Musician. Born in Espoo, Finland in 1979, he learned to play violin at the age of seven and guitar at the age of 11. In 1993, he along with drummer and long-time friend Jaska Raatikainen formed the band IneartheD, which by 1997 would be called Children of Bodom. The band would produce such hits as Are You Dead Yet (2005), I’m Shipping Up To Boston (2012), Downfall (1999), Needled 24/7 (2012), and In Your Face (2005). Laiho would become a prominent figure in the world of metal with his guitar skills, as in 2004 Guitar World would rank him #96 out of 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Guitarists of All Time. They would also rank him as one of the 50 fastest guitarists in the world. Roadrunner Records ranked Laiho #41 out of 50 of The Greatest Metal Frontmen of All Time. Total Guitar would conduct a public poll to determine the greatest metal guitarist of all time, in which Laiho was voted #1 of 20 guitarists. In addition to being the lead guitarist and lead vocals of Children of Bodom, he would also perform with bands such as Sinergy, The Local Band, Kylähullut, and Bodom After Midnight, which was formed with rhythm guitarist Daniel Freyberg in March 2020 after the December 2019 breakup of Children of Bodom. The band would make their live debut on October 23, 2020 in Seinäjoki, Finland with drummer Waltteri Väyrynen and bassist Mitja Toivonen. In January 4, 2021, it was announced that Laiho died of long- term health complications in late December at the age of 41.
Musician. Born in Espoo, Finland in 1979, he learned to play violin at the age of seven and guitar at the age of 11. In 1993, he along with drummer and long-time friend Jaska Raatikainen formed the band IneartheD, which by 1997 would be called Children of Bodom. The band would produce such hits as Are You Dead Yet (2005), I’m Shipping Up To Boston (2012), Downfall (1999), Needled 24/7 (2012), and In Your Face (2005). Laiho would become a prominent figure in the world of metal with his guitar skills, as in 2004 Guitar World would rank him #96 out of 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Guitarists of All Time. They would also rank him as one of the 50 fastest guitarists in the world. Roadrunner Records ranked Laiho #41 out of 50 of The Greatest Metal Frontmen of All Time. Total Guitar would conduct a public poll to determine the greatest metal guitarist of all time, in which Laiho was voted #1 of 20 guitarists. In addition to being the lead guitarist and lead vocals of Children of Bodom, he would also perform with bands such as Sinergy, The Local Band, Kylähullut, and Bodom After Midnight, which was formed with rhythm guitarist Daniel Freyberg in March 2020 after the December 2019 breakup of Children of Bodom. The band would make their live debut on October 23, 2020 in Seinäjoki, Finland with drummer Waltteri Väyrynen and bassist Mitja Toivonen. In January 4, 2021, it was announced that Laiho died of long- term health complications in late December at the age of 41.
Bio by: Blake H.
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