HIM: Финн готик-рок тобының тарихы

Finnish gothic rock band

HIM (sometimes stylized as H. I. M.) was a Finnish gothic rock band from Helsinki. First formed in 1991 by vocalist Ville Valo and bassist Mikko "Mige" Paananen under the name His Infernal Majesty, the band broke up after only a few years, only to be reformed in 1995 by Valo and guitarist Mikko "Linde" Lindström. After being rejoined by Mige, as well as keyboardist Antto Melasniemi and drummer Juhana "Pätkä" Rantala, the band, now called HIM, released its debut album Greatest Lovesongs Vol. 666 in 1997. In 2000, now with drummer Mika "Gas Lipstick" Karppinen and keyboardist Juska Salminen, the band released Razorblade Romance, which reached the number one spot in Finland, Austria and Germany. The first single "Join Me in Death" also charted at number one in Finland and Germany, eventually going platinum and gold, respectively. Following the addition of Janne "Burton" Puurtinen on keyboards, HIM released Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights (2001) and Love Metal (2003). Both cracked the top ten in several countries and allowed the band to tour in the United Kingdom and the United States for the first time. In 2005, HIM released Dark Light, which became the group's most commercially successful album to date. HIM also became the first Finnish group in history to receive a gold record in the US. In 2007, HIM released Venus Doom, the making of which was marred by problems in Valo's personal life. Nevertheless, the album gave the band its highest chart position in the US at number twelve. After 2010's Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice, HIM went on a hiatus after Gas Lipstick was forced to take medical leave. Following several months of uncertainty, the band regrouped and released the album Tears on Tape in 2013. Gas Lipstick announced his departure from the band in 2015 and was subsequently replaced by Jukka "Kosmo" Kröger. On 5 March 2017, HIM announced that the band would be disbanding following a farewell tour in 2017. The band played its final show on New Year's Eve 2017 as a part of its annual Helldone Festival. HIM is one of the most commercially successful Finnish bands of all time, with sales of over ten million records. HIM has also received numerous accolades, including eight Emma Awards. The band is known for its distinct sound, which combines more melodic and melancholic elements with heavier influences. This made it difficult for audiences to categorize HIM's music, which led to the band coining the term "love metal". HIM is also known for its logo, the heartagram, which has made numerous appearances in other media.

The first incarnation of HIM was formed in 1991 by childhood friends Ville Valo and Mikko "Mige" Paananen in Helsinki, Finland. Valo played six string bass, which substituted for guitar, while Mige also played bass. The band had two rotating drummers: Sami "Juippi" Jokilehto and Juha Tarvonen. Dubbed His Infernal Majesty, other names considered for the band included Black Earth, Black Salem and Kafferi. After recording its first demo Witches and Other Night Fears, His Infernal Majesty played its first show on New Year's Eve 1992 at the Semifinal in Helsinki. The band broke up shortly thereafter, when Mige began his national military service. In 1995, His Infernal Majesty was reformed by Valo and guitarist Mikko "Linde" Lindström. Together they recorded a four track demo, which featured Valo on drums and vocals, and Linde on guitar and bass. Valo originally intended to remain as the bassist for the group, but took up the role of lead vocalist out of necessity, after they were unable to find another singer. In October 1996, the band, now called HIM, released the EP 666 Ways to Love: Prologue. Recorded in only five days and produced by Hiili Hiilesmaa, the EP also featured Oskari "Oki" Kymäläinen on guitar, but he was fired from the group after allegedly having an affair with Pätkä's girlfriend. 666 Ways to Love: Prologue debuted at number sixteen on the Finnish Singles Chart and peaked at number nine five weeks later. The band played a special album release show at the Tavastia Club on 19 October 1996, before starting a full tour, for which they recruited keyboardist Antto Melasniemi.

