Interview with Linde
1. Hello Linde and a happy new year! How are you?? Are you busy with the new "Daniel Lioneye" record? Tell us a few words about the upcoming release. Does it sound like pure fuzzy rock n' roll or is it aggressive and massive like the second one?
Hello and first of all thank you very much for your patience. I know it has taken way too long for me to do this interview. I am so sorry.
I'm fine, thank you. Hope all is well with you too. At the moment I'm busy practicing for the upcoming shows and wondering how the hell are we going to get away with it. Just kidding. Can't wait! Vol 3 is a bit of a mix between the first two albums. Lots of fuzzy riffs, more singing less growling. More melody. It sounds pretty fat. Its always hard for me to describe it cause its too close and too personal. Its just stuff that comes out. There is no target audience. Have an open mind and take a listen. I hope you can dig it.
2. How's it to work with Hiili Hiilesmaa? You’ve done many records with him. You must be good friends since the early days of HIM.
Yes we are good friends and Its always a pleasure to work with him. On top of his talent he has great people skills. He knows how to lie to us without getting caught basically.
3. Gas was a great drummer but Jukka is awesome as well. How did it feel to play with a different drummer after 15 years? Was there chemistry right from the beginning? How's Kosmo as a person?
Of course it was weird at first but Kosmo had done his homework very well so there were no problems. His groove is very different from Gas's. Gas is closer to Vinnie Appice and Kosmo's beat is more danceable in my opinion. But it was surpisingly easy to get used to it. Kosmo is very calm and down to earth. Doesn't talk much which is something that I always like in a person. And he appreciates Impaled Nazarene which is a bonus as well.
4. As it seems you’ll be taking a long break with HIM after 2 and a half years of touring. When is the new "Daniel Lioneye" album expected to be released? Do you have any tour plans?
Vol 3 is coming out the 19th of August. We are playing 5 shows in Finland in the beginning of September and a small tour in Europe is on the works. That would happen in the beginning of December but I can't say anything more about that yet.
5. We don't know exactly, but we are pretty sure that the idea of "Daniel Lioneye" came in the mid of 2000 when Juska was still in the band. So, how did you decide to play at Helldone with the original line up 15 years later?
I can't remember how or when it started. I suppose the real question is why? Ville suggested that we should play at Helldone. How can you say no to that?
6. We've seen that since 2013, during the "Tears on tape" tour, you have changed your guitar set up a bit. Apart from the Laney heads, we also saw 2 Peavey 5150 heads. What did that change offer to the general guitar sound? Do you take any advice for your gear and the set up from Antti, your guitar technician for example?
I wanted to add a little more punch and sustain to the sound and back in the day 5150 was the amp that was used for that powerful punchy sound. They don't make them anymore so I found a couple of used ones and bought them. I think it adds a lot to the general guitar sound. The Laney heads work great with different fuzz pedals and when they are all on simultaneously, it sounds amazing! The set up has gotten so complicated that I can't even turn it on myself. I always take advice, especially from guitar techs.
7. Is it true that before the "Razorblade Romance" era , the band was rehearsing with a second guitarist but it did not finally work? Do you think that HIM never needed a second guitarist, as Mige fills the ‘’gaps’’, especially at the solo parts, with his fuzzy and distorted bass?
Yes thats true. It was an idea that just didn't work. Guitar players are dicks so the less you have them in your band the better. That being said, I don't think HIM needs another guitar player. Like you mentioned, Mige can take care of that and if we would need anything more, Ville could play it. He has played the acoustic live quite a lot and that adds to the sound as well.
8. You know, we have missed a lot to see you again with the red "Gibson Sg". Since the end of 2003, you have started playing with the white one. We saw you again at the "Tears on tape" music video with the red one. Back on 1996 till 1998 you used to play with "Jackson" and "Gibson Flying V" guitars.
a)Have you ever played with a les paul at HIM? Why did you choose the Sg model of Gibson? Does it have to do with the influence you've got from "Black Sabbath's" Tony Iommi?
In the studio I might have played a few solos with a Les Paul just can't remember which ones. Live I have played the SG for so long I couldn't think of playing anything else. It has definitely grown on me. I always loved the way SG looks, very important. Also Les Pauls are too heavy. My back couldn't take it. Believe it or not, I didn't choose the SG because of Tony Iommi even though I do love him.
b) At the studio, do you record the guitar parts only with "Gibson" and "Fender" or do you also use guitars like PRS etc?
