IRON CROSS – History 　　 　　Ironcross was formed in 1976 in Turku, Finland. 　　Founding members were Esa "Gona" Leinonen (drums and 　　vocals), Kimmo Vanne (guitars), Pekka "Body" Nummela 　　(guitars) and Tero Ovaska (bass). The band began with 　　cover songs but soon they started to compose a 　　material of their own which was mainly written by 　　Gona. At some point Tero Ovaska left the group and 　　Pekka "Body" Nummela started playing bass. The new 　　second guitarist for Ironcross was Jari "Mizz" 　　Lundqvist. Tero Ovaska later resurfaced with bands The 　　Fabrics and Pepe Le Moko. Ironcross made a couple of 　　demos and they were signed by a little record company 　　called Master/Turun kasettituotanto. 　　 　　The first Ironcross single "Let's Get Down to 　　Business/Harder Than Stone" was released in the early 　　autumn of 1982 and the band started making their first 　　lp "Bloodhounds". 　　 　　Before the recording of "Bloodhounds" took place 　　Ironcross added ex-Noitawaimo skinsman Esko "Eddy" 　　Mänty-Sorvari into the line-up. After "Bloodhounds" 　　was recorded the band also recruited the keyboard 　　player Kari "Case" Laihonen into fold. 　　 　　In the early 1983 Ironcross parted ways with Kimmo 　　Vanne and he was replaced by Peter Bredbacka. Vanne 　　sadly passed away later. The new line up went to 　　record a song called "Dealer" into the compilation 　　album "Uusi Musa". Bredbacka wasn't a long time member 　　in Ironcross and soon Ari "Steeler" Suomi took his 　　duties. 　　 　　Ironcross had a new record deal with Finnlevy/Warner 　　which was one of the biggest record companies in 　　Finland. Single "Get Down'N'Get Away/Not Good For Your 　　Health" was released in the spring 1984 and album 　　"Steel Warrior" followed in summer. Ironcross did some 　　gigs but nothing happened. The album didn't sell 　　enough and as a result the band was shown the door in 　　Finnlevy. In the spring 1985 Ironcross split up with 　　the drummer Eddy. He has later played and recorded 　　with bands called Skädäm and The Sharonees. In 2006 　　Eddy and his band Cold Sweat released a tribute album 　　for Phil Lynott and Thin Lizzy. Mänty-Sorvari also 　　appears in Hanoi Rocks' Another Hostile Takeover album 　　handling drums in Lynott cover Dear Miss Lonely 　　Hearts. 　　 　　In the mid 80's big hair and make up bands started to 　　happen in Los Angeles and Ironcross realised that as 　　well. They had a new drummer Jari Mäkeläinen and also 　　started to create "an image" (read "to look like Ratt 　　or Mötley Crue but Finnish..."). Before that they had 　　been an usual NWOBHM-inspired "leather jackets and 　　jeans"-band. 　　 　　The EMI Finland signed the band and in July 1986 they 　　went to record a new album "Too Hot To Rock". 　　Ironcross released a single "Too Hot To Rock/Paradise 　　Of Stars" in September and they even appeared in 　　Finnish TV performing the title track. 　　 　　In February 1987 Ironcross appeared again in 　　television. This time in Finnish National TV (YLE), 　　with the track "Fight For The Strangers". The 　　announcement party of "Too Hot To Rock" in Cafe 　　Metropol, Helsinki was pompous; Rolls Royce, top 　　models... Each member of Ironcross even had big 　　crosses of iron done of precious metals and jewels. 　　But again... Despite the strong publicitity and some 　　touring, "Too Hot To Rock" didn't sell enough to 　　confess the EMI people 'cause it was very expensive 　　album to make. The band also got frustrated because of 　　bad reviews and discouraging atmosphere. 　　 　　In March-April 1987 Ironcross started to plan a 　　promotional trip to the US . In the fall 1987 they 　　went to the States for six weeks and made some 　　performances like in Roxy, LA and Cat Club, NY. They 　　also appeared in Manhattan Cable TV. 　　 　　After they returned to Finland they made some gigs in 　　Turku and demoed their more US-oriented new material. 　　In the end of 1988 they made a 6 track promo cassette 　　to show up for US record companies. There was also a 　　smallprint single release "Immoral Love/Eye For An 　　Eye" which was published by their own Brilliant label. 　　 　　After that entered the silence. In Summer '89 Case 　　left the band and moved to Florida, USA. Ironcross 　　made their last gig in Turku December 1989 as a 　　fourpiece. In 1990 their manager Anne St. James 　　started marketing Ironcross with a new name, 　　Dillinger. The band still struggled and there were 　　plans for the 4th album but all of a sudden Gona 　　turned into a jehovah's witness. He left the band and 　　the music business for good. Jimmy would have wanted 　　to continue the band with Steeler handling the vocals 　　but Steeler and Buddy didn't want to continue and that 　　was the very end of Ironcross. The final recording 　　from Ironcross/Dillinger was a 1990 3 track demo with 　　songs "Rock'N'Roll People", "My Credit Teacher" and 　　"Shoot, Shoot Me". 　　 　　Jari "Jimbo" Mäkeläinen was the sole survivor 　　continuing playing hard rock in a band called Minx. 　　They released a self financed mini-lp in 1990. After 　　Minx he formed a band called Wardance. In 1994 Wardance 　　disbanded and vocalist Pekka Rautiainen started a solo 　　career as Julius. 　　 　　After Wardance Jimbo played in various jazz-orientated 　　projects. Mäkeläinen also continues as a loyal sticksman 　　for the Jaakko Niitemaa's melodic hard project House 　　Of Mirrors which has released so far two albums for 　　Escape Music. 　　 　　Discography: 　　 　　Ironcross – Bloodhounds 1983 LP / 2008CD-rerelease on KARTHAGO RECORDS / Twilight 　　Ironcross – Steel Warrior 1984 LP /2008 CD-rerelase 　　On KARTHAGO RECORDS / Twlight 　　Ironcross – Too hot to rock 1986 LP / 2001 CD-rerelease on EMI 　　Ironcross – Immoral Love / Eye for an eye 7inch 1989 / rereleased on CD “Bloodhounds” 2008 by KARTHAGO RECORDS / Twilight