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Fair warning, you mess with this interview, or try to change it and not give me credit, I will hunt your ass down and scalp you if you try.



"Scandinavian Melancholy"



An evening with H.I.M.



11/21/05 at the NorVa, Norfolk Va.



Dear reader, I have a tale to tell. A tale of a the events of a rainy night in a Virginia November. You'll see the insanity that a writer can face in uncertainty. The manic obsession to get the story, any way you can.

The day did not begin so well. We had the first rain in months come down in buckets that day, but the weather didnt drop below 60 degrees. It was a beautiful Virginia November day that would inspire Edgar Allan Poe. It seemed fitting that I would be going to the H.I.M. show that night.

I was up at noon, after a night of work and not much sleep. At 12:01 it was on. I was up, in the shower and in the process of getting ready. My press pass from the magazine was due to arrive by 3. It was guaranteed, I was told. It never showed. It was now 4, and no pass. Fuck. So much for taking Isaiah out to dinner for his birthday.

So I left, on the way to pick up Isaiah, our photographer. My stomach was in a knot. I'm one of these people who plans out just about everything within a reasonable time frame. If somehow I deviate from that I tend to go a little insane. I had spoken to Penny Palmer, with the bands management, and was told that an interview was not possible. Not for nothing, a photo pass would be left for us at will call. I also had an e-mail from Thomas Fuery, Tour manager for the Viva La Bands tour, stating that he would call me that Monday and let me know whats up. I was going to be doing everything humanly possible, and being about as bullheaded as being of Irish and Cherokee Indian decent allows. At about 5pm, while I was stuck in the parking lot known as I-64 gridlock, I received a call from a strange gentleman asking for Darci...



"Speaking"



"What is it you do?" a rather seductive voice asked.



"Well I happen to be a staff writer for PM Magazine," I replied "and this is?"



"Thomas Fuery, Tour manager for HIM."



Thank god! Just when it looked as if the night would be a complete disaster. I was asked what we needed, Just press passes and a possible 5 min interview with Ville Valo. He said hed get us some free tickets, and as far as the interview went, hed see what he could do.

Isaiah was picked up, we were off to see the wizard and arrived about 6pm, just as doors were opening. I began asking around for Thomas. None of the bouncers knew him, so one rather helpful bouncer by the name of Skip told us to try the merch girls. I felt like a moron, but it worked. A young German girl by the name of Nicole said "ah yes, Tom. Sexiest tour manager ever. He's off at some radio interview with the band". I figured that hed be over at WROX , 96X with Alfredo Torres doing the interview. Ok, Id wait.

In the meantime (a couple shots of jager, a heineken, a couple slices of pizza, and a soda), I spent recording my thoughts on the surrounding commotion, and reflecting. Most of the fans I saw were between the age of 15-20, and predominately female. Lots of guys there, with their girlfriends. Not a bad mix of emo kids and kinder goths.

After dinner in the "Rock Shop" bar , I stopped back in at the merch table to find Nicole and Tom Fuery . Just the man I was looking for. I asked what the status was on the interview, if we could do this.



"Right now, lets go." he replied.



" I need to get my photographer , Ill be right back." I replied

Once again, go go go, gotta get the interview. Back to the grind. I had Isaiah and we were off. Through the backstage area, up the elevator to the second floor dressing rooms (which are something of a local legend). Sitting on a couch, wearing a black t-shirt, black jacquard jacket, and jeans was Ville Valo and Midge, the bands bass player.

For those of you who are not acquainted with Ville Valo, I will give you the quick run down. Born Ville Hermanni Valo on November 22, 1976 in Helsinki, Finland at 8:28 A.M. His father was a cab driver who later owned a sex shop which Ville worked in at the age of 17. He is of Hungarian and Finnish decent (that might explain the dark allure he has). Hes been writing since he was 13, and has had the time to perfect his art. He is an artist, in every sense of the word, and rumor had it, could be temperamental (I saw no evidence of this when I spoke with him). He and some friends had formed H.I.M. in 1995 and the rest is history.

