The ESP Guitar Company

This guy has and always will be my idol, creative inspiration, mentor and favorite guitarist. Not only just guitar and music dumpster sizes but life in general - I've learned so much from him. He was fearless about his music and his image and it showed in both.

This guitar looks great in my opinion, its color is quite attractive.

After seeing the 50-ith tribute to his death in January, (typing this in May), I decided that he must be amazing if he has this many tributes. In the car on the way to somewhere I put them on in my headphones and my brain was blown to pieces. It was just amazing. RIP. Definitely an inspiration to my guitar playing.

 Yes!!!@@@@  fan guitar  les

I discovered COB when I was around 14-15 on a school trip to Paris .

I bought hatebreeder and follow the reaper in the airport to the way there , and I remember i was so stunned discovering the magic of COB.. I spent the whole trip Ignoring everyone and listening to the albums

music is a feeling , a different feeling every time , and the memories it generates cannot be compared to anything else . Thank you Alexi for the memories and the music , and also for making me a better guitar player . . R.I.P 

Alexi is a person who gave me the most of dreams,impressions and effect on music.

I saw him on magazine, that was tiny pic though I interested in him because he's guitar looked similarto Randy Rhords one. I was a fan of him.

Immediately I looked up COB on Youtube then he knocked me out. I had goosepimples by his charismatic attitude as a front man, musician, and incredible guitar skills.I was 13.

After that I practiced his tunes a lot,listened COB all day even when go to sleep,read hard his interviews,and I bacame to think I want to be a pro likes him.I prayed every night, I want to see him in the person and play guitar together someday.

I turned to 20,he announced about100guitarsfromHel. I knew I must to try it, then...He elected me! I remember when I got the E-mail,just incredible and happy.

We had 2rehearsals in Helsinki. When he appeared, I almost was gonna cry.

Then 100 members got chance to talk to him and take pic,I couldn't believe the person I've been following is in front of me.I said to him, "It was my dream to play guitar with you, I want to be a professional guitarist like you" He said,"Awesome!"And I gave him Japanese beer and he said "Arigato"with smile.

On real stage date,I stood behind of Janne,and we started to play. I looked at Alexi's back,looked very reliable and just impressed,wished the time never be end.

Same year, I got to talk to him again at meet&great in Japan. I said to him "I'd love to do 100gfh again,and don't forget me" then he brought his phone and took pic with me. Totally he's amazing musician and also heartfull person,moderate, I respect these his aspects too.

It was difficult to write as short as possible, and still I'm depressing but I know I'll keep following and respect him and he's my goal forever.

These memories are my treasure and never forget.

I want to send big love and appreciation to him.

See you again someday, Alexi Laiho.

i had the honor to see cob 2 times in vienna, at wacken, at novarock and the last time in my little hometown in leoben at the area53 festival. everytime i went to the concerts i had the best times in my life! seeing him/them was so much fun, around many great people, i was involved in so many moshpits. i was there with friends (one of them also left from us way too soon) but i had the best memories. i am really thankful for that. i am listening to his music for many years and still do. since i heard he left away from us i Was really sad.(i am still sad about it) i dont know him as person but it feels like a big part of me went away. I loved and lived for this music. His music let me feel free. His death now is the point i will start making music on my own. It is too sad ;(  I think 2020 was a hard year for us all but i really hope he had a "good last time" and i  wish him from my heart to  rest in peace! thank you for everything! 

This guy has and always will be my idol, creative inspiration, mentor and favorite guitarist. Not only just guitar and music but life in general - I've learned so much from him. He was fearless about his music and his image and it showed in both. Taught me to not give a fuck about others perception of you and to always be true to yourself and your music, a simple yet lost art I think. I wouldnt of ever persued music the way I have if I didnt discover his work and for that I have to thank him. I could go on and on about the pure joy I've gained from this dude and COB but I'm honestly still a little short for words. You will be dearly missed. RIP, Alexi.

Children Of Bodom was one of the first bands i saw live. I never heard of them before but i loved their music from first hearing their songs on stage. Alexi fueled my passion for music further than just a hobby and made me practise guitar for the rest of the summer. Alexi was such a good talent gone too soon. Rip

Man..

As a lifelong metal head, and a guitar player of 20 years; I can't fully explain the impact this dude has had on me. Since 2000 he has been an inspiration to push it, motivation to practice, and an example of how to create a vision and achieve it on a level few musicians ever reach.

I've seen Alexi and Children of Bodom live more than any other band, no contest.. many trips to LA, San Diego and even a few shows at the @observatoryoc close to home. Every show was absolutely great. An amazingly tight band led by a monster of a guitarist who was also a great and engaging frontman.

REST IN POWER you crazy fuck.

If you know, then crank it up this week.. If you don't know, now is a good time learn.

#metal #hero #guitar #master #childrenofbodom

Children Of Bodom is my go-to-place if I am upset or very happy. Started listening to them when Hatebreeder came out, was barely 9 at that time. Since then I idolized Alexi. I had the pleasure to meet the band in 2015 and I will never forget that I made Alexi laugh by saying "nonniin, voe helevettiläinen!". When I lived in Helsinki, I accidentally bumped into Alexi by the cashier at a local store. I was so bubbly inside seeing him casually, but figured he gets a lot attention anyway so we just glanced and shared a smile. COB is my favourite band and it seems unreal that he is gone.

The first time I heard Children Of Bodom it was in Finland when I was 17. My guest brother played them to me. I liked them. Then, one year later Are You Dead Yet was released and I went to see the show with a friend and his girlfriend. She had only come to see Ektomorf, and on our way to the show in hamburg she started to talk us out of Children Of Bodom, about whom my friend and I were excited about. After Ektomorf were done with their show, I wanted to go to the front row. The other two stayed in the back. Then Children Of Bodom started their show and it was just amazing, I was, and still am, so glad I decided to go to the front row. I did not care about the text they set me to tell me they would leave. I was having a great time. That was the moment they became my favourit band. They were my "concert emancipation". From that day on I told people when I went to see a band but I went alone. I wanted to have fun and I need noone to be crabby about something.

