Venus Doom

Formed in 1991 by vocalist Ville Valo, guitarist Mikko Lindström (Linde), and bassist Mikko Paananen(Mige). Today the band consists of the previously named as well as a drummer Mika Karppinen(Gas) and a keyboardist Janne Puurtinen(Burton). The name HIM was originally an abbreviation for “His Infernal Majesty”, but was changed to the initials to avoid confusion with the occult. The name “HIM” later caused confusion when touring in the US, because of another band using the same name (read below at 2)). For this reason, the band was -jokingly - for some time known as “HER” in the States, and even more jokingly HIM&Her in Germany. The EP, ‘666 Ways to Love: Prologue’ (1996) was their EP ...