Lauri Ylönen

Lauri Ylönen

Lauri Ylönen (born Lauri Johannes Ylönen, 23 April 1979, Helsinki) is the frontman of the Finnish alternative rock band The Rasmus.

Biography

Early days

Ylönen was born and grew up in Helsinki. He learned to play the piano when he was five years old, and later learned to play guitar and drums. When Ylönen was eight years old, he met Eero Heinonen (the bassist of The Rasmus) and they became close friends during the school year. Ylönen's older sister, Hanna, said that he should try to sing as well. He tried and decided to continue with that.

The Rasmus

Main article: The Rasmus

When he and Heinonen started at Suutarila high school in the early 1990s, they met Pauli Rantasalmi and later Janne Heiskanen. Ylönen initiated the project of The Rasmus (then called just "Rasmus") in 1994, along with Eero Heinonen (bass) Pauli Rantasalmi (guitar), and Janne Heiskanen (drums). First, they called themselves Trashmosh, then Antilla, and at last Rasmus. They played their very first show before the winter break in school, 1994. They played songs with a style of rock and funk. Ylönen became the lead singer, composer and songwriter of the band. He quit school because the band took too much of his time.

In 1998, after having released three albums, Janne Heiskanen left and Aki Hakala became The Rasmus' new drummer. In the same year, the band's former manager Teja Kotilainen left their current record label, Warner Music Finland. The band signed to Playground Music Scandinavia soon afterwards.

Dynasty

In 1999, an association called Dynasty was founded. The association consists of the three Finnish bands The Rasmus, Killer, and Kwan. The purpose of Dynasty was to signify allegiance and friendship between the bands and their members. Many members have tattoos or wear the Dynasty logotype on guitar straps. The bands have often worked together musically. Lauri has the tattoo on his arm as well as Pauli, Pauli also got the dynasty logo on his guitar (ESP LTD).

Side projects

When he was with Siiri Nordin, the singer of Killer, he sang the group's single, "All I Want".

In 2004, Ylönen recorded a song together with Apocalyptica and HIM's singer Ville Valo, named "Bittersweet". The song is available on Apocalyptica's self-titled album, Apocalyptica. It has also been released as a single and music video.

A year later, he released another song with Apocalyptica, named "Life Burns!". This song was also released as a single and music video. The musical genre was much heavier than "Bittersweet." "Life Burns!" is taken from the same album as "Bittersweet" Ylönen also sang, with other members Kwan and Siiri Nordin of Killer, a song called "Chillin' at the Grotto" at a gala.

Ylönen's most recent project was composing the soundtrack of the Finnish movie "Blackout". The soundtrack was released in December 2008.

Most recently, Ylönen announced a solo album scheduled for release in March 2011 with the first single "Heavy". The material will have its premiere at Emma Gala in February 2011. Ylönen stated that he wanted several songs, that didn't fit The Rasmus, to be released as a major record rather than a demo or something like that. The album will be self-produced with his record label Dynasty Recording.

Personal life

Ylönen's partner is Paula Vesala, one of the lead singers of the Finnish rock band PMMP..

Discography

Studio albums

With The Rasmus

• 1996 – Peep
• 1997 – Playboys
• 1998 – Hell of a Tester
• 2001 - Hell of a Collection
• 2001 – Into
• 2003 – Dead Letters
• 2005 – Hide from the Sun
• 2008 - Black Roses
• 2009 - Best of 2001-2009
• 2011 - New Studio Album

References

• The Rasmus.com - official band biography Retrieved on 2005-18-09

External links

• The Rasmus' official website
• Lauri Ylönen at the Internet Movie Database