PIIRPAUKE started as a free jazz quartet 1974 by the name Walli-Kukko Quartet. In 1975 the band was given its name PIIRPAUKE, and the debut album with that same name was an immediate success and is regarded as a classic today. It's also one of the best-selling instrumental albums ever in Finland. On that album one can already hear a variety of influences and elements from several music traditions of the globe. Later those influences have become even more numerous including e. g. elements from various classical art music traditions of different continents.

In the 1970s PIIRPAUKE toured actively in northern countries, and 1979 it was invited to the Forum-Enger jazz festival in West Germany. The feedback was such a success, that it led to a continuous touring period of 14 years in Central Europe including same venues with artists like Miles Davis, Astor Piazzola and Nirvana just to mention a few.

PIIRPAUKE has performed in numerous countries around the world, released tens of albums and made music for e. g. films and theater-perfomances. Many legendary musicians from different countries have played in PIIRPAUKE through the years and the actual formation is equal to the original quartet, Sakari Kukko being the only original member.

In 2025 PIIRPAUKE is celebrating its half-century anniversary with several concerts and a jubileum album titled Lumo (enchantment, charm, thrall). A live recording from that germany debut-concert will be soon available online.