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The Rasmus [New Zealand]

A tasty cocktail of infectious, stylised pop and lightweight but forceful rock? Mine’s a large one, barman…
NOT ENCOUNTERED THE RASMUS YET? THEN YOU’RE PROBABLY SOME kind of blind, deaf agoraphobic. The band’s recent album “Dead Letters” – their sixth to date – has now sold more than 200,000 copies in the UK alone. Fuelled by the success of its Top five hit single “In The Shadows”.
For the past several months The Rasmus have been making repeated visits to the UK, each one more extensive and more successful than the last. The quartet’s hybrid stylised pop and lightweight yet forceful rock is as infectious as a virus; their sound is melodic, immediate and ever so slightly quirky, dripping with personality and gothic darkness.
The pin-up-boy good looks of lead singer Lauri haven’t exactly harmed their chances, either.
Like so many enduring and successful bands before them, The Rasmus were born in a school playground, in their case in Helsinki, Finland. Drummer Aki joined the band in 1999, having previously being a merchandising salesman.
The journey from aspiring 14-year-olds to sharing stages with the likes of The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Garbage and (perhaps significantly, given that a comparison between the two bands is often made) HIM has been a long, hard haul, but the gradual nature of the group’s growth has helped them to remain relatively modest.
“We’re dreamers, and there’s nothing wrong with that,” guitarist Pauli admits. “Our first demo was done ten years ago, and we hoped that one day we’d win a Grammy, or maybe even come to the UK. But if you think about it, some friendships don’t even last that long, let alone bands.”
Before you start speculating, their unusual name doesn’t actually mean anything, Pauli had been in a heavy metal group called Morgue, who regularly used the term “thrash mosh”, from whence “The Rasmus” was derived.
The quartet’s roots lie in the realm of hard rock; their radio-friendly hooks, harmonised guitar solos and “whoa-whoa” choruses might be an extra clue.
“For all of us, Metallica came first. Then Nirvana and Stone Temple Pilots,” Pauli explains. “I’m a huge fan of hip-hop, but also of The Beatles. We’re not really into breaking things down into little genres, it’s the songs that we love.”
The Rasmus’s single “In The Shadows” went on to top the charts in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and, of course, Finland.
But given the “babe-magnet” status of Lauri, and the band’s insistence that they’re a rock group, are The Rasmus fearful of falling foul of “The Final Countdown” syndrome: being forever miscast, as Europe were, as teenyboppers?
“I don’t think that far ahead,” Pauli shrugs cagily. “It’s all going so well for us right now. We’ve already made five albums, so I think we will survive. All I can tell you is that I believe in our band, and in our songs.”
And so he should. Having done their stint of playing some fleapit venues in the US, Pauli and company return to the UK at the end of this month – and it must be said that the band are poised to fulfil some of their huge potential.
Ask whether it’s the girls, money or fame that topped his agenda when the band started, Pauli replies with a laugh: “Oh, the girls. We didn’t do any drugs, or any of that stupid stuff.” And now that The Rasmus are pop stars, do the girls go to unusual lengths to meet him?
“Yes,” he replies, casually but enthusiastically. “There’s always some weird stuff going on. Sometimes you wonder what’s going on in their heads. In Italy, the girls sent us pictures of themselves with not many clothes on there, too.
They weren’t so ugly wither, so that was great!”

What’s the story?
Who are they?
Lauri (Vocals), Pauli (guitar), Eero (Bass) and Aki (Drums).
What are they like?
Ice – cool Scandinavian pop-rock, music with a bold 21st century twist, imagine Bon jovi crossed with The Cure, and then you’ll get the idea.
Why should I care?
Without bands like The Rasmus to push the rock genre forward, it’s destined to stagnate.
How can I check them out?
Check out the website at www.therasmus.com

February 2005
Magazine: Total Rock
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The Rasmus Hellofasite is the italian portal & fan club entirely dedicated to the finnish rockband of The Rasmus.
Online since the 30th of January 2005 and accurately updated, in this website it's possible to find all the important things to know about the band: all the latest official news, exclusives, the fully discography with all the different editions of all the albums and singles, all the lyrics and much more ...read more »

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