Entertainment
Children of Bodom star Alexi Laiho died from ‘alcohol-induced degeneration of the liver’ aged 41
Children of Bodom star Alexi Laiho died of alcohol-induced degeneration of the liver.
The rock star died in December at the age of 41, with his bandmates confirming that he had suffered ‘long-term health issues during his last years’.
Kimberly Goss, Laiho’s ex-wife and former bandmate who was still legally married to the star at the time of his death, shared the details of Laiho’s death certificate on social media, and revealed that he had painkillers and opioids in his system at the time of his death.
Ms Goss wrote: ‘This morning I received the final forensic report with the official cause of Alexi’s passing. 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.’
The Sinergy star continued: ‘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.’
Ms Goss was in the band Sinergy with Laiho, and they got married in 2002, before separating in 2004.
While Laiho filed for divorce in November 2002, he withdrew the petition and never filed another.
Laiho was believed to be married to Australian-born music publicist Kelly Laiho-Wright, although under Finnish law, he would not have been able to legally wed Ms Wright as his marriage to ms Goss was never terminated.
In 2019, Laiho had said that the first single from Children of Bodom’s album Hexed was about his relationship with alcohol.
He told Beatroute: ‘Under Grass And Clover is about severe alcohol withdrawal, which is something I have definitely written about before, but not in recent years. I don’t really drink like that anymore, but back in the day it was pretty hardcore. [While writing Hexed], I sort of went back in time and started remembering what it felt like to go through withdrawal and go through detox.
‘It was just about remembering those horrible times. I don’t even drink on the road anymore. I cut back a ton, so I don’t get those feelings. I don’t want to f***in’ feel like that ever again. I’d wake up and take a couple shots, not to get drunk, but just to keep an even keel and feel normal. It’s just f***in’ sad. But in the beginning I didn’t think anything of it — it was normal.’
He said that at the time, he only consumed alcohol socially with friends and no longer frank on tour.
Laiho said: ‘It still takes some willpower. I know myself well enough to know I have an addictive personality. It doesn’t necessarily have to be booze — I can get addicted to walking, which I do a lot. Sometimes I work too hard, stuff like that. With beer, I just need to keep an eye on it.
‘I think that’s the most important thing: admitting it. If you stay in denial, that’s not going to take you anywhere good in life. Admit it to yourself, know yourself, and keep an eye on yourself.’
Laiho founded Children of Bodom in 1993 with drummer Jaska Raatikainen, and the death metal band are one of Finland’s best selling artists of all time.
The group disbanded after their farewell concert in 2019, although Laiho and guitarist Daniel Freyberg continued to perform as Bodom After Midnight.
