Mikko Viljami "Linde" Lindström (born 12 August 1976) is a Finnish musician, best known as the guitarist for the

gothic rock Gothic rock (also called goth rock or simply goth) is a style of rock music that emerged from post-punk in the United Kingdom in the late 1970s. The first post-punk bands which shifted toward dark music with gothic overtones include Siouxsie an ...

band HIM. Influenced by the likes of

Black Sabbath Black Sabbath are an English rock band formed in Birmingham in 1968 by guitarist Tony Iommi, drummer Bill Ward (musician), Bill Ward, bassist Geezer Butler, and vocalist Ozzy Osbourne. After adopting the Black Sabbath name in 1969 (the band ...

and

Steve Vai Steven Siro Vai ( ; born June 6, 1960) is an American guitarist, songwriter, and producer. A three-time Grammy Award winner and fifteen-time nominee, Vai started his music career in 1978 at the age of eighteen as a Transcription (music), transc ...

, Lindström began playing guitar at age ten, joining the band Aurora in his teenage years, where he met

Ville Valo Ville Hermanni Valo (; born 22 November 1976) is a Finnish singer, songwriter and musician. He is best known as the lead vocalist of the gothic rock band HIM (Finnish band), HIM. Born and raised in Helsinki to a Hungarian mother and Finnish fa ...

. In 1995, the two reformed Valo's previous band HIM, which would go on to release eight studio albums and become one of the most commercially successful Finnish bands of all time, and the first to receive a gold record in the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

. In 2017, the band announced their plans to retire following a

farewell tour A concert tour (or simply tour) is a series of concerts by an artist or group of artists in different cities, countries or locations. Often, concert tours are named to differentiate different tours by the same artist and to associate a specific ...

, and played their final show on

New Year's Eve In the Gregorian calendar, New Year's Eve refers to the evening, or commonly the entire day, of the last day of the year, 31 December, also known as Old Year's Day. In many countries, New Year's Eve is celebrated with dancing, eating, drinkin ...

2017. Aside from HIM, Lindström has released three albums with his own band

Daniel Lioneye Daniel Lioneye is a Finnish rock band formed by members of the band HIM. Originally consisting of guitarist and vocalist Mikko "Linde" Lindström, bassist Mikko "Mige" Paananen and drummer Ville Valo, the group released their debut album ''Th ...

, which he formed in 2001 with Valo and bassist Mikko "Mige" Paananen. In 2018, Lindström reunited with HIM's former drummer

Gas Lipstick Mika Kristian Karppinen (born 8 February 1971), better known as Gas Lipstick, is a Swedish-Finnish musician, best known as the previous drummer of the Finnish gothic rock band HIM. He is also a drummer for other bands currently on hiatus, such ...

to form the band Flat Earth, along with Anthony Pikkarainen and Niclas Etelävuori. Lindström has also collaborated with various other artists during his career, including Jeffrey Walker and the supergroup

WhoCares WhoCares was a supergroup formed by Ian Gillan of Deep Purple and Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath in 2011 with the participation of a great number of rock artists as a charity project to raise money to rebuild a music school in Gyumri, Armenia, af ...

Early life

Mikko Viljami Lindström was born on 12 August 1976 in

Klaukkala Klaukkala (; , ) is the southern-most Urban areas in Finland, urban area () of the Nurmijärvi municipality in Uusimaa, Finland, located near Valkjärvi (lake), Lake Valkjärvi. It is the largest urban area in Nurmijärvi, and despite the fact th ...

.Juho K. Juntunen (2002). "HIM – Synnin viemää" p. 41. WSOY His father was an engineer while his mother worked for

Finnair Finnair Plc (, ) is the flag carrier and largest full-service legacy airline of Finland, with headquarters in Vantaa on the grounds of Helsinki Airport, its airline hub, hub. Finnair and its subsidiaries dominate both domestic and international ...

. Lindström also has a younger brother who was born in 1980. Lindström first became interested in music as a child from hearing cassettes of

Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977) was an American singer and actor. Referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one of the most significant cultural figures of the ...

in his father's car. At age 10, Lindström received a Landola acoustic guitar for Christmas, and immediately began taking lessons. The first thing he learned was the opening riff of "

Heaven's on Fire "Heaven's on Fire" is a song by the American rock band Kiss. Written by vocalist/guitarist Paul Stanley and songwriter Desmond Child, it was the first single released from the group's 1984 album '' Animalize''. Background The opening "Woo-oo ...

