Internationally respected guitarist and founding frontman for metal heavyweights Children of Bodom, Alexi Laiho, has passed away. He was just 41 years old.
Despite differing from long terms health issues in his last years, Children of Bodom remained active up until their final farewell concert last December. In the post Children of Bodom-era, Laiho assembled Bodom After Midnight who immediately began working on music. The band has three songs recorded and a one shot video that will be released posthumously later this year.
Laiho's legacy is cemented with the accomplishments accumulated during his tenure fronting Children of Bodom. Founding the band along with drummer drummer Jaska Raatikainen in 1993, the band went on to release 10 studio LPs starting with Something Wild in 1997 and rounding out with their most recent effort in 2019, Hexed. The band become one of the biggest selling acts in their home of Finland and achieved international fame with albums like Hate Crew Deathroll and Are You Dead Yet?
Laiho's talent was reiterated as the guitarist garnered awards for his contributions. Among the accolades included a Readers Poll nod from Guitar World Magazine that named Laiho the 'Best Metal Guitarist' of 2006 as well as Laiho's win of The Dimebag Darrell Shredder Awards at the 2008 Metal Hammer Golden God Awards.
Laiho's creative counterparts issued the following statement. "We are crushed by the sudden passing of our dear friend and band member. Words cannot describe this shock and the profound sadness that we feel", share Daniel Freyberg, Mitja Toivonen and Waltteri Väyrynen of Bodom After Midnight.
