The ESP Guitar Company

Children Of Bodom is my go-to-place if I am upset or very happy. Started listening to them when Hatebreeder came out, was barely 9 at that time. Since then I idolized Alexi. I had the pleasure to meet the band in 2015 and I will never forget that I made Alexi laugh by saying "nonniin, voe helevettiläinen!". When I lived in Helsinki, I accidentally bumped into Alexi by the cashier at a local store. I was so bubbly inside seeing him casually, but figured he gets a lot attention anyway so we just glanced and shared a smile. COB is my favourite band and it seems unreal that he is gone.

The first time I heard Children Of Bodom it was in Finland when I was 17. My guest brother played them to me. I liked them. Then, one year later Are You Dead Yet was released and I went to see the show with a friend and his girlfriend. She had only come to see Ektomorf, and on our way to the show in hamburg she started to talk us out of Children Of Bodom, about whom my friend and I were excited about. After Ektomorf were done with their show, I wanted to go to the front row. The other two stayed in the back. Then Children Of Bodom started their show and it was just amazing, I was, and still am, so glad I decided to go to the front row. I did not care about the text they set me to tell me they would leave. I was having a great time. That was the moment they became my favourit band. They were my "concert emancipation". From that day on I told people when I went to see a band but I went alone. I wanted to have fun and I need noone to be crabby about something.

I took the pictures during their 2011 show in Hamburg.

At their Halo Of Blood tour I did not buy a t-shirt, like I did the previous two tours, but my COB-Hoodie. One day I wore the hoodie while grocery shopping. The guy in front of me, while standing in line, turned around, looked at me, then said: "Children Of Bodom are my favourite band!". Thanks to that hoodie I had a nice chat with a guy from New York who was visitig Germany.

The most impact on my life has the solo from Lil Bloodred Ridin' Hood. When I'm really exhaused, I play that song. I play it loud. I listen to it with my headphones. I block out the world and it's only me and that song. This gives me so much energy, I think after listening to it, I can take almost everything. It calms me, it pushes me, it brings me to my middle. It's the song I couldn't live without. It's the message sound on my mobile. Everytime someone texts me, I get to relive some fond memories I've had with Alexi and the band.

I never met them in person, but they gave me some of my favourite memories. My personality grew with them.

I was 12 when I first heard ‘In Your Face’ and was blown away, more or so by the keys as it was the first time I’ve heard it used in that kind of music. I then started listening to the first few albums and discovered the true art and talent of Alexi Laiho. The iconic leads in almost every song stuck out to me, ‘Follow the Reaper’ still gives me chills down my spine when that awesome duel lead kicks in. I started getting serious about guitar and started learning most of his solos and techniques, even how he stands and performs on stage. 14 years on and I’m still doing that, he’s the reason why I got into guitar and the reason why I still play. His playing was tight, his songwriting was celestial and his personality was humble and kind. Rest in peace Wild Child

Hellfest 2018 

Nantes 2017