Alexi Laiho Can’t Legally Use Children of Bodom Name

According to Finnish music zine Soundi, Children of Bodom mastermind Alexi Laiho can not use the band’s name without permission from his soon-to-be former bandmates.

Children of Bodom announced the departure of three core members — bassist Henri ‘Henkka T. Blacksmith’ Seppala, drummer Jaska W. Raatikainen and keyboardist Janne Wirman — earlier this month. The band will bid farewell to the musicians at a Dec. 15 gig in Helsinki, but following that show, the name Children of Bodom may never again appear on a marquee.

The Children of Bodom name is currently held by AA & Sewira Consulting Oy, which is owned by Seppala, Raatikainen and Wirman. The trio filed an application with the National Board of Patents and Registration of Finland. As of Oct. 1, their application was granted for a five-year period, leaving the Children of Bodom name in their hands until 2024.

Despite not owning the Bodom moniker, Laiho is an original member of the band with Raatikainen. Seppala joined in 1995, while Wirman became a Bodom member in 1997. Guitarist Daniel Freyberg, who joined in 2016, is the only remaining Bodom member alongside Laiho.

“It might not be a good idea,” Laiho says of gaining permission to continue with the Children of Bodom name. "It may be that the name of our new lineup needs to be tweaked a bit in some direction. Or maybe it could be just Bodom or the name of one of our songs. But it must be a name that suggests that it is the same [group]."

“The thrill of a new lineup seems to quell sadness,” Laiho adds.

As for the dissolution of the band, Laiho explained to Helsingin Sanomat, "The original decision came when the other guys said they just couldn't do it anymore. There were family reasons for it. I respect their decision. I myself have a wife and stepdaughter in Australia, and my wife understands my lifestyle. I'm pretty much gone [most of the time], but always I come back and I give them my all. Nothing is more important to me … We fought a lot within the band, and I can honestly admit that those fights were mainly my fault. They always started with some misunderstanding."

"I have no bad feelings for any of them, and hopefully they have no respect for anyone else. Otherwise, we wouldn't be able to pull a big Christmas rundle together. It also tells us that we are in a good spirit. Let's make a legendary ending with this lineup," he concluded.

Children of Bodom’s final shows with their current lineup will take place from Dec. 5 - 15.

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