I have used mainly those guitars when it comes to the basic rhythm guitar tracks. I've never even tried a PRS I think. I've played solos or doubled them with a sitar guitar, a semi-acoustic Levin from the 40's or whatever comes to mind at the time or is at hand. Ville loves to bring these weird and hard to play guitars to the studio and watch me struggle with them. But in general, its easy to take gear madness too far. At the end of the day its the music that matters not the gear.
9. Let's go back to the old days of 1995 -1996 when you used to play the well known cover of "Levoton Tuhkimo" by Dingo. Which song of the early demos do you like the most and why (Borellus, Serpent Ride, The phantom gate)?
Haven't heard those songs in ages. I think I still have some original white demo cassettes lying around somewhere. Maybe I should sell them on eBay and get rich? Borellus is my favorite because if I'm right its the first song I wrote with Ville. Very nostalgic indeed.
10. Is that true that the band's old friend Teemu Järvinen helped the band out by contributing to the riff of "Our diabolikal rapture"?
I think Teemu wrote the chords for the chorus. Or some version of them anyway. And yes he is a very good friend.
11. You guys have played 7 times in our country. Any memories you have from Athens or generally from Greece?
I love Greece! Always had a great time there, amazing shows, very enthusiastic people! I remember a show we did in Athens at some beautiful outside theatre where my guitar tech at the time had tried some new guitar strings without telling me and they sucked so bad that it basically ruined the first song which was Wings Of A Butterfly I think. I got very angry and instead of handling it professionally I just randomly threw the guitar somewhere and it landed right in front of Seymour Stein who was sitting in the audience. And he loved it! I'm so glad it didn't land on him or anyone else. I also have to mention that I love Retsina and pronounced with a German accent, Athens is one of my favorite words.
12. What's the future of HIM? Are there any new songs composed?
We've been taking this year off, haven't really planned anything yet but we're supposed to have a gathering in the near future and take a look at things. Looking forward to that very much!
13. Favourite "Iggy pop" & "Black Sabbath" record?
Almost impossible to say but if you put a gun to my head I'll say Beat Em Up and Paranoid.
14. Thanks for this interview and we wish you all the best for 2016! Your message to the Greek HIM & Daniel Lioneye fans.
Thank you very much for this interview and your patience! We love you all and check out Vol. III. It turned out quite well I think.
Daniel Lioneye www.facebook.com/daniellioneye
www.twitter.com/DLioneye
Hello and first of all thank you very much for your patience. I know it has taken way too long for me to do this interview. I am so sorry.
I'm fine, thank you. Hope all is well with you too. At the moment I'm busy practicing for the upcoming shows and wondering how the hell are we going to get away with it. Just kidding. Can't wait! Vol 3 is a bit of a mix between the first two albums. Lots of fuzzy riffs, more singing less growling. More melody. It sounds pretty fat. Its always hard for me to describe it cause its too close and too personal. Its just stuff that comes out. There is no target audience. Have an open mind and take a listen. I hope you can dig it.
2. How's it to work with Hiili Hiilesmaa? You’ve done many records with him. You must be good friends since the early days of HIM.
Yes we are good friends and Its always a pleasure to work with him. On top of his talent he has great people skills. He knows how to lie to us without getting caught basically.
3. Gas was a great drummer but Jukka is awesome as well. How did it feel to play with a different drummer after 15 years? Was there chemistry right from the beginning? How's Kosmo as a person?
Of course it was weird at first but Kosmo had done his homework very well so there were no problems. His groove is very different from Gas's. Gas is closer to Vinnie Appice and Kosmo's beat is more danceable in my opinion. But it was surpisingly easy to get used to it. Kosmo is very calm and down to earth. Doesn't talk much which is something that I always like in a person. And he appreciates Impaled Nazarene which is a bonus as well.
4. As it seems you’ll be taking a long break with HIM after 2 and a half years of touring. When is the new "Daniel Lioneye" album expected to be released? Do you have any tour plans?
Vol 3 is coming out the 19th of August. We are playing 5 shows in Finland in the beginning of September and a small tour in Europe is on the works. That would happen in the beginning of December but I can't say anything more about that yet.
5. We don't know exactly, but we are pretty sure that the idea of "Daniel Lioneye" came in the mid of 2000 when Juska was still in the band. So, how did you decide to play at Helldone with the original line up 15 years later?
I can't remember how or when it started. I suppose the real question is why? Ville suggested that we should play at Helldone. How can you say no to that?
