O my brothers, hereth an update on what our favourite banda are rabbiting on. (I'm reading A Clockwork Orange at the mo.)

We tell you all the essential details of what your favourite bands are up to in 2009 in the Hot 100.

Today’s edition lets you know what you can expect from the return of HIM.

“We’re in the songwriting phase, but I always am so it never stops,” explains HIM frontman Ville Valo. “The idea is to write number one hits songs… 13 of them,” he adds with a wry smile. “We’ll figure out who’ll produce it early next year and head into the studio in March or April. Hopefully we’ll be done by the festival season and be able to play new songs there. If the album doesn’t come out in autumn or winter 2009, it’ll be early 2010.”

So what can we expect from the new HIM album?

“I haven’t talked to the band for long yet, but I want to keep the songs all under five minutes and make them really punky and direct. When I say punky I don’t mean sounding like punk, I mean punk in feel. Not so much ear candy. I love over-produced albums but we’ve never tried a more stripped-down, simple approach in a Search And Destroy Iggy Pop and the Stooges type vibe. It’ll still be wanky and melancholy and have all those HIM elements, but just not so much ear candy. Venus Doom was quite a proggy album for us so I’m thinking of doing the opposite with this one.”

And as he explains, being sober has brought out his inner bastard, which we will hear on the new material: “I’m more pissed off and more aggressive. There’s no buffer between me and the real world so I’m the proper cunt I was meant to be.”

I am super psyched, sounds like its gonna be a right horrorshow one. "Search and Destroy" was an amazing album, and if Ville can somehow interpret that vibe and make it HIM then snaps for him *snaps*

That is all, for now. Your Humble Narrator xox

p.s. A little question. Do any of ye true HIM fans have just ONE faourite song? I love Salt in our wounds + Death is in love with us + Wicked Game cover + Love you like I do + The Path. I can never choose just one, can you?

(loosely based on Russell Brands love revolution. Except totally different)

Ville has spirit, yes he do. He's got spirit, why don't you?

Metallica have spirit. And Kirk is super cute : )

So I love christmas... I am not a christian or a catholic. I don't decorate the house in lights, and I don't deck the halls, but I still like to think I have a lot of Christmas spirit. I think I probably have more than enough reasons to hate chrismas, I wont go in to detail, but I don't. This year was the first year I actually bought presents for my family from my own funds, which I saved up for 2 MONTHS! And I was so happy when I was done, like I had actually accomplished something : )

Anyways I am always v. joyous around this season, so here are some tips and tricks to spreading the spirit and keeping happy around christmas time  -

1. Have a look under the tree and try and figure out what each parcel is. I do this EVERY year, and so what if you don't have any presents under the tree, try and figure out what the others are.  
2. Write a big, long Christmas list and stick it on your door. Don't expect all of it, or any of it, but just do it anyways; because you can stick up crazy stuff, like one of Tom K's dreads, and when people walk past your door they will laugh and spread the spirit!
3. Find a good Christmas song. No, not a carol or something lame. Mine is "Nothing's Going To Ruin My Holiday" by The Vandals. Want one of your own? Try "Oi To the World" which is the Vandal's funny Christmas album.
4. Wear something "out there" and fun to your Christmas day celebration. I choose to only wear black on Christmas, and my family's reactions are classic, makes me laugh every year.
5. Get a countdown calendar. Every day you open a box on it and there is A PIECE OF CHOCOLATE!!! What better way to start your day than with a piece of christmas chocolate.
6. Photoshop a celebrity into wearing a santa hat and stick it up somewhere you can see it. Ville Valo : )
7. (okay this is a little lame, but I love it) Drive around your neighbourhood and look at all the lights on the houses. My family drive to this place where I live and just look at the houses w. lights. I just love it, and although it sounds lame, as soon as you do it you will love doing it too. Maybe play your Christmas song at the same time, bit of a combo.
8. Don't get bogged down in doing the "classic" Christmas things. Instead try and make up your own little traditions.

So you see, it is so easy to have a little fun around Christmas time. There are so many fun things to do.

Got any more ideas? Tell me. And remember: SPREAD THE SPIRIT! Soon we will have our very own little Christmas revolution, and everyone will love Christmas again!

That is all, for now. Happy Christmas, Issy xox

Ville's Seasonal Survival Guide.... Credit: Paul Harries

nice, nice. Good to hear from Ville : )

That is all, for now. Issy xox

(thought this might be fun!)

