Suho Superstar, the founder of the rock group Jimsonweed, has died

Suarez (b. 1970) was known as the founder and singer of the rock band Jimsonweed. The musician, who was one of the key figures in Helsinki’s Kallio underground rock, also had an impact in his career in, among others, Nasty Needs, Jericho Fuzz and the Suho Superstar & Friends Beyond line-up.

In addition, he made songs for other artists, produced records and guested on numerous bands’ recordings.

The music industry mandarin Kari Hynninen released Jimsonweed’s first releases on his Zen Garden label. According to him, it was clear from the beginning that Suarez had an exceptionally strong vision for his art.

“He was an impressive person in many ways. The kind of person who was absolutely sure of what he was doing.”

According to Hynninen, Suarez’s influence extended far beyond his own bands. During his career, Suarez helped numerous musicians forward and was also involved in supporting HIM from the beginning, at a time when few still believed in the band’s possibilities.

Many have considered both Jimsonweed and Nasty Needs as lost export opportunities. Hynninen also believed when he published Jimsonweed that it would become a guaranteed global success.

“I thought that this is Finnish Soundgarden and that this is going to go all over the world,” he says.

“I still think that first EP and album are great.”

Breakthrough however, was not born. Hynninen estimates that the reason was partially found precisely in Suarez’s greatest strength: uncompromisingness. According to Hynnien, he was not interested in compromises, even if they could have opened up new opportunities.

“In retrospect, it’s easy to say that Jimsonweed should have been a much bigger band. But Suho had that certain icy swagger.”

“Suho wanted the music and the whole package to be exactly as he himself saw them to be. For example, he had the idea that band shirts should be so great that people want to wear them, regardless of whether they know the whole band.”

Many friends remembered Suarez above all as a person.

“He was at the same time warm-hearted, really taxing and completely lovable,” Hynninen says.

Music journalist Nalle Östermanin in my opinion, Suarez’s importance in the Helsinki rock circles was even greater than any record or band.

“His genre was Kallio’s street rock. Smack and Fishfaces Claude and Suho were its central characters. Everything came together, and indeed Suho was his own kind of tribal chief.”

Österman also remembers the musician’s relentless ambition.

“When the news came that Amorphis had received a recording contract from the United States, Suho immediately stated that we deserved that contract.”

According to Österman, it was precisely that attitude that described Suarez well. He believed unconditionally in what he did and that Jimsonweed could compete with anyone.

“It was at an international level. But at the same time, it remained here as a secret of a small district, on the streets of Kallio.”

Suarez’s the death has caused sadness especially in Helsinki’s rock and underground music circles. The same thought is repeated in the friends’ speeches: Finnish rock lost a person who never made compromises, but whose influence can be seen in the stories of countless other musicians.

“Now the chief is gone,” says Österman.