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HIM (band)
Encyclopedia
HIM is a Finnish rock
band from Helsinki. Formed in 1991 by vocalist Ville Valo
, guitarist Mikko "Linde" Lindström, and bassist Mikko "Migé" Paananen
, HIM's current lineup consists of Valo, Linde, Migé, Janne "Emerson Burton" Puurtinen
on keyboards and Mika Karppinen
on drums. They have released seven full length albums to date, the latest, Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice
, released on February 8, 2010. On September 5, 2006, HIM's fifth studio album Dark Light was certified
gold by the RIAA
, making HIM the first Finnish band to have a gold album in the United States
. HIM had five of their studio albums certified platinum in Finland with Razorblade Romance
being certified double platinum in Finland and platinum in Germany
.
, was released in 1996 solely in Finland
. Only 1,000 copies of this album EP were sold. Recently a near mint condition copy of the bands EP was listed on eBay
for around $600. The lady on the cover is said to be Valo's mother, who (according to an interview with Valo) worked in a shoe shop at the time. It was produced by Hiili Hiilesmaa
, and was recorded at Finnvox Studios
, MD and Peacemakers, Helsinki.
, on November 20, 1997. It features covers of Chris Isaak
's "Wicked Game
" and Blue Öyster Cult
's "(Don't Fear) The Reaper
". Four singles were released from the album which was also produced by Hiili Hiilesmaa
. Like the EP 666 Ways to Love: Prologue
, the album was recorded at Finnvox, MD and Peacemakers in Helsinki, Finland. Guest vocals were provided by Sanna-June Hyde, and Asta Hannula on "(Don't Fear) The Reaper
" and "For You", respectively. A digipak version was released in Finland, with the song "For You" moved to the first track. A special edition was released in Germany with the bonus track "Stigmata Diaboli", taken from 666 Ways to Love: Prologue. In keeping with the theme of 666, the album's length is 66:06 and contains a total of 66 tracks (56 of which are blank). There is another track which starts at 6 minutes into the 66th track, it is the outro of "The Heartless" from 666 Ways to Love: Prologue
. The track is called "HIM 666," or alternatively "666" or "Dark Circle." This album is also the only HIM album so far to have hidden bonus tracks. Although sometimes perceived to have Satan-worshiping references, Valo has stated that the album was never affiliated with these things.
, particularly in their homeland, HIM released its second album on December 19, 1999, entitled Razorblade Romance
. This is when the band's popularity began to rise, their single "Join Me in Death
" from the album reached #1 on the German music charts, selling over 500,000 of this single in two months. Join Me in Death was used as the soundtrack of European version of science fiction movie 'The Thirteenth Floor
', thus making it more popular worldwide.
Following this German success they released two more Germany only singles from this album; "Right Here in My Arms
" and "Gone With the Sin
", which reached #20 and #19 on the charts respectively. Around this time they were also becoming better known in other parts of Europe, such as the United Kingdom. The album itself reached #1 in both Germany and their native Finland.
In 2002, Razorblade Romance
was re-released and put into stores in the United States. HIM was not allowed to use their name for sales because of the American band, HiM, owned the rights to that name. Therefore, they changed the name to HER in the United States. Eventually, they were able to buy the full rights to the name HIM, and copies of the album began to be manufactured with their desired name on the packaging. Only 1,000 copies of the album exist with the HER band name, which makes it a rare collectible among fans.
The original working title for Razorblade Romance
was Gotham Roll and a demo or properly recorded song from this session leaked onto the internet (in the midst of 2004), titled "Too Happy To Be Alive". A drum machine was used for this particular session due to Pätkä leaving the band.
Migé Amour played bass, Ville Valo was on drums, with Hiili on keyboards, and Ike on sound effects. They released two albums, The King of Rock'n Roll
, in September 2001, and Vol. II in April 2010. Although it was not a commercial success, it retains a cult following
.
After the Daniel Lioneye project, HIM released Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights
on August 27, 2001. This was the band's first album with new keyboardist Emerson Burton, the final addition to the current line-up. Once again the album shot to #1 in their Finnish
homeland. It also reached #2 in Germany. Three singles were released from it: "Pretending
" (which reached #10 in Germany), "In Joy and Sorrow
" and a double single featuring both "Heartache Every Moment" and "Close to the Flame." Such success further facilitated their gradual emergence into the mainstream. As with Razorblade Romance
, there were problems naming the album. It was meant to be called "Ozzymandias Dargunum" and it would contain 14 tracks. The demos were recorded in 2000 in Hollola. In November 2001 total sales were nearly 400,000.
on the cover. Instead, it featured a gold heartagram, the band's well-known logo. "The Funeral of Hearts
" was the first single and their first high appearance on the United Kingdom charts at #14, it also hit #3 in Germany. It was followed by "Buried Alive By Love
" and "The Sacrament
". (The Sacrament
was recently used as the ending for the anime film Highlander: The Search for Vengeance.)
Around the time of the Love Metal album, the group became better known, both in the US and internationally, when professional skateboarder and TV personality Bam Margera
began using the band's heartagram logo and promoting them extensively on his MTV
series Viva La Bam
. Margera produced their video for "Buried Alive By Love
", which featured a guest appearance from Natural Born Killers
actress Juliette Lewis
. They played at Download Festival
in 2003 on the second stage with The Hellacopters
; the following year they would go on to headline the same stage. Love Metal was performed in its entirety on March 8, 2003 in Hamburg
's Grosse Freiheit Club, a month before the album's release on April 14. The only track that was not performed was "Love's Requiem," which was only included in digipak versions of the album. The tickets were available for sale on the band's official website and sold out within a few days. Ville had the initial idea for making this a gift to their fans. The show has been included in unofficial video and audio bootlegs under the name 'Buried Alive' or 'Love Metal Live'.
And Love Said No: The Greatest Hits 1997–2004 is HIM's first greatest hits album. It contains two unreleased songs: "And Love Said No
" and "Solitary Man", the latter of which is a Neil Diamond
cover. It also had a re-recorded version of "When Love and Death Embrace
," while the British version contained a re-recorded "It's All Tears (Drown In This Love)
". The digipak version of this album came with a DVD with six live songs at the Semifinal Club in Helsinki.
and spawning two major rock hits, "Rip Out the Wings of a Butterfly" and "Killing Loneliness
", both of which have accompanying videos. Kat Von D
appears in the video for "Killing Loneliness" tattooing the eyes Ville Valo has on his back as well as throughout in small glimpses of foreshadowing. In the summer of 2005, they played the mainstage of Download Festival
with Black Sabbath
and Velvet Revolver
.
The success of Dark Light has also allowed a number of HIM's previous albums (including Love Metal) to chart in the United States. In October 2006, the band's official website announced that Dark Light had been certified Gold in the U.S. by the RIAA. This made HIM the first band from Finland to sell over 500,000 records in the U.S.
During their tour to promote Dark Light, Mige and Burton wrote a song together called "Plasma Mullet" that is completely different from their other work and is not on any official release of the band. The only time it has been released to the public is when it was played on skateboarder Bam Margera
's half-hour radio show on Sirius Satellite Radio
or at various concerts after their performance. Margera refers to it as their "jokey song".
In 2006/2007, HIM released its second and third compilation albums titled Uneasy Listening Vol. 1
and Uneasy Listening Vol. 2
, respectively.
Uneasy Listening Vol. 1 was released in 2006 on October 27 in Germany, October 30 in the United Kingdom and November 14 in the United States. The compilation contains fifteen alternate versions of HIM's lighter songs such as "In Joy and Sorrow
," "The Sacrament
," "Gone With the Sin
," and "One Last Time." An acoustic version of "Pretending
" can be found on the single for the string version of "In Joy and Sorrow."
Uneasy Listening Vol. 2 was released in 2007 on April 20 in Germany, April 24 and April 25 in the rest of Europe, May 22 in the United States and May 25 in Australia. It contains fourteen rare alternate tracks, which exemplify HIM's heavier side. These include the Black Sabbath cover "Hand of Doom," a remix of "Sigillum Diaboli," a live version of "Right Here in My Arms
," and a remix of their Turbonegro
cover of "Rendezvous With Anus." It also contains the much sought-after version of "Buried Alive By Love
," which only originally appeared on the CKY4: The Latest and The Greatest DVD. Right Here In My Arms
was featured on Bam's Unholy Union
.
was released on September 14, 2007 in Finland, Ireland and Germany, September 17, 2007 internationally and September 18, 2007 in the US. At the Give It a Name Festival '07, HIM played one of the new songs, "Dead Lovers' Lane." In an interview with The Gauntlet, Venus Doom
is mostly guitar-oriented with a pronounced lack of keyboards. The song "Passion's Killing Floor" is on the Transformers
soundtrack. The first single was "The Kiss of Dawn
", which has become a staple in most of their live performances, as well as Passion's Killing Floor, Dead Lovers' Lane and the epic Sleepwalking Past Hope. The video for "The Kiss of Dawn
" written and directed by Meiert Avis, debuted in the UK on Scuzz TV on August 10, 2007. The next single off of Venus Doom, was "Bleed Well
". The lo-fi black and white video for "Bleed Well" was shot by Meiert Avis at sound check at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles November 15, 2007. In support of the new album HIM toured North America with Bleeding Through
in the fall of 07.
At the 50th annual
Grammy Award
s, Matt Taylor and Ville Valo, for HIM, was nominated for "Best Boxed/Special Limited Edition packaging" for Venus Doom. Venus Doom didn't win, losing out to What It Is!: Funky Soul and Rare Grooves (1967–1977) (performed by various artists and artwork by Masaki Koike).
