The Rasmus Tour 2012 – Stockholm & Hamburg

The Rasmus started their tour this Monday [07.05] in Stockholm. Part of the Ghost of Love-team was there and we have also wrote a small review of the concert, on the page you can also find pictures and links to the videos we have made. Other videos can be found on YouTube searching for ‘The Rasmus Stockholm’.

The second gig of this tour was in Hamburg on Wednesday [09.05]. The setlist was a bit shorter, it did not include Funky Jam and Chill, and the guys made as Acoustic Set: Days, Sail Away and Somewhere. Some very nice pictures from the gig and promo pics can be found on this Facebook page, made by Dirk Jacobson. More picture links and videos, we’ll post on our Facebook page as soon as they are available [links may be updated here in this post too].

Lauri & Aki @ NRJ Aamupala

Lauri and Aki have been on Monday morning [02.04] in the NRJ Radio studio to have breakfast with 2 lucky fans, and to also give some information about the new album, released in 2 weeks time. Audio material from the show can be found here in 4 parts [1, 2, 3, 4], and a summary of what important they have said below.

- during the break Lauri did the solo album, since they had like 40 countries seen with the band, while the rest of the guys chilled some while; Aki was at home with his kids and he says he is lifting hat to all women at home with kids; now they have the Facebook stats where they can see where they have fans from; their manager sent them message that they have so exotic fans; Aki remembers a gig at Kazahstan where they had a lot of people in crowd and their warm up act was Gogo Girls in short skirts;

- Aki remembers the Russia tour with Alice Cooper and Scorpions when they had turbulence [the story is on their MySpace as blog,  Aki used to blog back then still], Scorpions’ manager was like when the pilot said we’re not flying, he said yes we’re flying; Lauri tells there are all kind of music on the new album, seems like full-The Rasmus album; they have did them all themselves; Aki tells he liked the fact that they worked with previous producer because they didn’t have to start from very beginning like ‘Jag heter Aki’ [=My name is Aki], but they went straight to the point like ‘where are the drums? there. okay let’s play’; back then they were asked to make music in Finnish but they said ‘fuck off’ and went to Sweden where they understand the being of internationalism;

- they would never see their band as an ESC artist, they would write songs for artist being in ESC competition, but they would never compete; the reporter asks about Lauri having the feathers in his hair, when Aki tells ‘he doesn’t have just in his hair!’ then the other guy shouts in ‘trousers down Lauri!’ , Aki remembers once in Italy when he wanted to leave the stage he got trapped by his scarf and was kinda suffocating when was saved, then Lauri that in Italy a woman got a tattoo on her whole back of Lauri face; out of their idols they have met most of them like touring with Metallica, Scorpions and Alice Cooper; Aki tells that when they were at Terremoto festival, he tried to find his way out to the exit when came David Grohl asking if he’s The Rasmus’ drummer, and offering him a drink;

- they tell about their tour in May and in October; Aki tried to get licence to motor because of his 30-years crisis, but did not work

Lauri & Aki @ YleX Radio

Lauri & Aki @ YleX Iltapäivä

Here you can find the audio interview from today’s YleX Iltapäivä. Summary of the new things can be find below, they just told the same thing as before too. Also there is a video below at the end of which you can find something funny with the guys!

-if they could compete in something it would be length, or for Lauri it would be something cooking competition; Aki tells that in F-f-f-falling video he even cried while playing the drums, Lauri adds that in studio he just puts up his legs on the table and does not much with alcohol-free gin; I’m a mess was the last song to be born before they have left to Sweden, Lauri even wrote part of the lyrics in the studio about the 2 months that have went by before leaving to studio; Lauri’s solo album influenced the new The Rasmus album that way that the songs hare born now more spontaneously than before; after the autumn tour in Finland they plan on more gigs in Europe and in even Japan.

Interview with Lauri and Eero in Soundcheck

Swedish Interview with Lauri

Today appeared on the website of the Swedish YLE a short interview with Lauri. Translation below was made with the help of Google.

Lauri Ylönen of The Rasmus will represent Finland in the category of Best Worldwide Act at the MTV Europe Music Awards.

The Rasmus won all the prizes, EMMA awards and others, but now Lauri was voted alone for the Best Finnish Acts at the MTV Europe Music Awards 2011. All countries voted for their own best artist, and between them they compete for the title of the Best Worldwide Act.

Lauri is now in Sweden, recording new album with The Rasmus, and of course we got hold of his feathers in his hair.

