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On Tour, Sobriety, and Sailing with Metal: A Conversation with Alexi Laiho of CHILDREN OF BODOM

By capitalchaostv on March 28, 2016 • ( 0 )

It’s not every day you get to sit down with a true metal legend, but during a recent tour stop, we had the chance to catch up with Alexi Laiho of Children of Bodom. From touring with Megadeth to performing sober on a metal cruise, Alexi shared his thoughts on the road, recovery, and rocking hard without burning out.

Growing Up in the Finnish Metal Scene

We kicked things off by talking about his early days in Finland and what the metal scene was like when he first started out.

“When we started the band, the scene—especially for a band like Children of Bodom—was basically non-existent,” Alexi said. “It was all underground. The whole black and death metal thing, that Scandinavian vibe, was there… but trying to get gigs in the mid-90s was rough.”

Alexi’s musical journey started early—like, really early.

“I started piano at five, picked up the violin at seven, and got my first guitar when I was eleven. From there, it was game over. I knew this was it.”

On the Road with Megadeth and Suicidal Tendencies

Right now, Children of Bodom are tearing it up on tour with metal titans Megadeth, and Alexi couldn’t be more pleased.

“It’s been great, actually,” he says. “Packed houses, big venues—just amazing energy all around. I’m really happy with how it’s going.”

They’re also sharing the stage with Suicidal Tendencies, who recently joined the tour a few shows in.

“They didn’t play the first four dates—no idea why—but yeah, I love Suicidal. They’re awesome live, and it’s been great having them on the road with us.”

70,000 Tons of Metal: Better the Second Time Around

Children of Bodom recently returned to the high seas for another round of 70,000 Tons of Metal, the world’s biggest heavy metal cruise.

“This was our second time doing it, and it was definitely better than the first. It was better organized overall,” Alexi explains. “But it’s still tough—trying to organize anything on a boat with thousands of metalheads is a challenge. You’re literally stuck on a ship for five days!”

Still, it was a solid experience—and one Alexi approached a little differently this time.

Staying Sober in a Sea of Chaos

One major change? Alexi’s sobriety. Known for his wild days and hard-partying ways, he’s been cutting back significantly in recent years.

“I told myself I wasn’t going to drink on that cruise, and I didn’t. It was a challenge, for sure,” he admits. “Most of the time I just did our shows, a jam with Jeff Waters from Annihilator, and then holed up in my cabin. It gets hectic on that boat—everyone’s partying, drinking—and when you’re trying to stay sober, it can be a lot.”

Alexi admits there were moments when he craved a drink but stayed strong.

“I got through it. It’s about taking care of myself now.”

Life on Tour Without the Booze

Going sober on the road hasn’t just helped his health—it’s also made him a better performer.

“The first sober tour was weird, yeah. I’d always been the party guy, the last one to bed. But I realized I couldn’t keep doing that. I couldn’t handle being hungover on stage every night.”

“The hangovers got so violent that I wasn’t even enjoying the shows anymore. That was the wake-up call—this is my dream, and I’m up there just trying to get through it? That didn’t make sense.”

Now, Alexi says, he’s found a new balance.

“I’m not 23 anymore. I had to learn to take care of myself. I might have a couple of beers here and there, but I don’t get wasted on tour anymore.”

Still Blowing It Up – Just Smarter

Whether it’s playing to sold-out arenas with Megadeth or riding waves with thousands of fans on a metal cruise, Alexi Laiho continues to be a force in the metal world—but now with a clearer head and a renewed focus.

“Touring’s better now,” he says simply. “And I’m better, too

Favorite Places to Play? Too Many to Name

Children of Bodom has toured globally for over 20 years, and when I asked Alexi about his favorite country to perform in, he couldn’t choose just one.

“It changes all the time. A couple years ago, Canada had some of the best crowds. Sometimes it’s the East Coast—New York and that area. Japan is always amazing. Europe is great. Mexico? Freaking rad. South America? Insane.”

But not every crowd hits the same every time.

“Sometimes you go back to a place that was wild before, and it’s mellow. Then you return again, and it’s back to being crazy. You never really know what to expect.”

The State of the Music Industry: “It’s a Friggin’ Mess”

When it comes to the changing landscape of the music business—streaming, downloads, falling album sales—Alexi didn’t sugarcoat it.

“I’m not a big fan of where it’s headed, but I’m also not gonna whine about it. We’re a hard-touring band, and as long as we stay on the road, we’ll be okay.”

But still, he admits, it’s uncertain.

“Who knows what things will look like in five years? The whole industry’s a mess.”

Pre-Show Rituals: From Whiskey to Red Bull

Preparing for a show is a serious process for Alexi, even if it’s changed over the years.

“I warm up on guitar for at least an hour—sometimes more. Honestly, there’s not much else to do during the day.”

Music helps set the mood, but these days it’s more caffeine, less alcohol.

“Five years ago, I’d do two shots of whiskey—just enough to stay even, not drunk. But I don’t do that anymore. Now it’s just a couple Red Bulls.”

Album Favorites and Unexpected Gems

Every fan has their favorite track, and so does Alexi. He was happy to hear a few of mine—like “Morrigan,” “I Worship Chaos,” and “Prayer for the Afflicted.”

“Those are definitely favorites of mine too. One track that stands out for me is ‘All for Nothing.’ It’s the second-to-last track. It’s slower, has a different vibe. It’s not typical Bodom, but I think we pulled it off really well.”

On Album Art, The Reaper, and the Yellow Era

Bodom’s iconic Reaper mascot is back on the cover art again—but with a twist.

“The artist who did this album also worked on one previous one. We’ve had two main guys who’ve done most of our covers. But this time, we really wanted to try something new.”

This album has a bold yellow theme, which Alexi was excited to finally nail.

“We’ve always liked having a strong one-color theme. Yellow’s tricky, but we pulled it off. And yeah, we’ve got the Reaper again—but we didn’t want to just repeat ourselves.”

On Writing Music and Avoiding the Pressure

As for crafting a new Children of Bodom album—number nine to be exact—Alexi says it’s getting harder, but also more personal.

“It does get tougher. The more I think about it, the harder it gets. So I’ve learned to just block everything out—go into full recluse mode. The world doesn’t exist when I’m writing.”

“If I start thinking about what fans want, or how to please people, I’m screwed. You can’t write music like that. You’ve gotta write what sounds awesome to you—then hope others feel the same.”