HIM began recording its full length debut album in 1997 with Hiili Hiilesmaa once again producing. Due to the band's minimal studio experience, Hiilesmaa played a critical role in helping "build HIM's sound", for which Valo dubbed him the honorary sixth member of the group. Greatest Lovesongs Vol. 666 was released in Finland on 3 November 1997 and internationally a year later. The album charted in Finland and Germany, peaking at number four in the former. The singles "When Love and Death Embrace" and "Your Sweet 666" also cracked the top ten in the band's home country. Greatest Lovesongs Vol. 666 received positive reviews from critics, with AllMusic describing the album as having "a very diverse sound" and ultimately succeeding "in pleasing everyone, whether they're into rock or pop." Greatest Lovesongs Vol. 666 would eventually go platinum in Finland. HIM also went on to win Newcomer of the Year and Debut Album of the Year at the 1997 Emma Gala. The supporting tour for Greatest Lovesongs Vol. 666 began in mid December 1997 at the Maxim in Kuopio. Prior to HIM's first international tour, the band decided to fire keyboardist Antto Melasniemi, as they felt he was too disorganized and scatterbrained. He was replaced by Jussi Mikko "Juska" Salminen. After returning to Finland, the band also parted ways with Pätkä. According to the band, Pätkä's girlfriend had become pregnant, which left him with limited time to rehearse. He was replaced by Mika "Gas Lipstick" Karppinen. In January 1999, HIM began demoing material for its next album with Hiili Hiilesmaa. These sessions proved to be unsuccessful, however, and the band decided to relocate to Rockfield, Wales with producer John Fryer. The single would eventually go platinum in Finland, as well as gold in Germany and Austria. At the 1999 Emma Gala, HIM were named Export of the Year. It peaked at number one in Finland, Austria and Germany. The album would eventually be certified double platinum in Finland, triple gold in Germany, as well as gold in Austria. At the 2000 Emma Gala, HIM was named Band of the Year and Razorblade Romance Album of the Year. The group also received the Viewers' Choice Award and the Video of the Year award for "Join Me in Death" at the 2000 VIVA Comet Awards. During the supporting tour for Razorblade Romance, HIM played its first shows in the United Kingdom. He was replaced by Janne "Burton" Puurtinen. The recording process for HIM's third album lasted approximately eleven months, which greatly affected the material. The record peaked at number one in Finland and Austria, and at number two in Germany and Switzerland. The album would eventually go platinum in Finland and gold in Austria. This was echoed by Soundi, who called the album "ideal music for girls, who don't dig the music, but Ville Valo's looks and his lyrics' decadent imagery." Blabbermouth. net, meanwhile, was more positive, stating that "in purely artistic and commercial terms [ ] HIM have made the logical follow up album to one of last year's highlights, and they continue to cement their reputation as one of the most unique and consistent rock acts around." HIM was once again named Export of the Year at the 2001 Emma Gala. In 2002, HIM was involved in a rights dispute over its name in the United States. As "HIM" was already owned by the drummer of a Chicago jazz fusion band of the same name, the Finnish HIM was renamed HER in the US, until a settlement was reached between the two parties, which allowed both to use the moniker. On 7 October 2002, the band released The Single Collection, a set containing all the group's singles, along with a previously unreleased single of "It's All Tears". That same month, HIM's official biography Synnin viemää, written by J. K. Juntunen, was released. The supporting tour for Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights once again exhausted the band nearly to the point of breaking up, but it also brought the group closer together. and it reached the top five in four countries, peaking at number one in Finland and Germany. It also became the group's first album to chart in the UK at number 55. Love Metal would be certified platinum in Finland and gold in Germany. The music video was later named Best Video at the 2004 Kerrang! Awards. Love Metal was well received by critics, with Soundi giving it three out of five stars, while AllMusic noted how "the songwriting is as strong as it has been in quite some time and a newly found sense of urgency keeps the record going at a well tempered pace". Following Love Metals release, HIM embarked on its first US tour, which was entirely sold out. In August 2003, HIM parted ways with BMG, having fulfilled its contractual obligations to the label. The band were also set on releasing a live album, tentatively titled Live Metal, in November 2003, but the record was ultimately scrapped in favor of new material. In March 2004, HIM released And Love Said No: The Greatest Hits 1997–2004, which peaked at number two in Finland and number five in Germany. It also went gold in the band's home country. Aside from previously released material, the collection also included two new songs, "And Love Said No" and a cover of Neil Diamond's "Solitary Man". The singles peaked at number one and two, respectively, in Finland, while "Solitary Man" reached number nine on the UK Singles Chart. In September 2004, HIM signed a new recording contract with Sire Records, who would handle all the band's future releases in Europe, North America, Japan and Australia. In Finland, HIM's future releases would be handled through the band's own label Heartagram. On 7 December 2004, HIM released The Video Collection: 1997–2003, a DVD featuring all the band's music videos. HIM was also voted 2004's Band of the Year by the readers of Metal Hammer magazine.

