R.I.P. Alexi Laiho of Children of Bodom

Alexi Laiho, guitarist and frontman of Swedish metal band Children of Bodom, died last week at his home in Finland, according to a statement from his publicist. He was 41. According to the statement, Laiho had suffered from several long-term health problems.

“We are crushed by the sudden passing of our dear friend and band member,” the surviving members of Bodom After Midnight write. “Words cannot describe this shock and the profound sadness that we feel.”

Laiho was born in Espoo, Finland in 1979, and he formed his first group, melodic death metal band Inearthed, in 1993. The band changed their name to Children of Bodom in 1997 and released their debut album, Something Wild, that same year. The band released 10 albums throughout their career, including 1999’s Hatebreeder, which is regarded as a melodic death metal and power metal classic. The band’s last album was 2019’s Hexed. They played their final concert that same year.

The same year that Children of Bodom disbanded, Laiho founded Bodom After Midnight, who recorded three songs that will be released posthumously, according to their publicist.

Kelly Wright-Laiho, Alexi Laiho’s wife, said in a statement about her husband, “Alexi was the most loving and magnificent husband and father. Our hearts are eternally broken.”