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“Finnish Rocker Invades Canada!”  

Interview Conducted By Karen McBride and Kimi Fraser.

Article Written & Transcribed by: Kimi Fraser  

Juska "Zoltan Pluto" Salminen, is one of the most memorable former-band members to date. He is well known for his charisma, his energy, personality and his trademarked "dancing queen moves" from the "Right Here In My Arms" video. (This by the way, turns out was a totally impulsive.) 

It’s been almost 6 years since the fans have seen Juska in HIM. Fans who are familiar with the album, Razorblade Romance, have been wondering what he has been doing since his days with the band.

We, at HIM-Canada.com were fortunate enough to catch up with Juska during his vacation to Canada.

So, here we are after 2 weeks of Juska's Canadian invasion vacation we find the founder of HIM-Canada (Karen McBride aka Kindred Spirit), the street team leader (Kimi Fraser aka Sweet Pandemonium) and Juska in a quiet suburb off of Toronto. It's 4pm on April 17th 2006, and Juska is relaxing with a few beers and  is enjoying his cigarette, on the last day of his vacation. 

Kindred Spirit (Karen): So Juska, tell us about the first band you ever played in.

Juska: The Swampies. I used to sing in the band. It was my first experience being in a band. My first song I sang was "Digging the Grave" by Faith No More; which is my all time favorite band.

KS: How did you end up a member of HIM?

J: Sorry, guys it's a long story. Umm I used to be a techno bloke, but I got really into HIM. I was a huge HIM fan. I met the former drummer, Pätkä (Juhana) and by that I met Ville. And I think mostly with my social skills, I think I got in and it was like a Cinderella story.

KS: Okay. What performance with HIM is your favorite? 

J: What one performance?

KS: Yeah.

J: Uhh.There are two. Tavastia, is the one thing everybody in Finland wants to go to if they are a small band. And the other one is "Provinci Rock." Uh....insane rocking, and to be on the main stage on that was unbelievable. And of course all the other gigs around the world.

 KS: Okay. Which venue do you prefer to play at, a small smoky club or a large festival like you just described?

J: Very small.

Kimi: Care to elaborate?

J: Small smoky one, because you can't see the people if you're the main act (in a large venue). But when you're in a small smoky club you can see the people and you can see the faces. They enjoy it that sort of thing...to be close to the people.

KS: Which other bands and/or projects have you been in since HIM?

J: Since HIM or before? Or.. 

KS: Either or.

J: Okay, after HIM I went to play in the band called "Verenpisara" which means "blood drop." And um, then I used to play in To/Die/For and uh what else?  That's about it. Now I'm making my own band.

Kimi: Care to elaborate?

KS: Yes, you care to elaborate on that? (Smirks) No? (Laughs)

J : No (Laughs)

KS: What bands are influencing you today as opposed to bands that influenced you back a few years ago?

J : Uh like a couple of years ago, I used to be a gothic boy.  (Jokingly) Gothic girl.

Kimi: (Singing in the fashion of Poison girl) Goth boy!

J: For being in HIM, Ville mostly composed almost everything.  So I just rehearsed them.  But influences like Faith No More is fun for me but nowadays I will try to do a massive attack of normal. Like mellow....I don't know the correct word, like flowing-thing like not so metal and not so gothic. I left the band because I wasn't really a professional keyboarder. I was much more like a performer. Basically, I left the band because I got exhausted. Like burnout. It took a long time to get over it, but nowadays; after 4 years, I can be a fan again. I hope all the best for the guys. Conquer the world! I miss you guys!

KS: Boxers or Briefs?

Kimi: (Giggles)

J: What?

Kimi: (Laughs)

KS: (Smiling) you like to wear boxers or briefs?

J: What are briefs?

KS: Underwear!

J: Yeah but I know "boxers”....   (Pulls down pants to check.) Boxers

 KS: In one word describe Canada.

J: Unbelievable!

KS: What is your favorite Canadian beer?

J: Molson Canadian.

KS: What was the most fun experience during your vacation here?

J : Uh...to meet new friends, that I hope will hope it will last forever. Friendships.

