Here Today... Gone To Hell!

By Stephen Brown

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Song contest entrants are rarely forced to deny that they worship the devil, but Finland is hoping that heavy rock band Lordi's fiendish lyrics and bloody stage act can redeem its dismal record at Eurovision.

Christian groups in Finland and in Greece, which hosts the televised contest in May, denounce the band as Satanists and the Greek Consumers' Union wants them banned.

Lordi's devil worship denials are not helped by their outfits -- horns, skeleton and zombie masks, creeping flesh, mummy bandages, studs and huge platform-soles -- or lyrics like "Wings on my back and horns on my head/My fangs are sharp and my eyes are red".


But band leader Lordi, with red eyes, horns on his forehead and cheeks, silver armor and a cape lined with reindeer fur, told Reuters it was "insulting being judged by the way you look. Our lyrics mention the devil, but that's just rock'n'roll.

"If we had to choose between the devil and God, we'd choose God. We don't want to burn in hell," he said in an interview on a visit to Stockholm on Thursday, in a record label's office strewn with costumes, make-up and hamburgers.

"Some of our fans on the Internet do have nicknames like Lordi666, but after we brought out 'The Devil is a Loser' four years ago lots of Christians adopted us," said singer and lyricist Lordi, whose real name is Tomi Putaansuu.

Putaansuu is a 32-year-old horror movie buff who has been dressing up as a monster since he was seven.

He knows the band will be out of place in a contest that is historically the domain of clean-cut pop from the likes of ABBA, Britain's Cliff Richard and Ireland's Johnny Logan.

"We are like meat-eaters in a vegetarian cafe," said Lordi, sitting beside guitarist Amen who was sweating in a rubber mummy outfit and had to send out for a straw to drink mineral water through the fixed grimace on his mask.

DEAD SERIOUS

Hailing from the Lapland town of Rovaniemi, whose main claim to fame is as the home of Father Christmas, Lordi say they are "deadly serious" about their music, citing influences like Kiss, Twisted Sister, Alice Cooper and Ozzy Osbourne, who has also been accused of Satanism.

Lordi says his country's Eurovision Song Contest panel, desperate for a result, "begged" the band to compete for the Finnish selection, where it won 42 percent of television votes.


Finland has never come close to winning Eurovision. Even neighboring Norway, which has famously scored "nul points" at least four times, has a win to its name, while Sweden next door is a Eurovision superpower.

The annual competition, in its 51st year, is often derided as tacky and outdated, but Eurovision remains a major television draw watched by over 100 million viewers in some 40 countries.

At first just keen for the publicity for their latest album "Rock Hallelujah", Lordi are now determined to make the finals.

Back home the band gets mixed reviews. Lutheran pastors have denounced them for blasphemy, while others like school principal Veronic Sandstrom, 58, suggest "maybe it would have been better to send someone more attractive".

But rock fans hope the outlandish costumes, snarled lyrics and hard guitar will make an impact.

"I don't see how a band with a mummy and a skeleton with a nose ring could lose!" said the editor of Finnish rock magazine Sue, Ari Vantanen, who thinks the band is perfect for the "camp event" Eurovision has now become.

"We've sent beautiful people before and that didn't work. Now we're trying something else, let's see how it goes," said language teacher Sofia Tasanko, 35, at Turku train station.

(Additional reporting by Laura Vinha and Arild Moen in Finland)


? Reuters 2006. All Rights Reserved.

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How many here are supporting Lordi in the Eurovision? This must be the best thing Finland has done in that "competition". Instead of taking it seriously, sending some pop singer and still finishing last, they're sending Lordi!




/jarmo

Agreed. Lordi isn't something I'd listen to at home, but it's still decent music - unlike 99% of the Eurovision. I think it's a great way to deliver that joke of a song contest a kick in the nuts.

LMAO i will actually watch eurovision for this.

some balls to it cant hurt hehe

First they need to qualify for the final round....




/jarmo

I watch Eurovision most years, not for the acts but for Terry Wogan's hilarious commentary.

I really like Lordi though they're a great band, lot's of fun, they have my full support! :headbanger:

Edit:  Just remember i actually started a thread on them, though nobody respond, seems there are many fans on here
http://www.heretodaygonetohell.com/board/index.php?topic=20695.0

 :rofl:
what a bunch of retards! (especially the christians still livin' in the dark ages)

What's with Eurovision in the nordic countries? I've been told Eurovision is like the most anticipated TV event in Sweden. I don't know how it is in Finland (I guess not that serious anymore since they chose a Heavy Metal band to represent them) but why is it such a big deal?

I wish Spain could do something similar. Not only we always seem to pick a flamenco group to represent us? - by the way...do you remember the infamous hit "asereje ja de je dejebere tu... a few years back? That group is going to be our pick this year. They will be singing a brilliant, meaningful song called "Bloody Mary" - every contest in this country seems to be corrupted. It all started with the beauty pageants and now with the eurovision festival. I don't personally understand it cause nobody cares about the eurovision contest here (we did 5 years ago when the "pop idol" craziness was all over Europe). I guess the record labels still do and have a huge influence in whoever is in charge to decide who goes to the eurovision contest.

