles and CBGB's in New York City. During this period, they recorded Pony Ride, choosing to self-fund after parting ways with Warner Finland following three successful albums. The band licensed Pony Ride internationally; it debuted in Finland in September 2006 via Suomen Musiikki, reaching #2 on the charts. In January 2007, they secured agreements with Rubber Records for Australia/New Zealand and with Rykodisc for North America. The Crash returned to SXSW in March 2007 for a Rykodisc showcase.
The song "Reasons To Sing" from Pony Ride was featured on the 17 November 2008 episode of The CW’s series Gossip Girl, attracting an audience of 2.88 million viewers according to U.S. Nielsen ratings.
On 2 April 2009, Live Nation—their Finnish booking agency—announced The Crash’s decision to disband, accompanied by plans for a farewell tour throughout Finland in May 2009. Their final show took place at Turku’s Ruisrock festival on 5 July 2009.
Members
- Teemu Brunila – lead vocals, guitar
- Samuli Haataja – bass guitar, backing vocals
- Erkki Kaila – drums
- Samuli "JJ" Jokinen – keyboard instruments
Studio albums
| Album Title | Release Information | Highest Finnish Chart Position |
|---|---|---|
| Comfort Deluxe | Released in 1999 | 26 |
| Wildlife | Released in 2001 | 3 |
| Melodrama | Released in 2003 | 2 |
| Selected Songs 1999–2005 | Released in 2005 | 10 |
| Pony Ride | Released in 2006 | 2 |
Singles
| Single Title | Release Year | Finland (FIN) | Germany (GER) | Sweden (SWE) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Crash (The Black EP)" | 1997 | — | — | — |
| "Take My Time" | 1998 | — | — | — |
| "World of My Own" | 1999 | — | — | — |
| "Sugared" | 1999 | — | — | — |
| "Coming Home" | 1999 | — | — | — |
| "Lauren Caught My Eye" | 2001 | 3 | — | 44 |
| "Star" | 2001 | — | 28 | — |
| "New York" | 2002 | — | — | — |
| "Still Alive" | 2003 | 2 | — | — |
| "Gigolo" | 2003 | — | — | — |
| "Big Ass Love" | 2005 | — | — | — |
| "Thorn in My Side" | 2005 | — | — | — |
| "Pony Ride" | 2006 | — | — | — |
| "Grace" | 2006 | — | — | — |
| "Stay" | 2006 | — | — | — |
Note: The symbol "—" denotes that the single either did not enter the charts or was not released in that particular country.