BO: At first, we would like you to describe yourself and your band members in a few words.
Burton: Wow, that's a pretty hard one. *laughs* Myself, hm... let's start with the band members. It is very hard to discribe yourself you should ask those questions from Ville and my mates. *thinks* Ville is like a pretty strong person and he is of course the leader of the band. He is talented ... and he is my friend as all the people of the band of course. ... Migé is crazy and psychodelic. Linde is quiet and easy going. Gas is kind.
BO: Lots of fans got shocked when they heart about Linde's accident. How did you feel about it - cancelling tourdates and so on - and how is Linde? Is he totally ok again?
Burton: Oh yes. Everything just went well, you know. It was a fracture. It could have been really bad if he had broken the hole bone, for example; but time worked out it. But it healed and we can continue the tour again. And it was like one month of show. It does not matter.
BO: And everything is ok again?
Burton: Yes, yes, of course.
BO: While you are touring there are often times you have nothing to do. How do you spent your time that you don't become bored?
Burton: Well, sometimes of course I get bored but I read or I watch TV a lot or take a walk somewhere or something like that. And I like to play chess with Migé. That is in the moment my dearest hobby.
BO: What is the most weird/embarssing/random moment of touring that you can remember?
Burton: *thinks a very long time* I think there is none, never got embarassed... in this job.
BO: Never?
Burton: Never! At least you shouldn't! *laughs*
BO: Is there anything you miss while touring, expect family and friends?
Burton: Yeah, that is almost all. Sometimes I miss my home and my family of course. That it is. If you like tours in this job it costs all the package.
BO: When you are playing live: Is there one song you like most and one that you really don't like?
Burton: *things* N.... Yeah. Always when you start to play new songs it is cool and I like the new stuff like Dark Light we are going to play. Not tonight but in near future. That is a really nice track. And the older songs you never get bored with because we are doing new arrangements all the times. Actually I like all the songs a lot. Sometimes it happens that we are practising one old song and it doesn't work like live. And then we just skip it because usually every bandmember feels the same and it is ok. The set is formed like everybody's thing and we all like it.
BO: Most so called HIM fans are just fans of Ville. What do you feel about this? This band does not work without you four other guys.
Burton: I am definitely ok with it because Ville is the heart and soul of the band. He writes all the lyrics and he does almost all of the music. And that is cool.
BO: In general: How is your relationship with fans? Do you like talking to them or do you wish to be left alone?
Burton: It depends. When you are tired and drunk *laughs* you don't wanna really talk to anyone. I am ok with them. *thinks* Probably I am a bit too shy person. I rather be in the bus or the hotel than talking to anyone. But when it happens I am ok with it... as you see now *smiles*
BO: Is it possible for you to go shopping or what ever when you are at home without being known by others?
Burton: Yes, definitely. It is really rare that people recover me or if they are just like 'oh, there he goes' *laughs*
BO: So no screaming girls?
Burton: No no. *smiles about Niina's squeeking sound and gestures*
BO: Do you visit fan pages about HIM or yourself in the Internet?
Burton: No. Almost not. I've seen your page but really really seldom.
BO: What do you think about our page?
Burton: I like it, it's nice.
BO: Thank you!
Burton: Yes, it is really nice.
BO: What do you thing about Internet or fan pages in general?
Burton: That is a good question actually because it is a problem and an advantage in the same time with the Internet that everyone can write and everyone can read it and in the worst case of scenario it is like that someone writes what ever there and people believe it. When you are reading or take note in the Internet you should remember that it is not necessarily true. But it is the freedom of speech and the freedom of sharing your thoughts and so on. Be careful with believing while reading stuff from it.
BO: Are you planning to do more songwriting for the next album or will the songs still be written by Ville?
Burton: *thinks* Yeah, the basic structure task of course. He will do it. The band does more like arrangements. But of course the line between composing and arrangements is quite thin sometimes. Well, arrangements, yes!
BO: Can you imagine to do the same kind of music during the next 10 years? Can you imagine a future without doing music?
Burton: Not without. I guess I have my cross and it is music. *laughs* If you know what I mean. But I like so many different kinds of music and it is not necessarily the same kind that I did. *thinks* I don't know if I play with HIM for the next 10 years. *laughs* I haven't been thinking about it yet. No. *laughs* But music is my thing. I will keep playing and doing music until I die.
BO: Are you planing more side projects in the future?
Burton: Yes, if there is time because touring and HIM takes minor of my time of course. I don't mind it but when I have time I work on something. As Christmas carols or something like that.
BO: Yes we heard about a CD that should come in 2004 or something but there is none. Will it come one day?
Burton: Oh yeah. It is still something like a project and it will be ready in a year or two because the leck of time.
BO: Which kind of music do you like to listen to?
Burton: All kinds of. From classical to metal.
BO: Any favourite bands?
Burton: A lot! *thinks* There are *thinks* like thousands of good songs and I like more songs than a special band.
BO: Last, but most important question: Do you like Winnie the Pooh?
Burton: What? *looks astonished* Winnie the Pooh? Yeah sure. But my favourite character from there was the owl *laughs*
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Thank you very much for this interview.
Interview by Niina and Cat ©burtononline.net // finnbands.com