In the beginning there was three fellows who wanted to spit out their ideas in the musical way. Guys are very good friends since their childhood.They were Ville Hermanni Valo, Mikko Lindström (known as Linde) and Mikko Paananen (known as Mige). In the start Ville plays bassguitar, but because also Mige plays it -Ville has started to sing. Before HIM Ville plays bass in the progressive band called Donits-Osmo Experience with persons (Joel Melasniemi and Antti Lehtinen) that lately played in Ultra Bra, Scandinavian Music Group and Don Huonot. By the way, Joel is cousin of Antto who've been keyboardplayer in HIM. Ville made some demos and played them to Mige who rapidly enchanted on them. They wanted guitarist to their new band and because they know Linde yet, they only need a drummer to their band. Ville's good friend Suho (the singer of Jimsonweed) gave the phonenumber of Pätkä (real name:Juhana Rantala) to Ville and the band is ready. Pätkä played earlier in the grungeband called Slumgudgeon from Lappeenranta. Rest of the band was making jokes from Pätkä's origin (Lappenranta is smaller town in the eastern Finland). Band was named: His Infernal Majesty. First gig was in Teatro (R.I.P. in 2003) in Helsinki on december 19th 1995 (Mige's birthday). Mige worked in Teatro and his brother was shareholder of Teatro, so they were booked to play in there. HIM was supporter of Kauko Röyhkä and because Kauko was earlier spoke about his satanic view of the world, the crowd thinks that His Infernal Majesty is a new nickname for Kauko. The crowd screamed His Infernal Majesty to the stage as they thought that means Kauko and when the 'real' His Infernal Majesty walks to spotlight, the crowd went disappointed and confused. 'What the fuck is that?' they wondered. HIM gets no positive reactions, band's music is not what crowd was came to hear about and the plugs made by Mige exploded continually and technical side of the band was not working. After that they started public performances which was actually coverversionshows, because they've got not enough own material to play. They played Rauli Badding Somerjoki, Dingo, WASP, Kiss, Depeche Mode,Type O Negative and all between them. The second was also in Teatro and there was Burton on keyboards. Burton was old friend of Mige and because they needed a keyboardplayer to their Type O Negative-covergig, so Burton came in. That was night when Apocalyptica played their first gig ever. Teatro was sold-out and the crowd went nuts in the concert. It took finally 7 years that Burton comes and takes permanent place in HIM... Ville imagined that the music that he wants to play sounds like Dimmu Borgir meets Depeche Mode in David Lynch movie. First recordings They (actually it was Ville) started to create own material and the first EP released in the autumn 1996. It was called 666 Ways To Love- Prologue and in the cover of the record was the picture of Ville's mother when she's young. EP contains their breakthrough song what was the coverversion of the Chris Isaak's hit 'Wicked Game'. It was played with fuzzed guitars and mood was taken from the TV-serie Twin Peaks. On EP played another guitarist called Oki from band called Charged. Band was from Lappeenranta and Oki was no more member of HIM when his toothbrush was found from the mug of Pätkä's girlfriend. After the EP-release they got one new member keyboardplayer Antto Melasniemi which was old friend of Ville. At the same time band's name is getting shorter. Now it's called only HIM. Formerly noticed mood was maintheme of their first album which was released in autumn 1997. Album contains another coverversion 'Don't Fear The Reaper'. Song was originally recorded by Blue Öyster Cult in 1970's. They've been worked hard on the stages and started to plan their future. Razorblade Romance and problems before it Second album was first named to 'Slippery When Dead' which was dedication to Ville's favourite Bon Jovi. Album is originally meaned to release in spring 1999, but they got some problems with their line-up. Antto leaves band in the autumn 1998 and he was replaced by Jussi-Mikko Salminen (known as Zoltan Pluto and Juska). Juska was hardcorefan of HIM and formerly member of glamrockband Mary-Ann from Kouvola. He started in HIM on their first tour outside of Finland in Germany in November 1998. They toured also in Austria and Switzerland in the end of the 1998. They're doing record almost the whole year 1999. They recorded it with Pätkä and the band was not satisfied for it. Pätkä get his girlfriend pregnant and he don't want to put 100% to the band. So Pätkä left the band and he was replaced by Mika Karppinen (also known:Gas Lipstick and Kaasu). Kaasu was formerly member of Kyyria. Before Kaasu joins the band HIM recorded the album with electronic style without drummer. They recorded album again (third version of it!) in welsh countryside. Razorblade Romance- Band is going to write the history of finnish rockmusic In the november 1999 they finally released new material. Single was called 'Join Me' and it featured in scifi-movie '13th Floor'. It went number one in Finland, Germany, Austria and Switzerland. 