06 March 2009 (released)
06 March 2009
Out of the shadows
Finnish rock band The Rasmus are back with stories to tell. Music News meets frontman Lauri Ylönen and bassist Eero Heinonen before their one-off gig in London
"It’s good to know people still want to see us," admits The Rasmus bassist Eero Heinonen, commenting on the long line of fans snaked round the O2 Academy in Islington – an observation lost on drummer Aki Hakala, who joined it thinking it was an ATM queue. Impish frontman Lauri Ylönen, who is slouched on the couch in the band’s dressing room, is loving this story, and regales the details. He adds: "We found him there and said, 'look at what everyone’s wearing – Rasmus t-shirts’; you’re queuing for your own concert!"
The band are about to play their first UK gig in four years as part of a long European tour – they arrived today after a two-day coach trip from Poland – promoting new album 'Black Roses'. The follow-up to 2005’s 'Hide From The Sun' marks a new era for The Rasmus: a time to rediscover some creative freedom and deviate from expectations. "It was great to start completely from the beginning, to simply wipe the slate clean of the whole past," says Ylönen.
"Success was like getting drunk and then comes the crazy hangover."
Lauri Ylönen, The Rasmus
It was also a time to retreat. The last few years have been "manic" for The Rasmus. After the international success of 2003’s hit single 'In The Shadows' – a song Ylönen admits he wanted to stop rehearsing at one point – the four-piece found themselves constantly touring to the point of burning out. "It was like getting drunk and then comes the crazy hangover," says Ylönen.
The road to 'recovery' really began with this their seventh album. Bringing producer Desmond Child (Bon Jovi, Kiss, Aerosmith) to the helm, the band adopted a different songwriting approach, spending hours honing storytelling lyrics that were based on the cinematic stages of 'orphan,’ 'wanderer,’ 'warrior’ and 'martyr’. In title track 'Ten Black Roses’ the lead characters romp through a cemetery, a case of art imitating life apparently. "We did that in a lot of cities," says Ylönen. "It is almost a Rasmus tradition!"
Ylönen and Heinonen underscore the great influence Child had on the album’s concept approach and its 80s rock elements - he also co-wrote first single 'Livin’ in a World Without You'. Describing him as a "perfect match", Heinonen also recalls how well he sussed out the band, notably Ylönen’s mischievous demeanour. But that seems to be quite obvious really, and something that will no doubt keep touring traditions alive.
Single 'Livin’ in a World Without You' is out now
Album 'Black Roses' will be released on 29 September
The Rasmus return to the UK in April with The Backyard Babies
