Ex-Santa Cruz bassist Middy Toivonen resurfaces in Bodom After Midnight
Ex-Santa Cruz bassist Middy Toivonen resurfaces in Bodom After Midnight
It’s been a long time since we heard from former Santa Cruz bassist Middy Toivonen. Back in mid-March 2018, three quarters of Santa Cruz — Toivonen, guitarist Johnny Parkkonen and drummer Tan Fagerstorm — quit the band in the midst of a tour throughout the United States of America. Of note, Santa Cruz‘s debut full-length album Screaming For Adrenaline finished at #1 on the Sleaze Roxx’s Top Ten Albums of 2013.
The following message was posted in part on Toivonen‘s Facebook page yesterday:
“Bodom After Midnight
I am far beyond stoked to announce that from now on I’ll be sharing stage with @danielfreyberg @alexilaiho.official and @waltsunfyre
Can’t wait to get back on the road!!!
–Middy“
Bodom After Midnight‘s “Story” on their Facebook page indicates (with slight edits):
“The blood in most musicians’ veins would curdle if they all of a sudden learned that the perpetually globe-trotting team they have recorded ten albums with is about to implode. This was the fate staring Alexi Laiho straight in the face at a band meeting early last year.
As the assembly was completed, the attendees had reached a unanimous decision: The group known as Children Of Bodom would cease to exist after a concert at the Helsinki Ice Hall in December 2019. The shutdown process went as planned and the members parted as friends. End of a story that had begun in 1993.
The situation was a new kind of challenge. What went through the mind of the guitarist, songwriter and bandleader who had been continually chosen as the best metal guitarist in the world by the readers’ and experts’ polls of various music magazines and websites? Laiho brushed the dust off his shoulders and revved up the engines. A new line-up or death! Luckily, he wasn’t alone.
Guitarist Daniel Freyberg crawled through the wreckage to join Laiho in his quest. Committing to a hard-working team was never a problem for him either. But two guitar players do not a group make. It was time to start thinking about who could handle the drums, bass and keyboards. There were many options to choose from. But as Laiho had already witnessed people exit less than elegantly, he wanted to get just the right cohorts.
High-level musicianship, a cool stage presence and a fitting personality were the factors put under the microscope. Finally, the pieces to complete the puzzle were found. And the name for the new line-up? It had been right under Alexi’s nose all along.
The drummer will be Waltteri Väyrynen who has been a member of Paradise Lost since 2015 whereas bass duties are handled by Mitja Toivonen of Santa Cruz fame. As a touring keyboardist, the quartet is joined by Lauri Salomaa.
Alexi Laiho will lead Bodom After Midnight to play selected festival appearances follow after which band will start working on new material.
At the moment, he also has another thing to be very excited about. Alexi Laiho’s autobiography, released a year ago, has shipped over 11 000 copies in Finland. Chaos, Control & Guitar will come out in English in May from Johnny Kniga, an imprint of Werner Söderström Ltd.”
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