How do you feel Lauri?

-Fantastic! I’ve just started my solo career, so obviously I have my own fans too. It’s great that so many people voted for me.

Lauri is competing with artists such as Eve and the HeartMakers from Norway and Adele from UK.

-If I get to go to Belfast, it will be fun to meet them.

What happens to The Rasmus now that there is separately Lauri too?

-They go together well, both projects are living their own lives.

All the feathers you have come with you to the shows too?

-They are of course everywhere with me. I get feathers from the fans as well. I of course think if I dare to use them because of the world’s bird flu. But I’m a bird myself, so I’m well-immune.

After having done also your solo album, you have been your own boss in the same time, you now have to share the responsibility. How it’s going?

-I have received feedback that I have became more bossy. Ouch. But The Rasmus has a long history of over 15 years, so it’s working. It’s fun to work with the guys again.

Mexican Interview with Eero

A few days ago appeared in the Mexican news portal called Chillango, a short interview with Eero. He told about current plans and working progress on the The Rasmus album, and also about what will the setlist of the Mexican gigs mostly contain. Translation below taken from UnRealRasmusNews.

Building on the release of Best of 2001-2009: Mexican Tour Edition, and the next two concerts, talk to Eero, The Rasmus, who told us about the upcoming album of the band and Mexico.

Why did you decide to launch an edition of ” Best of “special for Mexico?

We asked if we wanted to release this collection in Mexico, and we decided we would do it because we will have some concerts there, and we have many fans. The suggestion came from the label and said, “Okay, let’s do it.”

Do you plan to make editions of some other country, or just here?

Only in Mexico, because, in fact, this year we have been performing more than these two coming in the city of Mexico. It is very interesting. We are now in the recording studio in Sweden, working on new material. We have ten new songs and we recorded almost half.

What do you think were your greatest influences for the creation of this new album?

That’s a good question. We have been talking about many bands and many artists when we rehearsed. We talked about Bruce Springsteen, Kings of Leon, we talked about Dubstep, something new is happening, I think it started in London, Kent and we talked about a band noventera of Sweden, who plays alternative rock.

How do you think you have evolved from Rasmus Peep to Black Roses ?

We were very young when we launched our first album at age 15. Just played with the music. We loved to sing silly songs or did not have any message in the lyrics, or anything. Slowly begin to understand the importance of the composition, and try to rehearse, write good songs. We’ve gone through several styles: funk rock, melodic pop rock, and then began to have moods darker in pop rock. Now, I know, the songs feel like they are making a positive atmosphere, lots of energy. They are happy, but somewhat melancholy. I think it’s a good mix. Is bittersweet.

Sounds like a very interesting concept …

Yes, I am very inspired by him. You want to leave the public with this new album because I want to hear what people like to hear it.

In a few weeks will be presented in the Federal District. What can fans expect from this show?

This show is like a payment for the sadness that cause people when we could not play in Mexico because of swine flu. We were also very sad because we were ready for the National Auditorium, and there were many fans excited, and that’s what they told us we had to cancel the show. That was horrible. Now we come back we want to make a better show. We want to play all the songs you love people, and play some new, at least one. Also, some of which did Lauri for your solo project. I am very happy about this because we have not had a long concert, and we will give much pleasure to be on stage. The fans in Mexico are unbelievable.

How do you prepare for a show like this?

Rehearse, and we talked our ideas about things we could do on stage. I think the most important in a show like this is a good time with people. So, we will not do things in a bad mood: want to have fun. We have incredible fans in Mexico, so we will take our time and enjoy two nights.

You have previously been in Mexico, where do you like to visit?

I remember that the city is a huge place, but the places that have stayed in my mind are many. One day we had a concert at the Estadio Azteca and sang some acoustic songs and was very beautiful: there were many people, and everyone was very excited. We also visited the pyramids of Teotihuacan, I think there is something very special there. There are places that are sacred, you know? I think in that sense is very special Teotihuacán. I remember the National Auditorium, where we touched. Once we took the Zócalo. We have very fond memories of Mexico.

And the Mexican food? Do you like?

Yes, of course. The first thing we do when we get to Mexico is to have dinner at a Mexican restaurant and order a big meal. I love that you put lemon in everything. We also like the weather. Right now we’re in Sweden, where it is cold, and it’s starting to rain at night, then it will be fantastic for us to go and enjoy a warm place for a while.