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HIM LIVE
REBEL YELL TEN YEARS LATER: FROM PROVINSSIROCK 1999 TO HELLDONE 2008
1999 is a particular year for HIM: the single “Join Me In Death” , that will become part of the new album “Razorblade Romance” , climbs the European hit parade and will be chosen as soundtrack of “The 13th floor”, a Ronald Emmerich’s movie.
The popularity the band is reaching is shown by the participation at the “Provinssirock”, the festival performed in Seinajoki in June, that counts the presence of the most famous bands of the Finnish musical scene and not.
And right in the occasion of this performance HIM present , together with great successes like “When Love And Death Embrace” , “Your Sweet 666”, “Wicked Game”, consecrated by “Greatest Lovesongs vol.666” , a new cover: “ Rebel Yell”, the song that, in 1984, led Billy Idol to international success.
The Finnish band introduces some changes in the line up : Antto Melasniemi ,the keyboardist, has given way to Juska Salminen(Zoltan Pluto), and at the drums we can’t find Patka anymore, but Mika Kristian Karppinen (Gas Lipstick). Immediately among the five is established an excellent musical understanding and Provinssirock is certainly the clearest test: the audience warmly answers to their performance and , when the guys return on stage for the last song, the surprise will be among the most pleasing that can be expected.
Yes, because that Rebel Yell, strong and aggressive as the piece of Idol should be performed , was memorable : to the rhythm and enthralling sound Ville sings:
“In the midnight hour she cried- "more, more, more"
With a rebel yell she cried- "more, more, more"…
and the scratching rhythm of the guitar answers, accompanied by the drums and underlined by the keyboard and the bass . And when the performance is done and Ville leaves the stage , how to forget such a beautiful duel between Linde’s Gibson and Migè’s bass?
The video of that exhibition was rightly inserted in the collection of “Love Metal Archives n.1” and remains a performance that has nothing to envy to Billy Idol’s original for rhythm and musical involvement.
Ten years later , during the gig in Cologne on June 4, an appreciated comeback: a new setlist full of new successes , the ones of the Venus Doom tour, but also full of classics that we always happily listen to… and between these “Rebel Yell” marks its return, with an even more chasing sound : the guys have grown up , Ville’s voice sounds more mature and more mature and expert is also the instrumental performance.
The piece is performed at summer festivals too : we are pleased to listen to it live at the Gurten Festival in Bern and again at Ankkarock and it’s a true pleasure for eyes and ears .
But surely Helldone was the most magic, engaging and enthralling moment : the particular atmosphere the performances of Tampere and Tavastia have managed to create, have been obtained by a wise musical review of the proposed pieces , that have shown the increased musical abilities of each of the components of the band.
So Rebel Yell has really been a choral performance : who has been the most talented of the five? It’s hard to say… Ville’s voice was perfect, but how to forget the “possessed” Gas’ performance on drums, or the wonderful solos of Linde, whose fingers on the keyboard of the Gibson move so fast that is almost impossible to gaze ? And what to say about the wonderful Mige’s performance on bass and Burton’s keyboard , able to act as a powerful glue and to make this song unforgettable?
The music can really become catharsis, emotional involvement at times, maybe collective frenzy ; all this I have lived and experienced at Helldone, thanks to the precious and passionate musical work of five wonderful artists.
Mrs. Lindstrom - Rosanna
ASIA AID, ARTWALL ARENA
On January 19th 2005 Red Cross Finland in cooperation with Unicef and Finn Church Aid organized a benefit concert to help raise funds for the victims of the Asian tsunami.
Finnish international band HIM took part in the event which also featured other well-known finnish artists such as The Rasmus, Apocalyptica, Negative and The 69 eyes, and was broadcasted live on national radio. With many big names sharing the stage at Helsinki’s Hartwall Areena, the band’s time was limited to only 25 minutes.
The crowd screams with pure happiness as its frontman Ville Valo and the other boys appear on stage. Dressed in a smart white suit, black shirt, a pair of fingerless gloves with the heartagram logo and the all time favourite black beanie Valo gives a passionate performance that includes five hits. Buried alive 
by love serves as the best warm-up, a great chance for the audience, that is ecstatic, to rock their hearts out.
Among the screams we manage to hear the first few notes of Join me in death hit on Burton’s keyboards. The purple lights and the huge pink heartagram created by the mirrors in the background added to the romantic vibe. People clap their hands and sing to the songs at every change they get, creating a very emotional and powerful atmosphere. Dreamy blue, screams shaking the arena to its foundations and nothing else than “She’ll be right here in my arms…so in love”, is sung to the microphone. A very interestin
g intro following, flames in the background and a soul on fire. My personal favourite is performed with passion from every member of the band. A whole band having a great time onstage, and an audience getting along is the most beautiful thing to see and to be a part of, HIM say goodbye to their fans with their hymn to love, The funeral of hearts, a perfect song to end their performance and the benefit event. “Kiitos”
But that is not the end. Ville Valo comes on stage once again this night, joining The Rasmus’ lead singer Lauri Ylonen and along with Apocalyptica sings to the crowd the single
Bittersweet for the first, and last since today, time live, Ville does a deep voice in such a natural way and harmonizes with Lauri’s high voice resulting in such a powerful heartbreaking duet.
That truly was the highlight of the night.
JenSweetheart-Jennifer
Planned and developed by Mrs Lindstrom with the help of Nailedtoacross, Legolas di Mirkwood,
Shikaia590Editor in chief: Mrs Lindstrom, Graphic Project: Dan[616]