Tom began the introduction with "Gentlemen your evening entertainment has arrived". Well, there's one hell of an introduction. I did'nt want the guys thinking I was some groupie, so I introduced myself to Ville, gave him his birthday present, a copy of "The Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe" to which he seemed surprised and touched. Then off we went to the rec room to get a quiet moment. A few words in what I can only assume was Finnish were passed between Ville and Midge. From what I could gather Isaiah and I were not what they were expecting, but it seemed to be a pleasant surprise for them. I was offered a drink, but my response was "I've had 2 shots of Jager, and a beer, I think I'm set for now, but thank you." Ville raised his eyebrows and smiled.

While watching Ville, you'd think that Stewart Townsend must have watched this guy to figure out how Lestat would move. Ville's chartreuse green eyes would make Poppy Z. Brites Zillah (of "Lost Souls") blush. Of course Zillah might just cut them out and keep them in his pocket just for kicks. I complimented Ville as such, and I made him blush. Things began simple enough, I congratulated him on his engagement, to which I got a "hm," and Ville looking at the floor. I would wonder if there had been some development, that I hit a nerve. Not intentionally, of course. I decided it was best to move on from there. So heres the Q& A



Q: You've said in the past that you didnt believe in love, but yet you write these amazing songs about it, do you feel thats a bit of a paradox?



Ville: I never said that,



Midge`: Perhaps you had an off moment? Maybe he was just being ironic.





Darci: Well, I've heard youve given different answers to different interviews,



Ville: Yes, thats what I usually do, Um not believing in love that sounds kinda weird, but it could be that, not necessarily believing in that life lasting, puppy kinda love. I think thats it. There's so many different kinds of love.



Q: In the past you had a big image, lots of makeup, things like that, now youve toned it down somewhat. Is that a conscious decision?



Ville: Um, no I stopped drinking. (He says this as he takes another swig of beer)



Q: Ok, with the new album, you recorded it out in California, the production value is a lot better..



Vile: Well, Its different.



Q: Well it sounds a little bit better produced....



Vile: Its more .....slick. And its a bit more 80's to a certain extent. That was the whole key to it. And the idea behind the whole thing. Maybe the next album will sound like the White Stripes. I dont know.



Q: How do you feel that the Hot Topic endorsement has impacted how other fans and musicians see your band?



Midge`: Well I dont really know personally what Hot Topic is about...



Ville: It's actually a weird thing when we got contacted by the possibility of getting a lot of stuff for sale in there we didnt know what Hot topic was about, because they dont have Hot Topic in Europe. We just heard that there was a chain selling all sorts of crap and well, thats basically what they do, and they do it well. Who knows. There was a lot of people wanting the heartagram t-shirts and stuff before we had a proper release, musically, in the US. So why not? I heard that at one time we were outselling Metallica, and Led Zeppelin. Without having a proper release here. Its like Metallica, everybodys got the t-shirts but no one has heard the music.



Q: You say that love is your inspiration, but some of your songs are also dealing with loss. Now is that from some personal experiences or stories from fans, ect?



Ville: We Finnish men tend to be melancholy, and look into the past and be saddened by all the possibilities we had and we fucked them all up.



Q: Just like everyone else?



Ville: Exactly ! Especially this Scandinavian melancholy, is very, it has its roots in that lot. And its not nesscarily macho, thing to do but weve never cared about that.



D: Well Im glad, and the many fans downstairs are glad about that too. Tons of girls downstairs.



Ville: MMMMM.......



D: I doubt that any of them are over the age of 20, but .....



Ville and Midge`:Well?



D: Im pushing 30 here guys, come on!



Midge`: ahhh, then your welcome to the Jacuzzi.......



Ville: (laughter) if you dare.



D: I havent been in a Jacuzzi or hot tub in a few years and I dont have a bathing suit, and no I'm not skinny dipping.



Ville: We can sort something out, we could turn it into a bit of a dark room..



Midge`: everybodys reaching out



Q from Isaiah: What got you into music? Was it dreams or something like that?



