Biography
In 2003 the Helsinki quintet I Walk the Line unveiled its organ-heavy, dark strain of punk rock, well before its moniker became linked with the Joaquin Phoenix film on the Man in Black. Formed initially as a side project by musicians drawn from the Finnish groups Wasted and Manifesto Jukebox, the band delivered its debut album Badlands in 2004 on Combat Rock Industry in Finland and Boss Tuneage in the U.K. and Japan. After two rounds of shows across Germany and the U.K., drummer Antti exited to become the group’s sound engineer and was replaced by Jussi. The ensuing year was largely consumed with writing and tracking the follow-up Desolation Street, issued to favorable European notices in 2006.
With vocalist/bassist Ville Rönkkö, guitarists Antti and Jani, and keyboardist Anna now in place, the band resumed live dates that included major Finnish festivals. The resulting exposure lifted its home profile, and the Diamond Eyes EP, released at summer’s end, entered the national charts at number two. I Walk the Line signed with California’s Gearhead Records in fall 2006, bringing Desolation Street to North American stores the following January. Its first U.S. tour commenced in spring 2007 and featured a stop at Austin’s South by Southwest festival.
With vocalist/bassist Ville Rönkkö, guitarists Antti and Jani, and keyboardist Anna now in place, the band resumed live dates that included major Finnish festivals. The resulting exposure lifted its home profile, and the Diamond Eyes EP, released at summer’s end, entered the national charts at number two. I Walk the Line signed with California’s Gearhead Records in fall 2006, bringing Desolation Street to North American stores the following January. Its first U.S. tour commenced in spring 2007 and featured a stop at Austin’s South by Southwest festival.
Albums
Singles
