| Soundi Mag 11/2002 translated by Heidi ; Click here for pics! "There�s this guy in a German record company called Wolfgang Funk wich we look up to mainly because of his name.His idea was to collect the money off and release a sinlges collection for christmas market. We heard about that just while we were rehearsing for the new record and having some gigs so in that rush we thought that yeah,whatever..Then it was released.Its funny why it isnt "The singles collection" but instead "The single collection".Because of that spelling mistake the "gunthers" once again showed their way how to market something.This is the way how to make money with poor musicians like us. Lets say its not fun for me to be involved in a project where there are some spelling mistakes.It could not intrest me less.Its dedicated to the long time fans who is still missing some single or something.They are all in that box.Its not in that way very special for us,I mean we are making a whole new album now.The mind is in the future,not in the past.Now when the book is finally finished,we dont have to wonder anymore that what did happen in Leipzig 1998." Ville tells that with this new album they want to find the joy again making music as they had before while they were hanging in Miges apartment in Tuusula,where they played without any breaks for 7 hours terrible shit music and still enjoyed it.But its still not meant to be like garagerock.Led Zeppelin is always the goal and dream.HIM has once again promised to play at Tavastia on new years eve and there are also package trips sold in foreign countries.There are no plans for a real tour at this point.If the album comes out in April,there will be festivals in the summer and meanwhile they are doing them,they will plan for the upcoming tour in the fall. -Lets see what people thinks about the new album,that will they move us from the main stage in Ilosaarirock to smaller once.Before next fall there will at least not be any club gigs. Heres a short translation from what Juho Juntunen says about working with the guys & the book,taken from Soundi magazine 11/02. "Ville Valo called me last february and asked me out for a beer.I was at that time in another city and had some vodka so I couldnt go but we met the next night when I was in Helsinki again.So we went for a beer to different bars and Ville showed me his cosmic pope tattoo on his leg.At some point we were both getting sentimental and Ville asked me if I wanted to make this book about HIM.Some other people had also asked Ville if they could write a book but the guys had say no at that time.I thinked about it over the night and the next evening we were having a night out again with Ville and then I told him yes,I wanna write the book.Ive been asked before to write some books about bands but they didnt intrest me.HIM in the other hand did intrest.I wasnt a fan directly but I had always liked the attitude the guys has and their records and also that everything has happened so fast.In the upcoming book you wouldnt have to write about the boring years when nothing did happen. Now someone may think that well this is a dream job.Spend nights with the guys having a few beers,talking & make some money.Sure I did all that but everything wasnt still like a dream.Even if HIM was basically on a break at that time,they still did the Finnish tour and a couple of gigs in UK so it was pretty hard to put up a schedule to meet up,especially when Ville never answers your phonecalls.Also you would have to write and sit at nights in front of the computer.Then you had to go through the material with the band,listen to lots of tapes full of interviews and also try to reach the former members of the band.Theres nothing bad to tell about the HIM guys.I got probably through this pretty easily when Mige and Linde had decided to spend a complete sober period so they didnt drink any alcohol,both can be pretty unpredictable when they are drunk.Ville didnt do that and he also tought me in the first place that you should always try to urinate beside the toilet.That gives a freedom,theres a message in that.We met many times at my place and I always checked out the toilet in the morning and was pretty careful. Ofcourse we did also fight with Ville a few times but it wasnt that bad.He told me a couple of times to go to hell but I didnt.At times we also spent the night out in bars when we didnt work on the book.I also fought with the publisher Kaisa cause she did have an unplesent way to tell that you also have to work at some point.With Kaasu I didnt fight.We listened to Matti Nyk�nen when we were drunk and he tought me Swedish and talked about hc-punk.There wasnt much sencured in the book.One part was left out,the one that was supposed to start the book out but mayby it was good it didnt make it after all. The first thing that came out in public before the book was released was the headline " Ville Valo tried to kill himself",front page in Ilta Sanomat.That headline didnt thrill Ville or his parents.But the release party was fun.Burton celebrated at the same day his birthday and he got a cake formed like an ass.Me and Ville told in the ATV interview that we have moved together and we sit naked at home with only a hood over our heads.Mige then again told STT that I had moved with him and we sit and watch tv together at nights.Ilta Lehti wrote that Ville doesnt wanna see me for one year.Well tonight I will meet him again.But I wont sit naked with him cause Im busy getting to watch tv with Mige. |