"Digital Versatile Doom
", HIM's first official live DVD/CD, was scheduled to release on April 1, 2008, but was pushed back until April 29. It features a live performance from The Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles, as well as behind the scenes look at the show. Also featured on the DVD, the winner of HIM's biggest fans competition go to Seattle to meet the band. A special edition was available for pre-order on February 1, 2008, which will come with a limited edition 6" X 4" numbered flipbook. The imagery is from HIM's live performance of "Sleepwalking Past Hope" at that concert.
in Los Angeles, California
. The title of the album is Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice
. The recording of the album began on August 3, 2009 and finished on October 8, 2009. On November 22, lead singer Ville Valo's
birthday, the album art was released on the band's website. The album was released February 8, 2010 in the United Kingdom
and France
and February 9 in the United States. It was also released on February 10 in Japan
and on February 12 in Germany
. Their first single from the album, "Heartkiller
" was released December 8, 2009 as a digital download and on February 5, 2010 as a CD single.
Due to the uproar and requests from fans, Harmonix has released downloadable content for the game Rock Band
from HIM as the "HIM Pack 01", featuring "Ode to Solitude", "Wings of a Butterfly", and the new single "Heartkiller". Of those songs, only "Wings of a Butterfly" did not come from Screamworks. The group also took part in the Game with Fame promotion on Xbox Live
to promote their new album on March 25.
The official remix album for Screamworks, SWRMXS
, featuring songs from Screamworks as remixed by artists such as Tiesto, Morgan Page, and Gavin Russom, was released on December 7, 2010. The album is available online on iTunes, Beatport and other digital retailers, but the physical album is available exclusively at Hot Topic stores in the US. A Special Edition of the album including a new HIM shirt featuring the new album cover was available for pre-order.
On September 13, 2011, HIM announced that they are currently working on a follow-up to 2010's Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice, but the work has been interrupted due to a rare condition afflicting drummer Gas Lipstick.
tribute band of sorts". Valo also stated in an interview on the Love Metal Archives Vol. I
DVD, that he was fed up with journalists and interviewers asking him (Valo), and the rest of the band what the genre of HIM was. He said in answer to that question that they were "love metal" (which was also the name of their 2003 album.) Critics have referred to them as gothic rock
, gothic metal
, alternative rock
, hard rock
, alternative metal
, and heavy metal
.
and various other acts, such as My Chemical Romance
, Taking Back Sunday
, Placebo
, Julien-K
, Mindless Self Indulgence
, Saosin
, The Bled
, Styles of Beyond
, and Madina Lake
for that year's Projekt Revolution
. HIM headlined a US tour beginning in October 2007 with a UK tour that followed in December 2007. They have recently finished their "Down Under" tour. They also performed at Rock am Ring and Rock im Park in June 2008 as well as headlining the second stage at Download Festival with bands like Kiss, Disturbed and The Offspring. It was announced in August 2009 that HIM were to play in the Australian music festival, Soundwave in February 2010. In 2010 HIM performed a UK show in Norwich that began on 13 March. The band will be touring the United States on a 28-city concert tour beginning 26 March 2010 in Philadelphia, PA with Drive A, Dommin
, and We Are the Fallen
opening for them.
This is a list of tours that HIM have or will be participating in; individual concerts are not included.
on the day of his twentieth birthday. It has been used on the covers of the Love Metal, Dark Light and Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice
albums. Valo has said that "the heartagram stands for HIM as a band, as an entity, and for 'love metal' in general." Many fans of the band have heartagram tattoos, or tattoos of other HIM emblems — such as the single heart on Valo's right wrist, and a number of fan-submitted photos of same decorated the lyric booklet for the limited edition of Dark Light.
Ville Valo
has allowed his close friend, Jackass
star, actor, and professional skateboarder, Bam Margera
to share the license on the heartagram image and Margera has accordingly used it for his promotional purposes, including using it on his Adio
shoes and Element skateboards
. Because of the shared license, the symbol is often thought to belong solely to Margera. Other well known individuals have also received a tattoo of the logo such as Kat Von D
. According to Valo, the band has become better known for their logo than their music. A lot of people around the globe are also wearing tattoos of the symbol. Including Ville Valo himself.
In a video interview, Ville has stated that the heartagram is a "Modern Yin Yang," the heart being the Yin and the inverted pentacle being the Yang.
In the program LA Ink
, the tattoo parlour has a heartagram on the door.
A heartagram appears at the end of the music video for the song "DARE
" by the band Gorillaz
, where Murdoc wakes up, on the wall to the left hand side. It was also parodied, as the "horseagram" — a combination of a horse shoe and a pentagram — in the episode "Ode to Sue" of the video game comedy troupe Mega64
.
During the filming of Jackass Number Two, cast member Steve-O
got a parody tattoo of a heartagram called a "Dickagram", where the lowest point of the inverted pentagram is shaped like a penis
.
The heartagram was also shown in a couple of episodes in Season 8 of The WB's Charmed
as a demonic symbol and in an episode of Criminal Minds
as a heartagram necklace.
Recently, the heartagram can be seen in the cover of the Spanish rock band "Mägo de Oz" new album titled Gaia III: Atlantia in which appears a purple octopus that has a heartagram tattoo in one of its tentacles.
Ville created a new style to the Heartagram, inspired by Aleister Crowley
's unicursal hexagram
.
A very similar drawing was made by Franz Bardon, a magician, occultist, and practitioner of Hermetics, and is found in his book, The Practice of Magical Evocation, on page 489. It is associated with the Angel, Aduachiel, and the astrological sign, Sagittarius.
, a Canadian
thrash metal
band, HiM, an American
post-rock
band, or 4Him
, a Contemporary Christian group. The band changed the name to HIM from the "Wicked Game
" single onwards, though the single for "Your Sweet Six Six Six
" includes a 'His Infernal Majesty' sticker. Their second studio album, Razorblade Romance
, was released under the name HER in the United States because the Chicago based post-rock band named HiM held the trademark on the name. While they toured Europe, primarily Germany at the time, they used the name HIM and HER. HIM eventually bought the rights to the name "HIM" in the United States and used it worldwide from there on.
Former
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band from Helsinki. Formed in 1991 by vocalist Ville Valo
Ville Valo
Ville Hermanni Valo is a Finnish singer, songwriter and frontman of the Finnish rock band HIM. He has received the "Golden God" award in 2004 by the heavy metal magazine Metal Hammer. Valo has a baritone vocal range. Valo was ranked number 80 in Hit Paraders Top 100 Metal Vocalists of All Time...
, guitarist Mikko "Linde" Lindström, and bassist Mikko "Migé" Paananen
Mikko Paananen
Mikko Henrik Julius Paananen , better known as Migé or Migé Amour, is the current and founding bassist of the rock band HIM.-History:...
, HIM's current lineup consists of Valo, Linde, Migé, Janne "Emerson Burton" Puurtinen
Janne Puurtinen
Janne Johannes Puurtinen, better known as Emerson Burton, is the current keyboard-player in the Finnish rock band, HIM. He was born 17 October 1974, in Helsinki. Burton made his second debut as a temporary member of the band at the concert arranged at the Semifinal Club on 12 January 2001...
on keyboards and Mika Karppinen
Mika Karppinen
Mika Kristian Karppinen, better known as Gas Lipstick , is currently the drummer for the rock band HIM. He is also the drummer of Finnish deathgrind band To Separate the Flesh from the Bones, punk band Ääritila and metal band Bendover. He also was a drum tech for Stratovarius at one point and was...
on drums. They have released seven full length albums to date, the latest, Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice
Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice
Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice, Chapters 1–13 is the seventh studio album by Finnish rock band HIM, released on February 8, 2010 in the United Kingdom and France. It was later released in the United States on February 9, Japan on February 10, and Germany on February 12. The first single...
, released on February 8, 2010. On September 5, 2006, HIM's fifth studio album Dark Light was certified
RIAA certification
In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards...
gold by the RIAA
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
, making HIM the first Finnish band to have a gold album in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. HIM had five of their studio albums certified platinum in Finland with Razorblade Romance
Razorblade Romance
Razorblade Romance is the second studio album by HIM, released on 19 December 1999 in Finland and 24 January 2000 in the rest of Europe - except for the UK, where it was released 15 May 2000. It was produced by John Fryer and recorded at Rockfield recording studios in Wales by John Fryer and Paul...
being certified double platinum in Finland and platinum in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
666 Ways to Love (1991–1997)
As "His Infernal Majesty" the band released two demos and one EP. Their first demos were "Witches and Other Night Fears" and "This Is Only the Beginning", released in 1992 and 1995 respectively. The EP, 666 Ways to Love: Prologue666 Ways to Love: Prologue
666 Ways to Love: Prologue is an EP by HIM, released in 1996, only in Finland. It is produced by Hiili Hiilesmaa, and was registered in Finnvox, MD and Peacemakers, Helsinki. It is their first release after a demo in 1995...
, was released in 1996 solely in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
. Only 1,000 copies of this album EP were sold. Recently a near mint condition copy of the bands EP was listed on eBay
EBay
eBay Inc. is an American internet consumer-to-consumer corporation that manages eBay.com, an online auction and shopping website in which people and businesses buy and sell a broad variety of goods and services worldwide...
for around $600. The lady on the cover is said to be Valo's mother, who (according to an interview with Valo) worked in a shoe shop at the time. It was produced by Hiili Hiilesmaa
Hiili Hiilesmaa
Kai "Hiili" Hiilesmaa is the vocalist of the rock band The Skreppers, drummer of doom metal band KYPCK, was the keyboardist of hard rock/sleaze/blues band Daniel Lioneye, as well as a respected producer from Finland...
