LORDI was originally formed in 1992, when Mr Lordi started doing demos under this name, but the project was still more or less a one-man-band, with few extra members playing guitar solos and bass here and there. The now infamous monster masks and costumes iced the cake in 1994. In 1997 guitarist Amen joined the
LORDI was originally formed in 1992, when Mr Lordi started doing demos under this name, but the project was still more or less a one-man-band, with few extra members playing guitar solos and bass here and there. The now infamous monster masks and costumes iced the cake in 1994. In 1997 guitarist Amen joined the band, alongside with keyboardist Enary and G-Stealer on bass. After a full decade of sending demos to record labels, Lordi finally landed on a record deal in 2002 with BMG Finland. G-Stealer was replaced by Magnum on bass, and drummer Kita was the last one to join to complete the 5-member combo. The release of their first single Would You Love A Monsterman and the debut album Get Heavy both saw daylight that year. Before the album release, Magnum was let go and a new bass player Kalma took his place.
The band released their sophomore album The Monsterican Dream in 2004 and continued to tour in Europe, gaining fans and recognition around the world.
In 2006 Lordi went through another major line-up change. The new keyboardist Awa joined the band and Ox became the new bass player. Lordi took part in the Eurovision song contest and won the whole competition as the first and only winner from Finland, with all-time record breaking points at the time in Eurovision history.
The third album The Arockalypse was released within the same time frame, with the band´s own idols Udo Dirkschneider (Accept, U.D.O.), Bruce Kulick (ex-KISS), Dee Snider and Jay Jay French (Twisted Sister) appearing as guest stars. The success of the victorious single Hard Rock Hallelujah launched Lordi to new heights of media exposure, fan recognition and success, that opened new doors for the band. Mr. Lordi´s hometown Rovaniemi named a market place area in the city center the “Lordi Square”. The Lordi brand was hot in the area of merchandising as well, with items such as Lordi postage stamps, Lordi candies and Lordi Cola coming out in the market.
In 2007 Lordi toured outside Europe for the first time, for example in Japan and in USA, where they played on Ozzfest and toured with Type O Negative. The band also released their own horror film Dark Floors in February 2008.
Late 2008 saw the release of Deadache, the band´s fourth studio album. It was a bit darker and heavier than the previous Lordi material, with the new costumes and parts of the stage show designed and built with a little help from Weta Workshop in New Zealand, award winnig cimena special effects house.
Lordi´s fifth album Babez For Breakfast was released in 2010. The album was produced by one of the world´s most famous heavy metal producers, Mr. Michael Wagener. Just weeks before the tour, the band´s long time drummer Kita was let go and the new drummer Otus joined in the group.
Lordi is ready for the release of the sixth studio album To Beast Or Not To Beast. The new album is musically the most aggressive Lordi album yet. The seeds of the new approach in Lordi’s music were originally planted and inspired by the technical and brutal way the band’s former drummer Otus played Lordi songs. For the first time in Lordi´s history, Mr Lordi was not the one, who set up the tone of the upcoming material. Amen wrote 3 riffs in the spring of 2011 inspired by late Otus´ drum patterns. Those riffs were to become the musical guidelines of the new album To Beast Or Not To Beast.
Year 2012 marked two anniversaries for Lordi, both the 20th year birthday since the bands birth and the 10th anniversary of the release of their debut album Get Heavy. However, all the planned celebration was quickly toned down hard, as the drummer Otus passed away on February 13th. After the time of silence, the band played the confirmed gigs and summer festivals accompanied by a musician mysteriously named as The Drummer. Another line-up change became reality in early August, when the long-time keyboard player Awa played at the anniversary show in Rovaniemi. That was her last gig with Lordi.
In late August 2012, the band went again to USA to record the sixth studio album under the production of Michael Wagener. In December, a new keyboardist Hella and a new drummer Mana were officially announced to be the new members of Lordi.
Mr. Lordi, the captain of Scare Force One, and his crew are once again ready for takeoff. The plane has been fuelled, the seat belts are malfunctioning and you can look forward to a solid hour of pure turbulence when the new album sees the light of day on October 31st. Nailed by the Hammer of Frankenstein is the first single and will jet off to stores and onto the airwaves on September 19th.
To celebrate the release of the new album, Lordi will play one of its infrequent domestic shows. The record release gig is set for November 1st 2014 at The Circus in Helsinki.
According to Mr. Lordi the material on the new record is more experimental than before. It’s not a theme or concept record, per se, but there is a red thread that runs through the songs.
In addition to its sound, the band has also tweaked its outward appearance. The new costumes, designed and built by Mr. Lordi, will be debuted at the record release gig.
Lordi’s last two albums were made in Nashville under the watchful eye of legendary producer Michael Wagener. This time the band wanted to do it differently and recorded the album with Finnish veteran producer Mikko Karmila.
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DIRTY PASSION is one of Sweden’s fastest growing rock band and since its inception in Malmö 2006/07, they have made a well established name around the world. In their backpack, they’ve toured intensly both in the U.S. and Europe, as headliner and support act for bands like Saxon, Accept, Y & T, LA Guns, Loudness, Mike Tramp (White Lion), Faster Pussycat (to name a few). Two albums have been released and the debut Different Tomorrow (2010) reached the Swedish charts and peaked at 4th place on the sales list. The sequel In Wonderland (2012) has a rawer and rougher sound, and according to critics, has taken the band to a whole new level. It is currently at no 6 on the sales charts and is steadily climbing while the singles “When Darkness Falls” and “Daughter of the Reaper” is spinning on the radio! 2013 they head out for the European roads again! Do not miss them!
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TomCat walk on the thin line between classic hard rock and ’70s heavy metal, and at the same they are not hiding the fact they are influenced by big names of the ’80s. Apart from that, TomCat showcases sophisticated musical expression, fueled by youthful energy, sincerity, creativity and unbridled life will.
This quarted really don’t need hairspray, fancy clothes or glamourous stage names — just jeans and leather. On ‘Bits N’ Pieces’, they won’t bother you with philosophy or teach you how to live, just tell you ten stories about life around them. Actually, about life all around us. Relax, it’s only rock ‘n’ roll and they believe you will like it!
Tomcat had changed its line-up entirely in december 2015 and is working on a sophmore album which is to be released in 2015, featuring a new sound and new look of the band.
Organised by: KD VESELI DIHURČKI – http://www.dirtyskunks.org