Ville: Ive been writing songs since I was 13, and I'm turning 29 tomorrow. We've known each other since we were 9 or 10, weve been playing music since we were kids. So Its always been logical. Its the only thing I've been doing. Thats the only thing for me to put my feelings into. It's like my psychotherapy



Isaiah: so what your saying is music is your life?



Ville: Its one of these focusing points, one of those things that has never left me. Ive always had music by my side, so I tend to show, hopefully, poetically, See the world through my eyes....



And what beautiful eyes they are......



So the interview got off on the wrong foot, I think I must have said something to reverse that. Maybe it was the fact that Isaiah and I were not what they expected. What writer in their right mind would do 2 shots and a beer before the interview? I never claimed to be in my right mind, not even sure I have one. The invitation to the hot tub was unexpected. Clue # 1 that I made an impression. Ville and Midge` are 2 of the sweetest people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing. Both of them are very down to earth, and not pretentious in any way. Ville is the kind of guy you'd meet at some poetry reading at a coffee house, or goofing off in a bar. He is one of the most beautiful men I have ever met in all my years, not just physically but mentally. He is a gentle, poetic soul not made for this world. At least not today's world. Part of me wanted more time to see behind those chartreuse green eyes of his, but no luck this time. Perhaps another time........

Midge` you'd find at the local bar with a pint in his hands, a big teddy bear kind of guy. He's someone you want in your corner if in a bind or when you have to walk somewhere at night. Good men, both of them. I do hope that I see them again sometime in the future.

I had one more question for Ville. How the hell did he manage to sing with a cigarette in his mouth? His response was that he took Bill Clinton's advice, dont inhale. He and Midge` were off to write up the set list, or something like that. I thanked him for his time, and Isaiah and I were off downstairs. I put my hand in my pocket to find the necklace I had forgotten to give Ville. Shit, well theres always the after show. Problem was, I only had a press/ photo pass. This was going to take some finesse.

The first band I missed out on to get the interview, oh well. Skindred was one of the best shows I've seen in a while, with high energy and a crazy front man, Benjii. Their music is considered "Ragga Punk Metal", from the UK. An interesting choice to tour with HIM, who has been called "Love Metal". You have to consider the audience. It is the Viva La Bands tour with Bam Magera. So while it may seem odd to have these two acts touring, it worked well with the audience. The one track that remains memorable is "Nobody", which is destined to be on some action movie soundtrack. The other memorable moment of this set is when Benjii stopped the show to kick out someone who didnt help a girl who fell down in the pit. I have never seen that in all my years of going to shows with pits. 100 cool points to Skindred.

After Skindred, it was time for the headliners, HIM. Breaks in between are best spent in the bar, as Ive always said. Back for more drinks. I didn't need another, but once you have good energy going why spoil it? Half way through my drink Skip asks me "Whos driving?". I pointed to Isaiah. Skip then informs me that after the ammeretto sour I was drinking was gone I was cut off. Fine by me, I didn't plan on getting anymore drinks anyways. Dehydration was a concern now, so I was sticking to water. Still it annoyed me, I was no where near drunk and I wasnt being obnoxious. Still, Isaiah said he did notice the alcohol was kicking in. So I quit, besides I was still here in an official capacity, sort of.

No more alcohol, ok. Out comes Bam for all of 2 minutes, and some video promoting him, the "Viva La Bam" show on MTV. The crowd near the bar was getting restless, the song "Bat Country" by Avenged Sevenfold was the background music to the video, and the crowd knew every word.

Then the screams of 15 year old girls heralded the arrival of Ville Valo, Midge` and all the guys of HIM. The didnt waste any time by starting the show with the new single "Wings of a Butterfly". Good performance even if the sound was off a little. You almost couldn't hear Ville's vocals cause the crowd was singing along. For the first song, Ville kept gesturing to the sound techs what he needed. Up the mike, down the monitors just a bit. By the second song, the cover of the classic Chris Isaac song "Wicked Game" it was a bit better. Of course my position by the bar, near my old friend Dehvyn and the groupie contingent was not the best place in the building for sound. Still an enjoyable show nonetheless.

