Remu Aaltonen
The dynamic drummer and frontman of Hurriganes, whose raw rock and roll energy made him a Finnish music institution for decades.
Born 1948 (age 78)·Finnish drummer and singer·Birthday: January 10·Baby Boomers
Biography
With his signature headband, wild stage presence, and powerhouse drumming, Remu Aaltonen is the beating heart of Finnish rock and roll. As the founder, lead singer, and drummer of Hurriganes, he channeled the spirit of 1950s American rockabilly and British invasion rock into a distinctly Finnish, high-octane sound. The band, formed in the early 1970s, became a national sensation, cutting through the era's progressive rock with a back-to-basics approach of short, sharp songs and relentless energy. Despite numerous lineup changes and personal struggles, Remu's commitment to the band's core sound never wavered. His gravelly voice and charismatic, rebellious persona made him a beloved, if sometimes controversial, figure. Beyond Hurriganes, he has maintained a solo career, but his legacy is forever tied to the band that provided the soundtrack to countless Finnish parties and defined a no-frills rock ethos.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Remu was born in 1948, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Remu Was Born
The biggest hits of 1948
#1 Movie
The Red Shoes
Best Picture
Hamlet
#1 TV Show
Texaco Star Theatre
Remu's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1948Born
Israel declares independence; Berlin Blockade begins
Gas: $0.26/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Twelfth Street Rag" — Pee Wee HuntBest Picture: Hamlet
1953Started school
DNA structure discovered by Watson and Crick
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,750Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Song from Moulin Rouge" — Percy FaithBest Picture: From Here to Eternity
1961Became a teenager
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1964Could drive
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1966Could vote
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1969Turned 21
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1978Turned 30
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1988Turned 40
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1998Turned 50
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2008Turned 60
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 70
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 78 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Founded and led Hurriganes, one of Finland's most commercially successful and enduring rock bands.
- The band's 1974 compilation 'Roadrunner' is one of the best-selling albums in Finnish history.
- Maintained a continuous performing and recording career with Hurriganes across five decades.
- Released several solo albums, exploring blues and rock styles outside the Hurriganes framework.
Did You Know?
His stage name 'Remu' is a childhood nickname.
He is known for his flamboyant fashion, often wearing leopard-print clothing and his trademark headband.
He has openly discussed his past struggles with alcohol addiction.
In 2013, he participated in the Finnish version of the reality TV show 'Big Brother.'
“Rock and roll is not a hobby, it's a way to live and breathe.”
