page_title: HIM (Finnish band)
section_title: Final years and disbandment (2015–2017)
hierarchical_section_title: HIM (Finnish band) / History / Final years and disbandment (2015–2017)
caption_attribution_description: English: HIM performing in Manchester, England on 16 December 2017.
context_page_description: HIM was a Finnish gothic rock band from Helsinki, Finland. Formed in 1991 by vocalist Ville Valo and bassist Mikko "Mige" Paananen under the name His Infernal Majesty, the band broke up in 1993, before being reformed in 1995 by Valo and guitarist Mikko "Linde" Lindström. After being rejoined by Mige, as well as new additions keyboardist Antto Melasniemi and drummer Juhana "Pätkä" Rantala, the band, now called HIM, released their debut album Greatest Lovesongs Vol. 666 in 1997. In 2000, now with drummer Mika "Gas Lipstick" Karppinen and keyboardist Juska Salminen, the band released the album Razorblade Romance, which reached the number one spot in Finland, Austria and Germany. Their first single, "Join Me in Death", also charted at number one in Finland and Germany, eventually going platinum and gold respectively. Following the addition of Janne "Burton" Puurtinen on keyboards, HIM released Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights and Love Metal in 2001 and 2003 respectively. Both cracked the top ten in several countries, and allowed the band to tour the United Kingdom and the United States for the first time.
context_section_description: In January 2015, Gas Lipstick announced his departure from HIM, after 16 years with the band. In his announcement, Gas stated that "there is no drama, bad blood or any negativity involved in my departure. I simply feel that it's time for me to move on as a musician." In July 2015, HIM made their live debut following Gas's departure, with drummer Jukka "Kosmo" Kröger at a surprise show at Qstock in Oulu, Finland. Valo later stated that the band would begin work on a new album eventually, but no release date had been set. On 5 December 2015, HIM performed at Knotfest in Toluca, Mexico, with Slipknot, Megadeth, and Lamb of God, among others. HIM took a break in 2016, during which time Lindström, Mige and Burton reunited as Daniel Lioneye, while Valo released his first solo single and made several guest appearances on other artists' releases. Due to these other projects, HIM again opted to cancel the Helldone Festival for that year.
  In October 2016, it was announced that HIM would be headlining the Tuska Open Air Metal Festival in 2017, the band's first outdoor concert in Helsinki. In January 2017, HIM were also announced as the headliner of Miljoona Rock, held in Tuuri, Finland, on 18 July 2017. On 5 March 2017, HIM announced the band would be disbanding following a farewell tour that same year. In the announcement, Valo stated: "After quarter of a century  [sic] of love and metal intertwined we sincerely feel HIM has run its unnatural course and adieus must be said in order to make way for sights, scents and sounds yet unexplored. We completed the pattern, solved the puzzle and turned the key. Thank you." Valo further elaborated on the band's decision to call it quits later, stating: "We got together and started playing some songs and thinking whats next [...] We felt like the new material wasn't taking flight. We got along well together, but something was lacking. The stars weren't in alignment." He also went on to say that: "We felt like there was nothing left to give collectively. It was fun playing the old songs, everybody got along well together, but that spark was missing." Valo didn't rule-out the possibility of the band reuniting in the future, stating: "The good thing about this is that there's no drama [...] So it doesn't hurt the chances."
  On 24 May 2017, it was announced that a photo exhibition by Ville Juurikkala, titled HIM: Right Here In My Eyes, would be held at the Helsinki Art Museum from 15 June to 3 July, featuring previously unseen photographs of the band preparing for their farewell tour. In November 2017, the exhibition was also held at the Morrison Hotel Gallery in New York City. HIM began their Bang and Whimper 2017 – The Farewell Tour on 14 June 2017 in Barcelona, Spain. The tour was generally well received, with the Nottingham Post stating that HIM "truly went out with a 'bang'". The band played their final show on New Year's Eve 2017 as a part of the Helldone Festival.
caption: HIM performing in Manchester, England in December 2017
exif: {}