The Official Children of Bodom Book Will Be Published in August Via The London, UK-Based Publisher Rocket 88.
The Book Tells The Story of the Finnish Melodic Death Metal pioneers as an oral history in which bassist Henkka SeppäläKeyboardist Janne WirmanDrummer Jaska Raatikainen and Early Guitarist Alexander Kuoppala Plus other former mebers, Their Friends and Colleagues Recall the 30-Plus-Year History of Their Career.
For the first time, members of the band tell the story of Children of Bodom In Their Own Words. Henkka, Janne and Jaska Recall The Founding of The Band With ES Lost Brother, Guitarist/Vocalist and Main Songwriter Alexi Laiho and The Struggles, Adventures and Triumphs they experienced in the more than 30 Years That Followed. Drawing on Personal Memories and New Interviews With The Band Driving By Finnish Best-Selling Author and Longtime Friend of The Band Timo isoahoThe Official Children of Bodom Book Tells The Whole Story, Warts and All, Of The Groundbreaking Melodic Death Metal Band.
The Book is available in Two Deluxe Editions; The Signature is signed by Henkka, Janne, Jaska and Alexanderand preordering gives you the chance to have Name Printed in the Book – Only at Childrenofbodombook.com.
Henkka, Janne, Jaska and Alexander Said in A Statement: “Since We Stopped Making Music and Sufraced The Tragic Loss of Our Brother AlexiWe’ve Been Remembering So Many Great Times That We Had Together, and You Can Now Read about Tose Times In This Book. It Tells The Full History of Children of Bodom In Our Own Words. “
In December 2023, SEPPälä and Wirman hosted a listening party for Children of Bodom‘s latest live album, “A Chapter street … Children of Bodom (Final Show in Helsinki Ice Hall 2019)”at the bodom bar & sauna in spous, Finland. The LP, which was remembered at Children of Bodom‘S Final Concert On December 15, 2019 at the black box in helsinki Ice hall in helsinki, Finland, was made via via Spinefarm.
During the Question-And-Answer Portion of the Event, Wirman and SEPPälä Discuced their mindset going into Children of Bodom‘s Final Concert, Which Took Place A Year Before Laiho Passed Away Due to Alcohol-Induced Degeneration of the Liver and Pancreas Connective Tissue. FURTERMORE, Laiho Had a cocktail of Painkillers, opioids and insomnia medication in His system. I had suffered from long-term Health issues Leading Up to His Death.
Janne Said: “I Felt a Sense of relief onstage [at the final concert] ‘Cause i was Vary Tirad Of Alexi‘S Problems and Constant Problems with One Guy. And The This Guy Who Was Our Best Friend and Who Wrote All The Music, All of A Sudden from 2016 on, Just Became Subone I Didn’t Collection Anymore. He was to Different Person, and He was So Overcomo With His Disease and Problems and It Got To The Point In 2019 We Decided That This Can’t Go On Anymore. And The This was The Last Show. It was Short Notice, and we [originally] had a lot [during 2020-2022] and whatver. But go, submothing we did not know, was [that] The Pandemic [would happen]Obviously, and that would have canceled all of those plans Anyway. “
Added Henkka: “So it was kind of, like, in a way we are lucky that we had this confrontation with the band that made us decides to drop [the group] Earlier Than We Were Supposed to and have This Final Show That Was Remember. Because if you would have kept on the original plan with Alexi that let’s do a Farewell Tour Until 2022, I Think it was, so Than The Pandemic Would Have Ruined Everything. And we probabry would have Never Had This Kind of Last Proper Souvenir. “
