Finnish metal icons Children Of Bodom may be forced to adopt a new moniker following the departure of three of the group’s members earlier this month.
If your knowledge of Finnish musical groups is somewhat limited, then at the very least you would likely have heard of Children Of Bodom.
Named after the infamous Lake Bodom murders, the group’s 1993 formation quickly saw the band become household names in their native land, with all but one of their last seven albums topping the Finnish charts.
Earlier this month though, the group revealed that a lineup shift would be taking place in December with founding drummer Jaska Raatikainen, bassist Henri “Henkka T. Blacksmith” Seppälä, and keyboardist Janne Wirman all announcing their departure following one last show.
“After almost 25 years with Bodom, thousands of shows and 10 albums, it is time for Henkka, Janne and Jaska to step back and change direction within their lives,” a statement revealed.
“All three will miss the fans and supporters in every city in every country the band ever played.”
While this shift leaves only founding member Alexi Laiho accompanied by guitarist Daniel Freyberg, it now appears as though the future of the band’s infamous name is now in danger as well.
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Check out Children Of Bodom’s ‘In Your Face’:
As Finnish music publication Soundi points out, an investigation with the Patent and Registration Office reveals that the rights for band’s name are in fact held by AA & Sewira Consulting Oy, a company owned by the wayward Wirman, Raatikainen and Seppälä.
Having applied for the rights for the trademark earlier this year, the application was granted at the start of October. For those wondering, this means that for Alexi Laiho to use the Children Of Bodom name, the exiting band members would need to grant permission.
While the reasons for the members’ departure is as yet unknown, the timeline of events seems to indicate that this may have all been done as a way to intentionally make things difficult for Laiho, especially after the latter indicated that in-fighting had occurred within the band.
Although it’s unclear as to whether or not permission will be given for Laiho to use the moniker, he explained to Soundi that it might be safer not to use the Children Of Bodom name anyway.
“It may be that the name of our new lineup needs to be [tweaked] a bit in some direction,” he explained. “Or maybe it could be just Bodom or the name of one of our songs.
“Legally, it might not be a good idea to continue with exactly the same name. But it must be a name that suggests that it is the same [band].”
Whatever the case, it looks as though things might become clearer once Children Of Bodom farewell Jaska Raatikainen, Henri Seppälä, and Janne Wirman with one last concert on December 15th.
Check out ‘Are You Dead Yet?’ by Children Of Bodom:
