In an effort to clear the air of misconceptions by fans and media, the three former members of Children of Bodom have issued a statement less than two months after announcing their departures from the band. Jaska Raatikainen (drums), Henri “Henkka T. Blacksmith” Seppälä (bass) and Janne Wirman (keyboards) have confirmed that they are still the rightful owners of the COB brand. On November 1st, Raatikainen, Seppälä and Wirman issued a statement saying that they would leave the band after playing the final show of the band’s Finnish tour on December 15 at the Black Box in Helsinki Ice Hall. A short time later, Finnish music magazine Soundi reported that the rights to the Children of Bodom name are held by AA & Sewira Consulting Oy, the company owned by Raatikainen, Seppälä and Wirman. On June 28, the trio filed an application with the National Board of Patents and Registration of Finland, and their application was subsequently granted for a five-year period starting on October 1. As a result, Alexi Laiho, who is Children of Bodom’s singer, guitarist and main songwriter, isn’t authorized to use the band’s name without permission from Wirman, Raatikainen and Seppälä. Read the statement from the three members below.Continue reading →