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST FEAR?

-Eeels, I know I should say death or something but eels truly scare me more. I am so afraid of them, I start crying when I see one.

WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT STATE OF MIND?

-Contemplative

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE OCCUPATION?(WAY OF SPENDING TIME)

-Listening to music.

WHAT HISTORICAL FIGURE DO YOU MOST IDENTIFY WITH?

-Well he isn't historical, but Morrissey. If I had to think of someone more historical then it would probably be ... I dunno, Vlad the Impaler?

WHICH LIVING PERSON DO YOU MOST ADMIRE?

-Ville Valo

WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE FICTIONAL HERO?

-Gavroche the street urchin, of Les Miserables

WHO ARE YOUR REAL-LIFE HEROES?

-Ville Valo, ARTHUR "KILLER" KANE, Oscar Wilde, Yoshiki

WHAT IS YOUR MOST TREASURED POSSESSION?

-Venus Doom limited edition album and probably my bracelets

WHEN AND WHERE WERE YOU HAPPIEST?

-Probably when I lived in England. Back when I didn't notice any of the drama going on ... 

WHAT IS YOUR MOST OBVIOUS CHARACTERISTIC?

-Physical: Nose, fair skin or blue eyes Personality: loud voice, outgoing (sometimes, when I'm in the mood)

WHAT IS THE TRAIT YOU MOST DEPLORE (HATE) IN YOURSELF?

-Jealousy/envy and dislike of human physical contact. OH and inablity to deal with people on a regular basis, I like to have my alone time.

WHAT IS THE TRAIT YOU MOST DEPLORE IN OTHERS?

-People who are all over you all of the time, no thanks I'll pass.

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST EXTRAVAGANCE?

-Music. and mascara.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE JOURNEY?

-Trip? Je ne sais pas.

WHAT DO YOU MOST DISLIKE ABOUT YOUR APPEARANCE?

-I have sticky outy ears. I am fine with my nose now, but I always wear my hair down to cover my ears.

WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER THE MOST OVER-RATED VIRTUE?

-hmmm, once again I don't know.

ON WHAT OCCASION DO YOU LIE?

-A lot, people tell me I am a bad liar, but I am actually really good. People just don't know that I am lying. It's horrible, I know, but I do lie quite a bit.

WHICH WORDS OR PHRASES DO YOU MOST OVER-USE?

-Oh jesus, there isn't enough space in this journal! Probably "suce." 

IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT YOURSELF, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

-I would make myself better at dealing with people regularly. I would change it so that I don't need my billion hours of alone time ...  

WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT?

-Surviving my life without any serious mental issues.

WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO LIVE?

-The moon, I love space.

WHAT IS THE QUALITY YOU MOST ADMIRE IN A MAN?

-Softness 

WHAT IS THE QUALITY YOU MOST ADMIRE IN A WOMAN?

-Toughness

WHAT IS IT YOU MOST DISLIKE?

-Cheese. and liars.

WHAT DO YOU VALUE MOST IN YOUR FRIENDS?

-Loyalty

HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO DIE?

-Not doing something stupid, nicely and dramatically please. Not something like getting squashed by a clown car after I accidentally fall into the circus ring ... that would be a terrible way for it to end.

IF YOU WERE TO DIE AND COME BACK AS A PERSON OR AN ANIMAL, WHAT DO YOU THINK IT WOULD BE?

-A dictator or a warlord.

IF YOU COULD CHOOSE AN OBJECT TO COME BACK AS, WHAT WOULD YOU CHOOSE?

-A book, an old one.

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO (WORDS YOU LIVE BY OR THAT MEAN A LOT TO YOU)?

-"If man, as the existentialist percieves him, is indefinable, it is because at first he is nothing. Only after will he be something, and will have made what he will be" - Satre.

WHO HAS BEEN THE GREATEST INFLUENCE ON YOU?

-Arthur Kane, he has inspired me in so many ways. I am forever in awe of his personal strength and ability to remain positive in, what I see, as being one of the saddest situations one could be in. He is amazing, and I wish he was still alive so that I might get the chance to meet him.

There it is, all you need to know about Iss. Now re post with your own answers ... if you can be bothered to read this first haha.

That is all, for now. Issy xox

He has just confirmed in an interview that he has been having "relations" O.O But he likes serious relationships and isn't in one at the moment.

