me, josh, and H.I.M.

Name: Jani Purttinen Nickname: Emerson Burton DOB: 17.10.1974 Born: Helsinki, Finland Birth Sign: Libra Instrument: Keyboards Siblings: N/A Favourite Film: Charles - Chaplin City of Lights Favourite Food: Pizza Favourite Drink: Coffee Favourite Song: Horst Mamerow - Klarinetten Polka Likes: Everything Dislikes: McDonalds Bands/Side Projects: Cosmos Tango - Keyboards 1997 - 1998

Sub-Urban Tribe - Backing vocals, keyboards 1997 - 2001

Torpedo: Backing vocals, keyboard, bass 199? - 2001

A brief history Janne Johannes Puurtinen was born on the 17th of October 1974 in Helsinki, Finland.
Burton’s family were very artistic, both his parents were ballet dancers, as well as his sister. Burton also danced for a couple of years, but realised it was not for him.
As a child his mother enrolled him in piano school, and Burton remained there until he quit in 2001. He started to play rock music as a teenager although he likes to listen to classical music. His favourite composers are Prokofjev and Sostakovits. Pink Floyd was Burton’s first favourite band and bands such as Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin also influenced him.
Burton’s education was mainly based around music and after school he moved into the civil service sector. Here he had a job doing lighting in a theatre. Burton also worked as a stage assistant in an opera house for a year, and a porter for concerts at the Sibelius Academy, and then had a job as a cook.
Burton has many hobbies including an interest in food and playing chess. Burton passed on his love for chess to Mige, and now before gigs Burton and Mige like to play chess.
Burton is also a strict vegetarian; he hates fast food restaurants, especially McDonalds.
Burton has been a member of various bands previously to HIM. Namely Cosmos Tango, Sub-Urban Tribe and Torpedo.
Whilst being a member of Cosmos Tango he won Finnish Rock Champion, and to this day is still extremely proud of himself.
Whilst rehearsing with Cosmos Tango, Burton got a call from Janne Joutsenniemi, {a famous Finnish man related to heavy bands}. Janne required a keyboard player to perform at gigs for the band Sub-Urban Tribe. So Burton was head hunted, and joined the band Sub-Urban Tribe.
For a brief spell Burton was also a member of the band Torpedo. They released one album and were scheduled to go on tour, but Burton left the band to start up with HIM, and Torpedo split.
Burton replaced Juska, aka Zoltan in HIM, and joined the band, as temporary keyboard player for their Scandinavian tour in 2001. The tour consisted of four shows and Burton had the choice to return to Sub-Urban Tribe and Torpedo, but decided to remain with HIM.

Equipment
Korg Triton and Prophecy {Keyboards}
K+M {Stands}
Ear-monitors

Relationships With Other Band Members
Burton helped HIM out prior to their 2001 tour, he played at HIM’s second ever gig, and was a school friend to Mige.
All relationships with other members developed as the band progressed.

The HIM we know today is a huge difference from the original, muddled, member substituted small time band they originally were.

When HIM was created in 1991, they were a small time band created by typical teenagers wanting to live life to the fullest, and experience the ultimate.

In 1991 HIM consisted of a total of four members. Only two were consistent, Ville Valo and Mige Amour. Ville played a six string bass as guitar and sang, and Mige played bass. Two more members substituted as drummer – Juippi and Juha Tarvonen.

HIM’s first gig took place at the Tavastia club in Helsinki Finland in 1991, thanks to a close friend. But at this stage HIM did not perform under the name HIM. At the Tavastia club they played under the name Kafferi.

Kafferi did make a demo track called 'Xilqa Xilqa Besa Besa', but... the bands official name at this point was 'Witches and other Night Fears'.

The word Kafferi itself means black person for those of you who did not know, and naturally this aroused discontent amongst Ville's friends of ethnic minorities, and the name was thankfully abandoned

At this point the band took great influence from H.P. Lovecraft, one of the world’s most talented writers in many a people’s opinion. Lovecraft himself wrote his books in lyrical form, and this is what enabled the band to easily transfer text into song. And in turn the memorable song Borellus was born. Borellus was a demo track created by the band around 1993. Borellus quotes from Lovecraft’s text ‘The Case of Charles Dexter Ward’. The text also appears in ‘The Evil Clergyman’. Today HIM fans across the world are still inspired by this revolutionary song.

