We caught up with him after the pressconference of the band on 31.12.2004 at the Scandic Hotel in Helsinki. Seppo was really nice and took a lot of time for our questions.
1. Was it always your dream to be a band manager, or how did you become one?
Seppo: “Oh, it all happend by accident only.”
2. But you like your job?
Seppo: “Yeah, absolutley. But I had a break, I wasn´t doing it always. It´s good to have a break now and then and so something completly different.”
3. What have you done during your break?
Seppo: “I was more or less producing theatre, musicals and stuff.”
4. But isn´t that really different?
Seppo: “Well, a bit. Less travelling.”
5. Don´t you like travelling?
Seppo: “Oh I like it, but sometimes it´s too hard, you know, when you are weeks and weeks on the road.”
6. You have been in America lately. What are the differences between touring in America and in Europe?
Seppo: “There is not really big difference at all. It´s the same set up every night. You have the stage, you have the backline, you have technicans, you have the bus, you have the hotels. Distances are very longer in America. But otherwise I don´t see any differences at all. Touring is the same wherever you go. Different people, maybe different characters and attitudes, you know all that. But basically the technical aspect is exactly the same.”
7. You also do another band, The Rasmus. How comes?
Seppo: “Well, that´s accidental again. They were supporting HIM at a few scandinavian dates, and they had a new album out. Their manager they used to work with went to work with Universal Records, so he couldn´t do it any longer. So they just ended up with me more or less.”
8. But both bands are touring at the same time sometimes. How do you manage that?
Seppo: “Normally I´m touring with HIM, so we have a Tourmanager for “The Rasmus”. But sometimes I go with them as well for some shows, like I do at the end of january when I go to Japan for four shows with them.”
9. Who do you prefer to go on tour with?
Seppo: “Well, HIM is a tradition. We have a longer history. But we have a tourmanager for HIM now as well, an american guy.”
10. Further HIM plans?
Seppo: “We have two dates in America, San Francisco and Los Angeles, which where postponed due Villes vocal problems. So we do these at end of February, and start recording at 1st of March for 2 month in a very nice mansion in L.A. in a area called Silver Lake. It´s a big mansion, so everybody can live there and they built the studio in there. And then Mix in May in New York, so touring is all open except Rock am Ring and Rock im Park which are confirmed.”
11. No more festivals?
Seppo: “We don´t know yet.”
12. Can we expect an european tour?
Seppo: “Might be 2006 when the album is out. Because we have a new record label, we have to go to a lot more places, as releasing in Japan, Australia, South America, all over the world. It takes much more time to go everywhere. But a tour in Germany in 2006 might be realistic.”
13. Since the New York gig the German press says Ville has big alcohol problems and that the vocal problems where just a lie.
Seppo: “No, NY was just like one day alcohol problem. And then the vocal problem, you know, was something called laringitis and we had a doctor there. Ville could barely speak, impossible to sing. But we did the last L.A. show, even if he wasn´t right yet. but it was working anyway.”
Thanks for the interview
Seppo: “You´re welcome.”
source: himforfans.de