There is good news too: He is only smoking a pack a day now and the band will be back in the studio in January. Oh and he is still sober.

So you know, wierd news, but good news too.

yeeah.

UPDATE: This has not been confirmed, even though the article contains quotes from Ville, so don't take to seriously. As Jeever said "he likes to joke aroud." However, can we blame him for wanting to *ahem* have some fun.

Thats all, for now. Issy xox

So I was looking through my extensive Ville image collection and I began to wonder "Which picture is your favourite Issy?" It took a while to decide (yes! I chose one) but I have to post some of the others that were considered (sp?).

          


So these were the closest to being the ultimate favourites. Ville looks amazing/perfect/adorable/hot/super dooper in all of them, but I feel that this picture really catches the "essence" of Valo. You will have probably seen it before, and it's not the most perfecto picture of him ... but when I look at it I just think "This is Ville." It's just so ... well HIM. The rest are amazing pictures of Ville but this picture IS Ville. I know he doesn't look this way anymore, but it really contains elements of what he looks like now, in the past, and will look in the future. This is one of the first pictures of Ville that really caught my attention, all those years ago haha.

So here it is ... *drumroll*

I mean look at this and tell me it's not HIM.

Glamorous, dark, charming, gothic, over the top, classic, sad, funny, Finnish, simple, sexy.

We have a classic Valo pose coupled with the signature rings and rosary beads...

AND he is wearing a top hat. I mean COME ON how could this picture get any better? 

Do you have a favourite Valo/HIM picture? Please share : )

That is all, for now. Issy xox

Heres what Ville had to say about being a hippo ...

"Moto Moto is a lewd hippopotamus, with a one track mind. He's straightforward and amorous, and doesn't try to hide it", Ville laughs. In the original version Moto Moto's voice is provided by Will I Am from the Black Eyes Peas, Ville used his interpretation as a reference. He was surprised by how similar their voices are. Moto Moto always speaks "on beat", Ville sees his style of speaking as half-singing and "rhytmic following". One could imagine that for a scrawny man, portraying a big almost Barry White-like male hippo would feel challenging, but Ville found his inner hippo easily. "I found myself channeling  Moto Moto. I wouldn't be surprised at all if I've sometimes used similar phrases at some night club and failed completely", Ville reveals. "After hearing the character's name, that he's a hippo and having read his first lines, I thought that he was such a fun character that I happily tried out for the part. It felt like a once in a lifetime-thing. I got excited and hoped that my performance went well."

Ville didn't prepare much for the role. He asked for tips from his old acquaintance, actor Antti Reiniltä, but didn't watch any documentaries or read anything about hippos. He didn't even watch the first Madagascar until after he was done with his voice work. "You just have to jump into these things and go with the flow. There's no point in preparing too much or waiting for something. If everyone is enjoying themselves and everything works, that's great, and if it doesn't, it's not the end of the world", Ville says, thinking of when he accepted the part. The technical part of doing voice work is very similar to recording music. Ville was put in an isolation booth with a microphone. The movie was playing at the same time. There was a director and a recording supervisor who gave instructions just like a producer in a studio. "We'll see what kind of critique the character gets, but of course, these kinds of things are interesting to do", Ville answers when asked about the chance of him participating in a third Madagascar movie.

Ville has been asked a few times to take part in movies, but it doesn't interest him. "It would feel weird to pretend being someone I'm not." But he quickly adds that his motto is "Never say never" and you could catch a glimpse of Ville in Jackass 2. Could be, that he'll participate in his good friend Bam Margera's new movie that hasn't been started yet. Ville rarely goes to the movies. He wants to protect his ears from unnecessary noice and doesn't like that the volume is always so loud that you need to wear ear plugs. He'd rather enjoy watching movies at home in his own living room and at home you can go to the refrigerator or the bathroom during the movie. There's also plenty of time to watch movies while on the tour bus. Ville never reads movies' back covers, he just goes with his gut feeling. At times he can watch four movies in a night, and then there can be months when he doesn't have time to watch any at all. He things that you get involved in a different way when you watch something for many hours in a row. He'll gladly watch tv-shows in one sitting. "That way you can really get sucked into the world of tv. My record is watching 62 episodes of Six Feet Under in three days." Ville likes comedies, but avoids westerns and war movies. Some favorites are The Proposition written by Nick Cave, the Oldboy-triology, old Chaplin-movies, Zombie ja Kummitusjuna (a Finnish movie) and A Beautiful Mind. Rambo has also been an enjoyment lately.