On 17 January 2005, HIM performed at the Yhteinen ASIA benefit concert for victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, along with The Rasmus, The 69 Eyes, Apocalyptica and Negative. In March, the band relocated to Los Angeles to begin work on its fifth studio album with producer Tim Palmer. That same month, Himmeetä valoa, a documentary about the group, premiered on Yle TV2. The following May, HIM released Love Metal Archives Vol. I, a collection of music videos, live performances and other bonus material. It debuted at number one in Finland and at number two in Germany. Within a few weeks, the collection had gone gold in Finland. On 26 September 2005, HIM released its fifth studio album Dark Light, which became the group's most successful album to date. It charted in sixteen countries, being certified platinum in Finland, as well as gold in Germany, the UK, and the US. Four singles were released, with "Wings of a Butterfly" and "Killing Loneliness" reaching number one and two, respectively, on the Finnish Singles Chart. The former also cracked the top ten in the UK. Dark Light received mixed reviews from critics. The New York Times described the material as "sturdier than ever", while Q Magazine called the album "a collection of irresistible pop rock anthems". NME, meanwhile, described the record as "wimpy", while AllMusic branded it as "glossy and user friendly". At the 2005 Emma Gala, Dark Light was named Rock Album of the Year, while "Wings of a Butterfly" received the award for Song of the Year. This was followed by a North American leg in October. In December, HIM expanded its annual New Year's Eve show into a three day festival called Helldone, named so after the group's booking agent Tiina Welldone and the city of Helsinki. Following the shows, Linde Lindström fractured his wrist bone which forced HIM to postpone a tour of the UK and Ireland. In March 2006, HIM embarked on its first Australian tour, which was followed by the band's first shows in New Zealand and Japan. Later that year, HIM released Uneasy Listening Vol. 1, a collection of rarities and alternate takes of previously released material. The album peaked at number seven in Finland, while the double single "In Joy and Sorrow / Pretending" reached number one. In February 2007, HIM began recording its sixth album at Finnvox Studios with producers Hiili Hiilesmaa and Tim Palmer. The making of the album was plagued with problems in Ville Valo's personal life. His alcohol abuse had worsened, which resulted in him vomiting and defecating blood at one point. Things came to a head when Valo suffered a nervous breakdown during the recording process. While he did manage to recover momentarily, he began drinking again during the mixing process. Eventually Valo was admitted to the Promises Rehabilitation Clinic in Malibu by the band's manager Seppo Vesterinen. In April, HIM released Uneasy Listening Vol. 2, which peaked at number twelve in Finland. From 25 July to 3 September 2007, HIM toured the US with Linkin Park on the Projekt Revolution Tour, which also included My Chemical Romance, Taking Back Sunday and Placebo. Prior to the tour, HIM held a contest for fans to win a trip to meet them at the trek's opening date in Seattle. The winners of the contest would also be featured on a forthcoming live DVD. In July, HIM played a number of concerts opening for Metallica, including a show at Wembley Stadium in London, England. On 14 September 2007, HIM released its sixth studio album Venus Doom, which charted in the top ten in Finland, Germany, Switzerland and Austria. It also gave the band its highest US chart position to date at number twelve. The album would eventually go gold in Finland and Greece. "The Kiss of Dawn" and "Bleed Well" were released as singles, with the former peaking at number two in Finland. Venus Doom was well received by critics, with Spin calling the album "[maybe] the year's heaviest, creepiest, and sexiest hard rock group effort", while NME declared it "an extremely well executed pop metal album." AllMusic gave the album three and a half stars out of five and found the band "back on track and sounding more metal than ever." Venus Doom later garnered the band its first and only Grammy nomination for Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package. During the supporting tour, HIM recorded the live album Digital Versatile Doom at the Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles, California. Released on 29 April 2008, the album peaked at number ten in Finland. The 2008 edition of Helldone was expanded into a tour, which took the festival around Finland, before returning to the Tavastia Club on New Year's Eve.

