Lordi

Lordi ( which was the pseudonym of the singer before becoming the name of the group) is a group of Hard rock and of Heavy traditional metal Finnish created in 1996.

Although it is not about a kind, one also speaks about " monster metal" in connection with their music compared to the fact that they develop an esthetics and a particular imagery in report/ratio with the set of themes of the monsters.

The group is known to do all their public appearances disguised in monsters, like for their victory with the Concours Eurovision of the song in 2006.

Members of the group

Current members of the group

“Mr. Lordi” (Tomi Petteri Putaansuu): singer
“Amen” (Jussi Sydänmaa): guitar
“OX” (Samer el Nahhal): low
“Awa” (Leena Peisa): keyboard
“Kita” (Sampsa Astala): battery

Former members

“G-Stealer” (Sami Keinänen) - low (1996-1999)
“Magnum” (Sami Wolking) - low (1999-2002)
“Kalma” (Niko Hurme) - low (2002-2005)
“Enary” (Erna Siikavirta) - keyboard - (1997-2005)

History

Lordi was created in 1996 at the origin by M.Lordi, Amen and G-Stealer. In 1997 Enary arrived in the goupe. In 1999 Magnum replaced G-Stealer, Kita arrived to him in 2000 (before the members intended to use a sequencer or one limps at rates/rhythms). In 2002 Magnum was replaced by Kalma which recorded all the pieces of the album Get Heavy with low except Get Heavy (it is M.Lordi which realized this piece). In 2005 Kalma decided to leave by personal choice and Enary was returned. Awa replaced Enary in October 2005, and OX replaced Kalma.

Costumes

The costumes of monsters are an essential component of the image of the group: The majority of the clips which they turn are put in scene at the manner of American films of horror where teenagers are victims of monsters which, in fact, are incarnated by the members of the group.

In spite of this very strict approach of the disguise, the magazine " people" Finnish Seiska published a photograph of Lordi without his costume, showing his face partly. The singer considered that it was about an insult towards the group and an attempt to destroy the image of monsters which they have tried to build for more than ten years.

To prepare their costumes and their make-up, it takes three hours and half preparation, and an hour and half for all to remove. The singer of the group called in an interview: “We spend more time preparing us than to play on scene (laughter)”.

There were several versions of the costumes: with chaques albums (except The Monster Show) the costumes more or less changed. The largest changes took place for the album The Arockalypse.

Victoire with the Eurovision Contest of the song in 2006

Lordi represented Finland with the Concours Eurovision of the song 2006 with the title Hard rock Hallelujah . After having passed successfully the semi-final, the group gained the trophy with the general surprise. Lordi obtained a comfortable score of 292 points (a record since the creation of the contest), the Russian Dima Bilan, second of the classification adding up “only” 248 points. The service of Lordi obtained points on behalf of all the countries except for the Albania, of the Arménie and Monaco. It was an unexpected change in the great tradition of Eurovision, which had been known to give the first place to popular ballades and artists each year. It was also the first victory of Finland to this contest, their preceding record being the sixth place.

The candidature of Lordi for Eurovision was the subject of a polemic in Finland, certain preserving groups having required of the president Tarja Halonen to prevent the group from representing the country. On the contrary, the return of gaining, this one their telephoned to congratulate them in person. Greek religious groupings, in vain, had protested against the participation of the group in the contest. In spite of this controversy (or perhaps thanks to it), Lordi obtained from Greece twelve points, the possible maximum number.

The shortly after the ceremony, the chief of the Greek orthodoxe Church, the Christodoulos archbishop protested against the victory of the Finnish quintet: “Which could expect that our country and all Europe would grant the first price to group which was presented in the form of monsters, like Satans? ”, he asked during a sermon. The song of Lordi is however not satanic, since in the final verse the text specifies the identity of the narrator-singer who invites the spectators to join it in the dance: " I have wings in the back/And of the horns to the face/I have sharp-edged hooks/I have the red eyes/I am not really an angel/Or then the fallen angel/Viens with us or goes in hell " , therefore he proposes to us either is to him the devil.

In front of the press, the singer of Lordi explained that, when was invited it to propose to him to take part in the contest of Eurovision, he initially believed in an error of number. He as said, by irony, as they felt with the Eurovision like “carnivores in a restaurant Végétarien”.

Polemics on the comments of Michel Drucker and Claudy Siar

In France, the final of Eurovision was diffused on the chain France 3 and was commented on by the presenters Michel Drucker and Claudy Siar. During the passage of Lordi and the calculation of the votes, the two commentators were ironical about the group:

Move away the children from the station, they will make nightmares. I did not imagine the Lapps like that. They will be with the zoo of Vincennes to the re-entry.

Finland forever gained Eurovision. It is not with that they will gain.

This fabulous show which will be gained by… of the hard rock. (laughter) I will make it listen with my bitch, which will become nutcase.

These comments were denounced the days following by the fans of Hard rock inter alia on Internet. A large petition was launched so that the presenters excuse themselves near the fans and of the group. An appointment of gathering of the fans was also given in front of the seat of France Televisions (the June 3rd with 11:30).

Discography

Albums

A forthcoming album is planned for 2008.

DVD

Market Square Massacres (2006)
Bringing back the Balls to Stockholm (2007) Importation Sweden

Individual and EP

Would You Love has Monsterman? (2002)
does Devil is have Loser (2003)
Blood Red Sandman (EP) (2004)
My Heaven is Your Hell (2004)
Hard rock Hallelujah (2006)
Who' S Your Daddy? (2006)
Would You Love has Monsterman? (2006)
It Snows In Hell (2006)
They Only Like Out At Night (2007)

Clips

Would you coils has monsterman? (2002)
does Devil is have looser (2003)
Blood red sandman (2004)
Hard rock hallelujah (2006)
Who' S your daddy? (July 2006) does
Would you coil has monsterman? (new version in November 2006)
It snows in hell (December 2006)

Catalog of films

The kin (short-measuring) (2004)
Dark Floors (2008)

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