6. We've seen that since 2013, during the "Tears on tape" tour, you have changed your guitar set up a bit. Apart from the Laney heads, we also saw 2 Peavey 5150 heads. What did that change offer to the general guitar sound? Do you take any advice for your gear and the set up from Antti, your guitar technician for example?
I wanted to add a little more punch and sustain to the sound and back in the day 5150 was the amp that was used for that powerful punchy sound. They don't make them anymore so I found a couple of used ones and bought them. I think it adds a lot to the general guitar sound. The Laney heads work great with different fuzz pedals and when they are all on simultaneously, it sounds amazing! The set up has gotten so complicated that I can't even turn it on myself. I always take advice, especially from guitar techs.
7. Is it true that before the "Razorblade Romance" era , the band was rehearsing with a second guitarist but it did not finally work? Do you think that HIM never needed a second guitarist, as Mige fills the ‘’gaps’’, especially at the solo parts, with his fuzzy and distorted bass?
Yes thats true. It was an idea that just didn't work. Guitar players are dicks so the less you have them in your band the better. That being said, I don't think HIM needs another guitar player. Like you mentioned, Mige can take care of that and if we would need anything more, Ville could play it. He has played the acoustic live quite a lot and that adds to the sound as well.
8. You know, we have missed a lot to see you again with the red "Gibson Sg". Since the end of 2003, you have started playing with the white one. We saw you again at the "Tears on tape" music video with the red one. Back on 1996 till 1998 you used to play with "Jackson" and "Gibson Flying V" guitars.
a)Have you ever played with a les paul at HIM? Why did you choose the Sg model of Gibson? Does it have to do with the influence you've got from "Black Sabbath's" Tony Iommi?
In the studio I might have played a few solos with a Les Paul just can't remember which ones. Live I have played the SG for so long I couldn't think of playing anything else. It has definitely grown on me. I always loved the way SG looks, very important. Also Les Pauls are too heavy. My back couldn't take it. Believe it or not, I didn't choose the SG because of Tony Iommi even though I do love him.
b) At the studio, do you record the guitar parts only with "Gibson" and "Fender" or do you also use guitars like PRS etc?
I have used mainly those guitars when it comes to the basic rhythm guitar tracks. I've never even tried a PRS I think. I've played solos or doubled them with a sitar guitar, a semi-acoustic Levin from the 40's or whatever comes to mind at the time or is at hand. Ville loves to bring these weird and hard to play guitars to the studio and watch me struggle with them. But in general, its easy to take gear madness too far. At the end of the day its the music that matters not the gear.
9. Let's go back to the old days of 1995 -1996 when you used to play the well known cover of "Levoton Tuhkimo" by Dingo. Which song of the early demos do you like the most and why (Borellus, Serpent Ride, The phantom gate)?
Haven't heard those songs in ages. I think I still have some original white demo cassettes lying around somewhere. Maybe I should sell them on eBay and get rich? Borellus is my favorite because if I'm right its the first song I wrote with Ville. Very nostalgic indeed.
10. Is that true that the band's old friend Teemu Järvinen helped the band out by contributing to the riff of "Our diabolikal rapture"?
I think Teemu wrote the chords for the chorus. Or some version of them anyway. And yes he is a very good friend.
11. You guys have played 7 times in our country. Any memories you have from Athens or generally from Greece?
I love Greece! Always had a great time there, amazing shows, very enthusiastic people! I remember a show we did in Athens at some beautiful outside theatre where my guitar tech at the time had tried some new guitar strings without telling me and they sucked so bad that it basically ruined the first song which was Wings Of A Butterfly I think. I got very angry and instead of handling it professionally I just randomly threw the guitar somewhere and it landed right in front of Seymour Stein who was sitting in the audience. And he loved it! I'm so glad it didn't land on him or anyone else. I also have to mention that I love Retsina and pronounced with a German accent, Athens is one of my favorite words.
12. What's the future of HIM? Are there any new songs composed?
We've been taking this year off, haven't really planned anything yet but we're supposed to have a gathering in the near future and take a look at things. Looking forward to that very much!
13. Favourite "Iggy pop" & "Black Sabbath" record?
Almost impossible to say but if you put a gun to my head I'll say Beat Em Up and Paranoid.
14. Thanks for this interview and we wish you all the best for 2016! Your message to the Greek HIM & Daniel Lioneye fans.
Thank you very much for this interview and your patience! We love you all and check out Vol. III. It turned out quite well I think.
