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Interview with Lauri [Finland]

Do you concider yourself religious or spiritual?
More like a spiritual thinker.

Have you ever had 30,000 in your wallet?
Now that I think about it, yes.

Are you suprised there are questions also from others than finnish fans?
Yes, wonder how they have knew to come here?

Are you going to move away from Finland?
Absolutely not. Finland is good and safe place to live and you can always travel.

When are you going to get married?
I don’t know.

Your alcohol-free tour was great, has it given something more to your audience?
Yes, clearly. That desicion has been on and off. But it was our longest tour ever, 8 weeks in a row. We had to do something.

Ruisrock or Provinssi?
I have good experiences from both. It depends on a year what interests me. There are now so many good bands in Finland that festivals are based on them. And it doesn’t matter at all. Rather five good finnish bands that one expensive and bad american band.

Why are you always wearing black?
It’s easier to find matching clothes when everything is black.

What kind of fans do you like?
Polite and calm ones.

When was the last time you put on ice skates?
I actually thought about it today when I saw that the sea is starting to freeze.

Do you buy Christmas presents and do you send Christmas cards?
I kind of run away because of Christmas. I haven’t thought about it yet.

Have you been every country? If not, where would you like to go?
I haven’t visited Australia and New Zealand yet. New Zealand interests me because of its nature.

When did you start with music?
When I was 8 years old we played Europe’s Final Countdown. I played pots. We performed infront of our class. That’s it.

How much do you read interviews, album and gig reviews written about you? If there is hard criticism, how do you react?
You can get hurt by the criticism. It depends on the situation but sometimes I even try to avoid reading reviews. I rather continue living in the cottonland than take all the hits.

What is your favorire beer?
Karhu, also a finnish brand.

What does being gothic mean to you?
Probably Cure and Joy Divison, Sisters Of Mercy.

Gig that you remember the best?
Probably in Lepakko. We supported Rancid. I remember that very well.

Do you follow sports? If yes, what?
Usually just Extreme Sports channel; skateboarding and snowboarding. I rather watch BBC Food!

Your ideal woman?
Self confidence is fascinating in women and men.

What was the real reason behind Janne’s leaving?
Janne wanted to have a break; to leave to India for six months.

What do you like in your character the most?
Honesty.

Does your beard grow?
Looks like it.

Have you been to army?
No.

Could you advice me any good finnish movie?
Häjyt, Kauas pilvet karkaavat by Aki Kaurismäki.

Have your fans changed since the beginning?
They have gotten more gloomy, but on the other hand it feels like the whole youth has changed that way. Not just our fans.

Album by album, Rasmus is getting more gloomy. Do you think that’s the case in the future also?
Not necessary, because our new album has both gloomy and positive, cheering stuff.

The Rasmus go on tour with HIM/Negative early next year. What other plans are there for 2006?
Touring in South America, Canada, Africa, Greece etc. That’ll be the next year!

Is Rasmus a band school’s product?
No. We have never been in band school. You can learn the technical stuff in them, but nothing about being in a band. You have to study it yourself.

If you had one day left to live what would you do?
Write a song.

Are you going to do more finnish songs? I like them.
We do nothing but finnish songs, but not in finnish language. On our tour we played Rakkauslaulu everywhere. It’s a funny joke.

What are you gonna be when band life is over?
Book seller.

Can you tell me the meaning of the number from the song life705. What does the number mean?
It just a number to point out the 705th life really.

Do you pay your taxes to Finland?
Unfortunately.

What are you gonna do next week?
Fly to Moorea and little bit studio work.

What did you get on your last birthday?
My mother made food to me – that was a present.

When was the first time you sang?
In the band, when I was 15.

What’s the worst/best Spinal Tap experience in your band?
There are many. Pauli has gotten lost on the stage.

Your education?
I quit high school because of band stuff.

When was Sail Away music video shot and where?
In Riga, three months ago.

What do you think about Nightwish? Are you sad Tarja had to leave?
I kind of new already she is going to leave. It’s a shame, but I’m sure Nightwish is gonna continue stronger than ever when it comes back.

Whats your favorite Playstation 2 game?
Prince of Persia.

What is the best rock club/bar in Europe?
Rockefeller in Oslo, Tavastia in Helsinki, E-werk in Berlin, Debaser in Stockholm.

Do you have car and driver’s license?
Neither.

Do you ever listen to classical music? If so, what are your favorites?
Classic FM is really good, my favorite radio channel in fact. My favorite is Albion’s Adagio.

When you played in the band nights in Suutarila’s school, did you ever believe you’d be part of one of Finland’s most successfull bands?
I never thought about that. I was just happy I got to play with the older guys.

What is the nicest country you’ve been to?
Finland is a nice place. Outside Finland, Italy and Milan.

What does freedom mean to you?
Feathers in my head. And other way around.

Are you a good cook?
Yes, very good!

Which foreign artist you would like to make an album with?
Someone who is very far away from our own music. Björk or something. We could try something more daring…

Whats your favorite alcoholic beverage? and why?
It has to be Salmari (a finnish shot).

Have you ever had a proper job?
Yes. I cut our neighbors’ lawns. I was 12.

Do you follow Idols?
No. I have been on a tour but last night I met Agnes on TV. She seemed to be very nice person.

Can you surf?
I have surfed once in Hawaii. I can surf a little because I have been skateboarding and snowboarding, but it was a bit hard.

If black suddenly vanished, what colour would you wear?
I do not really know…propably white.

Are you in love at the moment?
Yes. Head over heels.

