LORDI Frontman Discusses Band-Themed Restaurant

Mr. Lordi, frontman for Finnish monster hard rock act LORDI, has been keeping busy with the new LORDI-themed restaurant, Lordi's Rocktaurant (web site),which opened December 15, 2006 in Rovaniemi, Finland.

"Everything on the menu that is related to LORDI is our own ideas," he explained. "Like everything with this band, we always have our hands on all projects. I opened the restaurant with my childhood friend (Arto Koivuharju). My friend used to run a restaurant and he wanted to open another restaurant. He asked me about an idea and I suggested the LORDI-themed restaurant. Everything we start working on seems to get bigger and bigger. We wanted to open in restaurant earlier in the summer but the whole concept just grew and we finally opened it last month. It is a unique place, especially from a European point of view."

He adds, "I like the Ox item — the rare beef with chocolate chili sauce and sesame seeds over bull steak. People can order it medium, but I like my steaks rare."

With the LORDI-themed entrées and memorabilia lining the restaurant's walls, it appears the restaurant is doing pretty good business having only been open a month.

"Business has been very good, I hear," Mr. Lordi said. "I'm not there much with all the LORDI stuff I am doing, but I'm sure LORDI fans go there to the restaurant. Lots of tourists go there as it's in the town square. It is a new place for people to check out and people are always curious of new places. I was the there doing details and business stuff this past week. It will be months to go back there again and visit. My business partner has talked with me about franchising and would love to have a chain of these restaurants but it has only been open for one month. If this works for a year or two, maybe we can expand it. The new restaurant has lots of LORDI memorabilia — old costumes, etc. — so it would be difficult to open a new one with the same concept. It wouldn't be the same experience for fans if they were just replicas of sets or costumes and not the real thing."

"It's exciting to have this restaurant and all these other things that LORDI is a part of," he continued. "It adds something extra to the whole band and myself to be something more than just a band. It was a great relief for the restaurant to finally open as it took a bit longer than expected. The people at city hall were excited to have the restaurant open — almost too excited," he laughs. "It's not just a restaurant — it is a sightseeing attraction for people to come out and enjoy the atmosphere and the food. I find it funny that the people in city hall are making a big fuss but I guess it means good business for them. I'm excited to be involved."

Watch a six-minute video taken at the Lordi's Rocktaurant grand opening at YouTube.com.

Since winning the 2006 Eurovision Song Contest in May, LORDI's dream has grown to gargantuan heights. Besides conquering numerous European charts the band has been given their own credit card though Finland's Sampo Bank, as well as their own softdrink (Lordi Cola),LORDI candy, LORDI kebab, and comic book.

As previously reported, LORDI has signed a North American deal with The End Records. "The Arockalypse" will be released in North America on March 20, with bonus tracks and a DVD.

LORDI is currently planning its first-ever jaunt of North America this spring and is confirmed for a two-night stint at the annual Bamboozle festival, set for May 5 and 6 in East Rutherford, N.J.