In 1993 HIM was remodeled. Linde joined after moving to the same school as Ville and Mige. Linde played guitar and bass, while Ville filled in the gaps by being the voice of HIM and playing drums. Together Linde and Ville created songs that are loved by fans to this day. The band recorded a 3-track demo in Lepakko. A famous Finnish recording studio that has unfortunately now been demolished. The demo included the controversial ‘Serpent Ride’, the melodic ‘The Heartless’ and the unique ‘Borellus’. Together Ville and Linde were beginning to create the early sound of HIM.

In 1995 another demo was put together. This demo included Stigmata Diaboli, the now rare Phantom Gate and Wicked Game. One of HIM’s most loved songs of their career. HIM were now on the road to success. This obscure band had now to decide their official name.

After these demos had been created Mige rejoined the band, after previously having to leave, due to his conscription duties. Along with Mige a man called Pattka joined, and a lineup that much resembles today’s was made. Linde on guitar, Ville on vocals, Mige on bass and Pattka Rantala on drums {full name Juhana Tuamos Rantala}.

Ville, Linde and Mige first noticed Pattka whilst at the Tavastia club, Helsinki Finland. Whilst watching the band Slumgudeon. Ville, Linde and Mige were impressed by Pattka’s style of drumming. After obtaining his phone number, Ville contacted Pattka and played their demo tracks to him. The band impressed Pattka and history was made. Pattka became the new drummer for HIM.

For their demo tracks HIM required various background effects, including rain for ‘Wicked Game’. Antto Eirian Melasniemi was the man to do the job. Antto already had connections with Ville through his brother Joel Melasniemi who had been a member of the Donits Osmo Experience. A past band Ville had been a member of. It was not originally planned for Antto to stay in the band, but fate played its card and a new line up was created. Although Antto’s length of membership in the band was unplanned, it may also have been a mistake in some ways. Antto’s stay in HIM was not a fruitful one for himself. Although being present at the shooting of the original ‘Wicked Game’ video, Antto only briefly appeared. The producer was not aware a keyboard player existed in the band and Antto was left out. He only appears briefly in the video as a frosted over man. Antto was credited as a member of HIM for their second album ‘Greatest Love Songs Vol.666’ in 1998, but various problems led to his departure. The biggest reason for his exit from HIM was friction between himself and front man Ville Valo. Antto himself was not an organized person. This led to fights between him and Ville as his apparent laziness would no longer be tolerated. After Greatest Love Songs Vol.666, Antto disappeared from the line up, never to return.

Another blow for HIM was the departure of Pattka after Antto in December 1998. Pattka’s departure was due to his partner becoming pregnant, and at the time, his unhealthy association with alcohol. Pattka was not actually informed he had been fired until he heard from someone other the band personally, and many years of bitterness continued thereafter. But today no hard feelings remain and Pattka now has two beautiful children and reportedly works in the Semifinal club in Finland.

Now HIM needed to fill the spaces and recruit a new drummer and keyboard player.

HIM filled the gaps with Mikka Kristian Karpinen aka Gas Lipstick on drums, and Jussi – Mikko Salminen aka Zoltan on keyboards.

In 2000 the new HIM returned with the fantastic career changing ‘Razorblade Romance’.

Zoltan replaced Antto from 1998 until ‘Razorblade Romance’. Zoltan was a big fan of HIM and desperately wanted to be a member. Ville showed Zoltan what to play and he became a member of the band. Rehearsals began and touring commenced.

Gas Lipstick had been in many bands previously and his experience made him perfect for the role of new drummer.

Zoltan and Gas allowed the band to continue and reveal their beautiful new album ‘Razorblade Romance’.

But Zoltan's stay in the band was also doomed like Antto’s before him. Zoltan began to feel extremely pressured, and that he did not fit in. In his own words he claimed he was ‘too fragile’ to exist in the band. He was unable to share his ideas and reportedly became afraid of Ville, due to his inability to fit in. Zoltan decided he could not continue in the band and his departure came about.

After his departure Zoltan was required to carry out his national service, which Ville had avoided due to his allergies and asthma. Here Zoltan discovered the importance of talking. He discovered that keeping things to himself would only result in negative consequences.

HIM now needed a new keyboard player to fill the void.

Janne Johannes Puurtinen was the man for the job, aka Emerson Burton.