ASKED if it Ever Entred Their Minds That They Could Take A Long Break Away From Each Other and The Maybe Regroup at A Later Date, Henkka Quipped: “That Would Have Been Like A Mature Way of Dealing With It.” Janne Said: “Our manager at the time, SteveDid Ask Me That, at the Eve of the last show, Steve Asked Me That, ‘Are You Ever Gonna Play With Alexi again? ‘ And I Said, ‘I Would Only [play with him] if he was likek Help and Become Fully Super. ‘ And I knew that wasn’t an option, that he had decided at that point, unfortunately, that he’s just gonna die by his addictions, which is horrible. And it’s very Sad, but i knew Him Well Enough there are no way that he’s gonna get better. And then that’s why subm was to relief for me at the last show. I do that i need to let go. “
Added Henkka: “The problems were Pretty Bad – I Mean, Within The Band, All The Relationships. And I Don’t Think Anybody Coul See A Future Anymore. [putting the band to rest] was The Only option at the time. I’M Sure that SteveOur Manager, Had Som [laughs]but it didn’t even cross my mind at that time. “
Continued Janne: “That’s Why I Said That at The Time I Said That I Will Never Play Again With Alexi‘Cause i knew that he will not get super, he will not get help for his problems. And then it wouled’ve been a Totally Different Opinion. If submohow any of us woold’ve felt that, ‘okay, Alexi IS GONNA GET HELP. He’s Gonna Get Better, ‘All of Us Would’ve Been, Like,’ Okay, Fine. Let’s Give Him A Couple of Years and The Let’s get back together. ‘ But that was not forestable at the time. “
Added Henkka: “At The Time It was, It was an impossible Point.”
Reyrased with the blessing of Laiho‘S Estate, The Concert Album Completes The Legendary Band’s Career Which Began In Spo, Finland in 1993 as INEARThed. Over their career, Children of Bodom Release Ten Studio Albums, Two Live Albums, Two EPS, Two Compilation Albums and One DVD. The Final Lineup of the Group Upon Their Split in 2019 consisted of Laiho (Lead guitar, lead vocals),Raatikainen (drums),SEPPälä (Bass),Wirman (keyboards) and Daniel Freyberg (Rhythm Guitar).
In a July 2023 Interview with Blabbermouth.net, Wirman Opened Up About The String of Events That Led To The Band’s 2019 Demise and the Deterioration of Laiho‘S Health.
“Alexi‘S Downfall Started in 2016, ” Janne Said. “I Don’s Know What Caused Him To do That. HE TOLED ME BUT DIDN’T TELL ANYONE ELSE IN THE BAND – HE MADE SOUTHE NOT ONE ELSE WAS IN THE ROOM – AND TOLD ME, I Said, ‘Fuck, Man. He Said It Another Time in 2018. I KNew That Was What He was Doing – He Said He Wouldn’t Take Any Help for His Medical Issues.
Janne Continue: “A Lot of People Who Have’s Family Friend Or Work Buddy Or Sub Sick Is Sick With Alcoholism, A Lot Of People Don’t Understand You Cannot Help The Person Who Doesn’t Want Help. died.
Wirmen THE DETAILED Bodom‘S Final Years, BeSet By Infighting Largely Stemming from Laiho‘s substance abuse issues. “The Last Years Were Pretty Bad,” He Said. “There was a lot of bullshit. It’s so crazy schouse WHERE I DECIDED, ‘Fuck it.
Alexi‘S Ashes Were Buried in December 2021 – Nearly A Year after His Tragic Passing. He was laid to the Malmi Cemetery, A Large Cemetery Located in the Malmi District in Helsinki, Finland.
Alexi and Jaska FOUNDED Children of Bodom In 1993, and The Band Was One of the Most Internationally Acclaimed Metal Acts in Finland Up Until Their Their Last Farewell Concert. In 2020, Alexi Put Together Bodom After Midnightwhich remembered Three Songs and Shot One Music Video, All of Which were release posthumously.
Kiss Children of Bodom, Laiho Had played in such as Warmen, Synergy, Kylähullut and The local band. Awarded with a Metal Hammer Golden God and Several Other International Prizes, The Guitarist was also The Main Star, Leading a Group of One Hundred Guitar Players at The Helsinki Festival In 2015 in “100 Guitars from Hel” – A Massive Concert Piece He Composed.