I took the pictures during their 2011 show in Hamburg.

At their Halo Of Blood tour I did not buy a t-shirt, like I did the previous two tours, but my COB-Hoodie. One day I wore the hoodie while grocery shopping. The guy in front of me, while standing in line, turned around, looked at me, then said: "Children Of Bodom are my favourite band!". Thanks to that hoodie I had a nice chat with a guy from New York who was visitig Germany.

The most impact on my life has the solo from Lil Bloodred Ridin' Hood. When I'm really exhaused, I play that song. I play it loud. I listen to it with my headphones. I block out the world and it's only me and that song. This gives me so much energy, I think after listening to it, I can take almost everything. It calms me, it pushes me, it brings me to my middle. It's the song I couldn't live without. It's the message sound on my mobile. Everytime someone texts me, I get to relive some fond memories I've had with Alexi and the band.

I never met them in person, but they gave me some of my favourite memories. My personality grew with them.

I was 12 when I first heard ‘In Your Face’ and was blown away, more or so by the keys as it was the first time I’ve heard it used in that kind of music. I then started listening to the first few albums and discovered the true art and talent of Alexi Laiho. The iconic leads in almost every song stuck out to me, ‘Follow the Reaper’ still gives me chills down my spine when that awesome duel lead kicks in. I started getting serious about guitar and started learning most of his solos and techniques, even how he stands and performs on stage. 14 years on and I’m still doing that, he’s the reason why I got into guitar and the reason why I still play. His playing was tight, his songwriting was celestial and his personality was humble and kind. Rest in peace Wild Child

Hellfest 2018 

Nantes 2017

Alexi showed me that even the heaviest music can have compositional substance and melody. His music pushed my personal playing to another level and continues to inspire me. I will miss him like a close friend, though we never met.  " Life could be beautiful For anybody it's for, but I'd swear this Mothafuckin' shit is rotten to the core."

The first song I ever heard by Bodom was Sixpounder. I remember thinking how brutal that song was. I instantly loved their music and would listen to them whenever no matter what mood I was in. They have always been my go to band to make me feel better. Because of them I learned how to say perkele and vittu. Lol. I’m truly happy I can say I’ve seen COB a handful of times and they have always been amazing live. Just wish I would have had the pleasure to meet them. They’ve always been a big part growing up and have truly been an inspiration to me. Rest in Power Alexi you will truly be missed.

I remember the first time i heard a bodom song, and to be honnest, at first i wasn't into like extreme metal, so i remember i didn't like that much the vocals (i love them now), But the guitar man, it was so awesome. If it wasn't of him, i would never have played the guitar. The melodie, the solo, the fact that he can play better than satan himself. I was blown away by is talent. This was like back in 2014 when i was 13 years old. And since, bodom is always in my heart, my favorite band ever! 

I had the chance to see then twice live, once back in 2017, i was in severe depression back then but Alexi music was the only thing that didn't suck for me! I even had a small chat with the Wildchild himself that night, finally i had the chance to tell him how i love him and how much is music was important to me. He smiled back at me, gave me the biggest smile ever with a huge thumbs up that i'll forever remember! And he simply told me "good for you my friend" or something like that. I caught one of is guitar pick (and used jaska drumstick) that night and i litterally cried tears of joy! 

The last time i saw them was in 2019, i think it was their first show of the Hexed tour in quebec city! Didn't met him that night but it was a hell of a good concert. My neck still hurt from all the headbanging! 

I've buy the LTD Alexi-600 white scynth when i was about 14 years old and still my axe of choice! I hope that he will be remember forever as the biggest badass the world ever know.

Cheers Alexi! Thanks for all this good memory and all those night of headbanging! Thanks for the music and thanks for keeping me away from the darkness! And my dearest sympathie for all the familly, the close friend and the Hate Crew!

I remember my first time like a strange moment, when I saw a picture of him I thought " oh man who is him?" But when I listened a first song "Hate ME" I thought "oh man, this band it's fucking awesome !!". Before of COB i listened Motorhead, Alter Bridge and others but the ones who approached me to a musical instrument and make me love music in general was Alexi !!
It's difficult for me to express all my sentiments for him in a few words, but .. a little piece of my heart is dead with him.
I don't live with music (I have another job in my life), I don't play the guitar but a bass guitar but this is not the important thing, the important thing is the love that I have for the music now and I have to thank only him and very few other people.

Thank you Alexi, my hero, you'll live 4ever in our hearts and in our music.
A big hug to the family and friends.

R.I.P -
"The portal has been past and it's
Time to make a turn, to follow the reaper
Until the point of no return."

First time I heard from COB and Alexi Laiho back in 2003 or 2004. I was 7 or 8 years old. My brother and I shared a room together and he was listening lake bodom with his friend. At the time i was not, so interested that style of music.

later in time in my early teens. Many bad things happened in my life so I was sad, angry also had many selfharming toughts. Then I found COB again. My darkest times Cob music became my survive music. Also I became close with my brother by sharing same muaic taste.

Dearest memories became in 2019 when I was part of COB music video in, Hexed album. Group photo from that day hangs in my wall still. Same year I also had a chance to see them play live. That wad my first and sadly last, Cob concert.

So Alexi Laiho was a very talented man and he and his music is the reason I survived my dark days and the inspiration why I still enjoy drawing his music was just so good to get inspiration. He is dearly missed and nobody can ever be like him.❤️