Now the line up had changed again. Ville on vocals, Mige on bass, Linde on guitar, Gas on drums and Burton playing keyboards.

HIM was now moving on to create their fourth album ‘Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights’. This line up was to be HIM’s longest, and is still the same to the present day.

‘Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights’ arrived on the shelves in 2001. A brand new sound from the band aroused our senses and stirred up a whole new batch of emotions. HIM had added a new indie feel to their melodic, gothic, romanticism rock. HIM fans were blown away and the single ‘Pretending’ became a classic for the band, along with songs such as ‘Right Here In My Arms’, ‘Poison Girl’, ‘Join Me’ and ‘Wicked Game’.

HIM’s next album ‘Love Metal’ rocketed them to fame in the U.K AND U.S in 2003. ‘Buried Alive By Love’ assaulted our ears and songs such as The Funeral of Hearts and The Sacrament serenaded our hearts. HIM were now on everybody’s lips. Their videos were being played on reputable music channels, every rock/music magazine wanted a piece of the band, and a new realization came about. HIM had created a new genre of music altogether.

Love Metal.

Him gigs were selling out and Ville was being mobbed by fans. HIM had hit the big time. Now the band had to follow up their fantastic album ‘Love Metal’.

Although ‘Love Metal’ was a great hit and contained some fantastic tracks, in many a HIM fans opinion it is the failure of the flock, due to it’s lack of traditional HIM style. Could HIM recreate their old gothic romanticism feel with new material?

Yes.

HIM released the sorrowful ‘And Love Said No’, and did the fantastic cover version of Neil Diamond’s ‘Solitary Man’. Along with these tracks a greatest hits album was put together. All the classic tracks on one album.

Now HIM fans across the globe wait in anticipation for their forthcoming album. Can HIM recreate their past success and create the classic HIM genre in an all together new way. Or will the new album put shame to the name ‘Love Metal’, and leave fans disappointed?

We’ll just have to wait and see.

 

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Im Matt and I created the site, to find out some more about me and see some of my other work check out my section here. You can send me an email using the contact page, Im always happy to talk to fans and answer questions.

Name: Mika Kirstian Karppinen

Nickname: Gas Lipstick, Mike Ceer, Stobbe

DOB: 08.02.1971

Born: Eskilstuna, Sweeden

Birth Sign: Aquarius

Instrument: Drums

Siblings: N/A

Favourite Film: Scarface

Favourite Food: Sushi, Japanese

Favourite Drink: Beer

Favourite Song: Discharge - Hear nothing, see nothing feel nothing

Likes: Movies, Motorbikes, Cigars

Dislikes: Bad food & people,waking early

Bands/Side Projects: Valvontakomisio -Vocals, Drums 1990 - 1994

Discharge - Bas 1991

Kyrria: lyrics, composition, drums 1992 - 1998

Dementia - Vocals, lyrics, guitar 1994 - 1995

Name: Mikko Heinrik Julius Paananen

Nickname: Mige

DOB: 19.12.1974

Born: Helsinki, Finland

Birth Sign: Sagittarius

Instrument: Gibson Thunderbird Bass

Siblings: Brother Helmut

Favourite Colour: Colour of Sarumans Robes

Favourite Film: Sleepy Hollow

Favourite Drink: Water, Nectars, Coffee

Favourite Song: Black Sabbath: War Pigs

Idols: Black Sabbath, Iggy Pop

Likes: Catholic churches, architecture, Charles Chaplin, exotic instruments, meditation, photography and pyramids.

Dislikes: Cruelty, hatred, aggression, ghosts, wicked spirits, envy and modern shopping malls.