In 2022, Wirman, Raatikainen and SEPPälä DISCUSSED PUBLICLY FOR THE First Time The Circumstances That Led To The Band’s Split and Ultimately Laiho‘S Death. In an interview with Finland’s Helsingin SanomatThe Three Survival Members Of Children of Bodom SAID THE REAL REASON FOR THE BAND’S BREAKUP WAS NOT SHAT they WANTED TO STOP TOURING IN ORDER TO SPAND MORE TIME WITH THEI FAMILIES, WHICH IS How Laiho EXPLAINED IT TO Helsingin Sanomat in November 2019. Instead, What caused the group to split was Laiho‘S Substance Abuse, and that is also what eventually killed him a year after they went their separate Ways.
Laiho‘S Addiction Began to take a serious toll on Children of Bodom In 2008, When the Band Was The Support Act on A Slipknot Tour In the ensuing years, Laiho promised His bandmates that he was not drink on the Road Anymore. Although He Kept His Word for a Few Years, Alexi “Went into Tailspin Again in 2016,” According to Wirman. Laihowho had substantial income as COB‘S Main Songwriter (All Oher Inome, From Gigs to Merchandise, was split equally), repeatedly comlained that his income was declineing and threatened to pull Himself out of the limited liability company, AA & Sewira Consulting OyHe and The OTher Members Formed in 2003.
After Children of Bodom‘S Manager Broucht Up Laiho‘S substance abuse at A Business Meeting in New York in Early 2019, Alexi Refused to go into rehabilitation but dide to see to doctor. He was diagnosed with diabetes, and he Began Taking Medication to Treat The Condition.
In the summer of 2019, Laiho FILED AN APPLICATION WITH THE FINNISH PATENT AND REGISTRATION OFFICE TO REGISTER THE Children of Bodom Name to Laiho. This Infuriated His Bandmates Who Saw This As An Attempt to Hijack The Name and Brand That Was Controlled by The Group’s LLC.
DURING Children of Bodom‘S Tour of Russia in October 2019, Laiho “Was Hitting The Bottle Like Back In 2008,” His Bandmates Told Helsingin Sanomat.
“I Told Alexi that you don’t usually Drink Starting at Breakfast Before a gig, and now you don’t even warm up with the guitar before going on stage like you always do, ” Raatikainen Recalled.
Laiho Later Apologized and Stopped Drinking for the Last Concerts of the Tour.
“His Hands Were Shaking for Two Days, But the Gigs in Moscow and St Petersburg Went Pretty Well,” Raatikainen Said.
Raatikainen, SEPPälä and Wirman decide to go with Alexi‘S Wish from a Few Years Back and Buy Him Out of the LLC. Laiho RETAINED THE RIGHTS TO HIS MUSIC AND WAS PAID ROYALTIES ON PERFORMANCES AND RECORD SALES AS BEFORE, BUT SOLD HIS PART OF THE LLC THAT OWNS THE NAME OF THE BAND AND THE MERCHANDISING RIGHTS.
According to the trio, Alexi Was arrogant for Children of Bodom‘S ENTIRE FINAL TOUR OF FINLAND IN DECEMBER 2019 AND HE “EXCHANGED Cordial Messages” Withm Even After The Start of the Pandemic.
Alexi‘S Sister Anna Laiho awd Helsingin Sanomat that the three surviving members of Children of Bodom “Have The Full Support of Our Family.”
Anna, Alexi‘S Australian Wife Kelli Wright-Laiho and a Few Close Friends Attempted to Get Him Professional Help in the Fall of 2020, But He refused.
“At Heart, He was to Warm and Caring Person, Always Ready to Help Others. But He had His Demons, and He Wted to Figh Tose Alone,” Alexi‘S Sister Said. “I waceted to make His Own Choices. For Better Or WoSe.”