, and was recorded at Finnvox Studios
Finnvox studios
Finnvox Studios is a recording studio located in Helsinki, Finland. Founded in 1965, it was the first studio in Finland dedicated for music recording. Many metal bands have had albums mastered here , including Sonata Arctica, Nightwish, Finntroll, HIM, Moonsorrow, Holy Knights, Ram-Zet, Throes of...
, MD and Peacemakers, Helsinki.
Greatest Lovesongs Vol. 666 (1997-1999)
HIM released their first full-length studio album, Greatest Love Songs Vol. 666Greatest Love Songs Vol. 666
Greatest Lovesongs Vol. 666 is the debut album by Finnish band, HIM. It was produced by Hiili Hiilesmaa and guest vocals were provided by Sanna-June Hyde and Asta Hannula on " The Reaper" and "For You", respectively. In keeping with the theme of 666, the album is 66 minutes and 6 seconds long,...
, on November 20, 1997. It features covers of Chris Isaak
Chris Isaak
Christopher Joseph "Chris" Isaak is an American rock musician and occasional actor.-Early life:Isaak was born in Stockton, California, the son of Dorothy , a potato chip factory worker, and Joe Isaak, a forklift driver. Isaak's mother is Italian American, originating from Genoa...
's "Wicked Game
Wicked Game
"Wicked Game" is a 1989 song by Chris Isaak from his third studio album Heart Shaped World. Despite being released as a single in 1989, it did not become a hit until it was later featured in the David Lynch film Wild at Heart...
" and Blue Öyster Cult
Blue Öyster Cult
Blue Öyster Cult, often abbreviated BÖC, is an American rock band, most of whose members first came together in Long Island, NY in 1967 as the band Soft White Underbelly...
's "(Don't Fear) The Reaper
(Don't Fear) The Reaper
" The Reaper" is a song by the rock band Blue Öyster Cult from their 1976 album, Agents of Fortune. It was written and sung by the band's lead guitarist, Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser and was produced by David Lucas, Murray Krugman, and Sandy Pearlman. It is built around Dharma's guitar riff that...
". Four singles were released from the album which was also produced by Hiili Hiilesmaa
Hiili Hiilesmaa
Kai "Hiili" Hiilesmaa is the vocalist of the rock band The Skreppers, drummer of doom metal band KYPCK, was the keyboardist of hard rock/sleaze/blues band Daniel Lioneye, as well as a respected producer from Finland...
. Like the EP 666 Ways to Love: Prologue
666 Ways to Love: Prologue
666 Ways to Love: Prologue is an EP by HIM, released in 1996, only in Finland. It is produced by Hiili Hiilesmaa, and was registered in Finnvox, MD and Peacemakers, Helsinki. It is their first release after a demo in 1995...
, the album was recorded at Finnvox, MD and Peacemakers in Helsinki, Finland. Guest vocals were provided by Sanna-June Hyde, and Asta Hannula on "(Don't Fear) The Reaper
(Don't Fear) The Reaper
" The Reaper" is a song by the rock band Blue Öyster Cult from their 1976 album, Agents of Fortune. It was written and sung by the band's lead guitarist, Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser and was produced by David Lucas, Murray Krugman, and Sandy Pearlman. It is built around Dharma's guitar riff that...
" and "For You", respectively. A digipak version was released in Finland, with the song "For You" moved to the first track. A special edition was released in Germany with the bonus track "Stigmata Diaboli", taken from 666 Ways to Love: Prologue. In keeping with the theme of 666, the album's length is 66:06 and contains a total of 66 tracks (56 of which are blank). There is another track which starts at 6 minutes into the 66th track, it is the outro of "The Heartless" from 666 Ways to Love: Prologue
666 Ways to Love: Prologue
666 Ways to Love: Prologue is an EP by HIM, released in 1996, only in Finland. It is produced by Hiili Hiilesmaa, and was registered in Finnvox, MD and Peacemakers, Helsinki. It is their first release after a demo in 1995...
. The track is called "HIM 666," or alternatively "666" or "Dark Circle." This album is also the only HIM album so far to have hidden bonus tracks. Although sometimes perceived to have Satan-worshiping references, Valo has stated that the album was never affiliated with these things.
Razorblade Romance (1999–2001)
After gaining popularity in EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, particularly in their homeland, HIM released its second album on December 19, 1999, entitled Razorblade Romance
Razorblade Romance
Razorblade Romance is the second studio album by HIM, released on 19 December 1999 in Finland and 24 January 2000 in the rest of Europe - except for the UK, where it was released 15 May 2000. It was produced by John Fryer and recorded at Rockfield recording studios in Wales by John Fryer and Paul...
. This is when the band's popularity began to rise, their single "Join Me in Death
Join Me in Death
"Join Me in Death" is the first single by the Finnish band HIM taken from their second studio album Razorblade Romance. It was also released as "Join Me", since they weren't allowed to include "Death" in the title for the US version. The song is the band's best-known song in Europe...
" from the album reached #1 on the German music charts, selling over 500,000 of this single in two months. Join Me in Death was used as the soundtrack of European version of science fiction movie 'The Thirteenth Floor
The Thirteenth Floor
The Thirteenth Floor is a 1999 science fiction film directed by Josef Rusnak and loosely based upon Simulacron-3 , a novel by Daniel F. Galouye...
', thus making it more popular worldwide.
Following this German success they released two more Germany only singles from this album; "Right Here in My Arms
Right Here in My Arms
"Right Here in My Arms" is a song by Finnish band HIM, released in 2000 as the fourth track from their album Razorblade Romance.-Track listing:German release EP#"Right Here in My Arms" #"Join Me in Death"...
" and "Gone With the Sin
Gone With the Sin
"Gone with the Sin" is a power ballad by Finnish alternative rock band HIM, released in 2000 as the fifth track from their album Razorblade Romance.-Track listing:Finnish release#"Gone with the Sin" – 3:51#"Gone with the Sin" "Gone with the Sin" is a power ballad by Finnish alternative rock band...
", which reached #20 and #19 on the charts respectively. Around this time they were also becoming better known in other parts of Europe, such as the United Kingdom. The album itself reached #1 in both Germany and their native Finland.
In 2002, Razorblade Romance
Razorblade Romance
Razorblade Romance is the second studio album by HIM, released on 19 December 1999 in Finland and 24 January 2000 in the rest of Europe - except for the UK, where it was released 15 May 2000. It was produced by John Fryer and recorded at Rockfield recording studios in Wales by John Fryer and Paul...
was re-released and put into stores in the United States. HIM was not allowed to use their name for sales because of the American band, HiM, owned the rights to that name. Therefore, they changed the name to HER in the United States. Eventually, they were able to buy the full rights to the name HIM, and copies of the album began to be manufactured with their desired name on the packaging. Only 1,000 copies of the album exist with the HER band name, which makes it a rare collectible among fans.
The original working title for Razorblade Romance
Razorblade Romance
Razorblade Romance is the second studio album by HIM, released on 19 December 1999 in Finland and 24 January 2000 in the rest of Europe - except for the UK, where it was released 15 May 2000. It was produced by John Fryer and recorded at Rockfield recording studios in Wales by John Fryer and Paul...
was Gotham Roll and a demo or properly recorded song from this session leaked onto the internet (in the midst of 2004), titled "Too Happy To Be Alive". A drum machine was used for this particular session due to Pätkä leaving the band.
Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights (2001–2003)
During 2001, before the group's third release, the members of HIM formed a new band, Daniel Lioneye. This was intended as a solo project of guitarist Linde, who took on the vocal spot and the stage name Daniel Lioneye for it.Migé Amour played bass, Ville Valo was on drums, with Hiili on keyboards, and Ike on sound effects. They released two albums, The King of Rock'n Roll
The King of Rock'n Roll
The King of Rock'n Roll is the first studio album by the band Daniel Lioneye, released in 2001.Daniel Lioneye is a side project band from the popular Finnish band HIM. The band produces Hard rock/Sleaze Rock music with blues based guitar solos throughout...
, in September 2001, and Vol. II in April 2010. Although it was not a commercial success, it retains a cult following
Cult following
A cult following is a group of fans who are highly dedicated to a specific area of pop culture. A film, book, band, or video game, among other things, will be said to have a cult following when it has a small but very passionate fan base...
.
After the Daniel Lioneye project, HIM released Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights
Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights
Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights is the third album by HIM, which was released on 27 August 2001. This is the first album that new keyboardist Janne Puurtinen took part in, thus making it the first album with HIM's current line-up...
on August 27, 2001. This was the band's first album with new keyboardist Emerson Burton, the final addition to the current line-up. Once again the album shot to #1 in their Finnish
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
homeland. It also reached #2 in Germany. Three singles were released from it: "Pretending
Pretending (HIM song)
"Pretending" is a song by Finnish band HIM, released in 2001 as the fifth track from their album Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights.In 2006, "Pretending" was released as a double-single along with "In Joy and Sorrow" on the album Uneasy Listening Vol. 1. "In Joy and Sorrow" is the fifth track...
" (which reached #10 in Germany), "In Joy and Sorrow
In Joy and Sorrow
"In Joy and Sorrow" is a song by Finnish band HIM, released in 2001 as the fourth track and second single from their album Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights....
" and a double single featuring both "Heartache Every Moment" and "Close to the Flame." Such success further facilitated their gradual emergence into the mainstream. As with Razorblade Romance
Razorblade Romance
Razorblade Romance is the second studio album by HIM, released on 19 December 1999 in Finland and 24 January 2000 in the rest of Europe - except for the UK, where it was released 15 May 2000. It was produced by John Fryer and recorded at Rockfield recording studios in Wales by John Fryer and Paul...
