# Alexi Laiho

> Finnish musician (1979–2020)

**Wikidata**: [Q270970](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q270970)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexi_Laiho)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/alexi-laiho

## Summary
Alexi Laiho was a Finnish musician, singer, songwriter, guitarist, and composer, best known for pioneering the melodic death metal genre as the frontman of the band Children of Bodom. Active from 1993 until his death in 2020, his career spanned nearly three decades and multiple highly influential Finnish metal and rock groups.

## Biography
- **Full Name:** Markku Uula Aleksi Laiho
- **Aliases:** Alexi "Wildchild" Laiho, Aleksi Laiho, Allu, Epileps
- **Born:** April 8, 1979 (Finland)
- **Died:** December 29, 2020
- **Nationality:** Finnish (Finland)
- **Education:** Attended an institution identified by the identifier Q18658946.
- **Occupations:** Musician, singer, songwriter, guitarist, composer
- **Fields:** Music, melodic death metal, singing, music composing
- **Active Years:** 1993 – 2020
- **Known for:** Founding and leading the Finnish melodic death metal band Children of Bodom.

## Contributions
Alexi Laiho's primary contributions to music center around his work as a guitarist, singer, and composer across several Finnish bands. Over his 27-year career, he wrote, composed, and performed numerous original musical works. His key projects include:
*   **Children of Bodom:** A Finnish melodic death metal band (formed in 1993) that served as his main creative vehicle.
*   **Impaled Nazarene:** An extreme metal band from Finland (formed in 1990).
*   **Sinergy:** A Finnish power metal band (formed in 1997).
*   **Thy Serpent:** A Finnish metal band (formed in 1994).
*   **Kylähullut:** A Finnish band (formed in 2004).
*   **The Local Band:** A Finnish rock band (formed in 2013).
*   **Bodom After Midnight:** A Finnish band (formed in 2019), his final musical project.

## FAQs
**What bands was Alexi Laiho a member of?**
Alexi Laiho was a member of seven notable bands: Children of Bodom, Bodom After Midnight, Impaled Nazarene, Sinergy, Thy Serpent, Kylähullut, and The Local Band.

**What genres of music did Alexi Laiho create?**
He primarily created melodic death metal and extreme metal, but also contributed to power metal and rock music.

**What instruments did Alexi Laiho play?**
He was a guitarist and singer, utilizing both skills simultaneously in his performances and recordings.

## Why They Matter
Alexi Laiho is considered a foundational figure in modern heavy metal, specifically for his role in popularizing and advancing the melodic death metal genre. As the vocalist, lead guitarist, and primary composer for Children of Bodom, his technical playing style and aggressive vocal delivery influenced a generation of musicians. His work helped bring Finnish extreme metal to a global audience throughout the late 1990s and 2000s. 

## Notable For
*   Serving as the lead guitarist, vocalist, and composer for Children of Bodom from 1993 to 2020.
*   Contributing to the melodic death metal subgenre, which originated in 1990.
*   Holding memberships in multiple extreme and power metal bands, including Impaled Nazarene, Sinergy, and Bodom After Midnight.
*   Maintaining an active, uninterrupted musical career from 1993 until his passing in 2020.

## Body

### Early Life and Identity
Markku Uula Aleksi Laiho, known professionally as Alexi Laiho, was born on April 8, 1979, in Finland. He held Finnish citizenship and was active in the music industry from a young age. He was also known by the aliases "Wildchild," "Allu," "Aleksi Laiho," and "Epileps."

### Musical Career and Band Memberships
Laiho's professional career spanned from 1993 to 2020. He was a multi-talented artist who worked as a musician, singer, songwriter, guitarist, and composer. He was closely associated with the Finnish metal scene and held membership in several bands:
*   **Children of Bodom (1993–2020):** The Finnish melodic death metal band he fronted and led throughout his career.
*   **Impaled Nazarene:** An extreme metal band formed in 1990.
*   **Thy Serpent:** A Finnish metal band formed in 1994.
*   **Sinergy:** A Finnish power metal band formed in 1997.
*   **Kylähullut:** A Finnish band formed in 2004.
*   **The Local Band:** A Finnish rock band formed in 2013.
*   **Bodom After Midnight (2019–2020):** His final band, formed shortly before his death.

### Creative Output and Artistry
Laiho specialized in the fields of music composing and singing. His work involved producing musical sounds with the voice and creating original pieces of music, both vocal and instrumental. His compositions are classified as composed musical works within the broader context of the musical arts. His work operated heavily within the melodic death metal genre, a subgenre of death metal and heavy metal that emerged in 1990.

### Structured Properties and Identifiers
Laiho is cataloged in numerous international databases and authority control systems:
*   **Date of Birth:** April 8, 1979 (+1979-04-08T00:00:00Z)
*   **Date of Death:** December 29, 2020 (+2020-12-29T00:00:00Z)
*   **ISNI:** 0000000078814734
*   **VIAF ID:** 451149106174068491357
*   **GND ID:** 135201322
*   **Library of Congress Authority ID:** no2011032557
*   **IMDb ID:** nm4237577
*   **MusicBrainz Artist ID:** 48c7deb0-e19d-4e0b-86f1-ed799ca9dc73
*   **Discogs Artist ID:** 411228
*   **Metal Archives ID:** 15278
*   **Social Media Handles:** Twitter (@AlexiLaihoCOBHC), Instagram (@alexilaiho.official), Facebook (AlexiLaihoOfficial).
*   **Official Website:** cobhc.com

### Death and Legacy
Alexi Laiho passed away on December 29, 2020. His death concluded an influential career that left a lasting mark on the heavy metal and melodic death metal genres. Images of his performances, such as those at the Rockharz Open Air 2016 and Ilosaarirock 2009, document his enduring presence as a live performer.

## References

1. [Äärimetallin virtuoosimaisen uudistajan Alexi Laihon musiikillinen elämäntyö on mittava, mutta se jäi pahasti kesken. Sanoma Media Finland. 2021](https://www.hs.fi/kulttuuri/art-2000007719708.html)
2. [Kitaristi Alexi Laiho, 41, on kuollut. 2021](https://www.iltalehti.fi/viihdeuutiset/a/3a84e54f-2ca0-4245-b5f0-443ef0304df6)
3. Integrated Authority File
4. [Source](https://www.is.fi/viihde/art-2000007748095.html)
5. Czech National Authority Database
6. [Viinaa, vihaa ja "mieshuoraamista Kallion räkälöissä": elämäkerta paljastaa hevilegenda Alexi Laihon rajun elämän. Yle. 2019](https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-10684937)
7. [Source](https://www.is.fi/musiikki/art-2000008467183.html)
8. Virtual International Authority File
9. MusicBrainz
10. Discogs
11. [Kuolleita. Sanoma Media Finland. 2021](https://www.hs.fi/lehti/hs-daily/2021-02-04/50)
12. [Children of Bodomin perustanut Alexi Laiho on kuollut: kitaristi arvosti suomalaista itsepäisyyttä ja sisua. Yle. 2021](https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-11723185)
13. [Obituary](https://www.instagram.com/p/CK2r3H5pIt3/)
14. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
15. CONOR.SI