As previously reported, drummer Jaska Raatikainen, bassist Henri “Henkka T. Blacksmith” Seppälä and keyboardist Janne Wirman have announced departure from CHILDREN OF BODOM.
Raatikainen, Seppälä and Wirman posted an update on social media explaining their decision to leave the group.
The full statement reads:
“Dear fans,
“2019 is coming to an end, so it’s a good time to take a look back before turning our gaze toward a new year. For us, 2019 was eventful, and a big part of that was playing our last COB gig in December.
“We have received a lot of questions about what we’re going to do next and why we quit. Since this decision has sparked up a conversation and false rumors, we want to talk about why we ended up making it, one more time.
“There is no argument behind the band’s name trademark or its use. We have a joint agreement. Alexi Laiho sold his share of the company and this meant that the three of us became owners of the COB brand. Although plans for our future are open, what is certain is that we will never do anything to disrespect this brand and the long career we’ve built together.
“Also, we definitely want to set the record straight with the misconception that we quit because we have families or wanted to retire. Music is our profession and our lives, and all our families know that. They are proud of what we do, and they completely have our back. It should also go without saying that we as individuals are not retiring.
“Success brings with it the responsibility to take a stand on decisions unrelated to music as well. These decisions were very difficult for us. We were five band members, each with their own roles, but we couldn’t find a shared viewpoint during these last few years.
“The reason for writing this is not to point fingers but to clear things up. We are and always will be proud of what COB achieved together.
“Happy holidays and best wishes for 2020!
“Henkka, Janne and Jaska“
Finnish music magazine Soundi revealed that the rights to the CHILDREN OF BODOM name are held by AA & Sewira Consulting Oy, the company owned by Raatikainen, Seppälä and Wirman.
On June 28, the trio filed an application with the National Board of Patents and Registration of Finland, and their application was subsequently granted for a five-year period starting on October 1.
That means that Alexi Laiho, who is CHILDREN OF BODOM‘s singer, guitarist and main songwriter, isn’t authorized to use the band’s name without permission from Wirman, Raatikainen and Seppälä.
In an interview with Helsingin Sanomat, Laiho admitted that there have been tensions in the BODOM camp for quite some time.
He said: “The original decision [to end the band in its current form] came when the other guys said they just couldn’t do it anymore. There were family reasons for it. I respect their decision. I myself have a wife and stepdaughter in Australia, and my wife understands my lifestyle. I’m pretty much gone [most of the time], but always I come back and I give them my all. Nothing is more important to me.”
Laiho also noted that things came to a head when the band performed in Russia last month.
“We fought a lot within the band, and I can honestly admit that those fights were mainly my fault. They always started with some misunderstanding.”