, there were problems naming the album. It was meant to be called "Ozzymandias Dargunum" and it would contain 14 tracks. The demos were recorded in 2000 in Hollola. In November 2001 total sales were nearly 400,000.
Love Metal (2003–2005)
On April 14, 2003, HIM released Love Metal. This was the first album that did not feature singer/songwriter Ville ValoVille Valo
Ville Hermanni Valo is a Finnish singer, songwriter and frontman of the Finnish rock band HIM. He has received the "Golden God" award in 2004 by the heavy metal magazine Metal Hammer. Valo has a baritone vocal range. Valo was ranked number 80 in Hit Paraders Top 100 Metal Vocalists of All Time...
on the cover. Instead, it featured a gold heartagram, the band's well-known logo. "The Funeral of Hearts
The Funeral of Hearts
"The Funeral of Hearts" is a song by Finnish band HIM, released in 2003. It is the second track and first single from the album Love Metal. Known as one of HIM's most popular songs, it is usually used to close live shows....
" was the first single and their first high appearance on the United Kingdom charts at #14, it also hit #3 in Germany. It was followed by "Buried Alive By Love
Buried Alive By Love
"Buried Alive By Love" is a song by Finnish band HIM, released in 2003. It is the first track and second single from the album Love Metal. The music video was directed by Bam Margera. Margera has also directed music videos for 3 other songs including, "The Sacrament", "Solitary Man" and "And Love...
" and "The Sacrament
The Sacrament
-Finnish/German digipak - EP release:-UK version Vol. 1 Enhanced CD:-UK version Vol. 2 Enhanced CD :-UK version Vol. 3:...
". (The Sacrament
The Sacrament
-Finnish/German digipak - EP release:-UK version Vol. 1 Enhanced CD:-UK version Vol. 2 Enhanced CD :-UK version Vol. 3:...
was recently used as the ending for the anime film Highlander: The Search for Vengeance.)
Around the time of the Love Metal album, the group became better known, both in the US and internationally, when professional skateboarder and TV personality Bam Margera
Bam Margera
Brandon Cole "Bam" Margera is an American professional skateboarder, television and radio personality, actor and daredevil. He released a series of videos under the CKY banner and came to prominence after being drafted into MTV's Jackass crew...
began using the band's heartagram logo and promoting them extensively on his MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
series Viva La Bam
Viva La Bam
Viva La Bam is an American reality television series that stars Bam Margera and his friends and family. The show was a spin-off from MTV's Jackass, in which Margera and most of the main cast had appeared...
. Margera produced their video for "Buried Alive By Love
Buried Alive By Love
"Buried Alive By Love" is a song by Finnish band HIM, released in 2003. It is the first track and second single from the album Love Metal. The music video was directed by Bam Margera. Margera has also directed music videos for 3 other songs including, "The Sacrament", "Solitary Man" and "And Love...
", which featured a guest appearance from Natural Born Killers
Natural Born Killers
Natural Born Killers is a 1994 crime/black comedy film directed by Oliver Stone about two victims of traumatic childhoods who became lovers and psychopathic serial killers, and are irresponsibly glorified by the mass media...
actress Juliette Lewis
Juliette Lewis
Juliette Lewis is an American actress and musician. She gained international fame for her role in the 1991 thriller Cape Fear for which she was nominated for both an Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress...
. They played at Download Festival
Download Festival
The Download Festival is a three day rock music festival held annually at Donington Park, England . It usually takes place in June...
in 2003 on the second stage with The Hellacopters
The Hellacopters
The Hellacopters were a Swedish garage rock band that was formed in 1994 by Nicke Andersson , Dregen , Kenny Håkansson and Robert Eriksson . Andersson had been the drummer for death metal band Entombed and Dregen was taking a break from his full-time band Backyard Babies...
; the following year they would go on to headline the same stage. Love Metal was performed in its entirety on March 8, 2003 in Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
's Grosse Freiheit Club, a month before the album's release on April 14. The only track that was not performed was "Love's Requiem," which was only included in digipak versions of the album. The tickets were available for sale on the band's official website and sold out within a few days. Ville had the initial idea for making this a gift to their fans. The show has been included in unofficial video and audio bootlegs under the name 'Buried Alive' or 'Love Metal Live'.
And Love Said No: The Greatest Hits 1997–2004 is HIM's first greatest hits album. It contains two unreleased songs: "And Love Said No
And Love Said No
"And Love Said No" is a song by Finnish rock band HIM. It was released as a single in 2004. The music video for the song, directed by skateboarder Bam Margera with CGI by Vincent Haycock and André Stringer, was filmed at Fonthill.-Track listing:...
" and "Solitary Man", the latter of which is a Neil Diamond
Neil Diamond
Neil Leslie Diamond is an American singer-songwriter with a career spanning over five decades from the 1960s until the present....
cover. It also had a re-recorded version of "When Love and Death Embrace
When Love and Death Embrace
"When Love and Death Embrace" is a song by Finnish band HIM, released in 1997 as the sixth track from their album Greatest Love Songs Vol. 666.-Finnish release:#"When Love and Death Embrace" – 4:17...
," while the British version contained a re-recorded "It's All Tears (Drown In This Love)
It's All Tears (Drown in This Love)
"It's All Tears " is a song by Finnish band HIM, released in 1997 as the fifth track from their album Greatest Love Songs Vol...
". The digipak version of this album came with a DVD with six live songs at the Semifinal Club in Helsinki.
Dark Light (2005–2007)
HIM's fifth studio album, Dark Light (released on September 26, 2005), became the band's full breakthrough in the US, debuting in the top 20 of the Billboard 200Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
and spawning two major rock hits, "Rip Out the Wings of a Butterfly" and "Killing Loneliness
Killing Loneliness
"Killing Loneliness" is the second single released by HIM, a Finnish band, and was released in February 2006 in Germany and in April in the UK from their 2005 breakthrough Dark Light...
", both of which have accompanying videos. Kat Von D
Kat Von D
Katherine Drachenberg , known professionally as Kat Von D and who has given her name as Katherine von Drachenberg in two German interviews is an American tattoo artist and television personality...
appears in the video for "Killing Loneliness" tattooing the eyes Ville Valo has on his back as well as throughout in small glimpses of foreshadowing. In the summer of 2005, they played the mainstage of Download Festival
Download Festival
The Download Festival is a three day rock music festival held annually at Donington Park, England . It usually takes place in June...
with Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
and Velvet Revolver
Velvet Revolver
Velvet Revolver is an American hard rock supergroup consisting of former Guns N' Roses members Slash, Duff McKagan, and Matt Sorum, alongside Dave Kushner formerly of punk band Wasted Youth. Stone Temple Pilots vocalist Scott Weiland was Velvet Revolver's lead singer from their formation until...
.
The success of Dark Light has also allowed a number of HIM's previous albums (including Love Metal) to chart in the United States. In October 2006, the band's official website announced that Dark Light had been certified Gold in the U.S. by the RIAA. This made HIM the first band from Finland to sell over 500,000 records in the U.S.
During their tour to promote Dark Light, Mige and Burton wrote a song together called "Plasma Mullet" that is completely different from their other work and is not on any official release of the band. The only time it has been released to the public is when it was played on skateboarder Bam Margera
Bam Margera
Brandon Cole "Bam" Margera is an American professional skateboarder, television and radio personality, actor and daredevil. He released a series of videos under the CKY banner and came to prominence after being drafted into MTV's Jackass crew...
's half-hour radio show on Sirius Satellite Radio
Sirius Satellite Radio
Sirius Satellite Radio is a satellite radio service operating in North America, owned by Sirius XM Radio.Headquartered in New York City, with smaller studios in Los Angeles and Memphis, Sirius was officially launched on July 1, 2002 and currently provides 69 streams of music and 65 streams of...
or at various concerts after their performance. Margera refers to it as their "jokey song".
In 2006/2007, HIM released its second and third compilation albums titled Uneasy Listening Vol. 1
Uneasy Listening Vol. 1
Uneasy Listening Vol. 1 is HIM's second compilation album. It contains special versions of various songs from their albums Greatest Love Songs Vol. 666, Razorblade Romance, Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights and Love Metal, most of which have already been released on various special limited...
and Uneasy Listening Vol. 2
Uneasy Listening Vol. 2
Uneasy Listening Vol. 2 is HIM's third compilation album. It was released on 20 April 2007 in Germany & Ireland, the 24th/25th in Finland and the rest of Europe, and on 22 May in the US. It is the sequel of Uneasy Listening Vol. 1, released earlier in October 2006. It features "darker" and...
, respectively.
Uneasy Listening Vol. 1 was released in 2006 on October 27 in Germany, October 30 in the United Kingdom and November 14 in the United States. The compilation contains fifteen alternate versions of HIM's lighter songs such as "In Joy and Sorrow
In Joy and Sorrow
"In Joy and Sorrow" is a song by Finnish band HIM, released in 2001 as the fourth track and second single from their album Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights....
," "The Sacrament
The Sacrament
-Finnish/German digipak - EP release:-UK version Vol. 1 Enhanced CD:-UK version Vol. 2 Enhanced CD :-UK version Vol. 3:...
," "Gone With the Sin
Gone With the Sin
"Gone with the Sin" is a power ballad by Finnish alternative rock band HIM, released in 2000 as the fifth track from their album Razorblade Romance.-Track listing:Finnish release#"Gone with the Sin" – 3:51#"Gone with the Sin" "Gone with the Sin" is a power ballad by Finnish alternative rock band...
