Me, Myself and HIM

Having travelled for eight years and four albums with their European label, BMG, their time together has come to an end. Managing to avoid messy break-ups, HIM have taken some time out to rediscover what it’s like to sleep in their own beds whilst getting together to start writing new material for the follow up to 2003’s 'Love Metal'. In the time since, they’ve released a Greatest Hits CD, numerous singles and are now back to promote a re-packaged a criminally cheap box set of their first three albums including the previously unavailable Greatest Love Songs vol. 666.

Ville Valo, singer, song writer, and heartthrob has the beginnings of flu. Sitting quietly in the back of the tour coach quietly signing items passed from the patient fans stood outside. He sits back casually flicking his cigarette ash into the glass tray before him. “It’s not about money, we were in discussion with loads of labels, but Sire Records only manages a small group of bands. This way I know I can phone them up and get through without the hassle.” Sire Records were made famous for signing the Ramones in ’75 and are responsible for work with many of the greatest bands of the last two decades; the Cure, the Cult, the Smiths and some woman going by the name Madonna. Following a strengthening of Sire’s relationship whilst solidifying their quasi-independence from Warner, HIM have pulled off a coup in selecting people that’ll nurture their ever expanding creative and musical success whilst packing the full force of a major taking them a step closer to Ville’s self confessed paradoxical ideal of being the “world’s biggest underground band”.

With the pace seemingly getting faster in the last two years there are few plans for any significant slow downs. “After this we’re going to the US next month. We’re gonna take some time off over Christmas and then get back to things next year. I’d say the next album will be out in Autumn.” “Our last album was laid down in a month and a half” offers Migé Amour, bassist with the group. “It’s better to do it that way, rather than doing a little bit here and a little bit there. You lose track”. With the discussing turning to their homeland of Finland, Migé and Ville have mixed feelings. “Finland, Sweden, Norway, they’re tiny countries. To get a thousand people under one roof to see a ‘local’ band is a real achievement there. It’s not until you’re Bruce Springsteen that you can get 40,000 people in one place and there’s a huge gap in between that. Any band that tries to say otherwise is just bragging.”

“Writing songs is an emotional outlet, writing in English is still weird, but as a younger band we made the conscious decision that we wanted to be something bigger than our fellow bands.” Throughout our talk the two make numerous references to U2. It’s not a group you’d first consider a band like H.I.M. to listen to, and you probably won’t find it at the top of their CD collection. Despite the odds however, both Ville and Migé have an undeniable respect for Bono and crew. “They’ve grown up in different circumstances to us, their music is the way it is because of different things, but they make amazing music. You might not like their songs, but you can pick out parts and go ‘I really like the bass line in this or the way they’ve constructed that’. If we could do what they’ve done it would be amazing.” Stubbing the last of his cigarette out, Valo smiles before answering my parting question; “I’ve never consciously listened to our songs, not once they’re recorded. Occasionally you’ll be sat in the pub and you’ll hear yourself and laugh because it’s funny. I don’t think it’s something I’ll ever get used to”.