My favorite band ((HIM))

HIM is a band from Finland formed in 1995 by vocalist Ville Valo, guitarist Mikko Lindström, and bassist Mikko Paananen. They have released five full length albums to date. The band was originally called His Infernal Majesty, but they soon changed this to simply HIM (see below). As of 2006, they are the first and only Finnish rock band to sell Gold in the United States.

Early career

HIM started out as a cover band, covering songs of artists such as KISS, Type O Negative, Danzig, Black Sabbath and Depeche Mode.[2] After many lineup changes and a hiatus from 1991 to 1995 caused by the members' military services, the band now consists of the three founding members plus keyboardist Janne Johannes "Burton" Puurtinen and drummer Mika Kristian "Gas" Karppinen.In 1992, HIM made a demo tape called Witches and Other Night Fears, but Ville Valo is the only person to have a copy.

In late fall of 1995, HIM released This is Only the Beginning. This too was a demo tape, with only 100 copies made and sold in specially chosen stores on Helsinki. It featured the first version HIM had done of "Wicked Game" and "The Heartless". The tape also includes rare songs "Serpent Ride", "Borellus", "Stigmata Diaboli" and "The Phantom Gate". This album was done only with Ville singing and playing drums, while Linde was playing guitar and bass.666 Ways to Love: Prologue was released in 1996 solely in Finland, and only 1,000 copies of this album were sold. The lady on the cover is said to be Valo's mother. It was produced by Hiili Hiilesmaa, and was recorded at Finnvox Studios, MD and Peacemakers, Helsinki.

Current Members

Mikko "Linde" Lindström — Guitar (1991-Present)

Mikko "Migé" Paananen — Bass Guitar, backing vocals (1991-Present)

Ville Valo — Lead vocals (1991–Present)

Mika "Gas" Karppinen — Drums (1999-Present)

Janne "Burton" Puurtinen — Keyboards, backing vocals (2001-Present)