," and "One Last Time." An acoustic version of "Pretending
Pretending (HIM song)
"Pretending" is a song by Finnish band HIM, released in 2001 as the fifth track from their album Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights.In 2006, "Pretending" was released as a double-single along with "In Joy and Sorrow" on the album Uneasy Listening Vol. 1. "In Joy and Sorrow" is the fifth track...
" can be found on the single for the string version of "In Joy and Sorrow."
Uneasy Listening Vol. 2 was released in 2007 on April 20 in Germany, April 24 and April 25 in the rest of Europe, May 22 in the United States and May 25 in Australia. It contains fourteen rare alternate tracks, which exemplify HIM's heavier side. These include the Black Sabbath cover "Hand of Doom," a remix of "Sigillum Diaboli," a live version of "Right Here in My Arms
Right Here in My Arms
"Right Here in My Arms" is a song by Finnish band HIM, released in 2000 as the fourth track from their album Razorblade Romance.-Track listing:German release EP#"Right Here in My Arms" #"Join Me in Death"...
," and a remix of their Turbonegro
Turbonegro
Turbonegro is a Norwegian punk rock band that was initially active from 1989 to 1998, and later reformed in 2002. Their style combines glam rock, punk rock and hard rock into a style the band describes as "deathpunk"....
cover of "Rendezvous With Anus." It also contains the much sought-after version of "Buried Alive By Love
Buried Alive By Love
"Buried Alive By Love" is a song by Finnish band HIM, released in 2003. It is the first track and second single from the album Love Metal. The music video was directed by Bam Margera. Margera has also directed music videos for 3 other songs including, "The Sacrament", "Solitary Man" and "And Love...
," which only originally appeared on the CKY4: The Latest and The Greatest DVD. Right Here In My Arms
Right Here in My Arms
"Right Here in My Arms" is a song by Finnish band HIM, released in 2000 as the fourth track from their album Razorblade Romance.-Track listing:German release EP#"Right Here in My Arms" #"Join Me in Death"...
was featured on Bam's Unholy Union
Bam's Unholy Union
Bam's Unholy Union is an American reality series that aired on MTV and MTV Canada. It follows Bam Margera and his fiancee Missy Rothstein as they plan their wedding...
.
Venus Doom (2007–2009)
Venus DoomVenus Doom
Venus Doom is the sixth studio album by Finnish rock band HIM, released on 14 September 2007 , 17 September 2007 internationally and 18 September 2007 in the United States...
was released on September 14, 2007 in Finland, Ireland and Germany, September 17, 2007 internationally and September 18, 2007 in the US. At the Give It a Name Festival '07, HIM played one of the new songs, "Dead Lovers' Lane." In an interview with The Gauntlet, Venus Doom
Venus Doom
Venus Doom is the sixth studio album by Finnish rock band HIM, released on 14 September 2007 , 17 September 2007 internationally and 18 September 2007 in the United States...
is mostly guitar-oriented with a pronounced lack of keyboards. The song "Passion's Killing Floor" is on the Transformers
Transformers
A transformer is a device that transfers electrical energy from one circuit to another by magnetic coupling.Transformer may also refer to:* ASUS Eee Pad Transformer, an Android 3.2 Honeycomb tablet computer manufacturer by Asus...
soundtrack. The first single was "The Kiss of Dawn
The Kiss of Dawn
"The Kiss of Dawn" is a song by the Finnish band HIM, released 10 September 2007. It is the fourth track and first single from the 2007 album Venus Doom. Ville Valo has stated that the song was for a close friend who committed suicide soon after the band wrapped the recording sessions for Dark...
", which has become a staple in most of their live performances, as well as Passion's Killing Floor, Dead Lovers' Lane and the epic Sleepwalking Past Hope. The video for "The Kiss of Dawn
The Kiss of Dawn
"The Kiss of Dawn" is a song by the Finnish band HIM, released 10 September 2007. It is the fourth track and first single from the 2007 album Venus Doom. Ville Valo has stated that the song was for a close friend who committed suicide soon after the band wrapped the recording sessions for Dark...
" written and directed by Meiert Avis, debuted in the UK on Scuzz TV on August 10, 2007. The next single off of Venus Doom, was "Bleed Well
Bleed Well
"Bleed Well" is a song by the Finnish band HIM, and the second single from the 2007 album Venus Doom, where it is the eighth track on the album. The single is currently available as a one-track single on iTunes as of 18 November 2007, where the maxi-single has been available since 9 December 2007...
". The lo-fi black and white video for "Bleed Well" was shot by Meiert Avis at sound check at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles November 15, 2007. In support of the new album HIM toured North America with Bleeding Through
Bleeding Through
Bleeding Through is an American metalcore band from Orange County, California. Formed in 1999, the band blends influences stemming from modern hardcore punk, symphonic black metal, and melodic death metal...
in the fall of 07.
At the 50th annual
50th Grammy Awards
The 50th Annual Grammy Awards took place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, on February 10, 2008. Kanye West received the most nominations, with eight. Amy Winehouse was the big winner, winning a total of five awards. Herbie Hancock's River: The Joni Letters won Album of the Year,...
Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
s, Matt Taylor and Ville Valo, for HIM, was nominated for "Best Boxed/Special Limited Edition packaging" for Venus Doom. Venus Doom didn't win, losing out to What It Is!: Funky Soul and Rare Grooves (1967–1977) (performed by various artists and artwork by Masaki Koike).
"Digital Versatile Doom
Digital Versatile Doom
Digital Versatile Doom is HIM's first commercially released live album and live DVD, as opposed to the bootlegged Live and Undercover which was not official. The DVD was directed by Meiert Avis in Los Angeles at the Orpheum Theater between 14 and 15 November 2007...
", HIM's first official live DVD/CD, was scheduled to release on April 1, 2008, but was pushed back until April 29. It features a live performance from The Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles, as well as behind the scenes look at the show. Also featured on the DVD, the winner of HIM's biggest fans competition go to Seattle to meet the band. A special edition was available for pre-order on February 1, 2008, which will come with a limited edition 6" X 4" numbered flipbook. The imagery is from HIM's live performance of "Sleepwalking Past Hope" at that concert.
Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice (Chapters 1 to 13) (2009-2011)
On June 9, 2009, HIM announced in a phone interview with Euro-Rock Radio that they would be recording their new album in August 2009 with producer Matt SquireMatt Squire
Matt Squire is an American multi-platinum music producer and writer. He has produced, engineered, or written tracks for One Direction, 3OH!3, Good Charlotte, New Boyz, Selena Gomez, David Archuleta, Taking Back Sunday, HIM, The Used, All Time Low, Panic! at the Disco, Boys Like Girls, The Cab,...
in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. The title of the album is Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice
Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice
Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice, Chapters 1–13 is the seventh studio album by Finnish rock band HIM, released on February 8, 2010 in the United Kingdom and France. It was later released in the United States on February 9, Japan on February 10, and Germany on February 12. The first single...
. The recording of the album began on August 3, 2009 and finished on October 8, 2009. On November 22, lead singer Ville Valo's
Ville Valo
Ville Hermanni Valo is a Finnish singer, songwriter and frontman of the Finnish rock band HIM. He has received the "Golden God" award in 2004 by the heavy metal magazine Metal Hammer. Valo has a baritone vocal range. Valo was ranked number 80 in Hit Paraders Top 100 Metal Vocalists of All Time...
birthday, the album art was released on the band's website. The album was released February 8, 2010 in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and February 9 in the United States. It was also released on February 10 in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and on February 12 in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Their first single from the album, "Heartkiller
Heartkiller
"Heartkiller" is a song by the Finnish band HIM, and the first single from their seventh studio album Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice, where it was featured as the third track on the album. The single is currently available on iTunes as of December 7, 2009...
" was released December 8, 2009 as a digital download and on February 5, 2010 as a CD single.
Due to the uproar and requests from fans, Harmonix has released downloadable content for the game Rock Band
Rock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
from HIM as the "HIM Pack 01", featuring "Ode to Solitude", "Wings of a Butterfly", and the new single "Heartkiller". Of those songs, only "Wings of a Butterfly" did not come from Screamworks. The group also took part in the Game with Fame promotion on Xbox Live
Xbox Live
Xbox Live is an online multiplayer gaming and digital media delivery service created and operated by Microsoft Corporation. It is currently the only online gaming service on consoles that charges users a fee to play multiplayer gaming. It was first made available to the Xbox system in 2002...
to promote their new album on March 25.
The official remix album for Screamworks, SWRMXS
SWRMXS
SWRMXS is the third remix/compilation album released by Finnish rock band HIM and features remixes of all the song from their previous studio album Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice.Pre-orders began on November 12th, 2010, and the album was released on December 7th, 2010 physically and later...
, featuring songs from Screamworks as remixed by artists such as Tiesto, Morgan Page, and Gavin Russom, was released on December 7, 2010. The album is available online on iTunes, Beatport and other digital retailers, but the physical album is available exclusively at Hot Topic stores in the US. A Special Edition of the album including a new HIM shirt featuring the new album cover was available for pre-order.
New studio album (2011-present)
As of March 28, 2011, HIM and Sire/Warner records have parted ways. HIM's manager, Seppo, assures fans that the band is still alive and well and stated that details on future plans as well as a possible new label will be announced in the summer of 2011.On September 13, 2011, HIM announced that they are currently working on a follow-up to 2010's Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice, but the work has been interrupted due to a rare condition afflicting drummer Gas Lipstick.