" by

Kiss A kiss is the touching or pressing of one's lips against another person, animal or object. Cultural connotations of kissing vary widely; depending on the culture and context, a kiss can express sentiments of love, passion, romance, sex ...

. Some of Lindström's early influences also included

Jimi Hendrix James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix; November 27, 1942September 18, 1970) was an American singer-songwriter and musician. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential guitarists of all time. Inducted ...

and

Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin were an English rock music, rock band formed in London in 1968. The band comprised vocalist Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist-keyboardist John Paul Jones (musician), John Paul Jones and drummer John Bonham. With a he ...

. Lindström met future HIM-bandmate

in seventh grade at the Oulunkylä

comprehensive school A comprehensive school is a secondary school for pupils aged 11–16 or 11–18, that does not select its intake on the basis of academic achievement or aptitude, in contrast to a selective school system where admission is restricted on the basis ...

.Juho K. Juntunen (2002). "HIM – Synnin viemää" p. 16. WSOY The two later began playing together in a band called Aurora. At age 15, Lindström also attended the

Berklee College of Music Berklee College of Music () is a Private university, private music college in Boston, Boston, Massachusetts. It is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known for the study of jazz and modern Music of the United ...

Boston Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

for two months. As a teenager, Lindström was also arrested twice.Juho K. Juntunen (2002). "HIM – Synnin viemää" p. 42. WSOY The first arrest came when Lindström and a group of friends were charged with theft and breaking-and-entering for breaking the windows of a rehabilitation center for war veterans, and sneaking in to swim in the establishment's pool. The second arrest came, when, at age 15, Lindström was caught driving under the influence.Juho K. Juntunen (2002). "HIM – Synnin viemää" p. 45. WSOY Lindström applied to the Sibelius Upper Secondary School of music and dance, but was rejected, and began attending Käpylä

night school A night school is an adult learning school that holds classes in the evening or at night to accommodate people who work during the day. A community college or university may hold night school classes that admit undergraduates. Italy The scuol ...

, from where he eventually graduated. Lindström was permitted not to perform Finland's national military service, as he was deemed "insane, incapable for warfare."''Metal Hammer'' Presents HIM: ''Tears On Tape'' Fanpack Magazine – pg. 11

Career

HIM

HIM was first formed in 1991 by

and bassist Mikko "Mige" Paananen, under the name His Infernal Majesty.Juho K. Juntunen (2002). "HIM – Synnin viemää" p. 23. WSOY The band broke-up in 1993, but was reformed in 1995, by Valo and Lindström. Later rejoined by Mige, as well as keyboardist Antto Melasniemi and drummer Juhana "Pätkä" Rantala, the band, now called HIM, released their debut album '' Greatest Lovesongs Vol. 666'' in 1997.''Greatest Love Songs Vol. 666'' album sleeve notes. In 2000, now with drummer

and keyboardist Juska Salminen, HIM released ''

Razorblade Romance ''Razorblade Romance'' is the second studio album by Finnish gothic rock band HIM (Finnish band), HIM, recorded with producer John Fryer (producer), John Fryer. HIM initially began recording the album with producer Hiili Hiilesmaa, who had helme ...

'', which reached number 1 in Finland, Austria and Germany. Its first single, " Join Me in Death", also charted at number one in Finland and Germany, eventually going platinum in their home country, and gold in Germany and Austria. Following the addition of Janne "Burton" Puurtinen on keyboards, HIM released ''

Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights ''Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights'' is the third studio album by Finnish gothic rock band HIM, released 27 August 2001. The album was produced by Kevin Shirley, T. T. Oksala and HIM. The record had a troubled production, which lasted app ...

'' and ''

Love Metal ''Love Metal'' is the fourth studio album by Finnish gothic rock band HIM. Released on 11 April 2003, HIM began recording demos for the album in northern spring 2002, after an exhausting touring cycle for their previous album, which nearly bro ...

'' in 2001 and 2003, respectively. Both cracked the top ten in several countries, and became the band's first albums to chart in the United Kingdom and the United States. After relocating to the US, HIM released '' Dark Light'' in 2005, which became the group's most successful album to date, going gold in Germany, the UK, the US, and platinum in Finland. In 2007, HIM released ''

Venus Doom ''Venus Doom'' is the sixth studio album by Finnish gothic rock band HIM. The album was recorded at Finnvox Studios in Helsinki with producers Hiili Hiilesmaa and Tim Palmer, both whom had collaborated with the band on various occasions, and ...

