Finnish EUROVISION Winners LORDI Mull Presidential Invitation

According to MonstersAndCritics.com, Finnish heavy-metal rockers LORDI, surprise winners of the 2006 Eurovision Song Contest, have yet to confirm if they will attend the annual President's Independence Day reception, reports said Monday.

The December 6 reception — one of the main features on the country's social calendar — is broadcast on television and many of Finland's best known politicians, executives, academics, artists and others who have had significant achievements during the year can be seen formally greeting the president before taking a twirl on the dance floor.

The first reception at the president's palace was held in 1919.

Finnish media have speculated whether the monster rockers, who have been honoured with their own stamp, would appear dressed in their stage costumes or decline to show up at all. In Iltalehti's online poll, LORDI has divided the nation in half again, just like when they were picked to represent Finland in the Eurovision contest. Half of the people want them to drop the masks and go unmasked, 30% want them to keep the secrecy and masks while 20% think it is the president's mistake: she knew all along they wouldn't go unmasked so why bother asking them? One solution that has been offered is that LORDI would perform in the castle and therefore be able to wear the masks... But at the moment it looks unlikelty that the nation will be seeing LORDI at this reception that is watched by nearly two million Finns every year.

The band's frontman, Tomi Putaansuu, also known as Mr. Lordi, has been very careful to avoid being photographed without his monster face mask.