Now with so many countries, there's a qualifying round isn't it? I don't even remember how well we ranked last year.

Anyway, I'll be pulling for Spain, but this contest needs a kick in hte nuts indeed. So if Lordi qualifies, Go Finland!

I am. The best we have ever had!  : ok:

The TV channel here really tries to make it a big deal. First they have like these qualifying rounds and then a final round to decide what artists gets to represent Sweden. So obviousloy the papers are filled with stuff about the artists and their clothes for weeks before. Then after the final, they're filled with news about why the others lost etc.

I'd say there are other things that are more anticipated, but thanks to the media attention and hype, a lot of people will watch just so they won't feel left out.....? :hihi:




/jarmo

This looks like a joke band like GWAR, not kvlt n3cr0 black metal at all.

That's right! We can't win with someone like Tomi Mets?keto singing about love and other shit :hihi: You need something stupid to win Eurovision ;D

They were on the news at 4.30am talking about Star Wars.? They're a metal band that dress up like monsters (yay!) and they're competing for Finland this year.? I think I might actually vote for a change!

Does anyone else like them?

Read here for more discussion:
http://www.heretodaygonetohell.com/board/index.php?topic=29259.0

They did. This should be interesting. 

8)

Hahha this is great! ;D When the host of the qualification-round asked the crowd "WHO DO YOU WANT?!", everyone was just "FINLAAAAAND!"

Lithuania is also my favourite :hihi: Don't take it too seriously..

anyone watching this?...they are on at the moment...fuckin brilliant :hihi:

Yeah they rule!  I really hope they win....

...they must be one of the only entrants ever that i like.

Hard Rock Halleujah! Get In!

I'm with you on Lithuania, the bald guy is just hilarious....... :hihi:

As for Lordi, they were really good.

2 countries to go and it's over for votes.

I am bad, i know, but i have liked the Carolina from sweden ( and he is a gorge !!)

I don't give a fuck about turkey and armenia because they are usually crap ( although i will listen)

I missed the rest because my companion wantss to watch smallville ( clark asked lana and his dad died)..

 :hihi: :hihi: :hihi: :hihi: :hihi:

WHO DO YOU THINK WINS TONIGHT ?

and YES I KNOW, france was shite ( always is)

why do most of the countries go for long haired big breasted women...they are all the same...its boring, so thank hell for lordy and a few other entries that are different

oh and UK entry sucks the biggest bollocks ever

Lordi or Carola will win, I just know that.

But I'm probably wrong about something like that as usual, it would be so great if Lithuania won though, they were just, too funny.

I didn't like the other songs that were played, at least not yet, Greece were OK though.

Lordi with their Gwar suits, i recognised the guitarist, it's a Fraggle  :hihi:

Oh fuck, sorry, CAROLA, not " carolina"...oops... :hihi: :hihi: :hihi: :hihi:

Oh well, i liked sweden, so there, two of us, and two liking sweden !!

GO SWEDEN GO GO GO  :hihi: :hihi: :hihi: :hihi:

 :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

OMG, NANA MOUSKOURI !!!:!  :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :o :o :o ;D

or you could just watch ozzy on the other side

aww too bad he is just finished :hihi:

Did you forget I'm from Finland?

Comments like that might get you banned!  :rant:


Vote for Finland!  :P



/jarmo

naw denmark are soooooooo good  :yes: :hihi:

they are showing all countries for 5 secs...

-( i LOVED Carola's clothes !!!!!)

Just seen Lordi, where is Viggo when you need him huh ???  :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

hey, russia wasn't bad either and true, the greek girl was good too !!!

Darling J( D-jarmo) , the swede girl is like shania, i am love !!!!  :hihi: :hihi: :hihi: :hihi:

Have you noticed ?

The more dancers, the shittiest the singer ?

Nah...

It that was true our UK entry would of had like 1000 dancers :D

wtf is goin on now?

 :hihi:

he was almost as bad as The Streets :hihi:

right now, there is a kind of history wall made in music and dance.

interlude almost over, last figure

My guess for the top-4 (in no particular order):

Finland
Sweden
Romania
Russia

Would be cool if Lordi takes it, but I seriously doubt it.

tight between romania and sweden...

Greek and swede girls have very very good voices, rock like.

I hope Sweden or Finland wins? :hihi:

And I think one of them will  :yes:

Finland does VERY WELL :o :o :o :o

holy moly...finland are getting lots of points : ok:

w o  w

Lordi may win if they go on

actually, i thought it was pretty cool !!

my companion says i am silly, that they can't sing and that they are dressed silly and that a song shouldn't somethng you look at...

