Foreword...

This interview was made for "Finnish men in music", a forum dedicated to the artists in Finnish music scene. The band members did the interview separately via email, so nobody had a clue about each others' answers (which can be noticed in the answers).

Where was your most memorable/enjoyable gig and why?
I think one of the most enjoyable gigs for me was our virgin gig at Factory, a legendary bar in Hellsinki where every underground band must do a gig at least for once. We had already done gigs in some bigger places. Anyway, there were nearly nobody to see us, just some close friends, but still we gave 110 percent. And at some point our vocalist told "you are the best audience we've ever had". It was fun. Maybe it was the most enjoyable gig because I wasn't as nervous as usually due to lack of people. But for the same reason it couldn't be the most memorable one because more people, better the gig. Eventually, I would say Harju-Rock was the most memorable gig, even though I missed the after party.

What's the worst thing that has happened to you whilst performing?
When we started doing gigs I had a strange "tradition" to throw my sticks as they slipped from my hand. Though it was just a human mistake (yeah, sure) it used to annoy me a lot. Afterwards I got rid of this custom and don't do it regularly anymore. Actually we haven't gone through anything catastrophic - yet.

What has been your hardest experience as a band to this date?
I think it was the flood of sewer water in our former rehearsal place. Fortunately our place didn't suffer as bad damage as the neighbour room where the pipe broke. Imagine the amount of **** in their place. However, after the incident my cymbals were drying in Tapio's sauna after a decent shower.

What do you want people to gain from listening to your music?
Good kicks!

What band would you most like to do a gig with and why?
Maybe Necrophagist because it would be cool to see how the drummer handles his duties live. Morbid Angel or Arcturus would be cool too.

Where would you be if you weren't in this band and what would you be doing?
I do a lot of things besides the band, so I guess I'd be doing the same things. :) And of course it would be nice to play in a band anyway.

What is the funniest/worst thing that a fan has given you?
Fans give things? Never got any, so obviously we don't have any fans. :)

Use one word to describe yourself?
Sluggish

What cartoon character do you have the most in common with?
Garfield

Now something you wish to share with all your lady fans (fans) *wink*?
I guess our vocalist Simo made it quite clear during our latest gig when he told the audience that I'm seksi-Erkki. ;P Okay, that was a stupid inside joke.. Better stop here...

Where was your most memorable/enjoyable gig and why?
We've been touring for such a long time, so it's hard to say... haha! Last gig was great because of the after party.

What's the worst thing that has happened to you whilst performing?
My synth went nuts! No matter what I did, the only sound it played out was a trumpet accompanied by a drum beat! Luckily this happened during the last song of the show.

What has been your hardest experience as a band to this date?
Shitflood at our rehearsal place?

What do you want people to gain from listening to your music?
A moment away from the mundane world. People get a degree, a job, married... Who needs that ****? Say to your professor/manager/wife: "That's it, man! Game over, man! GAME OVER!" and then take your time and listen to Born of Thorns.

What band would you most like to do a gig with and why?
Arcturus, because they are not gay yet like other bands.

Where would you be if you weren't in this band and what would you be doing?
I'd probably be modelling for Playgirl magazine. So, I guess that'd take me to the US then!

What is the funniest/worst thing that a fan has given you?
An eye-contact while I'm on stage! That's definitely the worst. How could I play while pretty chicks are staring at me? And it almost happened once. The funniest thing... I use the same answer as in the first question.

Use one word to describe yourself?
Inconstant

What cartoon character do you have the most in common with?
This is a hard one! South Park's TIMMYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!

Now something you wish to share with all your lady fans (fans) *wink*?
We ain't got the most fans, but they sure are the most beautiful ;)

Where was your most memorable/enjoyable gig and why?
Harju-Rock 2005 (last gig we did so far). We had such an extreme after party in Rock Sauna. Our synthplayer Peccath and I had a sauna for 3 hours with the members of Mirzadeh (who also performed at the festival). We drank loads of Pirtu (finnish national drink) that night...

