HIM (sometimes stylized as H.I.M.) was a Finnish rock band formed as His Infernal Majesty in Helsinki in 1991 by vocalist Ville Valo and bassist Mikko "Mige" Paananen. The band broke up after a few years, then it was reformed in 1995 by Valo and guitarist Mikko "Linde" Lindström. After being rejoined by Mige, as well as keyboardist Antto Melasniemi and drummer Juhana "Pätkä" Rantala, the band, now called HIM, released its debut album Greatest Lovesongs Vol. 666 in 1997. In 2000, now with drummer Mika "Gas Lipstick" Karppinen and keyboardist Juska Salminen, the band released Razorblade Romance, which reached the number one spot in Finland, Austria and Germany. The first single "Join Me in Death" also charted at number one in Finland and Germany, eventually going Platinum and Gold, respectively. Following the addition of Janne "Burton" Puurtinen on keyboards, HIM released Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights (2001) and Love Metal (2003). Both cracked the top ten in several countries and allowed the band to tour in the United Kingdom and the United States for the first time.
In 2005, HIM released Dark Light, which became the group's most commercially successful album to date. HIM also became the first Finnish group to receive a Gold record in the US. In 2007, HIM released Venus Doom, the making of which was marred by problems in Valo's personal life. Nevertheless, the album gave the band its highest chart position in the US at number twelve. After 2010's Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice, HIM went on a hiatus after Gas Lipstick was forced to take medical leave. Following several months of uncertainty, the band regrouped and released the album Tears on Tape in 2013. Gas Lipstick announced his departure from the band in 2015 and was subsequently replaced by Jukka "Kosmo" Kröger. On 5 March 2017, HIM announced that they would be disbanding following a farewell tour. The band played its final show on New Year's Eve 2017 as a part of its annual Helldone Festival.
HIM is one of the most commercially successful Finnish bands, with sales of over ten million records. HIM has also received numerous accolades, including eight Emma Awards. The band is known for its distinct sound, which combines more melodic and melancholic elements with heavier influences. This made it difficult for audiences to categorize HIM's music, which led to the band coining the term "love metal". HIM is also known for its logo, the heartagram, which has made numerous appearances in other media.
History
1991–1996: Early years
The first incarnation of HIM was formed in 1991 by childhood friends Ville Valo and Mikko "Mige" Paananen in Helsinki, Finland. Valo played six-string bass, which substituted for guitar, while Mige also played bass. The band had two rotating drummers: Sami "Juippi" Jokilehto and Juha Tarvonen. Dubbed His Infernal Majesty, other names considered for the band included Black Earth, Black Salem and Kafferi. After recording its first demo Witches and Other Night Fears, His Infernal Majesty played its first show on New Year's Eve 1992 at the Semifinal in Helsinki. The band broke up shortly thereafter, when Mige began his national military service. In 1995, His Infernal Majesty was reformed by Valo and guitarist Mikko "Linde" Lindström. Together they recorded a four-track demo, which featured Valo on drums and vocals, and Linde on guitar and bass. Valo originally intended to remain as the bassist for the group, but took up the role of lead vocalist out of necessity, after they were unable to find another singer. Eventually the two were joined by returning bassist Mige and drummer Juhana "Pätkä" Rantala. The group played its first show on 19 December 1995 at the Teatro in Helsinki, opening for Kauko Röyhkä. The band's next show was also at the Teatro, this time performing Type O Negative covers, for which they recruited keyboardist Janne "Burton" Puurtinen.
His Infernal Majesty continued to record several more demos, sending them to Nuclear Blast, Roadrunner and Spinefarm Records, among others, all of whom passed on the band. Eventually they were signed to BMG by production manager Asko Kallonen, who was impressed by the band's cover of Chris Isaak's "Wicked Game". In October 1996, the band, now called HIM, released the EP 666 Ways to Love: Prologue. Recorded in only five days and produced by Hiili Hiilesmaa, the EP also featured Oskari "Oki" Kymäläinen on guitar, but he was fired from the group after allegedly having an affair with Pätkä's girlfriend. 666 Ways to Love: Prologue debuted at number sixteen on the Finnish Singles Chart and peaked at number nine five weeks later. The band played a special album release show at the Tavastia Club on 19 October 1996, before starting a full tour, for which they recruited keyboardist Antto Melasniemi.
