Drummer for Children of Bodom Jaska Raatikainen took to his Facebook to announce that his back is pretty much all better after having three prolapsed discs in his lower back. It's admirable that the man doesn't want to cut their setlist shorter like they've one in the past with his back injuries, but instead just wants to work through it and make sure he's at full strength to give the fans what they're paying for. Right on! Maybe 2014 we won't have any hospitalizations of Children of Bodom members? 2013 didn't seem like a good year, between Raatikainen and frontman and guitarist Alexi Laiho landing himself in the hospital too.
Read Raatikainen's full statement below.
"Hi all!
As you all know already we started touring again. I know, I have been very lazy here on my page but I was exhausted from all the constant touring that started last summer. It was almost 5 months in a row and I definitely needed these 2 months of doing nothing and giving my time to my family and myself.
Also, I had very bad back pains during the European tour that I was hospitalised for a day in Spain. They found out that I had three prolapsed discs in my lower back but somehow I made it through the tour. I am stubborn. So, I really needed all this time to recover totally. My back is ok now, but I need to work on it a lot. I am convinced we don´t have to cut songs from the set list at all like we did on the Euro-tour some nights. Just to let you know it might happen and there is a reason for it.
Anyway, thank you so much for all the Christmas and New year wishes you sent me. They made me glad! I´ll try to answer to your questions you have sent me to my inbox. Just give me time.
On the last tour I was supposed to put some live videos on the page but it never happened for some reason. Hopefully it will happen on this one, soon.
Last night was the first show of the tour in Quebec and even though we had some troubles on stage the crowd was so good and welcoming that we just did not worry about things that much. Thank you so much!
See you guys in the first row and cheers,
JaskaPs. Don´t forget to watch the hockey game tomorrow, Canada vs. Finland. I know the statistics are a bit against us but hopefully it will be exciting game."