'', which went gold in Finland and Germany, and gave the band their highest US chart position at number 12. After 2010's '' Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice'', HIM went on hiatus after drummer Gas Lipstick was diagnosed with a repetitive stress injury and nerve damage in his hands.''Metal Hammer'' Presents HIM: ''Tears On Tape'' Fanpack Magazine – pg. 10 After eight months of uncertainty, the band regrouped and eventually released the album ''

Tears on Tape ''Tears on Tape'' is the eighth and final studio album by Finnish rock band HIM (Finnish band), HIM, released 26 April 2013 in Finland, 29 April 2013 in Europe, and on 30 April 2013 in the US and Canada. It is produced by Hiili Hiilesmaa, and wa ...

'' in 2013. In 2015, Gas Lipstick announced his departure from HIM after 16 years, to pursue other musical projects. He was subsequently replaced by Jukka "Kosmo" Kröger. On 5 March 2017, HIM announced the end of the band following a

in 2017. The band played their final show on New Year's Eve 2017 as a part of their annual

Helldone Helldone was an annual music festival organized by Finland, Finnish gothic rock band HIM (Finnish band), HIM. Typically held on 31 December at the Tavastia Club, and its companion club the Semifinal, in Helsinki, Finland, Helldone began in 1999 a ...

Festival.

Daniel Lioneye

In 2001, Lindström, along with Mige and Ville Valo, released the album ''The King of Rock 'n Roll'', under the name

, which featured Lindström on guitar and vocals, Valo on drums and Mige on bass. Prior to the album's release, the group had only played a handful of shows at various parties around Finland.Juho K. Juntunen (2002). "HIM – Synnin viemää" p. 185. WSOY In 2010, Daniel Lioneye reformed and released the album ''Vol. II'', with Lindström on guitar, bass and vocals, Burton on keyboards, and Black Vomit Bolton on drums. In 2011, the band toured the US for the first time, in support of

Cradle of Filth Cradle of Filth are an English extreme metal band formed in Suffolk in 1991. The band's musical style evolved originally from black metal to a cleaner and more "produced" amalgam of gothic metal, symphonic metal and other metal genres. Their ly ...

. The band's touring line-up consisted of Lindström, Mige, Burton, Seppo Tarvainen on drums, and Manu Patel on backing vocals. On 30 December 2014, the original line-up of Daniel Lioneye reunited for a performance at HIM's annual

festival Helldone. On 29 June 2016, it was announced that Daniel Lioneye would release its third album ''Vol. III'' on 19 August 2016, with Lindström on guitar and vocals, Mige on bass, Burton on keyboards and Seppo Tarvainen on drums. The band also announced five Finnish tour dates for September 2016. On 30 June 2016, Daniel Lioneye released the official track-listing for ''Vol. III'', as well as its first single "Ravensong". Daniel Lioneye was also scheduled to perform several European shows later in the fall of 2016, but the dates were cancelled, after drummer Seppo Tarvainen suffered a broken arm.

Other work

In 2004, Lindström played guitar on the track "Loiste" on Ihmepoika's self-titled debut album, and in 2006, he played on ''

Welcome to Carcass Cuntry ''Welcome to Carcass Cuntry'' is a country metal album by Jeffrey Walker, of the metal band Carcass. The instrumentation is performed by notable heavy metal musicians, including Faith No More's Billy Gould, H.I.M.'s Ville Valo, Anathema's Dann ...

'' by Jeff Walker und Die Fluffers.''Welcome to Carcass Cuntry'' album sleeve notes. In 2007, Lindström wrote and recorded several songs on Manna's debut album ''Sister''.''Sister'' album sleeve notes. In 2011, Lindström took part in the

supergroup, with

Ian Gillan Ian Gillan (born 19 August 1945) is an English singer who is best known as the lead singer and lyricist for the rock band Deep Purple. He is known for his powerful and wide-ranging singing voice. Initially influenced by Elvis Presley, Gillan ...

Tony Iommi Anthony Frank Iommi Jr. (born 19 February 1948) is an English musician. He co-founded the pioneering Heavy metal music, heavy metal band Black Sabbath, and was the band's guitarist, leader, primary composer, and sole continuous member for over ...

Jason Newsted Jason Curtis Newsted (born March 4, 1963) is an American musician, best known as the bassist of heavy metal band Metallica from 1986 to 2001. He performed with thrash metal band Flotsam and Jetsam for the first five years of his career before ...