Bands/Side Projects: Bullshit Ass - pre 1995
Daniel Lioneye

A brief history Mikko Heinrik Julius Paananen was born on the 19th of December 1974, in Finland. Mige lived in Olunkyla until the age of 13, when his parents divorced. This was the same place as where Linde lived as a child.
Mige’s father played the Oboe, and was a member of the Helsinki orchestra. Mige’s mother was an actress, named Riitta Elstela. She came from a family well known for its association with the theatre scene. Mige’s grandfather Ossi Elstela acted in various films of the 1950’s, as well as in theatre. Mige also has an older brother, who he named Helmut because of his moustache.
When Mige’s parents got divorced his father moved away and Mige chose to stay with his mother. They moved to Tuusula, about 30km north of Helsinki.
Mige grew up in a musical / artistic family. He was heavily influenced by music, and spent a lot of time with instruments as a child. His father liked Classical music, his mother opera and his brother hip-hop. Mige followed his brother’s lead.
At school Mige was a ‘basic bloke’ in his own words, and Ville described him as having bad taste in clothes and ‘monkey hair’.
Mige is known for his bad taste in humour also. He is especially well known for his humour containing bodily fluids.
After his first spree of education Mige went to Sibelius Academy {a music school}. Whilst at the academy Mige took some free time and moved in with his father, but Mige felt out of place, as his father had started a new family.
Mige then moved into his own apartment in Kallio, Helsinki with a friend, and life got crazy. Mige realised that Kallio was not the place for him and moved back to Olunkyla. After moving back Mige realised he had no friends to play music with, so he moved to Vanilla. Whilst in Vanilla Mige was jobless and the labour office forced him into employment at a gas station. Mige disliked his job and moved back in with his mother in Helsinki. Mige finally graduated from the academy and got his white hat, after all his moving around.
During his time in Kallio Mige discovered the consequences of misusing alcohol, but know he is more careful about his ‘crazy’ behaviour.
Mige also has many hobbies, his main one, photography. Mige took all the photos for the Daniel Lioneye album, and Mige and his Photography knowledge inspired the title of HIM’s album Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights.

Equipment
Fender Precision {Bass}
Ampeg SWT-II pro {{Amp}
Fuzz / Robot {pedal effects}
Ear-monitors

Relationships with other band members Mige met Ville at school at approximately age 12 yrs old.
Relationships with other band members developed as the band progressed.

Name: Mikko Viljami Lindstrom

Nickname: Linde/Lilly Lazer/Daniel Lioneye

DOB: 12.08.1976

Born: Helsinki, Finland

Birth Sign: Leo

Instrument: Gibson SG Guitar/Les Paul

Siblings: Brother Jude

Favourite Film: From Dusk Till Dawn

Favourite City: Luxor

Favourite Colour: Green

Favourite Food: Italian

Favourite Drink: Beer, Jack Daniels

Favourite Song: Sininen uni: Tapio Rautavaara

Idols: Steve Vai, Iggy Pop

Likes: Meditation

Dislikes: Strangers

Bands/Side Projects: Aurora - Guitar
Blood - Guitar 1986 - 1989
Kemoterapia -Guitar
1989 - 199?
Daniel Lioneye - Vocals, Guitar 2001

A brief history Linde’s History Mikko Viljami Lindstrom was born on the 12th of August 1976 in Klaukkala, Nurmijarva. His father worked as an engineer, and his mother for Finnair {a Finnish airline company}. Linde’s father was a big fan of Elvis, and in turn this music influenced little Linde.
When Linde was 10 his parents gave him an acoustic guitar as a Christmas present. The first song he learned to play on his guitar was ‘Heavens on Fire’ by Kiss. Kiss were one of his first main musical interests. Soon Linde started guitar lessons and his parents recognised his musical talent, and supported his playing. Linde joined the same school as Ville after comprehensive school, and unlike Ville remained there for a further 2 years. After school he began to play in HIM seriously. Unfortunately Linde began the bad habit of smoking at age 7, and thankfully quit in early 2001.
In Linde's younger years alcohol dragged him down and got him into trouble. But Linde has now learnt his lesson and calmed down. In his past Linde has been a member of several bands. The main one - Aurora, in the late 1980’s. Ville was also a member of Aurora, playing drums, while Linde played guitar. The band itself played their own songs, and were generally quite offensive. At one show the singer of the band was drunk, fell against the equipment for the lights, and broke the drum kit. The band planned to have parties in the school, until the principle lost his nerve and temper screaming, ‘you can’t have parties, you’ll only smoke joints’. The band and fellow pupils were furious, and their revenge was a song called ‘Martti Ilvonen Tunkee Kyrpaa Suoleeen’, {translated – ‘Martti Ilvonen put his dick in asshole’}. The band played the song in the school, and teachers as well as pupils found it hilarious. After that they tried to raise money for the band through selling donuts. The band finally made it to Amsterdam by driving through Sweden and Denmark, and played their music in local schools. They played 3-4 gigs over 10 days. In the summer of 1995 Linde worked in a computer store, and then later in a firm that sold air-conditioning units for large venues. On March 6th 2003 Linde’s partner Manna gave birth to their beautiful baby daughter Olivia.