'Join Me' was the first finnish rocksingle that's going to number one in the charts outside of Scandinavia. Couple of months before that another finnish band (Bomfunk MC's) made it in Sweden. Later Bomfunk MC's and Darude continues in same way around the globe (biggest success in United Kingdom). HIM is very popular in Central Europe and Finland and they fill venues wherever they play their music. Years 1999 and 2000 was the biggest success in finnish popmusic ever and it's a challenge for the bands to continue it... In january 2000 they released their second album which title renamed to 'Razorblade Romance' and it goes to the top of the charts in Finland, Germany and Austria. Album is not as darkmooded as their first album. It's more played on the style of 1980's. Cover is pink for the contradiction to the goths, because they're always use the black colour. In the spring they released second single 'Right Here In My Arms' from the album. It was number one in Finland and in Germany position was 21. In the summer released third single 'Poison Girl'. Best chartpositions was number 3 in Finland and number 34 in Germany. In october 2000 HIM releases fourth single of Razorblade Romance. Single is 'Gone With The Sin' and it contains version of song with collaboration of Avanti Orchestra and Radiomafia. There is section of strings behind Ville. Version is arranged and produced by respected finnish musicperson Otto Donner. Ville want to put to the single something special for the fans. Ville doesn't want to rip-off the money of his fans. Avanti is finnish chambermusic collective and Radiomafia was finnish national radiostation. Gone With The Sin climbed to the top of the singlechart in Finland and gets position 19 in Germany. In autumn 2000 HIM breaks the platinumlimit in the Germany and for that band plays a acoustic concert in Köln. At the same place they also keeps parties for the platinumrecord. HIM was also popular in the Greece where its records climbed in the Top 10 in the year 2000. Razorblade Romance gets over finnish double-platinumlimit (80.000 copies) in the middle of the september 2001. At the end of january 2001 total sales of two HIM-albums gets over the limit of one million copies internationally. Debutalbum Greatest Lovesongs Vol.666 was been sold about 223.000 copies and it's platinumrecord in Finland. Razorblade Romance have a friend in 795.000 homes and it sold platinum in Finland and Germany. Record sold over goldrecordlimits in Austria, Switzerland, Poland and Portugal. Next goldrecord is coming probably from Greece. In Germany Razorblade Romance was second best-selling album of BMG after Supernatural by Santana in 2000. In february 2001 Razorblade Romance was been over year in german albumchart. Deep Shadows And Brilliant Highlights coming up... Band had 14 songs ready for the album in summer 2000 and one choice to the title of the album was 'Ozzymandias Dargunum'. The record should be the intermediate of the first two albums. It could be straighter, more melodic, more rockin' and hopefully more live than studio. In the music they put more Hurriganes which means that the record is closer to 1970's than 1980's. That's what Ville said about the album in autumn 2000 at interview for finnish radiostation Radio Mafia. Listeners can make a choice is that right... In 2000, when July turned to August HIM records demos for their forthcoming album in Hollola. There was rumours about contribution with Desmond Child. Child is a famous composer for Bon Jovi, Alice Cooper etc. That information stays in the state of rumour for the present. In august 2000 HIM took shots for two forthcoming videos in England. The world is getting bigger for HIM Wicked Game was heard in chilean moviesoundtrack in autumn 2000. Juska leaves the band Juska plays last time in the band on New Year's eve of 2001 at Tavastia-club in Helsinki. In the future he concentrates on studying and his energy is not enough for the band. Ville plays keyboards for their forthcoming album and the band is searching replacing person for Juska. Burton replaces Juska HIM played first gig without Juska in Helsinki surprisely in january 12nd 2001 at little club called Semifinal (in Helsinki). Behind the keyboards was 'an old friend' of the band. New keyboardist is guy called Burton and he was formerly played in bands like Cosmos Tango, Sub-Urban Tribe and Torpedo. His real name is Janne Puurtinen. Deep Shadows And Brilliant Highlights Before the album there is some kind of problems with videos, the covers of album and what songs are included in it. There were some foreigners from their recordcompany who were unsatisfied about their work and their choices for the album. The cover of album was originally Ville standing in the metallic elevator with the purple background, that was shooted again in London at expensive studio and there were shot those black&white-photos of Ville. The video of Pretending was originally planned to shot with Miikka Lommi (director of Bomfunk MC's-video Freestyler), but recordcompany wants a british guy to direct it, he was Kevin Godley (former member of 10CC). The mess wasn't over, the people in recordcompany wasn't satisfied of new material and they hired different people to produce and mix the album and the final result is underestimated critics in magazines and big pile of dollars to be spent. HIM released their first single 'Pretending' of forthcoming album 'Deep Shadows And Brilliant Highlights' in july 2nd 2001. In the single