Children of Bodom and Bodom After Midnight guitarist and vocalist Alexi Laiho suddenly passed away on December 29, 2020. Laiho's ex-wife and Sinergy bandmate Kimberly Goss has revealed Laiho's cause of death to be "alcohol-induced degeneration of the liver and pancreas connective tissue" alongside a "painkillers, opioids and insomnia medication in his system."
The final music from Laiho will be in the form of the debut Bodom After Midnight 10" titled Paint the Sky With Blood due out April 23.
"This morning I received the final forensic report with the official cause of Alexi’s passing. As his legal widow, I am privy to this information. The certificate reads in Finnish, 'Alkoholin aiheuttama maksan rasvarappeutuminen ja haiman sidekudostuminen'. The English translation is, 'Alcohol-induced degeneration of the liver and pancreas connective tissue'. Furthermore, he had a cocktail of painkillers, opioids and insomnia medication in his system.
"The loss of this extraordinarily talented and beautiful soul is a tragedy that was entirely preventable. He had so many good years left in him. Imagine all the amazing music we could still be getting if he had just accepted help. I plead with anyone who is struggling with alcoholism or any other substance abuse problem, to please seek support. You do not have to meet this same fate. If people are trying to help you, remember that they are doing it out of love and concern, so please do not push them away. Please do not surround yourself with enablers who promote your addictions. Let this be a cautionary tale that no one is invincible.
"I do not want his death to be in vain. My hope is to eventually start a memorial foundation or charity in his native, Finland to help others struggling with these same demons. This needs to be an open conversation, not a source of shame. We are all human, we all suffer, but help is out there. If his story can save even ONE life, then something good can come out of this horrible loss we have all endured.
"Rest in peace, beloved Wildchild."
Children Of Bodom ended in 2019 when founding drummer Jaska Raatikainen, bassist Henri Seppälä, and keyboardist Janne Wirman announced that it would be their final year with the band. The trio played their last show with Children Of Bodom on December 15 at the Black Box in Helsinki, Finland. Laiho and guitarist Daniel Freyberg went on to form Bodom After Midnight.
In an interview with Helsingin Sanomat at the time, Laiho said there was a lot of internal struggles with the band "and I can honestly admit that those fights were mainly my fault."
"The original decision [to end the band in its current form] came when the other guys said they just couldn't do it anymore. There were family reasons for it. I respect their decision. I myself have a wife and stepdaughter in Australia, and my wife understands my lifestyle. I'm pretty much gone [most of the time], but always I come back and I give them my all. Nothing is more important to me."
Previously, Goss offered this tribute "My first true love, my band mate and my best friend. The silver lining throughout this entire pandemic is that we were given the gift of having so much quality time together. Our marathon FaceTime calls, the endless text messages and phone calls at all hours of the day and night will stay with me forever. I am so comforted by the fact that we were able to reflect on our lives together both on and off the stage and to cherish our continued friendship that has remained in tact for all these years. Allu, my heart is both full and broken at the same time. Not many people are able to have nothing left unsaid with someone whom they had such a long, rich history with. You gave me peace and left me with zero regrets in the months and weeks before your tired body finally gave out. I thank you so very much and I’ll love you forever and always.
"You and Tommi are together again and I can hear the joy and laughter coming from the two of you, as if it were yesterday. You will always remain in the hearts of us who knew and loved you and your legacy will live on forever in the music you blessed the world with. Close your eyes my darling. You’re asleep now and finally at rest.
"I love you Allugator,
"-Kimberly (or “Kani” as you affectionately called me)"
