Sakari Kuosmanen’s biography is published by Otava. The book is written by Tommi Saarela. Jenni Gästgivar
Musician and actor Sakari Kuosmanen biographical work Sakari Kuosmanen – A wonderful life -book focuses on the artist’s career and life, along which roles from Aki Kaurismäki’s films have fit, as well as the role of a guitarist Sleepy Sleepers – in a humor rock band.
In the book, Kuosmanen honestly opens up about his youth, in which intoxicants played a major role. At the beginning of the 1980s, Kuosmanen, originally from Kuopio, started enjoying himself even more in Helsinki’s music circles, where, according to the singer, “any kind of cocktail and booze” was available, and not all of the experiments were from the safest end.
– Dealers are always picking up suitable targets, i.e. guys who are willing to experiment and dare. Our people found both, the singer recalls in the book.
Kuosmanen continues how the hustle and bustle started to show in the wallet as well.
– We started to exceed the limits of entertainment use, but at that point some guardian angel spread his wings, Kuosmanen admits in the book.
Kuosmanen never moved permanently to Helsinki, as his home was in Kuopio Outside– at the spouse’s place. Its musician thinks he was one of the factors that saved him.
After joining Sleepy Sleepers – band as a guitarist, alcohol played a big role during the band’s tour.
Sleepy Sleepers at a gig. Sakari Kuosmanen is in the middle. IL archive
– Slippers and booze were an inseparable pair. In other words, the same thing as Irwin, Matti Nykä and Topi Sorsakoski: the audience expects the performer to be good and willing to do more. And disappointed if it isn’tthe book says.
The rowdy drinking continued until Kuosmanen and Ulla had their first daughter, Riika, in 1984. After this, Kuosmanen began to weigh the balance between gig life and life.
Kuosmase, who grew up fatherless, panicked after the child was born, whether he could be the child’s father. He shares his struggles with whether he will become a father or run away.
– I didn’t cheat, but I thought about getting a truck license so that I could drive the Slipper’s concert bus. I reasoned that I would have to survive on gig trips and I would have to force myself to save some money until I got home. At the same time, I decided that I would return to live and be in Kuopio – for real and permanently.
Kuosmanen says that his role as a gig bus driver saved him physically and mentally.
The italicized passages are direct quotes from the book Sakari Kuosmanen – Ihana elämä (Otava, 2023). Edited by Tommi Saarela.