KS: Yeah but what did you do that was the most fun thing? That you will really remember?

J: NHL game.

KS: A hockey game.

KS: What's your best favorite NHL team?

J: It used to be Philadelphia, but now I am a Toronto maple leafs fan.

KS: That a boy!

KS: What do you think of Canadian woman?

J: Uhhhh (Looks at Karen and Kimi)

(Kimi seductively opens a bit of her shirt to joking tease Juska. Juska laughs and looks like he's turning red.

J: Everybody has been so nice. Uhhh I'm like... at the moment I'm like a non-sexual person, so I don't look at woman that way. But they are pretty. All of them are pretty. (Saying reassuringly). Uh.. I like woman. (Everyone laughs) Pretty and nice.

KS: How tall are you?

J: In centimeters, um 188cm (6'2")

KS: How's my driving?

J: Fast!

Kimi: We're just continuing our interview with Juska Salminen. Whooo! Juska!

KS: How many nipples do you have?

J: Actually 8. (Everyone laughs) 3 on my back, 2 normal ones, and uh…one under my testicles and.... (KS laughs even harder.) ...one on my toe.  And one is still under my armpit but it goes away occasionally.  

(Everyone laughs)

KS: Is it true you eat your own earwax? (Saying it while trying not to laugh while asking the question.)

Kimi: (Shocked at what Karen said) what kind of questions are these? I mean this is...how are they going to take these seriously? When they go on the website, they're going to be looking at this, and they're going to be like "I can't believe you..." (Kimi gets interrupted by Juska saving her sanity.)

J: Sometimes. I accidentally ate the wax from my ear and it tasted horrible.  But I don't eat wax. In Finland, people used to eat wax from their ears to survive, but not me, because I'm the King of Finland! (Laughs)

 Kimi: (Laughs) Okay.... On a more serious note. (Laughs again from the shock of before.) Umm Okay, so out of everybody you were in with HIM, what were their personalities like? You know, from I guess a fans point of view? If the fans want to get to know the band members?

J: The band member's personalities?

Kimi: Yeah.

KS: Real personalities. Off-screen

J: Uhh Gas is like the kindest person I have ever knew. And uh... Ville is the main guy. He's like a boss but he's really nice. But He can be tough as well because he got all the pressure on him and uh Mige is like uh is like a Mage-(hippie)-kind-of-thing. He's a really easygoing guy. And Linde isn't shy. Which mostly people think, but he's just silent. He doesn't want to speak nonsense. (Laughs)

KS: What are the rest of them like?

J: And uh…I don't know much about Burton because I only met him twice. And the old drummer was actually the guy that got me into the band so he was a pretty easygoing guy and a good drummer, but he had a child and had to stop doing that thing, because when you're in a rock band it's like 24/7 all the time.

Kimi: What was Seppo like?

J: Seppo is like...a really nice guy. (Laughs) He used to tease me a lot but.... (Laughs) anyway, he is so professional. He is the best manager in Finland or in Europe. I don't know but he is just doing a great job and he's a really nice guy.

KS: All right, there has been large serge of Finnish talent invading the American music market lately. Is this a new export or has it always existed or are we now getting to hear more of it due to the internet/media?

J: Well uh.... Swedes were always in the music, which came on board. They did better. And I think mainly because of the success with HIM; with "Join Me" in Germany, and Apocalyptica's success, with all the other bands that decided to come out. It's like spreading all over.  I'm still keep thinking, "why?" I don't know.  People seem to be really into Finnish music and in Finland as well, as a country. And they want to travel there.

KS: Is there anyone special in your life, right now, Juska? (Saying it with a smirk on her face.)

J: (Long pause) Uh yeah.... (Looks at Kimi) Kimi is special for me. (Kimi turns red and hides her face, and giggles) And uh, Karen as well. and all the other guys I met here. I'm single (laughs) but it doesn't matter at all. There's always something special in most people, but the most important to me is family. And the most important, is my niece; my brother's daughter.

KS: What are you taking back home with you that you got out of this vacation to Canada?

J : Memories, which will last forever and friendships that will hopefully last forever and some souvenirs....and huh a couple of jerseys! (Laughs)