CITY DATE FOR EURO CHAMPS

FINNISH hard rockers and Eurovision Song Contest winners Lordi are coming to Birmingham on a UK tour next month to celebrate both the old and the new.

The band, formed by Mr Lordi in 1992, have specialised in bringing a unique vision of shock rock to European audiences, with Mr Lordi spending up to three-and-ahalf hours in costume and make-up.

Their first album was released in 2002 and the band gained such a following that they were picked to represent Finland in the 2006 Eurovision Song Contest with their track Hard Rock Hallelujah.

Finland was so excited by winning the contest that they named a square in Mr Lordi’s home town of Rovaniemi after them.

Whilst not exactly setting the UK alight with their sound, on the continent the band are massive.

For the 2024 tour, the band are concentrating on new album Screem Writers Guild (where all the tracks have a movie theme) and their second album, The Monsterican Dream, released 20 years ago.

Mr Lordi, who still lives near Finland’s capital city, says that he is unaware of how well his albums fare.

“I’m not on social media and I only use the internet for porn,” he laughs.

The band use lots of pyrotechnics in their bigger shows, but for the UK dates they have to reign it in a bit.

“In today’s world, pyros are not really allowed on the club circuit. But we have a few tricks up our sleeve.”

Screem Writers Guild was the first album to feature new guitarist Kone, who joined in 2022 after the departure of original guitarist Amen.

“He’s fitted in nicely,” says Mr Lordi, “and he has a moviethemed guitar solo which is amazing.”

Lordi play the O2 Institute in Birmingham on April 2.