Members of legendary Finnish melodic death metal band CHILDREN OF BODOM are preparing for "A Celebration Of Music," a tribute concert honoring the life and musical legacy of late guitarist and vocalist Alexi Laiho, set for February 26 at the iconic Tavastia club in Helsinki. The event has already sold out, with a second night subsequently added to meet overwhelming demand from fans eager to hear the band's catalog performed live once more.
The celebration will feature original members bassist Henkka Seppala, keyboardist Janne Wirman, and drummer Jaska Raatikainen — the rhythm section and keyboard foundation upon which CHILDREN OF BODOM built their distinctive sound — alongside early guitarist Alexander Kuoppala, who played on the band's first three landmark albums. Handling the formidable vocal and lead guitar duties originally performed by Laiho will be Samy Elbanna, the Finnish-Egyptian frontman of LOST SOCIETY, whose combination of technical guitar proficiency and aggressive vocal style makes him one of the few musicians capable of doing justice to Laiho's notoriously demanding parts.
The choice of Tavastia as the venue carries deep significance. The legendary Helsinki club has been the spiritual home of Finnish rock and metal since 1970, and it served as a crucial proving ground for CHILDREN OF BODOM during their formative years in the late 1990s. Laiho himself spoke fondly of the venue throughout his career, making it the natural choice for this celebration.
Laiho passed away on December 29, 2020 at his Helsinki home at the age of 41, a loss that sent shockwaves through the global metal community. His virtuosic guitar playing, which fused neoclassical shred with aggressive melodic death metal riffing, influenced countless musicians and helped establish the Finnish metal scene as one of the world's most vibrant. "We want to celebrate the life's work of our band and at the same time the musical legacy of our friend and bandmate Alexi," the surviving members stated. The evening promises to be a deeply emotional celebration of one of metal's most talented and tragically missed musicians.