Jon Lord John Douglas "Jon" Lord (9 June 194116 July 2012) was an English keyboardist and composer. In 1968, Lord co-founded the hard rock band Deep Purple. Lord performed on most of the band's most popular songs; he and drummer Ian Paice were the only ...

and

Nicko McBrain Michael Henry "Nicko" McBrain (born 5 June 1952) is an English musician, best known as the drummer of the heavy metal band Iron Maiden since 1982. He is the third-longest serving member of the band, having appeared on each Iron Maiden album sin ...

. The group recorded the double single "

Out of My Mind / Holy Water "Out of My Mind" / "Holy Water" is a fund-raising two-track CD single from the supergroup WhoCares, a Tony Iommi and Ian Gillan collaboration, a direct continuation of the Rock Aid Armenia project. The CD contains the single "Out of My Mind" an ...

", with the intent to support the rebuilding of a music school in

Gyumri Gyumri (, ) is an urban municipal community and the List of cities and towns in Armenia, second-largest city in Armenia, serving as the administrative center of Shirak Province in the northwestern part of the country. By the end of the 19th centur ...

, Armenia, which was destroyed in a

1988 earthquake 1988 was a crucial year in the early history of the Internet—it was the year of the first well-known computer virus, the Morris worm, 1988 Internet worm. The first permanent intercontinental Internet link was made between the United State ...

. In February 2018, it was announced that Lindström had reunited with former HIM drummer Gas Lipstick to form Flat Earth, along with Polanski vocalist Anttoni "Anthony" Pikkarainen and bassist Niclas Etelävuori, formerly of

Amorphis Amorphis is a Finnish progressive metal band founded by Jan Rechberger, Tomi Koivusaari, and Esa Holopainen in 1990. Initially, the band was a death metal act, but on later albums they evolved into playing other genres, including progressive meta ...

. It was also announced that the band were in the process of recording their debut album with producer

Hiili Hiilesmaa Kai "Hiili" Hiilesmaa (born December 1966) is a Finnish record producer and musician. He is the vocalist of the rock band The Skreppers, former drummer of the doom metal band KYPCK and former keyboardist of the rock band Daniel Lioneye. He has ...

, which would be partly financed through an online

crowdfunding Crowdfunding is the practice of funding a project or venture by raising money from a large number of people, typically via the internet. Crowdfunding is a form of crowdsourcing and Alternative Finance, alternative finance, to fund projects "withou ...

campaign. The group's first single "Blame" was released on 30 April 2018, with the official music video premiering the following May. The band's second single "Cyanide" was released on 21 September. The band also opened two shows for

Kamelot Kamelot is an American power metal band from Tampa, Florida, formed by Thomas Youngblood in 1987. The Norwegian vocalist Roy Khan joined for the album '' Siége Perilous'', and shared songwriting credit with Youngblood until his departure in A ...

that same month in Finland. On 26 October, the band released their third single "Given Time". Flat Earth released their debut album ''None for One'' on 9 November 2018, through Drakkar Entertainment in Europe and the band's own label Suur Etikett in Finland. The band then embarked on a tour across Finland. In September 2019, the band announced they were working on their second album. In 2020 and 2021, Lindström played several shows across Finland with

Michael Monroe Matti Antero Kristian Fagerholm (born 17 June 1962), better known by his stage name Michael Monroe, is a Finnish rock musician who rose to fame as the vocalist and saxophonist for the glam punk band Hanoi Rocks and has served as the frontman ...

and

Sami Yaffa Sami Yaffa (born Sami Lauri Takamäki; 4 September 1963) is a Finnish bass guitarist best known for his work in New York Dolls, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, Pelle Miljoona Oy, Michael Monroe's bands, and Hanoi Rocks. He is currently the bassi ...

, both formerly of

Hanoi Rocks Hanoi Rocks were a Finnish Rock music, rock band formed in 1979. They were the first Finnish band to chart in the UK and they were also popular in Japan. By 1984, the band was considered to be on the verge of an international breakthrough when ...

. He also made an appearance in the music video for Sami Yaffa's solo single "The Last Time".

Personal life

Lindström currently resides in the countryside outside of

Helsinki Helsinki () is the Capital city, capital and most populous List of cities and towns in Finland, city in Finland. It is on the shore of the Gulf of Finland and is the seat of southern Finland's Uusimaa region. About people live in the municipali ...

, with his dog and three cats. In the 1990s, Lindström dated Finnish-English singer

Sanna-June Hyde Sanna-June Hyde (born 1976) is an English-Finnish actress. Early life Hyde was born in Colchester in 1976, the daughter of a Finnish mother and English father. Career Hyde studied in London at Drama Studio London and East 15 Acting School. ...