What is your favorite animal?
Cats are interesting, but I’m allergic to them.

Is it still possible to hear funk/punk music from The Rasmus?
Very possible. We can change our music style anytime, it’s not attached to anything.

What is your favourite chocolate?
I do not eat lots of chocolate, but if I say something is has to be local brand; Fazer’s Blue.

Do you like more touring or recording?
Touring. It’s more spontaneous.

What’s the stupidest thing you’ve done drunk?
I have just been basically stupid and selfish and hurt other people’s feelings.

The greatest gig you’ve been to?
Weezer in Provinssi three years ago. I lost my shoe. I walked with one shoe for two days.

Do you know what Finnish festivals The Rasmus is going to perform next summer?
We don’t know. Probably we’re gonna perform on some festivals.

Is Rakkauslaulu your only finnish song?
Ufolaulu is b-side on Ice single.

You like vampires, what would you do if one turned up at your gig?
Would not be anything new. There are lots of people there who already look like one. Just welcome!

Are you a vegetarian?
No, I’m not.

What are your plans in USA? Apparently Interscope hasn’t released your latest album there… are you gonna change label?
Probably. We’re searching for the best alternative. Seppo is in LA at the moment. Our main focus has been in Europe this year. Next year we’re looking for Africa, South America, Canada and with Him Germany, Austria and Switzerland. We don’t know about USA yet.

Just wanted to know what inspires you the most in your life, and what could you not live without?
I like the changing seasons in Finland. They cheer me up!

Who writes your songs? Your liner notes always mention just The Rasmus…
Mainly me and Pauli, but because everyone’s always doing something we have put The Rasmus.

What is your favorite from your own albums?
The first one. It’s the most important album. That’s where it all began.

Can we expect a South American tour next year? You’ve been in Venezuela already, are you coming? or planning to come?
Yes, coming up in March-April. Venezuela again, Columbia, Argentina etc.

Are you a Christmas person?
Not really. I’ve been away the last four Christmases.

When did you start singing in the band? What was your first instrument?
I started playing drums when I was 10 and sang for the first time when I was 15.

Do you remember some gig especially from your last tour?
We had two gigs in India, they were quite interesting. We got a good reception and 2/4 of us had diarrhea on the gig.

Do you want to start a family someday… kids etc?
Yeah, absolutely.

Which musician do you admire?
Many. Matthew Bellamy from Muse.

What are the best three rock bands in your opinion?
Muse, Weezer and Metallica

If you were on a deserted island and had one album, what would it be?
Leonard Cohen’s Songs Of Love And Hate.

Who has invented your crow look? You or someone else?
It was all my own idea. It all started very innocently with white feather.

What makes you happy and what angry?
Friday night at Tavastia makes me happy. Saturday morning in a wrong place makes me angry.

Are there any plans for a new DVD?
Not yet, but we have been filming a documentary movie for the rest 9 months. That might come out on dvd someday.

Would you like to stay in Finland the whole life or would you like to live later anywhere else?
Stay in Finland. The more I have travelled, I have realised how peaceful and easy-going land Finland is. No unnecessary small talk!

Have you taken singing lessons?
Never.

How far in the future your musical plans are?
I couldn’t know 10 years ago where I’d be today. I can’t know where I’ll be in 10 years. It might be I sing in the band or I might be taking care of a lighthouse somewhere…

Given the chance, to do a duet with any and singer/band, living or dead, who would it be?
Lauri said already in finnish that it could be Tarja Turunen of ex-Nightwish

Why is HIM’s new hit song Wings Of A Butterfly and at the same time butterflies fly on your videos?
It’s a funny coincidence. Our whole album’s theme is butterfly and borning again.

Do you like salmiakki?
Yes, very plenty!

What helps you to keep the yellow liquid in the downstairs?
When someone hits you every now and then. Mentally mostly.

How does it feel that there are only two bands left in Dynasty?
The situation is ok, because those guys are still my friends and make music. The name Killer just isn’t being used anymore.

Will there ever be a Dynasty tour,I mean with you and Kwan?
Everything is possible. Kwan is trying to get to the central-european market, so it could work out.

What is included in The Rasmus rider?
Depending on the situation, finnish vodka or sometimes just water.

What do your tattoos mean?
One is Dynasty tattoo that is a sign of our good friendship, our recording studio and record company. The another on is me angel, picture of Björk, my heroin.

What would you like to change in the public life back to the normal life?
Sometimes it’s hard to find own peace. There isn’t many places in the world anymore where someone wouldn’t come and ask for an autograph. That pisses me off a little sometimes…

Do you watch what you eat so you wouldn’t turn out to be fat ex-star? Do you exercise?
I bicycle, but for example on tour I just sit in buss and backstage. On a gig I move hour and a half per night.

Who is gonna be Finland’s next president?
I haven’t thought about it yet, but I think Tarja…

Why do you put on make up?
It’s part of me. It feels right.

With which finnish artist would you do duet with?
Now that Tarja is free so… Could be a good idea. We have been thinking about doing a duet with a female singer on our next album.

You changed your style to black clothes and darkness stuff. Why?
We had enough of happy songs on our first three albums. It felt like I had to open up about some personal things.

Are you good at sähly?
I’m bad at every team sport.

What was your grade in music in school?
Probably 9.

When are you gonna play in Finland?
Probably next summer at the festivals.

What do you think about HIM?
HIM is a great band. It’s nice to go on tour with the guys in February.

December 2005
Magazine: Iltalethi
Translation by: yennay
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