45 Special was opened on 21 September 1990, originally by five music-oriented gentlemen, but ever since 8 September 1992 the executive threesome has consisted of Ibo Sulkala, concert promoter and jack-of-all-trades in the Oulu music scene (e.g. the director of Kuusrock Rock Festival back in the day), along with former musicians Kepa Salmirinne and Elmo Harju, respectively the vocalist and bass player of legendary heavy metal group Zero Nine.