In August 2009, HIM entered the studio with producer Matt Squire to begin work on its seventh studio album. For the first time in the band's career, Valo worked completely sober, which resulted in the group rehearsing more than ever before. It charted in ten countries, cracking the top ten in Finland, Germany, Switzerland and Austria. The album also reached number one on the UK Rock & Metal Albums Charts and the US Hard Rock Albums Chart. Screamworks was certified gold in Finland. Screamworks was mostly well received by critics, with Alternative Press describing it as "ultimately successful in its blending of melody and muscle", while Billboard felt it was "a mixed bag, but an appealingly bold one." A supporting tour began in February 2010 with several showcase dates in Europe, followed by an Australian leg as a part of the Soundwave Festival. Beginning in March, the band toured the UK and the US. On 7 December 2010, HIM released SWRMXS, a remix album done in collaboration with various other artists, including as Tiësto, Morgan Page and Salem. The 2010 edition of Helldone was cancelled, as the band opted to take a break instead. In March 2011, HIM announced it had parted ways with Sire Records, leaving the band without a label. Later that year, HIM began work on its eight studio album, but rehearsals were cut short when Gas Lipstick was diagnosed with a repetitive stress injury and nerve damage in his hands. Gas' injury required extensive rest, which left the band in limbo, unsure whether to break up or find a replacement. In October 2012, HIM released the compilation album XX – Two Decades of Love Metal. The collection was preceded by a cover of Ké's "Strange World", which was originally scheduled for release on 21 September 2012. However, due to an online leak, the release was pushed up to 7 September. XX – Two Decades of Love Metal peaked at number four in Finland. Following a two year hiatus, HIM also brought back the Helldone Festival in December 2012. In February 2013, HIM announced that its forthcoming album would be released through Razor & Tie in North America, Double Cross in the UK and Ireland, and Universal Music in Europe. On 26 April 2013, the band released its eight studio album Tears on Tape, which was once again produced by Hiili Hiilesmaa and mixed by Tim Palmer. The record charted in nine countries, peaking at number two in Finland and Germany. In the US, the album reached number fifteen on the Billboard 200. Three singles were released, with "Into the Night" winning the Video of the Year award at the inaugural Noisecreep Creepies Awards. Tears on Tape received mostly positive reviews, with Classic Rock calling it "a glorious return to form for one of the world's most peculiarly successful bands". This was echoed by Alternative Press, who stated that "within HIM's impressive canon, it's among their best." Kerrang! gave a less favorable review, stating: "Tears On Tape isn't bad [ ] it's just not as seductive as HIM can be." HIM was scheduled to begin its North American tour in support of Tears on Tape on 3 May 2013, but the tour was cancelled after Ville Valo suffered a severe asthma attack and was diagnosed with presumptive pneumonia. After Valo recuperated, HIM took part in the Rock Allegiance Tour, along with Volbeat, All That Remains and Airbourne. At the 2013 Revolver Golden Gods Awards, HIM received the award for Most Dedicated Fans. In March 2014, the band embarked on its first South American tour. That same month, HIM's first four albums were digitally reissued in the US by The End Records. In May 2014, the band was scheduled to perform in China for the first time, but the first show in Shanghai was cut short by local authorities, while the second in Beijing was cancelled altogether, due to bad weather conditions. In November 2014, HIM released Lashes to Ashes, Lust to Dust: A Vinyl Retrospective '96 '03, a box set containing the band's first four albums, along with 666 Ways To Love: Prologue, on 180 gram vinyl. In support, HIM embarked on the Love Metal Archives Tour in December 2014. The band also performed at Fields of the Nephilim's 30th anniversary shows in London, England.

On 27 January 2015, Gas Lipstick announced his departure from HIM, after 16 years with the band. In his announcement, Gas stated: "There is no drama, bad blood or any negativity involved in my departure. I simply feel that it's time for me to move on as a musician." HIM made its live debut following Gas's departure in July 2015, with a surprise show at the Qstock festival in Oulu, Finland. The show featured the debut of Gas' replacement, drummer Jukka "Kosmo" Kröger. Valo later stated that the band would begin work on a new album eventually, but no release date had been set. On 5 December 2015, HIM performed at Knotfest in Toluca, Mexico, with Slipknot, Megadeth, and Lamb of God, among others. In 2016, HIM took another hiatus, during which the band members focused on their various side projects. Because of this, the 2016 edition of Helldone was cancelled. In October 2016, it was announced that HIM would be headlining the Tuska Open Air Metal Festival in 2017. In January 2017, HIM was also named the headliner of Miljoona Rock. On 5 March 2017, HIM announced that the band would be disbanding following a farewell tour later that year. In the announcement, Valo stated: "After quarter of a century of love and metal intertwined we sincerely feel HIM has run its unnatural course and adieus must be said in order to make way for sights, scents and sounds yet unexplored. We completed the pattern, solved the puzzle and turned the key. Thank you." He also went on to say that: "We felt like there was nothing left to give collectively. It was fun playing the old songs, everybody got along well together, but that spark was missing." Valo didn't rule out the possibility of the band reuniting in the future, stating: "The good thing about this is that there's no drama [ ] So it doesn't hurt the chances." A photo exhibition by Ville Juurikkala, titled HIM: Right Here in My Eyes, was held at the Helsinki Art Museum from 15 June to 3 July, featuring previously unseen photographs of the band preparing for its farewell tour. In November 2017, the exhibition was also held at the Morrison Hotel Gallery in New York City. HIM began its Bang and Whimper 2017 – The Farewell Tour on 14 June 2017 in Barcelona, Spain. The tour was generally well received, with the Nottingham Post stating that HIM "truly went out with a 'bang'". The band played its final show on New Year's Eve 2017 as a part of the Helldone Festival.