Esa Pulliainen of the band Agents has died

Pulliainen was 69 years old when he died. He is considered one of the most important influences in Finnish electric guitar playing.

Chubby girl founded the band Agents in 1979. At the end of the 1980s, the band became the most popular in Finland, and thanks to that, the dance stages were packed with audiences who had previously only attended rock concerts.

His influence on Agents’ music as well as on the unique sound world of Finnish electric guitar playing is enormous, was told in 2024, when Pulliainen was awarded the Special Emma at the Emma gala.

Special Emma is awarded to a person who has made a significant career in the field of recorded music or who has significantly contributed to the development of the Finnish recording industry.

Pulliainen continued making music at least until this spring. In 2023 he comment For HS, thoughts on the continuation of Agents like this:

“The second shifter would be in a rocking chair on the porch to sneak a sunset. Not really catchy.”

Read more: This is how Finland’s most sought-after guitar sounds – five top musicians unravel the secrets of Agents-Pulliainen’s legendary instrument