What's the worst thing that has happened to you whilst performing?
Our first gig in Stemu-Rock was memorable in several ways: We had the hugest stage so far and everything went pretty good, BUT: the sound engineer "forgot" that there were two guys playing guitar on stage, so my guitar did not come out from the front speakers at all. For the entire gig I was just playing without any single note to be heard in the audience. (...well I don't know if that's a bad thing anyway=)

What has been your hardest experience as a band to this date?
Our gigs in factory (a Finnish hellhole where bands perform. It is always a challenging moment to survive that place)

What do you want people to gain from listening to your music?
I wish people could experience a novel breed of extreme music. We try to perform the "good old ****" in a fresh way, so that people could enjoy the conventional elements of metal spiced with outstanding riffs and melodies. There is also a dark lyrical approach in our music, which I request everyone to explore by themself. At the darkest hour of the dimmest night... of course.

What band would you most like to do a gig with and why?
I would appreciate a change to support Dimmu Borgir or Arcturus. Especially Arcturus has been a great influence for us. I could say this on behalf of all of us

Where would you be if you weren't in this band and what would you be doing?
I would definitely be in some band (I would prefer some U-G grim and nasty black metal act... ;) If I wasn't granted the gift of playing, hmmm... I would probably hate my day job and whine my miserable life in a local bar.

What is the funniest/worst thing that a fan has given you?
Well... Let's discuss that after a couple of drinks...

Use one word to describe yourself?
Sibylla

What cartoon character do you have the most in common with?
Asterix, we both drink a lot of "magic" fluids

Now something you wish to share with all your lady fans (fans) *wink*?
I can last 3 hours in sauna.

Where was your most memorable/enjoyable gig and why?
The one we played at Harju-Rock in Jalasjärvi, not so long ago. There was such a great atmosphere and the audience was clearly metal oriented too. There was also the best backstage arrangements and after party so far. That's pretty much all I can remember...

What's the worst thing that has happened to you whilst performing?
Luckily nothing really bad has happened yet. Worst things have been just tuning problems, dropping drumsticks and stuff like that. No major accidents like someone being shot or something.

What has been your hardest experience as a band to this date?
The deepest **** we've been in was probably when the sewer system blew up in our previous rehearsing place and lots of our equipment got damaged. I've never been so literally pissed off, haha!

What do you want people to gain from listening to your music?
Strength of both body and soul!

What band would you most like to do a gig with and why?
Arcturus because then I could see their gig which I've been waiting for too long! But doing a gig itself is still such a precious thing that it's pretty same to me with whom we will share the stage. Of course I prefer metal bands though.

Where would you be if you weren't in this band and what would you be doing?
I would probably be in some other band doing something else... Or then I would be a terribly failed solo artist. But I would definitely be doing music, no matter what.

What is the funniest/worst thing that a fan has given you?
I haven't got anything special from fans and I don't expect such either. Coming to see our shows and supporting us is so much already. Well, at least I don't want to get that "worst" thing ever.

Use one word to describe yourself?
Master

What cartoon character do you have the most in common with?
Wile E. Coyote

Now something you wish to share with all your lady fans (fans) *wink*?
I can be romantic if I really really try... Anything else you don't want to know (laughs)

Where was your most memorable/enjoyable gig and why?
That would be when we played a month ago at the Harju-Rock Metal Festival. The mood was right and we played really well also.

What's the worst thing that has happened to you whilst performing?
There was this one time when all of my bass equipments just stopped working.

What has been your hardest experience as a band to this date?
Every gig!! :) I'm always the one who's driving!!! F@#KERS!!

What do you want people to gain from listening to your music?
Feelings, atmosphere and pure f@#king havoc! We try to do powerful and atmospheric music. We spend a lot of time composing our songs just to get them right. ;)

What band would you most like to do a gig with and why?
Some "bigger" band from the same genre would be nice. You never know what the future has in store for Born of Thorns. We'll see what happens.

Where would you be if you weren't in this band and what would you be doing?
I'm currently working as a recording engineer so.. I would probably be recording some bands and projects. Maybe making kids? :)

What is the funniest/worst thing that a fan has given you?
This one guy gave me my car keys (he was a friend).

Use one word to describe yourself?
Bearded

What cartoon character do you have the most in common with?
Samurai Jack (cartoon network)

Now something you wish to share with all your lady fans (fans) *wink*?
I'm the oldest of BoT :) blah.. now that's lame :)

Thanks for taking the time to chat with "Finnish men in music"

Interview by Bec James.
[28-06-2005]

Copy of the original version @ Finnish Men In Music (requires registration).