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Basic facts


Name Lauri Johannes Ylönen



Nickname Lintu (Finnish for bird)



Date of birth 23 April 1979



Birthplace Helsinki, Finland



Height 169cm



Brothers/sisters Older sister, Hanna, who he says is his biggest inspiration




Music



Favourite music Björk, Metallica, Muse, Iron Maiden, Radiohead



Instruments Lauri’s parents got him started with piano lessons when he was 5, he then started playing the drums…but Hanna persuaded him to start singing. When Rasmus were first formed, Lauri was the drummer.



He says...



Word that describes you best Pentu (‘cub’ or ‘puppy’)



“Black crows are spooky and you can’t really tell what’s on their minds - they look like they know something or have seen something. Birds have their own kingdom around them - it‘s like the Untouchables”.



“I don’t really believe in life after death - live the life you’re living now: you only get one go at it.”



They say...



Pauli about Lauri:


“Lauri is what you would call an artist. He lives 24 hours a day for his music, and if it doesn't work he nearly has a breakdown. That luckily doesn't happen but then he is really as sad as his lyrics. On the other hand he is a very happy chap who loves to tell jokes and can be really childish. Lauri really is crazy - but in a good way!”.



Random



Lauri was 14 when he first thought about being in a band. His friends were a lot older than him. “We went skating, did graffiti. Things started to go really wild and there was a lot of crime. If someone does something and you’re there, you’re part of it. I’m really happy I got separated from that as it sucks you in. Now I look back and these people are heavily on drugs. I left the others behind when I met the guys in the band.” The song ‘Smash’ is about that period in his life.



Favourite movie Dancer in the Dark



Tattoos Björk, Dynasty text



People he looks up to Mathew Bellamy (from Muse), Björk