Genre
HIM's genre is debated in some circles; on their album, Deep Shadows & Brilliant Highlights, it says their genre is "alternative" but their musical style is also often referred to as "love metal" by Valo and by the group's fans. Valo has stated that the band started as a "Black SabbathBlack Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
tribute band of sorts". Valo also stated in an interview on the Love Metal Archives Vol. I
Love Metal Archives Vol. I
Love Metal Archives Vol.1 is a DVD compilation by Finnish band HIM, released in 2005 which features all the videos up until the And Love Said No: The Greatest Hits 1997-2004 compilation. This is the second DVD compilation released by HIM...
DVD, that he was fed up with journalists and interviewers asking him (Valo), and the rest of the band what the genre of HIM was. He said in answer to that question that they were "love metal" (which was also the name of their 2003 album.) Critics have referred to them as gothic rock
Gothic rock
Gothic rock is a musical subgenre of post-punk and alternative rock that formed during the late 1970s. Gothic rock bands grew from the strong ties they had to the English punk rock and emerging post-punk scenes...
, gothic metal
Gothic metal
Gothic metal or goth metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music that combines the aggression of doom metal with the dark melancholy of gothic rock. The music of gothic metal is diverse with bands known to adopt the gothic approach to different styles of heavy metal music...
, alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
, hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
, alternative metal
Alternative metal
Alternative metal is a genre of alternative rock and heavy metal that gained popularity in the early 1990s. Most notably, alternative metal bands are characterized by heavy guitar riffs and experimental approaches to heavy music.-Origins:...
, and heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
.
Tours
In the summer of 2007, HIM took the stage with Linkin ParkLinkin Park
Linkin Park is an American rock band from Agoura Hills, California. Formed in 1996, the band rose to international fame with their debut album, Hybrid Theory, which was certified Diamond by the RIAA in 2005 and multi-platinum in several other countries...
and various other acts, such as My Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance is an American alternative rock band from New Jersey, formed in 2001. The band consists of lead vocalist Gerard Way, guitarists Ray Toro and Frank Iero, and bassist Mikey Way and have a diverse sound incorporating elements of punk, emo, glam metal, and progressive rock...
, Taking Back Sunday
Taking Back Sunday
Taking Back Sunday is a rock band from Long Island, NY, formed in 1999 by guitarist Eddie Reyes. Current members of the band are Adam Lazzara , John Nolan , Eddie Reyes , Shaun Cooper and Mark O'Connell ....
, Placebo
Placebo (band)
Placebo are a British rock band from London, England, formed in 1994 by singer and guitarist Brian Molko and bass guitarist Stefan Olsdal. The band was joined by drummer Robert Schultzberg, who was later replaced by Steve Hewitt after conflicts with Molko. Hewitt left the band in October 2007 and...
, Julien-K
Julien-K
Julien-K is a music group that began as a side project for electronic music created by Amir Derakh and Ryan Shuck from Orgy, with the later addition of Elias Andra, and Anthony 'Fu' Valcic....
, Mindless Self Indulgence
Mindless Self Indulgence
Mindless Self Indulgence is an American musical group formed in New York in 1997. Their music has a mixed style including rap, punk rock, alternative rock, electronica, techno and industrial...
, Saosin
Saosin
Saosin is an American rock band originally hailing from Newport Beach, California. The band was formed in 2003 and recorded its first EP, Translating the Name, that same year with original singer Anthony Green. Green left Saosin following the band's decision to sign with a commercial label,...
, The Bled
The Bled
The Bled is a hardcore band from Tucson, Arizona. The group formed in 2001, originally under the name "The Radiation Defiance Theory", but changed it because of its length...
, Styles of Beyond
Styles of Beyond
Styles of Beyond is an underground rap group from the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, California. The group consists of MCs Ryan Patrick Maginn and Takbir Bashir , Colton Raisin Fisher , and producer Jason Rabinowitz . They have released two LPs, one mixtape and were heavily featured on Mike...
, and Madina Lake
Madina Lake
Madina Lake an American alternative rock band formed in Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A in 2005.Madina Lake released their debut album From Them, Through Us, to You through Roadrunner Records on March 27, 2007...
for that year's Projekt Revolution
Projekt Revolution
Projekt Revolution is a music festival hosted by Linkin Park, bringing artists of various genres of music together. Linkin Park started Projekt Revolution in the year 2002 with just one stage...
. HIM headlined a US tour beginning in October 2007 with a UK tour that followed in December 2007. They have recently finished their "Down Under" tour. They also performed at Rock am Ring and Rock im Park in June 2008 as well as headlining the second stage at Download Festival with bands like Kiss, Disturbed and The Offspring. It was announced in August 2009 that HIM were to play in the Australian music festival, Soundwave in February 2010. In 2010 HIM performed a UK show in Norwich that began on 13 March. The band will be touring the United States on a 28-city concert tour beginning 26 March 2010 in Philadelphia, PA with Drive A, Dommin
Dommin
Dommin is an American alternative rock band from Los Angeles, California, consisting of Kristofer Dommin on vocals and guitar, Billy James on bass, Konstantine on keyboards, and Cameron Morris on drums...
, and We Are the Fallen
We Are the Fallen
We Are the Fallen is an American gothic metal band consisting of former American Idol contestant Carly Smithson, Marty O'Brien and former Evanescence members Ben Moody, John LeCompt, and Rocky Gray. The band's name is an allusion to Evanescence's 2003 album, Fallen, which has resulted in criticism...
opening for them.
This is a list of tours that HIM have or will be participating in; individual concerts are not included.
| Tour name | Participating bands | Continent Continent A continent is one of several very large landmasses on Earth. They are generally identified by convention rather than any strict criteria, with seven regions commonly regarded as continents—they are : Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia.Plate tectonics is... /Country Country A country is a region legally identified as a distinct entity in political geography. A country may be an independent sovereign state or one that is occupied by another state, as a non-sovereign or formerly sovereign political division, or a geographic region associated with a previously... |
Participating from - to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany 2003 Tour | HIM, Zeraphine Zeraphine Zeraphine are a gothic alternative rock from Berlin, Germany, formed in 2000 by Sven Friedrich and Norman Selbig from the then-defunct Dreadful Shadows.-History:... |
Germany Germany Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate... |
March 25 - April 7, 2003 |
| US 2004 Tour | HIM, Melissa Auf Der Maur Melissa Auf der Maur Melissa Auf der Maur is a Canadian rock musician from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Her career has included 5 years as bassist with the band Hole and she later toured with The Smashing Pumpkins for their 2000 tour. Her second solo album, Out of Our Minds, was released on March 30, 2010. She is also a... , Monster Magnet Monster Magnet Monster Magnet is an American stoner rock band. Hailing from Red Bank, New Jersey, the group was founded by Dave Wyndorf , John McBain and Tim Cronin... |
North America North America North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas... |
November 12 - December 2, 2004 |
| US 2005 Tour | HIM, Skindred Skindred Skindred is a Welsh rock band from Newport. The band was formed in 1998 following the disbandment of vocalist Benji Webbe's previous band, Dub War. Skindred's musical style mixes alternative rock, heavy metal, punk rock and reggae... , Finch Finch The true finches are passerine birds in the family Fringillidae. They are predominantly seed-eating songbirds. Most are native to the Northern Hemisphere, but one subfamily is endemic to the Neotropics, one to the Hawaiian Islands, and one subfamily – monotypic at genus level – is found... |
North America North America North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas... |
October 4–28, 2005 |
| Projekt Revolution 2007 | Linkin Park Linkin Park Linkin Park is an American rock band from Agoura Hills, California. Formed in 1996, the band rose to international fame with their debut album, Hybrid Theory, which was certified Diamond by the RIAA in 2005 and multi-platinum in several other countries... , My Chemical Romance My Chemical Romance My Chemical Romance is an American alternative rock band from New Jersey, formed in 2001. The band consists of lead vocalist Gerard Way, guitarists Ray Toro and Frank Iero, and bassist Mikey Way and have a diverse sound incorporating elements of punk, emo, glam metal, and progressive rock... , Taking Back Sunday Taking Back Sunday Taking Back Sunday is a rock band from Long Island, NY, formed in 1999 by guitarist Eddie Reyes. Current members of the band are Adam Lazzara , John Nolan , Eddie Reyes , Shaun Cooper and Mark O'Connell .... , HIM, Placebo Placebo (band) Placebo are a British rock band from London, England, formed in 1994 by singer and guitarist Brian Molko and bass guitarist Stefan Olsdal. The band was joined by drummer Robert Schultzberg, who was later replaced by Steve Hewitt after conflicts with Molko. Hewitt left the band in October 2007 and... , Julien-K Julien-K Julien-K is a music group that began as a side project for electronic music created by Amir Derakh and Ryan Shuck from Orgy, with the later addition of Elias Andra, and Anthony 'Fu' Valcic.... , Mindless Self Indulgence Mindless Self Indulgence Mindless Self Indulgence is an American musical group formed in New York in 1997. Their music has a mixed style including rap, punk rock, alternative rock, electronica, techno and industrial... , Saosin Saosin Saosin is an American rock band originally hailing from Newport Beach, California. The band was formed in 2003 and recorded its first EP, Translating the Name, that same year with original singer Anthony Green. Green left Saosin following the band's decision to sign with a commercial label,... , The Bled The Bled The Bled is a hardcore band from Tucson, Arizona. The group formed in 2001, originally under the name "The Radiation Defiance Theory", but changed it because of its length... , Styles of Beyond Styles of Beyond Styles of Beyond is an underground rap group from the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, California. The group consists of MCs Ryan Patrick Maginn and Takbir Bashir , Colton Raisin Fisher , and producer Jason Rabinowitz . They have released two LPs, one mixtape and were heavily featured on Mike... , Madina Lake Madina Lake Madina Lake an American alternative rock band formed in Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A in 2005.Madina Lake released their debut album From Them, Through Us, to You through Roadrunner Records on March 27, 2007... |
