Finland’s most internationally successful band HIM are bringing their impressive 26 year career to an end on the Bang and Whimper tour. A heartbreaking and bittersweet road for dedicated HIM fans, the band has embarked on a path through 14 countries to bring love metal to their adoring audience one last time. From their beginning in 1991, HIM has gone on to enjoy tremendous success (going as far as to be the first Finnish band to ever reach Gold status in the United States), enamoring music enthusiasts all over the world for many, many years. With eight studio albums and countless exciting concerts, the time to say farewell has unfortunately come.
Father of the famous heartagram symbol and mastermind behind HIM, Ville Valo has enthralled the world with his passionate and metaphorical lyricism, partnered with exceptional musicianship that landed the band a significant spot in the history of rock music. Partnered with long-time HIM band members guitarist Mikko “Linde” Lindström, bassist Mikko “Migé” Paananen, Janne “Burton” Puurtinen, and brand new member Jukka “Kosmo” Kröger, the melodies brought forth by this impressive array of musicians have rooted itself into the deepest chambers of sentimentality. “After quarter of a century of Love and Metal intertwined we sincerely feel HIM has run its unnatural course and adieus must be said in order to make way for sights, scents and sounds yet unexplored. We completed the pattern, solved the puzzle and turned the key. Thank you.” Says frontman Ville Valo.
Senior journalist Anabel DFlux had the immense pleasure of accompanying the first week of the Bang and Whimper tour in the United States. Having photographed these Finnish lads many times over the years, it was certainly a humbling moment to capture the band’s final appearances on camera. The week began at The Van Buren in Pheonix, Arizona, before proceeding to two Los Angeles, California dates at the Wiltern Theater, and finally coming to the House of Blues in Anaheim, California. Joined by 3TEETH and CKY, the opening acts riled up the crowd before the love metal-er’s appearances.
Braving the intense heat in Arizona (quite the juxtaposition to the current snowstorm in their home country), HIM walked on to the stage to a roaring cheer. The set list for the tour runs through the band’s best-known tunes – the hits and the singles – allowing fans to reminisce on their favorite HIM music videos and memories. Although Mige said in the band’s official farewell statement “it shall not be a weepfest but a celebration of love metal in all its lovecraftian glory!”, fans found it hard to contain themselves during the performance and wept through several of their favorite songs. The emotional attachment this band wrought on those privy enough to adore the music is stronger than many anticipate.
The Van Buren Set List:
01. Buried Alive By Love
02. Heartache Every Moment
03. Your Sweet 666
04. The Kiss of Dawn
05. The Sacrament
06. Tears on Tape
07. Wings of a Butterfly
08. Gone with the Sin
09. Soul on Fire
10. Wicked Game
11. Killing Loneliness
12. Poison Girl
13. Bleed Well
14. Heartkiller
15. Join Me
16. It’s All Tears
17. In Joy and Sorrow
18. Right Here in my Arms
19. Funeral of Hearts
Encore:
20. Stigmata Diaboli
21. Pretending
22. When Love and Death Embrace
Encore 2:
23. Rebel Yell
The first night of the Los Angeles shows (a date that was added due to the enormous demand) hosted the band at the Wiltern Theater, one of the most famous theaters in all of Los Angeles for its art deco architecture (designed by Stiles O. Clements of Morgan, Walls & Clements, the city’s oldest architectural firm). It was a grand setting for the act. Night one featured fans lining up from the early hours of the morning to ensure their place at the very front of the stage, as close to the band members as they could possibly manage. The band modified The Funeral of Hearts slightly, as Ville noted on stage that they never seem to know how to begin playing that song. The end of the set list changed slightly from the Arizona date, with the band closing on moodier note with When Love and Death Embrace, rather than ending the evening with their well-known cover of Rebel Yell.
The Wiltern Night One Set List:
01. Buried Alive By Love
02. Heartache Every Moment
03. Your Sweet 666
04. The Kiss of Dawn
05. The Sacrament
06. Tears on Tape
07. Wings of a Butterfly
08. Gone with the Sin
09. Soul on Fire
10. Wicked Game
11. Killing Loneliness
12. Poison Girl
13. Bleed Well
14. Heartkiller
15. Join Me
16. It’s All Tears
17. In Joy and Sorrow
18. Right Here in my Arms
19. Funeral of Hearts
Encore:
20. Pretending
21. Rebel Yell
22. When Love and Death Embrace
The second night of the Wiltern stop had some familiar faces, as fans eagerly jumped on the opportunity to see their favorite band perform twice. The energy was very amped for this performance, as the musicians bellowed out impressive tunes and showcased the years of exquisite talent and skill each and every one possess. New drummer Kosmo played with an especially enthusiastic flare, and keyboardist Burton really got into his instrument. The second night certainly featured a rather unexpected and comical moment, as a fan in the front row pulled the tab on a little confetti popper directly in front of vocalist Ville near the end of one of the songs, who certainly did not see that coming! The reaction left many giggling long after the show had closed.
The Wiltern Night Two Set List:
01. Buried Alive By Love
02. Heartache Every Moment
03. Your Sweet 666
04. The Kiss of Dawn
05. The Sacrament
06. Tears on Tape
07. Wings of a Butterfly
08. Gone with the Sin
09. Soul on Fire
10. Wicked Game
11. Killing Loneliness
12. Poison Girl
13. Bleed Well
14. Heartkiller
15. Join Me
16. It’s All Tears
17. In Joy and Sorrow
18. Right Here in my Arms
19. Funeral of Hearts
Encore:
20. Pretending
21. Rebel Yell
22. When Love and Death Embrace
The band’s final California performance took place at the House of Blues in Anaheim at their new location on Garden Walk. Significantly larger than the previous House of Blues, this venue certainly made room for a slew of fans. Several of the Los Angeles attendees traveled to this third California show as the opportunity was available. The band performed with a great deal of fun at this venue, with Migé and Ville getting into a little dance jive during the solo of a song. Exactly like the previous performances, Linde and Migé partnered up on stage often for the intense guitar parts, which made for some exceptionally awesome facial expressions. The encore of this show changed significantly as a fan managed to pass a sign over to the band on stage, which requested that the band’s ten minute song Sleepwalking Past Hope be played. The front man turned to his accompanying band mates and asked if they should play the song, to which everyone obliged and the melody began. The ending of Sleepwalking graciously merged into the beginning of the band’s cover of Rebel Yell, which closed off the night.
House of Blues Anaheim Set List:
01. Buried Alive By Love
02. Heartache Every Moment
03. Your Sweet 666
04. The Kiss of Dawn
05. The Sacrament
06. Tears on Tape
07. Wings of a Butterfly
08. Gone with the Sin
09. Soul on Fire
10. Wicked Game
11. Killing Loneliness
12. Poison Girl
13. Bleed Well
14. Heartkiller
15. Join Me
16. It’s All Tears
17. In Joy and Sorrow
18. Right Here in my Arms
19. Funeral of Hearts
Encore:
20. Sleepwalking Past Hope
21. Rebel Yell
A band that will be celebrated long after their end, we bid farewell to the gods of Love Metal.