HIM have been on a break this fall, but are slowly starting to get active again. Ville is going to California in the near future to meet with their record company. The band is heading back to the studio at the beginning of next year and we might see a new album next fall. Ville has already written new songs. HIM will be playing at Tavastia in Helsinki for the tenth time this New Year's Eve. Although it's a celebration, there will be no special effects. "The most important things are the atmosphere and crowd. It can be both good and bad, having our parents and a lot of relatives there. It's a different kind of performance It's our way of saying thanks for the past year and wishing for a happy new year." Something new, is that HIM will hit the road before their show on New Year's Eve. Helldone Festival, featuring HIM, KYPCK and 45 Degree Woman starts with shows in Oulo on December 29th and in Tampere on December 30th. "Many have come from the north to see our New Year's gig. So we figured that this year we'll turn the tables and go visit them instead."

interesting eh? I had to cut some parts out in order for it to make more sense : ) enjoy!

also while you are reading I have decided to make a little resolution: after having some nasty things said to me today I have decided I will no longer be dealing in hate. Too much energy invested in something that will get me no where, and why waste my time and energy on someone so horrible. I don't think she deserves it : ) From now on I will no longer use the word hate, feel it for no reason and give everyone a fair chance. I think I've spent too long giving people that kind of attention that don't deserve it. I think Ville would approve!

That is all, for now. Issy xox

Yes it is true, after leaving those inappropriate messages on Andrew Sachs voicemail Russell Brand has left the BBC.

Here is his official statement ...

I have apologised to Andrew Sachs for the rude messages I left on October 18 and he has graciously accepted.
As I only do the radio show to make people laugh Ive decided that given the subsequent coverage I will stop doing the show. Ive loved working for the BBC and am very proud of the shows myself, Matt Morgan, Nic Philps, Mr Gee and Noel Gallagher have made and I apologise to all of them for damaging their careers - except Noel, whose band are doing quite well. I got a bit caught up in the moment and forgot that at the core of the rude comments and silly songs were the real feelings of a beloved and brilliant comic actor and a very sweet and big hearted young woman. Apologies are also owed to the loyal listeners of the show who enjoyed its shambolic spirit and anarchy and will be upset that it cannot continue. I take complete responsibility and offer nothing but love and contrition and I hope that now Jonathan and the BBC will endure less forensic wrath. Hare Krishna.

It is officially over. Goodbye podcasts, goodbye Matt Morgan, Mr Gee and Noel. GOODBYE RUSSELL : (

Oh yeah, Jonathan Ross got suspended from the BBC. haha, this is HIS fault, he shouted it out in the first place.

I am going to miss that show. Now I have nothing to listen to on a Sunday morning, and will never know whats going on in ol Russ life.

Shut her down boys, the dreams over.  

"" Ville Valo is like the last man standing in his band HIM, but the finnish native might not be for long. According to friend of Ville's he has been in constant contact with an American singer by the name of Fiona Apple.

"He heard her version of 'Sally's song' which is a song from the movie "A Nightmare before Christmas" He was completely intriged which is funny because I was actually looking for the Amy lee's version of the song, he said to me how can something so dark,deep and moody come from such a tiny,beautiful lady"

Fiona Apple is an American Jazz, folk, rock singer. She has been performing just as long as HIM actually, she's a Grammy, MTV winner. "She and Ville have been talking on ICHAT a lot and he told me that they have tons in common, to the point of it being odd, and he hopes to hang out with her when he gets to the states, which might be sooner then later. I've never seen him this happy before. ""

Well alls I can say is ... yeah right. I mean this would be lovely if it happened, and as far as I can tell she is single, but I mean as if!

Here is my reasoning;

1. This came from a tabloid magazine; Australians think New Idea or Famous, Americans NW and Brits, the lovely (yet rarely right) The Sun! Most of the stories written in these mags are false and are based on quotes from often unreliable sources.Ville has been the subject of some romantic rumours in the past year, have any of them been true? No. Where have they been written? TABLOIDS! Stories invented to sell papers.

2. Even though Fiona Apple seems to be a very attractive and pretty woman, how on earth would little old Ville Valo get in contact with her? You can't just find a famous persons email adress.

3. CAN ANYONE SEE VILLE USING IM? Because I really cant.

Prove it and make me eat my words : ) Issy xox