, who sang on HIM's cover of "

(Don't Fear) The Reaper "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" is a song by American rock band Blue Öyster Cult from the 1976 album '' Agents of Fortune.'' The song, written and sung by lead guitarist Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser, deals with eternal love and the inevitability ...

" by

Blue Öyster Cult Blue Öyster Cult ( ; sometimes abbreviated BÖC or BOC) is an American rock band formed on Long Island, New York, in the hamlet of Stony Brook, in 1967. They have sold 25 million records worldwide, including 7 million in the United States. ...

.Juho K. Juntunen (2002). "HIM – Synnin viemää" p. 72. WSOY On 12 March 2003, Lindström's then-girlfriend, Finnish-Algerian singer Mariam "Manna" Jäntti, gave birth to their first child, a daughter named Olivia. Lindström and Manna later married, but divorced, and in 2010 Lindström became engaged to Toni-Marie Iommi, the daughter of

guitarist

. In 2013, the couple were reported to have broken-up.

Equipment

Lindström has used

Gibson SG The Gibson SG is a solid-body electric guitar model introduced by Gibson in 1961, following on from the 1952 Gibson Les Paul. It remains in production today in many variations of the initial design. SG stands for "solid guitar". Origins The S ...

s most of his career. He currently uses only one SG live, which is fitted with a Gibson 500t pickup in the bridge position. Lindström has also used

Fender Telecaster The Fender Telecaster, colloquially known as the Tele (), is an electric guitar produced by Fender (company), Fender. Together with its sister model the Fender Esquire, Esquire, it was the world's first mass-produced, commercially successfulLes ...

s, an ESP Baritone, and a

Gretsch Gretsch is an American company that manufactures and markets musical instruments. The company was founded in 1883 in Brooklyn, New York by Friedrich Gretsch, a 27-year-old German immigrant, shortly after his arrival to the United States. Fri ...

Country Gentleman in the studio, as well as a

Gibson Flying V The Gibson Flying V is an electric guitar model introduced by Gibson in 1958. The Flying V offered a radical, "futuristic" body design, much like its siblings: the Explorer, which was released the same year, and the Moderne, which was designe ...

and a

Gibson EDS-1275 The Gibson EDS-1275 is a double neck Gibson electric guitar introduced in 1958 and still in production. Popularized and raised to iconic status by musicians such as John McLaughlin and Jimmy Page, it has been called "the coolest guitar in roc ...

, as seen in the music videos for HIM's "Right Here in My Arms" and "In Joy and Sorrow" respectively. Lindström uses two Laney amp heads, as well as one

Peavey 5150 The Peavey 5150 is a vacuum tube based guitar amplifier made by Peavey Electronics from 1992 on. The amplifier was initially created as a signature model for Eddie Van Halen. Counterintuitively its name does not derive as some consecutive Peavey ...

, which is used for the main lead sound. One of the two Laneys has an

Electro-Harmonix Electro-Harmonix (also commonly referred to as EHX) is a New York City-based company that makes electronic audio processors and sells rebranded vacuum tubes. The company was founded by Mike Matthews in 1968. It is best known for a series of g ...

Octave Multiplexer, while the other one uses a Black Arts Toneworks Pharaoh Fuzz. The signal from the amps is routed with a Voodoo Labs Amp Selector. Lindström uses a Dunlop 105Q Bass Wah as opposed to a regular guitar wah pedal, because he finds the bass wah "more aggressive than the normal one."

Discography

HIM

* '' Greatest Lovesongs Vol. 666'' (1997) * ''

'' (2000) * ''

'' (2001) * ''

'' (2003) * '' Dark Light'' (2005) * ''

'' (2007) * '' Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice'' (2010) * ''

'' (2013)

Daniel Lioneye

* ''The King of Rock 'n Roll'' (2001) * ''Vol. II'' (2010) * ''Vol. III'' (2016)

Flat Earth

* ''None for One'' (2018)

Other appearances

* Ihmepoika – ''Ihmepoika'' (2004) * Jeff Walker und Die Fluffers – ''

'' (2006) * Manna – ''Sister'' (2007) *

– "

" (2011)

References

External links

Mikko "Linde" Lindström
at

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...

Official website
of Flat Earth {{DEFAULTSORT:Lindstrom, Linde 1976 births Finnish rock guitarists HIM (Finnish band) members Lead guitarists Living people Musicians from Helsinki