Interview with The Rasmus [Lithuania]

Finnish bassist remembers visiting Lithuania and yoga lessons.
On the hot afternoon,the 1st of June, finnish rock band “The Rasmus” became panic-stricked.Artists who came to Greece, to the feast of music and extreme sport “Nokia Totally Board”, suddenly realised how unpractical their black clothes were. Because they were all sweaty.
What is more, in the ship near Saloniki, where The Rasmus came to give interview, was hot like in a sauna.
“We like greek music- Vangel and Demi Roussos”, Eero said.
When I explained that I’m not a greek, so he doesn’t need to name greek stars, 24 year-old artist didn’t become confused.
“I know Lithuania quite well. I met the year 2001 in Klaipeda. I’m interested in yoga, meditation, I have friends in this city. I’ve also been in that resort near the sea with high sandy hills. What’s its name? Nida? Yeah, that’s right.”
In this moment finnish bassist would hardly take a walk in lithuanian streets unrecognised. Almost all Europe has been infected by a melodic rock virus of this band- including the snobish Great Britain, where The Rasmus song “In The Shadows” reached the place of 3 best songs.
Their 5th album, released last year, is still one of the most popular albums in Europe, and recently americans became interested in this band.
“We came back from the USA not long ago,where we advertised ourselves for 2 weeks. There we are taken care by a manager of Marilyn Manson. When I visited his (manager’s) house in LA, I was shocked. The width of his veranda is 27m, and straight in front of it – the famous letters “Hollywood”. And he looks so humble and ordinary”,- said Lauri,holding a big bottle of whisky and time from time drinking from it.
This time a big house with bodyguards would be useful for 25 year-old Lauri. Near his home in Helsinki girls who are in love with an artist, crowd every day. In Germany, where the band is extremely popular, fans go mad. They cry and threaten to commit suicide, because ostensibly Lauri dates german star Jeanete Biedermann.
“My personal life is tabu”,- before the interview warned me Lauri Ylönen.
Livelly chatterer Lauri and shy Eero are the only members of the band who can be made to speak.
Drummer Aki and gitarist Pauli made everything to prove the image of shy and silent finns.

When did you have holidays?- I asked the artists.
Lauri: During the last months my longest time for rest was 3 days. Our shedule is very tight. During the last 5 days we visited 5 countries. Such tempo begins to drain energy. I miss my friends, and my home in Helsinki becomes the nicest place in the world. But, on the other hand, we ourselves wanted such life, when we created a band 10 years ago.

People like you even in such countries where rock is not popular.
Eero: Recently we played in The United Emyrats of Arabia.We are invited to Liban, Beirut, but we’ll possibly refuse – it’s not a safe place.

Maybe you’ll come to Lithuania?
Eero: We’ll come here very soon . As far as I know, our concert in Vilnius is in September.

Why do you usually dress in black?
Lauri: We like this colour, that’s all. It somehow reflects the themes of our songs which aren’t joyful.

And maybe because of that you paint your nails black?
Lauri: Yes. I do it myself, so I manage to paint only the nails of my left hand (laughs).

Were there any embarrasing moments in your band history?
Eero: Many. Something wrong often happens during our concerts. Once a button of Pauli’s trousers tore off. He ended the song in his underwear.

Girls admire you, you can live in luxuriuos hotels and drive expensive cars. Do you abuse these pleasures?
Lauri: Sometimes. But I don’t want to talk about it.

You sing in english. Aren’t finns angree with you?
Eero: No, they aren’t, because we sing in english from the first day of our career. We do this not because we wanted to become famous in foreign lands, but because this language is the best for rock.

3 years ago in Estonia you played with “Roxette”. Now, when you are famous, you wouln’t do that?
Lauri: Why not? We played not only with “Roxette”, but also with “Rancid”, RHCP, “Garbage” and other serious bands. I would like to play with the british band “Muse”- I like it very much. But the biggest dream is to play with bands which inspired me when I was a teenager- “Skid Row”, Guns’n'Roses”, “Poison”.

There was no more time for the interview – The Rasmus went on the scene. Thousands of young greeks met them with joy. When the concert came to the middle, the audience became calmer – the older songs of the band and even originally performed song of Björk “Play Dead” didn’t charm greeks, though Lauri danced energetically on the scene.
Half naked boy if the front row shouted all the concert to play the hit ITS. When the time for the song came, there was an unpleasant surprise for artists waiting – their guitar booster broke. When Lauri was looking irritated to the technicians trying to fix the booster, Eero took the initiative – he began singing the songs of D.Roussos.
After 2 minutes the booster was fixed, and The Rasmus with a double energy and anger performed their hit In The Shadows. Then artists said good bye, came back and played First Day Of My Life.
Behind the scenes Lauri, brushing away sweat, told: “And it’s really damn hot here”.
After half an hour, The Rasmus came to an afterparty in one of the outdoor cafes in Saloniki. Indifferently listening to a fascinated finnish girl, Lauri suddenly became anxious about other things.
“Will you find some beautiful girls for me in Vilnius? Our manager, who was in Lithuania with HIM, told that there are a lot of beautiful girls!”
“We will go to the striptiz club then”,- I said.
“All the striptiz dancers are tall, and I’m short…”, sorrowed rocker, whose height doesn’t reach 170 cm,- But that’s not bad! I’ll put on my shoes with higher heels”.

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