Olli Herman, who replaced Pate Mustajärvi in ​​Popeda: “The greatest icons of Finnish music have left”

Popeda band known as a frontman and soloist Pauli “Pate” Mustajärvi has died.

In Popeda, after Mustajärvi, he started as a new soloist in 2024 Ollie Herman. Mustajärvi had performed for the last time with Popeda in September 2023.

Herman commented to HS the importance of Mustajärvi in ​​detail.

“One of the biggest icons of Finnish music has passed away. At this point, I want to express my deepest condolences to his loved ones.”

From Tampere musician and producer Jani Viitanen knew Mustajärvi well, because the men collaborated over the years.

Viitanen, one of the original members of Yö, owns the Headline studio in Tampere, where many of Popeda’s records were recorded. Viitanen was the recording artist.

Suru-uutinen had not yet reached Viitas, but he learned about Mustajärvi’s death from a HS reporter. Viitanen doesn’t remember the last time he met Mustajärvi. It had been a while.

“I knew he had an illness like cancer, but this is keeping him quiet. Pate was a great guy and his importance to Finnish rock music has been enormous,” says Viitanen. Viitanen remembers that Mustajärvi was completely different in the studio than on stage.

“He was a rocker on stage, but pretty quiet in the studio.”

Composer-guitarist Ari Kankaanpää and Pate Mustajärvi worked closely together for decades. Kankaanpää was Mustajärvi’s “credit guitarist” and composer.

Mustajärvi was Kankaanpää’s best friend and also the daughter’s godfather.

“The most heartfelt guy in the world”, Kankaanpää describes Mustajärvi with emotion.

According to Kankaanpää, Mustajärvi’s death came as a surprise, even though his health concerns were known.

“I’m probably too late to say this, but Pate left such a hole in the world that I can’t really describe it. His importance to Finnish music has also been absolutely immense.”