Equipment used by Linde:
Gibson SG Laney VH100R {Amp} Laney 4x12’’ {Loudspeaker} Fuzz / Wah / Tremolo / Octave {Pedal effects} Ear-monitors

Relationships With Other Band Members:
Linde met Ville in upper school at age 13. All other relationships with other members developed as the band progressed.

Name: Ville Hermanni Valo

Nickname: Ville Valo

DOB: 22.11.1976

Born: Helsinki, Finland

Birth Sign: Scorpio

Instrument: Vocals

Mother/Father: Kari & Anita

Siblings: Brother Jesse

Favourite Film: Nightmare Before Christmas

Favourite Drink: Red wine, Beer, Jagermeister

Favourite Song: Sininen uni: Tapio Rautavaara

Idols: Gene Simmons, Edgar Allen Poe, Rauli Somerjoki, Iggy Pop, Black Sabbath

Likes: The origin of blues, 1980s, Miges photography, Eastern European folklore, Enochian

Dislikes: Red meat, the Beatles, the misuse of mind altering substances.

Bands/Side Projects: Aurora
Blood 1986 - 1989
Elovena Boys 1987 - 1988
Kemoterrapia 1989 - 1997
Donits-Osmo Experience

A brief history Ville Valo was born on the 22nd of November 1976, in Helsinki Finland at 8.28am. His father was a taxi driver at the time of his birth. Half Finnish, half Hungarian it’s easy to see where his dark looks come from.
For the first few months of his life Ville lived with his mother and father in Vanilla, surrounded by wooden houses. Soon after his birth the family moved to Olunkyla and continued to live there for approximately 17 years. Throughout his life animals surrounded the family. Ville reportedly learned to walk using the aid of the family pet dog Sami. When Sami died Ville was devastated, and at this point he is said to have developed allergies and asthma.
Ville's musical roots go deep into his childhood, from when he was a baby. When Ville cried as an infant his father would play Paratiisi by Rauli Badding Somerjoki, and his mother would take him in her arms and dance. At this baby Ville would cease to cry.
Ville's first musical memory is that of a close friend Jallu at a family party. Jallu was a great impressionist of Elvis, and was playing ‘Are You Lonesome Tonight’. At this little Ville crawled towards the bongo drums hidden behind the record shelves, and he began to tap away. Ville's parents recognised his talent and have nurtured his musical progression throughout his life.
Ville's first intense encounter with rock/metal music came about when he was four, in his cousin’s bedroom. His cousin was a huge fan of Iron Maiden, and Ville became terribly afraid of Eddie, the bands mascot.
After this Ville developed a taste for heavy metal. Bands such as, Kiss and Black Sabbath influenced him greatly. The first album he ever bought was Animalize by kiss.
As a growing child Ville was wild, hyperactive and often in trouble with other boys at school. One method teachers used to keep him under control in the classroom, was granting him permission to draw pictures in class. This kept the hyperactive Ville calm. As Ville progressed through school he developed a love for mathematics, after getting a hard time in maths classes, he pushed himself to learn more, and through this it became a strong interest.
After higher education Ville moved on to evening school because of his dislike for regular school.

I'm trying to put together as much H.I.M. info as possible, so here we go.

Ville Hermanni Valo:(Rakohammas) Vocals, 1994 - present

Mikko Viljami Lindstrom:(Linde, Lilly Lazer) Guitar, 1994 - present

Mikko Hienrik Julius Paananen:(Mige Amour) Bass, 1994 - present

Juhana Rantala:Drums, 1994-1999

Antto Melasniemi: Keyboard, 1995-1998

Oki: Guitar, 1996

Members who joined later to replace some of the original members:

Jussi Salminen:(Juska, Zoltan Pluto) Keyboard, 1998 - 2000

Mika Kirstian Karppinen: (Gas Lipstick) Drums, 1999- present

Jani Puttinen: (Emerson Burton) Keyboard, 2000- present

In 1998 Antto left because the band had become more of a full time job instead of only a hobby for him, he was was replaced by Jussi (Zoltan) who then later on left to go to university and was replaced by our present member Jani (Burton). Soon after in 1999 Juhana also left due to family problems and was replaced by our current member Mika (Gas).

What ever happened to my chem? I loved them but they died out?