Daniel Lioneye www.facebook.com/daniellioneye
www.twitter.com/DLioneye
Interview with Hiili Hiilesmaa
1. Hello Hiili and welcome! How are you? Which are the latest projects you are working on?
Hiili: Hello, fine thanks! Just working with the next Daniel Lioneye album, almost done... Lately I've been working with Swallow The Sun for example and the next album production will be new Kypck album.
2. Being HIM fans we would like you to let us know about your work with the band. What do you remember from the early HIM recordings (1996-1997)? I am asking about their first EP "666 Ways To Love: Prologue" and the first album "Greatest Lovesongs Vol. 666".
Hiili: I remember those days rather well. The guys arrived to studio with Mige’s mother's Lada (a russian car) and Pätkä was "carried" inside the bassdrum. They had to remove the other bassdrum head to get everything loaded! When making "Greatest Lovesongs" Ville stayed the whole one week inside the studio. I mean 24/7. He slept there too, no matter there was no kind of accommodation! He slept in a slimy sofa and ate microwave pizzas. He was already then 100% dedicated.
3. Did you record real - all natural drums for those records? As we already know Ville used to record also some keyboards for those releases. Is that true?
Hiili: Yes, surely we recorded the drums natural! We actually tried some programmed drums in "Razorblade" demo-session, but it didn't sound like "a band" anymore. The reason we tried that was because Pätkä had just left and Gas was not there yet. Ville played some keys too I think. Mostly he was guiding Antto what he should play.
4. How was HIM's publicity back at those days in the frozen Helsinki? Do you remember the first time you saw them live? If yes, when and where was it?
Hiili: I think I saw them in a club called Teatro. I think they played there every weekend to get free beer. Maybe Linde was working there. The guys were already well known in Helsinki underground rock-scene so H.I.M. got quite good follow-up very fast.
5. Any funny moments you remember from the sessions you did together? Which member from the old line up was closer with you or easier to work with (Ville, Linde, Mige, Antto & Pätkä )?
Hiili: There are always so many moments... Once in Venus Doom sessions Mige and Linde brought a nice green Ibanez guitar and they had an idea to strike out the guitar and my job was to record it. I started to feel sorry for the Ibanez. So I hid it to a computer room for couple of weeks. The guys did not find it, so they destroyed one violin instead. After the session I "found" it all of a sudden. They gave it to me as a present.With "the old line up" I had very good relation with everybody I think. With Ville we used to hang out in Helsinki night sometimes and for example with Antto I did an tent tour to Norway in November... (snowy and cold). With Linde I'm in touch because of Daniel and with Mige have delivered to me some twisted fuzz-pedals. I also did a recording with Pätkä's new project once, but it was quite many years ago.
6. Where there any demos or pre-production material done before the actual recordings for "Greatest Lovesongs Vol. 666" which haven't been released officially yet?
Hiili: Yes there was. I think it's still unreleased. At least there is a very good demo of the whole Razorblade.
7. Did you expect all this huge success from this band and the worldwide acknowledgement? How do you see their improvement as musicians through the years?
Hiili: Knowing the guys and their ability, it's not a miracle they've made it worldwide. Of course it's always a surprise, if a band can make a 20 year-long career worldwide. Also there were only "one or two" bands that had made it so-so "international" during late 90's.
8. You were in the first and the original "Daniel Lioneye" line up as the keyboard player. How was this idea born? Was it Linde's suggestion?
Is there any possibility to see you again behind the keyboards of "Daniel Lioneye"?
Hiili: Linde hired me. And he payed well! One basket of beer per each day (however for the whole band together). I think quite soon Dani realized that my skills as a keyboardist were not very praised... I was actually tricking and I "played" everything from a shitty Akai sampler. So when we started the next Dani album sessions, there was a new "ermine" in the saddle.
9. Which is your favorite HIM & "Daniel Lioneye" track and why?
Hiili: This is always a hard one, but "Circle Of Fear" is playing in my head quite often. It's got a nice ethereal feeling and cool key sounds. Also the reversed guitars and sitar are cool and Ville's vocals are just great in that one. I guess King of Rock'n'Roll is my favorite Dani track... It's a sizable Declaration.
10. As we already know you are mixing the upcoming "Daniel Lioneye" album which is gonna be out later in 2016. Tell us few words for the new record.
Hiili: It's still a secret... ;)
Thanks for this interview and your time. Wish you all the best.
Hiili: My pleasure and wishes to all HIM fans!
http://www.hiilihiilesmaa.com