North America North America North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas... |
July 25 - September 3, 2007 |
| Headlining 2007 Tour | HIM, Bleeding Through Bleeding Through Bleeding Through is an American metalcore band from Orange County, California. Formed in 1999, the band blends influences stemming from modern hardcore punk, symphonic black metal, and melodic death metal... |
North America North America North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas... |
October 18 - December 2, 2007 |
| Europe 2008 Tour | HIM, Paradise Lost Paradise Lost (band) Paradise Lost are a heavy metal band that formed in 1988 in Halifax, England.-History:Their first three full-length albums are examples of the death/doom style, although the latter two incorporated some melodic and gothic elements... |
Europe Europe Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting... |
February 16 - March 12, 2008 |
| Australia 2008 Tour | HIM, McQueen McQueen (band) McQueen is a rock band from Brighton, England, formed in 2004. They have released one album on Demolition Records. McQueen has toured all over Europe and played shows in the US and Asia including headlining the Unite Festival in Vietnam in 2007 in front of a crowd of 15,000.After making... |
Australia Australia Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area... |
March 23–31, 2008 |
| Soundwave 2010 | Featuring: HIM, Escape The Fate Escape The Fate Escape the Fate is an American post-hardcore band from Las Vegas, Nevada formed in 2005 and originally from Pahrump, Nevada. They have released three EPs and three full-length studio albums. Dying Is Your Latest Fashion was the band's debut album and only album to feature vocalist Ronnie Radke... , Anti-Flag Anti-Flag Anti-Flag is a punk rock band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the United States, formed in 1988. The band is well known for its outspoken political views. Much of the band's lyrics have focused on fervent anti-war activism, criticism of United States foreign policy, corporatism, U.S. wealth... , All Time Low All Time Low All Time Low is an American pop punk band from Baltimore, Maryland, formed in 2003.The band consists of vocalist and rhythm guitarist Alexander Gaskarth, lead guitarist and backing vocalist Jack Barakat, bassist and backing vocalist Zachary Merrick, and drummer Rian Dawson... , Trivium Trivium (band) Trivium is an American heavy metal band from Orlando, Florida, formed in 1999. Signed to Roadrunner Records, the band has released five studio albums, eleven singles, and twelve music videos... , Faith No More Faith No More Faith No More is an American rock band from San Francisco, California, formed originally as Faith No Man in 1981 by bassist Billy Gould, keyboardist Wade Worthington, vocalist Michael Morris and drummer Mike Bordin. A year later when Worthington was replaced by keyboardist Roddy Bottum, and Mike... , Clutch Clutch (band) Clutch is an American rock band from Germantown, Maryland, formed in 1990. The band's first release was an EP entitled Pitchfork, which debuted in October 1990. Their first studio album, Transnational Speedway League, was released three years later in 1993. To date, Clutch has released nine studio... , Jane's Addiction Jane's Addiction Jane's Addiction is an American alternative rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1985. The band's original line-up featured Perry Farrell , Dave Navarro , Eric Avery and Stephen Perkins . After breaking up in 1991, Jane's Addiction briefly reunited in 1997 and again in 2001, both times... , Placebo Placebo (band) Placebo are a British rock band from London, England, formed in 1994 by singer and guitarist Brian Molko and bass guitarist Stefan Olsdal. The band was joined by drummer Robert Schultzberg, who was later replaced by Steve Hewitt after conflicts with Molko. Hewitt left the band in October 2007 and... , Meshuggah Meshuggah Meshuggah is an extreme metal band from Umeå, Sweden, formed in 1987. Meshuggah's line-up has primarily consisted of founding members vocalist Jens Kidman and lead guitarist Fredrik Thordendal, drummer Tomas Haake, who joined in 1990, and rhythm guitarist Mårten Hagström, who joined in 1992... , Paramore Paramore Paramore is an American rock band from Franklin, Tennessee, formed in 2004. The band consists of lead vocalist Hayley Williams, bassist Jeremy Davis, and guitarist Taylor York... , Eagles of Death Metal Eagles of Death Metal Eagles of Death Metal is an American rock band from Palm Desert, California, formed in 1998 by Jesse Hughes and Josh Homme. Despite their band name, Eagles of Death Metal are not a death metal band. Hughes stated that a friend was introducing Josh Homme to the death metal genre... |
Australia Australia Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area... |
February 20 - March 1, 2010 |
| UK 2010 Tour | HIM, Dommin Dommin Dommin is an American alternative rock band from Los Angeles, California, consisting of Kristofer Dommin on vocals and guitar, Billy James on bass, Konstantine on keyboards, and Cameron Morris on drums... |
Europe Europe Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting... |
March 8–20, 2010 |
| US 2010 Tour | HIM, We Are the Fallen We Are the Fallen We Are the Fallen is an American gothic metal band consisting of former American Idol contestant Carly Smithson, Marty O'Brien and former Evanescence members Ben Moody, John LeCompt, and Rocky Gray. The band's name is an allusion to Evanescence's 2003 album, Fallen, which has resulted in criticism... , Dommin Dommin Dommin is an American alternative rock band from Los Angeles, California, consisting of Kristofer Dommin on vocals and guitar, Billy James on bass, Konstantine on keyboards, and Cameron Morris on drums... , Drive A |
North America North America North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas... |
March 26 - May 9, 2010 |
| Sonisphere 2010 | Iron Maiden Iron Maiden Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six... , HIM, Heaven & Hell, Mötley Crüe Mötley Crüe Mötley Crüe is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1981. The group was founded by bass guitarist Nikki Sixx and drummer Tommy Lee, who were later joined by lead guitarist Mick Mars and lead singer Vince Neil... , Alice Cooper Alice Cooper Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades... , Slayer Slayer Slayer is an American thrash metal band formed in Huntington Park, California, in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. Slayer rose to fame with their 1986 release, Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the "Big Four" thrash metal acts, along with Metallica, Megadeth and... , Anthrax Anthrax (band) Anthrax is an American heavy metal band from New York City, formed in 1981. Founded by guitarists Scott Ian and Danny Lilker, the band has since released ten studio albums and 20 singles, and an EP featuring Public Enemy. The band was one of the most popular of the 1980s thrash metal scene... , The Cult The Cult The Cult are a British rock band that was formed in 1983. They gained a dedicated following in Britain in the mid 1980s as a post-punk band with singles such as "She Sells Sanctuary", before breaking mainstream in the United States in the late 1980s as a hard rock band with singles such as "Love... , Iggy & The Stooges, The 69 Eyes The 69 Eyes The 69 Eyes are a multi-platinum selling Finnish gothic rock band. They are currently signed to EMI Finland. The band's albums are now distributed worldwide. The End Records acts as the band's official North American distributor, as Nuclear Blast Records provides distribution in Mainland Europe,... , Behemoth Behemoth (band) Behemoth is a Polish blackened death metal band from Gdańsk, formed in 1991. They are considered to have played an important role in establishing the Polish extreme metal underground, alongside bands such as Vader, Decapitated, Vesania and Hate.... , Volbeat, Ария, Stam1na Stam1na Stam1na is a Finnish heavy metal musical group native of Lemi, South Karelia. Their music is arguably best described as progressive metal with some thrash, death and alternative influences, and is sung in Finnish language.-Name:... , Apocalyptica Apocalyptica Apocalyptica is a band from Helsinki, Finland, formed in 1993. The band is composed of classically trained cellists Eicca Toppinen, Paavo Lötjönen, and Perttu Kivilaakso and drummer Mikko Sirén... , |
Finland Finland Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside... |
7–8 August 2010 |
Heartagram
The heartagram is the trademarked symbol of HIM, created by Ville ValoVille Valo
Ville Hermanni Valo is a Finnish singer, songwriter and frontman of the Finnish rock band HIM. He has received the "Golden God" award in 2004 by the heavy metal magazine Metal Hammer. Valo has a baritone vocal range. Valo was ranked number 80 in Hit Paraders Top 100 Metal Vocalists of All Time...
on the day of his twentieth birthday. It has been used on the covers of the Love Metal, Dark Light and Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice
Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice
Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice, Chapters 1–13 is the seventh studio album by Finnish rock band HIM, released on February 8, 2010 in the United Kingdom and France. It was later released in the United States on February 9, Japan on February 10, and Germany on February 12. The first single...
albums. Valo has said that "the heartagram stands for HIM as a band, as an entity, and for 'love metal' in general." Many fans of the band have heartagram tattoos, or tattoos of other HIM emblems — such as the single heart on Valo's right wrist, and a number of fan-submitted photos of same decorated the lyric booklet for the limited edition of Dark Light.
Ville Valo
Ville Valo
Ville Hermanni Valo is a Finnish singer, songwriter and frontman of the Finnish rock band HIM. He has received the "Golden God" award in 2004 by the heavy metal magazine Metal Hammer. Valo has a baritone vocal range. Valo was ranked number 80 in Hit Paraders Top 100 Metal Vocalists of All Time...
has allowed his close friend, Jackass
Jackass (TV series)
jackass is an American reality series, originally shown on MTV from 2000 to 2002, featuring people performing various dangerous, crude, ridiculous, self-injuring stunts and pranks...
star, actor, and professional skateboarder, Bam Margera
Bam Margera
Brandon Cole "Bam" Margera is an American professional skateboarder, television and radio personality, actor and daredevil. He released a series of videos under the CKY banner and came to prominence after being drafted into MTV's Jackass crew...
to share the license on the heartagram image and Margera has accordingly used it for his promotional purposes, including using it on his Adio
Adio
Adio Footwear is a skateboarding footwear and clothing company, founded by skater Chris Miller in 1999. It was later acquired by K2, based in Carlsbad, California. K2 was acquired by the Jarden Corporation in 2007....
shoes and Element skateboards
Element Skateboards
Element Skateboards is a skateboard manufacturer and surfwear retailer based in Irvine, California. It is a subsidiary of Australian clothing giants Billabong International....