Pfff ( go go go lordi )  ;D

The UK are doing so badly i have to laugh  :rofl:

finland going strong, and have already voted..looking good

im looking forward to the new album Monsters of Eurovision hehehe

18 points ahead!!!

france nil points :hihi:

 :crying:

but france WAS bad  :hihi:

Hehe, we get monsters of Finland on 21st of june in paris for our " fete de la musique"  :rofl:

Landslide anyone? Finland winning with a huge margin!

The metal gods are pleased.  : ok:

If Finland wins(they probably will), can you imagine how many rock/metal bands there will be next year?

46 points ahead now...hahaha

i can only imagine how axl must have known all along...

Rock is back !

congratulations Finland  : ok:

It's true!! Finland and Lordi won Eurovision!!  :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

brilliant its rrrrock and roll baby

jarmo will be getting his gear ready for next year entry :hihi:

LOL! Metal is back!

Congratulations to Lordi!

Hard Rock, Hallelujah! ;D

What did I say? Huh? We fuckin' won! ;D :hihi: :smoking:

The french presentor ( on tele for the past 40 years ) is GUTTED, he says he has to host his show with eurovision winners and he doesn't want to with the Finns, he says he isn't music  :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

it rules!! :hihi:
hey, I liked their song.

Just brilliant  ;D

I bet Finland will get excommunicated by the church or something  :hihi:

Haha, this is awesome? :smoking:

Yes, looks like rock is back if a rock band wins ESC? :yes:

Didn't Norway have a rockband last year? They got pretty many points,right?

i do too  :yes:

Two things why I'm so happy: We won and Sweden wasn't even close :hihi:

This just rule 8) Finland rocks !!!

Meanie..... ?:(

Gongratulations, Finland!

I'm from Greece and I enjoyed your song!  : ok:

 :rofl:  :rofl:

I laughed my ass watching the show.

Tells something about the show when you win with a song like that.

That was the coolest Eurovision ever!


 ;D



/jarmo

Dude that's sweet!

lmao that rocked big time lmaooooooooooooo and they won :D:D:D:D:D

rock n metal are coming back i think, i mean...a metal group won eurovision...!!!!

Lordi should open for GNR in Helsinki!

They actually are sort of opening for WASP and Twisted Sister in Finland in June. I have to get tickets for that soon because I'm guessing all the grandmoms will be taking their grandchildren to the concert to see  the Finnish history makers who won the Eurovision song contest. Yeah, that really was Finland's first win in half a century, and they really are taking the contest seriously here!

Hard Rock Hallelujah is an okay song, but if you're not familiar with the band, I'd recommend a song called Would You Love A Monsterman. That's a nice Alice Cooper Poison era type of melodic hardrock song.

Devil Is A Loser & Blood Red Sandman are awesome tunes to :headbanger:

It was the first time I watch it almost entirely !

I guess they got more audience, especially young people ! That's great !

I wish I could have seen it. But I was too busy having a shit night out.

Lithuania 6th! (Or was it 7th)...

That just proves that this competition has become a big joke these last years.
I say go back to voting jurys instead of letting the viewers decide. And the semifinal thing also has to go. It was a real advantage to sing in the semis and not fair to the other countries.

And congrats to my nice neibours Finland. Finally you get to win something ;)  :P

I can already see Jarmo, Skeba and Aava as Finlands hope next year, all wearing KFC buckets and some strange masks  :hihi:

Great for Lordi. Will be amusing to see the country's reaction to our boys abroad. The national broadcasting company (YLE) is already weeping behind their smiles, since Finland now has to organize the '07 Eurovisions. With a non-existent budjet, they'll have a handful.


I'll be there, holding a sign that'll get me banned.

(http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/8017/lordilupaus1ia.th.jpg) (http://img150.imageshack.us/my.php?image=lordilupaus1ia.jpg)

 :rofl: :rofl:

To those who don't understand Finnish:

"I'll eat a big hat full of shit if Europe kneels under such rubish."

Finland rocks : ok: :beer:

Well ,here in France in our national channel France 3 ,the 2 journalists who commented the show ,said nasty things about Lordi ,but also about hard rock in general

so there is a petition against these two journalists to make public excuses
 here it is
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/excuses_eurovisions/

pleace sign and pass over different message boards
thanks

God that was so stupid and does no good to metal's image, that's if it can be called metal (not exactly heavy is it!!).  Pop with guitars.

Still better than anything else I've ever had the misfortune to witness on that pile of crap contest!!

 ::)

We are the winners of Eurovision! We are, we are!

YEEESSSS!  :beer:

Two words:

Ice

and:

hockey :peace:

one of the most funny moments: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fZNh9OJHGA&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eflabber%2Enl%2Farchief%2F016342%2Ephp

He's hitting on taki  :rofl:

One word: Hannula. Three words more: is fuckin' idiot : ok:

It's "Sakis" and he's hot!