We sadly learned of the the death of Children of Bodom guitarist and vocalist Alexi Laiho this week. Tributes across the rock and metal world have been pouring in, now including guitar legend Steve Vai.
Vai credited Laiho for ushering in "hi-octane, intense metal at its most brutal and beautiful" and even recalls meeting Laiho.
"So sorry to hear of the passing of Alexi Laiho of Children of Bodom," he said. "With his band he was part of a powerful movement that ushered in hi octane, intense Metal at its most brutal and beautiful.
"I had the good fortune of meeting him several times and being a part of this Guitar World story with him. He was always respectful, personable, quiet and unassuming, but then you'd hear him play and you realize that embodied in that delicate frame was a fiercely confident and monstrous guitar commander of the highest order. Rock on young brother."
No cause of death has yet been revealed, but according to a press release Laiho died in his home in Helsinki, Finland, last week and suffered from long-term health issues during his last years. Laiho was 41 years old.
