The band was unsuccessful in deciding on what they should call themselves. After some debate over band names, Mige spray-painted His Infernal Majesty on his only Marshall amp and that was the end of the debate.

In 1996, His Infernal Majesty decided to shorten their name to HIM because they did not want to be mistaken for an orchestra group in Canada called Infernal Majesty. They also did not want to be linked to a devil-worshipping cult.Even though His Infernal Majesty altered their name to HIM, they were still harassed by the Catholic Church and similar organizations. The

HIM’s music can be best described as evil love music. Ville once quoted, "Love metal is music that includes elements of pop, metal, goth, glam... It's music inspired by the feelings you have before the first touch, before the first kiss. Love metal is like the movie poster of Gone with the Wind, you know, Clark Gable embracing Vivien Leigh in the sunset.“ HIM is considered the best Scandinavian rock band among the Finland music community (www.heartagram.com). In an article of a European magazine posted on www.heartagram.com, a reporter wrote, “Since the beginning of their career the band from Finland have been raking in just about every award that a newcomer band may qualify for. In the annual polls held by the two biggest Finish music magazines they were voted "Newcomers Of the Year" and received the Emma award (equivalent to the Grammy) in the same category in January. They collected a similar award in the "Best Debut Album" category for their "Greatest Lovesongs Vol. 666". At home in Finland Ville & Co. are already considered the new superstars of rock. With two top ten singles "Your Sweet Six Six Six" & "When Love And Death Embrace" and their debut album, which immediately went gold in Scandinavia, HIM already belong among the most successful Scandinavian rock newcomers ever.” They also stated that HIM has the mixture of gothic rock and sweet melodies that make them so distinct from other bands in Finland. HIM is said to be even better live. Some people say that watching Ville Valo is like watching the young Jim Morrison live, or David Bowie in his “Ziggy Stardust” era.

In April 2003, HIM’s most anticipated fourth album, Love Metal, will be released, and it is already looking as if it going to be their most versatile album to date. Their first single that’s been released before the album, “Buried Alive by Love” includes a ukulele in the song and Ville’s voice in the verse cuts right into the music with his normal voice to a high pitch voice.

y were accused of being devil worshipers and linked to the Finnish Satanists. HIM denied all accusations of having any ties with the infamous group; the irony was that the Finnish Satanists did not want anything to do with HIM because the band was not in favor of spreading the satanic message and their philosophy.

By 1998, HIM released their first complete album, Greatest Love Songs Vol. 666. The title would seem like it has to with some kind of satanic relation, but its not as Ville Valo claimed. For the title of the album, Ville Valo explained, "666 is something you're possessed with, something you just have to get although you know it will destroy you in the end. It's something sweet but it has a bitter aftertaste, like Belgian beer or something, ha-ha….” (www.joinhim.com/menu.html).

The track “In Joy and Sorrow,” which talks about two people belonging together, is opened up by Ville singing and Linde playing guitar for eight measures and is then joined by the bass, keyboards, and drums.

On himonline.co.uk HIM’s music is described as, “Songs of longing - but they are delivered with attitude. For every moment of sorrow there's always a mischievous smile, and a killer left hook to knock you out cold.” The songs all contain ostinato and are kept simple, but their message and song writing makes up for the simplicity.

Since 2002, HIM has been trying to get signed to a record label in America. Thanks to Bam Margera, a skateboarder with numerous connections and who is a fan of HIM, and Jimmy Pop from the band, The Bloodhound Gang, HIM was signed to a U.S. label in late 2002. Because of a local Jazz band in Chicago with the same name, HIM has to switch their names to HER if they ever plan on coming to the U.S., but they are still legally HIM in Europe. In an interview with one of the members of the U.S. band, HIM, the member expressed his feelings saying, "I'm about to get embattled with the evil HIM from Finland. They're sort o

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