Back in March we shared the sad news about the Finnish sensation HIM and their announcement of a “Farewell Tour” and the ending of the band activity as we know it. The full press from then along with our thoughts about the news can be found on THIS POST. So please click through for a recap if this news is somehow new to you. Earlier today the band unveiled the final US Tour dates for a go round now being called the “Bang & Whimper: The Farewell Tour”. Take a look, and mark your calendars for the closest show nearest you.
The Press Release:
Following a long radio silence, Finnish rock giants HIM have announced the Bang & Whimper Tour 2017, closing the final chapter on their 26-year career. Front man Ville Valo offers, “After quarter of a century of Love and Metal intertwined we sincerely feel HIM has run its unnatural course and adieus must be said in order to make way for sights, scents and sounds yet unexplored. We completed the pattern, solved the puzzle and turned the key. Thank you.”
Formed in 1991 by vocalist Ville Valo, guitarist Mikko “Linde” Lindström and bassist Mikko “Migé” Paananen, HIM truly stand out as one of the rock world’s most unique acts. Beautifully blending metal, goth and hard rock with deep, thoughtful and moving lyrics, HIM offered the world a new take on the metal genre, which became known as Love Metal (also the title of their fourth album).
Over the course of eight studio albums, HIM captured the hearts and minds of fans across the globe, drawn by their irresistible and inimitable style. Under the banner of their Heartagram logo – a potent symbol encapsulating the juxtaposition of the light and dark, the fierce and forlorn, and the evil and love found in their music – HIM filled venues and crashed charts the world over, collecting numerous awards, gracing countless magazine covers and becoming the first Finnish act to achieve Gold status in the USA.
Now, four years after the release of their last studio album ‘Tears On Tape’, HIM are saying farewell, taking in 14 countries across 35 shows for their final goodbye. Bassist Mige shares, “At the end of 2017 we will be released into the wild. Before this event of great transformation, we would love to offer you one last chance to experience our live performances in His Majesty’s service. It shall not be a weepfest, but a celebration of love metal in all its lovecraftian glory! See you there!” HIM is Ville Valo (vocals), Mige (bass), Linde (guitar), Burton (keyboards), and Kosmo (drums).
The Tour Dates:
10/24: Phoenix, AZ @ The Van Buren
10/25: Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern
10/26: Anaheim, CA @ House of Blues
10/28: Salt Lake City, UT @ The Depot
10/29: Denver, CO @ Summit Music Hall
11/02: Houston, TX @ House of Blues
11/03: Dallas, TX @ House of Blues
11/05: Orlando, FL @ House of Blues
11/06: Atlanta, GA @ Buckhead Theatre
11/07: Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore
11/09: Silver Springs, MD @ The Fillmore
11/10: Chicago, IL @ House of Blues
11/11: Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore
11/13: Toronto, ON @ Rebel
11/15: Philadelphia, PA @ The Fillmore
11/16: Worcester, MA @ The Palladium
11/17: New York, NY @ Hammerstein Ballroom
*** end of transmission **
PiercingMetal Thoughts: I’m fairly certain that I’ll be dealing with a fortress of tears of my own with this final go round of shows and when it all comes to a close in NYC as Ville and the guys say “Goodnight and Farewell” to the score of fans that HIM has built up over the years in this region. As longer time readers know, we are big fans of the band here at the Metal Command HQ and for any of you newbies, you can peruse a healthy batch of our content via THIS LINK as it brings you to the HIM search tag. Way back when, I learned about them quite by accident with the song “Join Me In Death” and caught the second of their first ever visit to NYC shows. I don’t think I missed a tour since. Their catalog has held a special place in my musical heart and I’ve enjoyed them in concert for almost fifteen years. They shall be missed but we still have months to go and that means time to celebrate their existence and order music and so forth. I don’t think we will find a second date for NYC based on the closeness of each show. This is probably the same case for other gigs on the run so I suggest when they go on sale that you secure your spot or risk missing out completely. So what do you readers think of these final stops in the storied career of His Infernal Majesty? Will you be joining me in death with your sweet 6-6-6 one more time? Chime in down in the comments section below. Less than six months remain before the USA says “jäähyväiset” to Ville and company and that notion is causing the sorrow to build. Let’s do this my friends. Let the tears flow freely.
Official Website: http://www.heartagram.com