Ex–Children of Bodom frontman and guitarist Alexi Laiho has passed away following “long term health issues” at the age of 41, sending shockwaves through both the metal and skateboarding communities that had long embraced his music.
Laiho, whose aggressive, melodic sound found its way into skate culture through Dustin Dollin’s section in Baker 3, became a cult favorite among skaters who grew up on that era of raw, high-impact skate videos. The track’s placement helped cement his music in the streets, parks, and chaos of early Baker days.
According to a statement from his project Bodom After Midnight, Laiho died at his home in Helsinki last week. While no official cause of death has been confirmed, he had reportedly been dealing with ongoing health complications.
Bodom After Midnight wrote:
“It is with heavy hearts and great sadness that we have to announce the passing of Alexi Laiho. We are absolutely devastated and heartbroken for the sudden loss of our dear friend and band member. Our journey together as a band had only just begun so there’s no words to describe the shock and the bottomless grief that all of us feel.”
“May your soul rest in peace, you will be eternally missed. We love you brother.”
They added:
“Our deepest condolences go to his family. No further announcements nor interviews will be given at this time. We kindly ask to respect our need to process and go through this terrible situation in privacy. Thank you for your understanding and support.”
Within skateboarding circles, the loss hit hard. Chris Cole, a close friend of Laiho and longtime fan of his music, is among those mourning him, reflecting how deeply his sound had crossed over into skate video history and personal connections within the scene.
Laiho had recently begun working on new material with Bodom After Midnight, featuring former Children of Bodom guitarist Daniel Freyberg, drummer Waltteri Väyrynen, bassist Mitja Toivonen, and touring keyboardist Lauri Salomaa. The project was set to release new material, including three songs and an accompanying video, now expected to come out posthumously.