On April 8, 1979, Alexi Laiho, the extraordinary Finnish guitarist and founding frontman of CHILDREN OF BODOM, was born in Espoo, Finland. Laiho became one of melodic death metal's most celebrated musicians, his neoclassical shredding technique and fierce vocal delivery defining CHILDREN OF BODOM's signature sound across ten studio albums. Beginning with the iconic 'Something Wild' in 1997, Laiho crafted a unique blend of extreme metal aggression with classically-influenced virtuoso guitar work that inspired countless musicians worldwide. Albums like 'Hatebreeder,' 'Follow the Reaper,' and 'Are You Dead Yet?' became cornerstones of Finnish metal. Tragically, Laiho passed away on December 29, 2020, at the age of 41, from alcohol-related health issues. His death robbed metal of one of its most talented and charismatic performers — a true guitar hero in every sense.