Finland's eurovision song contest participant Lordi's performance jeopardized because of outrageous pyrotechnics bill - Tuska Open Air Metal Festival to the rescue

Scandinavia's premier metal festival, Tuska Open Air Metal Festival taking place in Kaisaniemi, Helsinki, Finland, during 30.6.-2.7. has decided to take action in assisting Finland's controversial Eurovision song contest participant, Lordi, with unrealistic pyrotechnics expenses.

Although Lordi representing Finland in the Eurovision song contest raised very blunt opinions from the start, things took a serious turn for the worse when Finnish National Radio received a cost estimate for the pyrotechnics required in Lordi's show. The German company who has the exclusive right in providing the special effects for the contest, presented the Finns with an estimate which is in no way compatible with the tariffs of past years, the final amount climbing to tens of thousands of Euros. Currently the Finnish National Radio (YLE) is pondering the option of pulling out of the contest altogether.

Tuska-Festival is no stranger when it comes to struggling with tariffs, therefore Tuska-organization is deeply concerned with the current situation. Pyrotechnics are a vital part of Lordi's show and performing without them makes no sense.

Tuska-Festival promoter Jouni Markkanen pointed out that if public funds aren't sufficient to put on a proper show, let's get the money elsewhere. Therefore Tuska-Festival will pay the first 5000 Euros of the pyrotechnic costs.

This is also intended as a challenge for others working within the music industry to do their share. Even smaller amounts help.

Tuska-Festival is Scandinavia's premier metal festival. This festival takes place right in the center of Helsinki, 2006 edition being the ninth consecutive annual Tuska-Festival. This year's line-up features the likes of Venom, Celtic Frost and Sonata Arctica along with 28 other metal artists. Lordi appeared at Tuska in 2003.

Additional Information:

http://www.tuska-festival.fi
http://www.yle.fi/eurovision

Source:	Tuska Festival
Band profile:	Lordi

The following update was posted at drakkar's site:

"Lordi have finished the main recordings last friday, but Kita and Mr. Lordi will still be working on the album´s intropart this week. Producer Jyrki Tuovinen started mixing the first songs on Monday.

Meanwhile, one of the forthcoming album´s very special guests is recording his part in the US, while another will come to Finland and visit the band in the studio. "We´re soooo excited about this, and honoured as hell!!!", says Mr. Lordi, "But we will not quite yet reveal the names... I´ve visited our forum, and some of the guesses there were pretty close... or not, hahahaha!"

NEW COSTUMES
Lordi will dress up in brand new costumes next year. Everything will be re-done from head to toe. The band says that it is nice to leave behind the "somewhat interresting" odor of the old costumes. The rumour has it that Amen will be losing a lot of "clothes". Girls, you´ve been warned.

FIRST RUSSIA, THEN SURPRISE
The band will shortly visit Russia to play two shows, in Moscow and in St. Petersburg. "It is a really welcomed change in the studio-routine, we´ll experiment how the russian vodka will affect the finnish monsters", the band says. Right after the band comes back, they will reveal a surprise that´ll drop the jaws of fans and foes alike. Be aware!"

Source:	drakkar.de
Band profile:	Lordi