Nightwish’s Tuomas Holopainen remembers his friend Alexi Laiho

Tuomas Holopainen of Nightwish and Children Of Bodom's Alexi Laiho — (Image credit: Roberto Finizio/NurPhoto via Getty Images, Joby Sessions/Total Guitar Magazine/Future via Getty Images)

Nightwish’s Tuomas Holopainen has spoken to Metal Hammer about his friendship with late Children Of Bodom / Bodom After Midnight frontman and guitarist Alexi Laiho, and admits, “I really miss him.”

In the latest issue of Metal Hammer, Nightwish mainman Holopainen reminiscences about his and Laiho's love of music and "child-like things", including Donald Duck and board games.

Questioned as to whether he knew the guitarist well, Holopainen tells Hammer’s Dave Everley, “Yeah, we were really close about 10 of 15 years ago. We hung out a lot. I went to his place, he came to my place in Kitee.

“We shared a love of music, and also Donald Duck and board games – innocent, child-like things.”

Explaining how the news of Laiho's death hit him hard, he continues, “We knew he was going through some troubles with his physical health, but when I got the phone call, I remember falling on my knees – like, 'no way'.

“It punched me big time. I really miss him. He was a wonderful personality. There was an innocence in him, a naivety when it came to music that I really respected.”

Alexi Laiho passed unexpectedly on December 29, 2020 at his home in Helsinki at the age of 41 of “Alcohol-induced degeneration of the liver and pancreas connective tissue.”

Earlier this year, the guitarist’s last ever recordings, as Bodom After Midnight, were released. The EP, titled Paint The Sky With Blood, was described by Metal Hammer as “instantly recognisable as the great man’s work, from the guitar work’s effortless virtuosity to the incisive gleam of every melodic hook.”

The latest issue of Metal Hammer is available now, and celebrates 20 years of System Of A Down's seminal album Toxicity, and features At The Gates, Twin Temple, Arch Enemy and more.

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Liz manages Louder's social media channels and works on keeping the sites up to date with the latest news from the world of rock and metal. Prior to joining Louder as a full time staff writer, she completed a Diploma with the National Council for the Training of Journalists and received a First Class Honours Degree in Popular Music Journalism. She enjoys writing about anything from neo-glam rock to stoner, doom and progressive metal, and loves celebrating women in music.