1997–2000: Greatest Lovesongs Vol. 666 and Razorblade Romance HIM began recording its full-length debut album in 1997 with Hiili Hiilesmaa once again producing. Due to the band's minimal studio experience, Hiilesmaa played a critical role in helping "build HIM's sound", for which Valo dubbed him the honorary sixth member of the group. Greatest Lovesongs Vol. 666 was released in Finland on 3 November 1997 and internationally a year later. The album charted in Finland and Germany, peaking at number four in the former. The singles "When Love and Death Embrace" and "Your Sweet 666" also cracked the top ten in the band's home country. Greatest Lovesongs Vol. 666 received positive reviews from critics, with AllMusic describing the album as having "a very diverse sound" and ultimately succeeding "in pleasing everyone, whether they're into rock or pop." Greatest Lovesongs Vol. 666 would eventually go platinum in Finland. HIM also went on to win Newcomer of the Year and Debut Album of the Year at the 1997 Emma Gala. The supporting tour for Greatest Lovesongs Vol. 666 began in mid-December 1997 at the Maxim in Kuopio. Prior to HIM's first international tour, the band decided to fire keyboardist Antto Melasniemi, as they felt he was too disorganized and scatterbrained. He was replaced by Jussi-Mikko "Juska" Salminen. After returning to Finland, the band also parted ways with Pätkä. According to the band, Pätkä's girlfriend had become pregnant, which left him with limited time to rehearse. He was replaced by Mika "Gas Lipstick" Karppinen.
In January 1999, HIM began demoing material for its next album with Hiili Hiilesmaa. These sessions proved to be unsuccessful, however, and the band decided to relocate to Rockfield, Wales with producer John Fryer. In November 1999, HIM released the single "Join Me in Death", which charted at number one in Finland and Germany. The single would eventually go platinum in Finland, as well as gold in Germany and Austria. At the 1999 Emma Gala, HIM were named Export of the Year. On 31 December 1999, the band performed at the Tavastia Club in Helsinki, Finland, which turned into a New Year's tradition for the group. HIM's second album Razorblade Romance was released on 24 January 2000. It peaked at number one in Finland, Austria and Germany. The album would eventually be certified double platinum in Finland, triple gold in Germany, as well as gold in Austria. Four more singles were released, all of which reached the top five on the Finnish Singles Chart. Razorblade Romance was mostly well received by critics. Soundi gave the album four out of five stars, while Blabbermouth.net called it "yet another amazingly crafted album from Europe's best-kept secret." At the 2000 Emma Gala, HIM was named Band of the Year and Razorblade Romance Album of the Year. The group also received the Viewers' Choice Award and the Video of the Year award for "Join Me in Death" at the 2000 VIVA Comet Awards. During the supporting tour for Razorblade Romance, HIM played its first shows in the United Kingdom. As the tour progressed, however, the band began to feel exhausted. They were also hit with several near-fatal accidents, where Valo nearly fell off a balcony and Salminen ended up in the emergency room after a prank gone wrong. By the band's own account, HIM nearly broke up, though they eventually regrouped and began rehearsing for another album.
2001–2004: Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights and Love Metal In late 2000, HIM began demoing material for its third album with producer T. T. Oksala. Satisfied with the results, the band initially wanted to release these demos as its next album. However, BMG resisted and brought producer Kevin Shirley on board to work on the record. Around this time, keyboardist Juska Salminen was also fired from the group after missing several rehearsals. Salminen would later attribute his departure to burnout. He was replaced by Janne "Burton" Puurtinen. The recording process for HIM's third album lasted approximately eleven months, which greatly affected the material. Valo later explained: "When we started recording the third album, we were into stoner rock and Black Sabbath [...] At the end we were into Neil Young and it shows on the record." According to Valo, outside influences within the music industry also contributed to the extended recording process. HIM's third album Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights was eventually released on 24 August 2001. The record peaked at number one in Finland and Austria, and at number two in Germany and Switzerland. The album would eventually go platinum in Finland and gold in Austria. Three singles were released, all of which reached the top five in Finland. Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights received mixed reviews, with AllMusic calling it "way too clean" and "utterly boring". This was echoed by Soundi, who called the album "ideal music for girls, who don't dig the music, but Ville Valo's looks and his lyrics' decadent imagery." Blabbermouth.net, meanwhile, was more positive, stating that "in purely artistic and commercial terms [...] HIM have made the logical follow-up album to one of last year's highlights, and they continue to cement their reputation as one of the most unique and consistent rock acts around." HIM was once again named Export of the Year at the 2001 Emma Gala. The band also received the Viewers' Choice Award at the VIVA Comet Awards.
In 2002, HIM was involved in a rights dispute over its name in the United States. As "HIM" was already owned by the drummer of a Chicago jazz fusion band of the same name, the Finnish HIM was renamed HER in the US, until a settlement was reached between the two parties, which allowed both to use the moniker. On 7 October 2002, the band released The Single Collection, a set containing all the group's singles, along with a previously unreleased single of "It's All Tears". That same month, HIM's official biography Synnin viemää, written by J. K. Juntunen, was released. The supporting tour for Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights once again exhausted the band nearly to the point of breaking up, but it also brought the group closer together. HIM also played its first concert in the United States at a one-off show organized by professional skateboarder and television personality Bam Margera. He would go on to work with the band extensively, promoting them and directing several of their music videos.