The Rasmus

The Rasmus

The Rasmus is a Finnish rock band formed in Helsinki in 1994. The current lineup features Lauri Ylönen on lead vocals and songwriting, Eero Heinonen on bass, Aki Hakala on drums, and Emilia "Emppu" Suhonen on guitar. Pauli Rantasalmi, the band's guitarist since its inception, departed in January 2022.

Early Years and Breakthrough

Initially known as Rasmus, the band emerged during their school years. They independently released their debut single, "1st," in late 1995. A year later, they signed with Warner Music Finland, releasing their first album, Peep, which achieved gold status in Finland. In 1996, The Rasmus received the Finnish Grammy Award (EMMA) for Best New Artist. Their second album, Playboys (1997), and its single "Blue" also earned gold certifications in their home country. The 1998 release, Hellofatester, included the singles "Liquid" and "Swimming With The Kids," with the music video for "Liquid" receiving significant airplay on Nordic MTV.

International Recognition and Evolution

In 2000, the band officially became The Rasmus to distinguish themselves from a Swedish electronic artist named Rasmus. Their 2001 album, Into, achieved double platinum status in Finland and debuted at number one. The lead single, "F-F-F-Falling," dominated the Finnish charts for three months, while "Chill" reached number two. That year, The Rasmus embarked on tours across Scandinavia and Europe with HIM and Roxette.

International fame arrived with their 2003 album, Dead Letters. The album achieved gold and platinum status in multiple countries, propelled by the global hit single "In the Shadows," which topped charts worldwide. The track's inclusion as a free single on the iTunes Music Store led to widespread album purchases. The 2004 single "Guilty" was the final release from Dead Letters, following other well-received tracks like "In My Life," "First Day of My Life," and "Funeral Song." During the 2004 Reading Festival in England, the band faced an on-stage disruption that led to Eero Heinonen requiring medical attention.

Continued Output and Anniversary

The band's sixth studio album, Hide from the Sun, was released in September 2005, reaching platinum status in Finland and selling over 15,000 copies in the UK alone, with worldwide sales exceeding 400,000. The album featured the singles "No Fear," "Sail Away," and "Shot." Recording for their seventh album, Black Roses, began in 2006, with sessions taking place in various international locations. The album yielded the singles "Livin' In A World Without You" and "Justify," both accompanied by globally aired music videos.

To commemorate their 15th anniversary, The Rasmus released the compilation album Best of 2001-2009 on November 28, 2009. The collection included a previously unreleased track, "October & April," featuring Anette Olzon of Nightwish. This song was recorded during the Black Roses sessions but was not included on the album due to thematic differences.

Recent Releases and Eurovision

The self-titled eighth album, The Rasmus, was released in April 2012. Its lead single, "I'm a Mess," served as the official song for the 2012 European Athletics Championships. The album garnered awards for Best Album Cover and Best Music Video at the EMMA awards.

In the fall of 2016, the band commenced recording their ninth album, Dark Matters. The lead single, "Paradise," was released in March 2017, followed by the album in October of the same year.

In 2021, The Rasmus released two singles in anticipation of a new album: "Bones" in May and "Venomous Moon" in September, featuring Finnish cello-rock band Apocalyptica.

January 2022 marked the band's participation in the Finnish national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 with the song "Jezebel," their first single featuring new guitarist Emppu. They won the national selection and proceeded to represent Finland in the contest, reaching the finals and securing 21st place.

On June 10, 2022, the band released the new track "Rise," coinciding with the announcement of their tenth studio album, also titled Rise, which was released on September 23, 2022.