. Because of the shared license, the symbol is often thought to belong solely to Margera. Other well known individuals have also received a tattoo of the logo such as Kat Von D
Kat Von D
Katherine Drachenberg , known professionally as Kat Von D and who has given her name as Katherine von Drachenberg in two German interviews is an American tattoo artist and television personality...
. According to Valo, the band has become better known for their logo than their music. A lot of people around the globe are also wearing tattoos of the symbol. Including Ville Valo himself.
In a video interview, Ville has stated that the heartagram is a "Modern Yin Yang," the heart being the Yin and the inverted pentacle being the Yang.
In the program LA Ink
LA Ink
LA Ink is an American reality show on TLC that follows the events of the High Voltage Tattoo tattoo studios in Los Angeles, California...
, the tattoo parlour has a heartagram on the door.
A heartagram appears at the end of the music video for the song "DARE
DARE (song)
"DARE" is a song by Gorillaz and is featured on their 2005 album Demon Days. It was released 29 August 2005 as the second single from the album and became the first Gorillaz single to hit number one on the UK Singles Chart. On online music stores such as iTunes, the radio edit of the song was...
" by the band Gorillaz
Gorillaz
Gorillaz is an English musical project created in 1998 by Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett. This project consists of Gorillaz music itself and an extensive fictional universe depicting a "virtual band" of cartoon characters...
, where Murdoc wakes up, on the wall to the left hand side. It was also parodied, as the "horseagram" — a combination of a horse shoe and a pentagram — in the episode "Ode to Sue" of the video game comedy troupe Mega64
Mega64
Mega64 is a low-budget series of comedy skits centered on video games.-Premise:In the not too distant future, a sinister scientist named Dr. Poque creates the most powerful video game console ever assembled...
.
During the filming of Jackass Number Two, cast member Steve-O
Steve-O
Steve-O is an American stunt performer and television personality. His entertainment career is mostly centered around his performance stunts on the American TV series Jackass and accompanying movies....
got a parody tattoo of a heartagram called a "Dickagram", where the lowest point of the inverted pentagram is shaped like a penis
Penis
The penis is a biological feature of male animals including both vertebrates and invertebrates...
.
The heartagram was also shown in a couple of episodes in Season 8 of The WB's Charmed
Charmed
Charmed is an American television series that originally aired from October 7, 1998, until May 21, 2006, on the now defunct The WB Television Network. The series was created in 1998 by writer Constance M...
as a demonic symbol and in an episode of Criminal Minds
Criminal Minds
Criminal Minds is an American police procedural drama that premiered September 22, 2005, on CBS. The series follows a team of profilers from the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit based in Quantico, Virginia. The BAU is part of the FBI National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime...
as a heartagram necklace.
Recently, the heartagram can be seen in the cover of the Spanish rock band "Mägo de Oz" new album titled Gaia III: Atlantia in which appears a purple octopus that has a heartagram tattoo in one of its tentacles.
Ville created a new style to the Heartagram, inspired by Aleister Crowley
Aleister Crowley
Aleister Crowley , born Edward Alexander Crowley, and also known as both Frater Perdurabo and The Great Beast, was an influential English occultist, astrologer, mystic and ceremonial magician, responsible for founding the religious philosophy of Thelema. He was also successful in various other...
's unicursal hexagram
Unicursal Hexagram
The unicursal hexagram is a hexagram or six-pointed star that can be traced or drawn unicursally, in one continuous line rather than by two overlaid triangles...
.
A very similar drawing was made by Franz Bardon, a magician, occultist, and practitioner of Hermetics, and is found in his book, The Practice of Magical Evocation, on page 489. It is associated with the Angel, Aduachiel, and the astrological sign, Sagittarius.
Name confusion
Their first band name was His Infernal Majesty. HIM, formerly 'His Infernal Majesty', is not to be confused with Infernäl MäjestyInfernäl Mäjesty
Infernäl Mäjesty is a Canadian thrash metal band, formed in Toronto in 1986. They are best known for their debut album None Shall Defy, released in 1987. However, the 1998 re-issue by Displeased Records inspired the band to get back together and recorded a new album, followed by a European tour...
, a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
thrash metal
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
band, HiM, an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
post-rock
Post-rock
Post-rock is a subgenre of rock music characterized by the influence and use of instruments commonly associated with rock, but using rhythms and "guitars as facilitators of timbre and textures" not traditionally found in rock...
band, or 4Him
4Him
4Him was a Contemporary Christian group founded in 1990 in Alabama, USA. The group has a Grammy nomination, seven Dove awards and an album certified gold to their credit. The group was inducted into Alabama's Music Hall of Fame, following the awarding of The Governor’s Achievement Award...
, a Contemporary Christian group. The band changed the name to HIM from the "Wicked Game
Wicked Game
"Wicked Game" is a 1989 song by Chris Isaak from his third studio album Heart Shaped World. Despite being released as a single in 1989, it did not become a hit until it was later featured in the David Lynch film Wild at Heart...
" single onwards, though the single for "Your Sweet Six Six Six
Your Sweet Six Six Six
"Your Sweet Six Six Six", also released as "Your Sweet 666", is a song by Finnish band HIM, and was released in 1998. It is the first track and first single from the album Greatest Love Songs Vol. 666 as well as the first ever single by HIM...
" includes a 'His Infernal Majesty' sticker. Their second studio album, Razorblade Romance
Razorblade Romance
Razorblade Romance is the second studio album by HIM, released on 19 December 1999 in Finland and 24 January 2000 in the rest of Europe - except for the UK, where it was released 15 May 2000. It was produced by John Fryer and recorded at Rockfield recording studios in Wales by John Fryer and Paul...
, was released under the name HER in the United States because the Chicago based post-rock band named HiM held the trademark on the name. While they toured Europe, primarily Germany at the time, they used the name HIM and HER. HIM eventually bought the rights to the name "HIM" in the United States and used it worldwide from there on.
Discography
- Greatest Love Songs Vol. 666Greatest Love Songs Vol. 666Greatest Lovesongs Vol. 666 is the debut album by Finnish band, HIM. It was produced by Hiili Hiilesmaa and guest vocals were provided by Sanna-June Hyde and Asta Hannula on " The Reaper" and "For You", respectively. In keeping with the theme of 666, the album is 66 minutes and 6 seconds long,...
(1997) - Razorblade RomanceRazorblade RomanceRazorblade Romance is the second studio album by HIM, released on 19 December 1999 in Finland and 24 January 2000 in the rest of Europe - except for the UK, where it was released 15 May 2000. It was produced by John Fryer and recorded at Rockfield recording studios in Wales by John Fryer and Paul...
(1999) - Deep Shadows and Brilliant HighlightsDeep Shadows and Brilliant HighlightsDeep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights is the third album by HIM, which was released on 27 August 2001. This is the first album that new keyboardist Janne Puurtinen took part in, thus making it the first album with HIM's current line-up...
(2001) - Love Metal (2003)
- Dark Light (2005)
- Venus DoomVenus DoomVenus Doom is the sixth studio album by Finnish rock band HIM, released on 14 September 2007 , 17 September 2007 internationally and 18 September 2007 in the United States...
(2007) - Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice Chapters 1-13 (2010)
Band members
Current members- Mika "Gas Lipstick" KarppinenMika KarppinenMika Kristian Karppinen, better known as Gas Lipstick , is currently the drummer for the rock band HIM. He is also the drummer of Finnish deathgrind band To Separate the Flesh from the Bones, punk band Ääritila and metal band Bendover. He also was a drum tech for Stratovarius at one point and was...
— drums (1999–present) - Mikko "Linde" Lindström — lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
(1995–present) - Janne "Emerson Burton" PuurtinenJanne PuurtinenJanne Johannes Puurtinen, better known as Emerson Burton, is the current keyboard-player in the Finnish rock band, HIM. He was born 17 October 1974, in Helsinki. Burton made his second debut as a temporary member of the band at the concert arranged at the Semifinal Club on 12 January 2001...
— keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, synthesizerSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
(2001–present) - Mikko "Migé" PaananenMikko PaananenMikko Henrik Julius Paananen , better known as Migé or Migé Amour, is the current and founding bassist of the rock band HIM.-History:...
— bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, backing vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
(1995–present) - Ville ValoVille ValoVille Hermanni Valo is a Finnish singer, songwriter and frontman of the Finnish rock band HIM. He has received the "Golden God" award in 2004 by the heavy metal magazine Metal Hammer. Valo has a baritone vocal range. Valo was ranked number 80 in Hit Paraders Top 100 Metal Vocalists of All Time...
— lead vocalsLead vocalistThe lead vocalist is the member of a band who sings the main vocal portions of a song. They may also play one or more instruments. Lead vocalists are sometimes referred to as the frontman or frontwoman, and as such, are usually considered to be the "leader" of the groups they perform in, often the...
, acoustic guitarAcoustic guitarAn acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
(1995–present)
Former
- Antto Melasniemi — keyboards, synthesizer (1995–1999)
- Jussi-Mikko "Juska" Salminen — keyboards, synthesizer(1999–2001)
- Juhana Tuomas "Pätkä" Rantala — drums (1995–1999)