was two remixes of song and digipak-edition contains different versions of albumtracks 'Please Don't Let It Go' and 'Lose You Tonight' (what's mispelled in the single's covers!). Pretending was number one in Finland, number 10 in Germany, number 32 in Switzerland and number 36 in Austria at the official singlecharts. Third album of HIM is named to 'Deep Shadows And Brilliant Highlights' and their music has turned from lovemetal to scandinavian blues... Title of the album is term of photographers and it means differences of colours in black&white-pictures. Album was released in the end of august 2001. Deep Shadows And Brilliant Highlights sold Gold in Finland and in Germany after only two days. Album went to number one in Finland and Austria and number two in Germany and Switzerland. Deep Shadows And Brilliant Highlights sold platinum in Finland in two weeks. In the november 2001 totalsales of album was 400.000 copies internationally. Second single from album is 'In Joy And Sorrow' and it's going to released in october 2001. In Joy And Sorrow charted on singlecharts position 2 in Finland and position 17 in Germany. It also appeared for one week in the singlechart of Switzerland on position 98. Third single Heartache Every Moment/Close To The Flame, some kind of doublesingle released in the middle of january 2002. It was located to place 2 on its second week in finnish singlechart. In Germany it went to place 20 on its releaseweek. 'Deep Shadows And Brilliant Highlights' was in the tenth place in the most-sold albums of the year 2001 in Finland. There were sold over 41.000 copies of the album. 'Deep Shadows And Brilliant Highlights' released in United Kingdom on february 25th 2002. There were two shows in London (first one was sold-out in two days) when february was turned to march in 2002. Another show was supporting appearance with The Mission in Astoria. Tour for Deep Shadows in Finland was going on in march and april 2002 (tour contains 11 shows). Band gets great reviews from British magazines and that's the reason why they're touring there in may 2002. The world is getting bigger for HIM, part 2 HIM played only one gig in Finland in summer 2001. That happens in june 17th at Provinssirock in Seinäjoki. The success made that the band is going to be special experience in Finland because they're not playing there very often. European tour of HIM in autumn 2001 is biggest tour what finnish rockband have ever did. Audiences will be between 800 and 10.000 people. Tired for being band after Deep Shadows European tour of Deep Shadows-album ends in the halfway of december 2001 and the band's going tired for touring and all the things that the band puts in their lives and they're having a break in the beginning of 2002. Ville wrote new songs and other members spent their vacations in travelling. The world is getting bigger for HIM, part 3 'Join Me' released in USA at summer 2002 through Universal with help from Jimmy Pop (member of Bloodhound Gang). Razorblade Romance is going to released in U.S.A. in october 2002 and it's out only in Boston/Massachusetts-area through the Newbury Comics stores and will be backed by a promo campaign including television... Records are released with label Jimmy Franks Recording Company. HIM works under name HER in the U.S.A. because there is another band in Chicago called HIM who had registered this name. Also the textiles have to been released under another trademark (there is some kind of earthmovercompany in Arizona who had registered name for printed matter). HIM uses 'the old and known name' and controls all merchandise in Europe. HIM and logos that are known about the band is registered trademarks and that band from Chicago can't use the name 'HIM' in Europe and they can't release any records under the same name. HIM uses name HER with their U.S.-releases and band uses the old logo with new letters in recordcovers. Problems with the name of the band was over in the march 2003. HIM pays to 'American HIM' and finally HIM is HIM also in the U.S.A. Bam Jackass' new movie about the miserable life of Ryan Dunn will be out in a big way in American theatres in august 2002. There is five tracks of HIM in the soundtrack of the movie. Movie will be out in Europe at the beginning of 2003. The Single Collection before The Love Metal HIM released the singlecollection of 10 cd-singles including limited editions and bonustracks in october 2002 before their next album. The Single Collection climbed to the position 12 in finnish singlechart on its second chartweek (first week's position was 17). Box made re-entry to the finnish singlechart in april 2003 and it gets positions 14 and 13... Box is released on import in the U.K. in late november 2002. The story of HIM wrote in the book Finnish musicjournalist Juho Juntunen is writing the book about the band. Book is for sale in the end of october 2002 and it's titled 'Synnin Viemää' (free translation could be 'Gone With The Sin'). The world is getting bigger for HIM, part 4 In the end of november 2002 Universal Records confirmed that they will sign the band in USA and the first nationwide release is preliminarily planned for february. This release could be some kind of specialedition of 'Razorblade Romance'. The background of the band are also working on the merchandising to make it