The visit of Irwin Goodman, Juice Leskinen and Vexi Salme on Neil Hardwick’s show was exceptional.
Irwin Goodman, Juice Leskinen and Neil Hardwick on Hardwick’s talk show. IL archive
Tuomas Marjamäki fresh by Irwin Goodman the biography recalls an extraordinary interview from 1989.
Irwin Goodman, that is Antti HammarbergIrwin’s song lyricist and childhood friend Vexi Strait and Juice Leskinen visited by Neil Hardwick on a talk show on MTV3 during May Day 1989.
Irwin sang his new song in the program Mutakuono and Lakupelle, whose lyrics could be interpreted as very racist. Hardwick initially did not comment on Irwin’s performance.
– Nice to see you face to face, Juice said to Irwin.
– How do you know it’s clear, Hardwick asked.
– It’s not me, Juice answered.
The banter continued and jokes were made about Irwin’s alcohol consumption.
After the words, Hardwick wanted to ask Vex about the song. Vexi had written the lyrics for the song, as she had done for almost all of Irwin’s songs.
Vexi said that the song was satirical, and that he was annoyed by Finns’ attitude towards foreigners.
– Now, looking back, it could have been left undone, because half of Finland’s people have misunderstood it. Unfortunately, Vexi said.
Irwin said he belonged to that wrong half and used racist language in the interview.
– I would say one thing about this… However, the majority of Finns are of the opinion that they do not like that they are brought here and immediately given apartments and everything ready, Irwin said.
– Don’t talk! Oh shut up, you’re stupid, Vexi snapped.
Irwin Goodman and Vexi Salmi were under school age when they met. Vexi from Salme wrote almost all of Irwin’s songs. They also became business partners, but over the years things got colder. The picture is from 1990, a year before Irwin’s death. KARI VALLEY
Irwin continued his rant using racist language.
Juice shook his head next to him and said that Finns have nothing against foreigners, they don’t even know them.
Hardwick was losing his temper.
– Vexi is a smart man… How could you seriously believe that Finns have enough of a sense of irony? Hardwick asked Vex.
– It is always hoped that this nation would become civilized and be at the level of a normal person, Vexi said.
The interview spoke sadly about Irwin and the cooling of the relationship between Irwin and Vex – childhood friends and colleagues. In the show, it also became clear that Irwin did not understand the irony of the lyrics written by Vex, and he interpreted the songs in the opposite way that Vex had intended.
Their appearance also told how their lives had gone in different directions. Irwin was up to his ears in debt and his health had collapsed. This was also visible. Vexi, on the other hand, looked healthy in her suit.
Irwin died about two years after the interview at only 47 years old.
You see interview here.
Tuomas Marjamäki’s One more, Irwin – Antti Hammarberg 1943-1991 (Docendo) will be published on 14.9.