The formation of the band is the result of a joke between the musicians Sakke Järvenpää and Mato Valtonen, and Finnish film maker Aki Kaurismäki.
Between 1986 and 1988 Kaurismäki directed three short films featuring the band, and in 1989 he shot the famous road movie "Leningrad Cowboys Go America", which became an instant classic with a cult following.
Members:
Juuso Hannukainen - percussion, Richard Johnson - vocals, Sakke Järvenpää - vocals, Sami Järvinen - drums, Juha Kortehisto - trombone, Marzi Nyman - guitar, Timo-Pekka Ojala - trumpet, Petri Puolitaival - tenor sax, Mauri Sumén - keyboards, accordion, Timo Tolonen - bass, Tuomas Uusitalo - vocals, guitar, Tomi Vartiainen - guitar, Suvi Koponen - dancer, Linda Kujasalo - dancer