available in North America and especially to get the pirates out of the market. The first heartagram-kid is coming... Guitarist Linde became to a father of beautiful babygirl in the march 6th 2003. HIM continues in same line-up as before and the rumours that Linde is leaving the band is not true. The Love Metal-album HIM started the recordingsessions of their fourth album on september 16th 2002 in Finnvox-studios and they prepared it about three months in the change of 2002 and 2003. Mikko Karmila is the producer of album. Album is meant to be a classic heavyalbum in the spirit of Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin. Deep Shadows And Brilliant Highlights was the 'record for the girls' and the forthcoming album is meant to be the 'record for the boys'. The working title of the album is 'Love Metal'. Album would be the last of their current contract for BMG. Band shot two videos for Love Metal in december 2002-january 2003. First one shot in the middle of december in Los Angeles with Bam Margera who directs video. Juliette Lewis is the femaleperson in the story that happens in atmosphere of old theatre. Video is for song 'Buried Alive By Love'. Second video was done in the beginning of january 2003. Stefan Lindfors is director of this video and it's shot in finnish Lappland, Northern ocean in Norway, Porkkala and Hyvinkää. In video were wild horses and savage Lappish wolves in the fairy-tale story. This video is for song 'Funeral Of Hearts'. Funeral Of Hearts was the first single from 'Love Metal' and it was released in march 21st 2003. Positions in singlecharts were number 1 in Finland (two weeks in a row), 3 in Germany, 24 in Switzerland and 26 in Austria. HIM plays all the songs of forthcoming album in special kind of 'Love Metal Preview Show' in Hamburg. Date for show is march 8th in Grosse Freiheit Club. Tickets were free and available only in the official website www.heartagram.com and different competitions in media around Germany. In their website were special form that's reservation for tickets. Show was sold-out in few days. Ville gave the idea for this kind of gift for their fans. album was released in april 14th. Love Metal climbed to position 1 in Finland (four weeks in a row) and in Germany, nr. 4 in Switzerland, nr. 5 in Austria and nr. 11 in Sweden. It went to charts also in Greece, Hungary, Czech Republic, Spain, Holland, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia , Italy and France. Buried Alive By Love is going to be first single of Love Metal in UK. It was released only in UK as yet. Success in charts are mentioned on below. Love Metal breaks the limit of platinumrecord (40.000 copies) in Finland on early june 2003. International sales of the album is about 300.000 copies at the same time. Total international sales of 4 HIM-albums is about 2 million copies. In the may 2003 HIM is shooting a video in Czech Republic at Ploskovice castle near Prague. Video is for 'The Sacrament' and that's the choice for the next single of Love Metal. Single is going to release in june 27th. Best positions on singlecharts are number 4 in Finland, 22 in Germany, 47 in Austria and 71 in Switzerland. The Sacrament climbed to charts also in Hungary and Greece... Big in the U.K. HIM plays in London at May 3rd 2003 and the show was sold-out 6 weeks before the gig. The audience is going to be about 2000 and it's going to be biggest show in U.K. for the band ever. Love Metal climbed to UK-albumchart getting position 55 and album stays on that chart one week. Album gets also position 3 in U.K.-rockalbumchart on its releaseweek and it stays for six weeks on this chart. HIM is third finnish band in U.K.-albumchart after Hanoi Rocks and Bomfunk MC's. Both of them get chartpositions in TOP 40. Buried Alive By Love was released in U.K. on the middle of may 2003 and it's first single from Love Metal there. It gets position 30 in U.K.-singlechart and stays on the chart for two weeks. Buried Alive By Love is ninth finnish song in TOP 40 of U.K.-singlechart. Before HIM there were visits by Darude (3 songs), Bomfunk MC's (2 songs), Pepe Deluxé, Slusnik Luna and Dirt Devils. Other finnish artists in TOP 40 is different dance-/hiphopgroups, so we can say that HIM is first finnish rockband that is famous in Great Britain!!! Buried Alive By Love gets also position 2 in U.K.-rocksinglechart on its releaseweek and it stays on that chart for twelve weeks. HIM is going to be on tour with their idol... HIM is touring in Europe at autumn 2003 as a supporter for Ozzy Osbourne. Situation is very interested for HIM because Black Sabbath (band where Ozzy sang in 1970's) was the one of the biggest inspirations to form HIM.. It's also a great opportunity for HIM to breakthrough for bigger audiences. Godsmack cancelled their acts on the tour and it's substituted by Kelly Osbourne in some gigs. Godsmack was firstly planned to be another supporter for Ozzy. Livealbum coming up The shows at Semifinal Club in Finland (7 shows in a row in april 2003) is recorded and there is coming livealbum with DVD in november 2003. One choice for the title for this album is 'Live Metal'. Another news for the future is that there is probably coming some kind of collection during 2004 and the next album that contains new material is planned to release somewhere in 2005...