A History of HIM
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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