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| The band HIM, abbreviation for 'His Infernal Majesty, was formed in 1995 by Ville Hermanni Valo (vocals), Mikko Paananen (bass), Juhana Rantala (drums), Mikko Lindstr�m (guitars) and Antto Melasniemi (keyboards). Like most rockbands, HIM also started out as Hardrock or Metal fans and they passed through all the obvious stages of a rockband: trying, first live performances, making a demo and sending it off to all media and record companies they could possibly think of. In the beginning, this was not a successful move for HIM. Only with their second demo, that contained a version of 'Wicked Game', they got a deal with the Finnish BMG respectively the independent label Gun/Supersonic (which is partially part of the big BMG). BMG also has the 'well-known' band 'Leningrad Cowboys' under contract (they're now scoring their first hit in The Netherlands with 'happy being miserable' - Ed.) The first single (EP) '666 Ways To Love: Prologue' was released in 1996 and contained four tracks: 'Stigmata Diaboli', 'Wicked Game', 'Dark Secret Love' and 'The Heartless'. The cover version of Chris Isaak's world-wide hit 'Wicked Game' brought them their first chart success in Finland. That's why a first HIM-video was produced as well, which was also used to promote the band in Germany. In 1997 the EP 'When Love And Death Embrace' followed and in 1998 the EP 'Your Sweet 666' (plus 'Beginning Of The End'), all of them reaching the Finnish Top Ten. The (also released in 1998) debut album 'Greatest Lovesongs Vol. 666' was already gold by autumn (which in Finland means selling 20,000 'units'). More national recognition was given through the 'Emma Award' (Finnish Emmy) in the category 'newcomer of the year' and end November the 'Jyrki Video Award' for 'When Love And Death Embrace', the second HIM-video, produced in Finland. After HIM had reached superstar status in Finland, they started trying to find international ground for their music. Two important festivals in Germany (as support act to Sisters Of Mercy in Gelsenkirchen and the Crossing All Over festival in Bochum) got the attention of German rock fans and the German media. For the Headliner-tour from 28 November till 13 December 1998 keyboardist Antto was replaced with Juska alias Zoltan "The Dog" (Pluto). Some of the 13 gigs in Germany, Austria and Switzerland were (especially the ones in Germany) sold out. Next single should be 'The Heartless' (this report was written in 1998/99!). Around New Year HIM are to record their second album. |
| Yes, the second album was released in the end of January 2000 and brought huge success to the band. To that time the hit single "Join Me" (released in November '99) climbed to the NO.1 position in the german and finnish charts and hold this place at least in germany for seven weeks. Also the album "Razorblade Romance" was at the same time at NO. 1 in the album charts for some weeks, and is still in the Top100 this year. After an autograph session tour in January 2000 and many TV appearances a big tour startet in Finland followed by dates in germany about mid February which included very few off-days and lastet about two months. In spring and summer there were also quite much gigs abroad and many festivals. In July/August the band made some demo tapes and wanted to record the new album in December 2000. The life of a rockstar has also some negative aspects such as getting many (partly crazy) fans, little rest and privacy; also lots of touring made Ville look very tired especially in summer which lead to many speculations by the fans about his health. In November 2000 the scandinavien tour had to be cancelled for Ville got a flue and couldn't go on touring; these gigs were repeatet in January 2001. Because of this circumstance some fans could see the new keyboarder live on stage, for Juska quit playing with HIM to the big sorrow of many fans. New Years Eve he played his last gig together with his bandmates; January 12th 2001 was the first time for Burton, who could show his talents to the members of the Wankers Club in Helsinki ;-) After the little scandinavien tour HIM got the EMMA Award in February for Band and Album of the year. Unfortunately the next album release will take some time; it's suppossed to be released in autumn 2001, but a new single is expected for may. |
| The first single from the new album is the song "Pretending" which is released on july 2nd and not, as expectet, in may. It climbes straight to the NO. 1 position in Finland, reaches NO. 4 in Spain and NO. 10 in Germany. HIM spend summer 2001 with playing on some festivals across europe and play for the first time in the US in Philadelphia on august 19th. After the album release of "Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights" on august 27th the band is on autographsession tour in germany and start their european tour on september 17th in Hamburgs Alsterdorfer Sporthalle. |
| Something else about HIM Someone described their music like Depeche Mode meets Dimmu Borgir in a David Lynch movie. That's a quite good comparision thinks Ville: "You're so close! Love metal is music that includes elements of pop, metal, goth, glam... It's music inspired by the feelings you have before the first touch, before the first kiss. Love metal is like the movie poster of Gone with the Wind, you know, Clark Gable embracing Vivien Leigh in the sunset." Quite often HIM are misunderstood for it's bandname and the use of symbolic numbers like 666; this is what Ville sais about "His Infernal Majesty": "It stands entirely for my reputation of being a truly infernal ladies' man, totally hopeless. I get burned time after time again. His Infernal Majesty has nothing whatsoever to do with ANY kind religious beliefs or ideologies - just as in our context 666 has nothing to do with the number of the beast. When I read about those people that burned historical Finnish churches and who names us along with Black Sabbath and Dimmu Borgir as being their main source of inspiration, I was deeply offended!" |
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