Zen Cafe

Zen Café is a Finnish rock band that was founded in Turku in 1992. The band derived its name from the book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig at the suggestion of band's bassist Kari Nylander. Other original members were Samuli Putro (vocals, guitar), Mikko Oesch (guitar) and Tuomo M?kipaavola (drums). Oesch soon left the group and M?ki-paavola was replaced by Pete Parkkonen (drums). Their latest album STOP was released in 2006 after which the band was in a long hiatus without officially disbanding.
Meanwhile, band members are following their own personal projects. Lead vocalist Samuli Putro has released four solo albums and 1 EP in addition to a number of singles. Two of his albums have topped the Finnish albums chart.