Crowd favorites were, "Killing Loneliness", and "Wicked Game" among others. One interesting moment came in between songs. Someone had thrown money on the stage. More than likely some girl's phone number. Ville stated that it was the moment he had been waiting for, someone to throw money at him while on stage. This started a rash of girls throwing lighters, money, and other miscellaneous items on stage. Ville then dedicated the next song to "everyone who will stop throwing shit on stage" he laughed.

Somewhere around this time a groupie tried to pick a fight with me, apparently I was in her way. I believe my response was something akin to "fuck off, I've got a job to do." I had spoken to her earlier. One of those "oh my gawd! You met the band! Whats Ville like? Is he nice?" I wanted to put my fingers up in the shape of a cross to get rid of the little bloodsucker. She probably decided that the odds were against her as far as a fight went. I was bigger and she was anorexic. I never did like groupies, shallow whores. They want to fuck a rock star/ actor because they are famous, then brag about it. Somehow they think that they will get respect for it, that the rock stars will remember them next time around. Its a cruel reality when they find out otherwise.

Not everyone I met was like that. Isaiah introduced me to Mike Pagan, of the band Ordained. Somehow he recognized me, from Lunatic Luau ( the big festival show of the summer). They were playing that Saturday at Gil's and could I make it. I had to work, but Isaiah would be there to get some shots and a little piece for the mag. Somehow it always works out.

So now it was time for the aftershow. Skip told me to stay by the bar, hes see what he could do for me to stay. Apparently one of the 400 pound gorillas thought otherwise. So Isaiah and I waited. We had been lucky enough to get the interview, and I still had a gift to give Ville, he had earned it and I wasnt going anywhere until I gave it to him. It was a custom rosary I ordered from Gothic Rosary.com. Rose beads with ankhs, and the eye of Horus as a centerpiece. Its a one of a kind, and Ville earned it.

But how to get it to him before the 400 pound gorilla threw me out? I waited and waited, till I heard the magic words "Hey Torres, get me a shot!" It had to be Alfredo "fan of the game" Torres of 96X. I went up and introduced myself to him, we had been on myspace on each others friends list. He asked if I was gonna stick around, told him my dilemma and he said "Oh fuck him, go hang out up there in the risers, and I'll hook you up!". I had to kiss the big guy on the head for the help. Alfredo Torres is the man! Ville came downstairs with the manager, ground rules were laid. The basic "keep it moving, dont let it become a mob scene or its over". General ground rules. We got a free poster, promo stuff. It all works out in the end.

So we get upstairs, manage to wait through groupies and sore feet (it will be the last time I wear platform heels). I see Ville and Midge` "here you are again!" he says. Ville seemed impressed with the gift, I said it would bring him luck and that he had earned it. When I spoke with Midge` I said "perhaps next time Ill take you up on the hot tub invitation". Both Midge` and Ville started laughing and I got a "all right! We love you! You're cool." I thanked Tom Furey yet again for the help and said Id have to get him a copy of the magazine.

On sore feet I limped out of the NorVa with Isaiah at my side. It was warm out, still and a slight rain. This was the end to a perfect Virginia November evening, Edgar Allan Poe wouldve been proud. I could feel the stirring of the muse wanting me to write. Ville managed to kill my writer's block, a feat indeed. A classic poem was written that night. Dear reader, I will leave you with just a taste.



"I leave you alone in the night



with only a kiss upon your lips



nothing but a memory



I know youll always want more



But will you remember me?"



- Darci





*Big thanks are due to Tom Fuery, Nicole, Skip, Dehvyn, Penny Palmer, Liz the bartender, Alfredo (fan of the game) Torres, Isaiah for putting up with me and my mania, my ever patient editor Mike, and last but not least, Ville and Midge` for taking time out of their busy schedule to help an up and comming magazine, and my apologies to Ville for horribly mispronouncing his name. Without your help, I never would have got this interview. Goddess Bless.