News
November 14, 2007
There is a brand new video of Roope on YouTube, uploaded by Arkenstone. He is playing "Soap on a Rope," a song he wrote for a recently-released Finnish album called "Guitar Heroes". More information about the other collaborators and the album in general can be found here: http://www.guitarheroes.fi/
May 14, 2007
I haven't updated the site in some time, but I just wanted to say a BIG thank you to everyone who has been visiting, signing the guestbook, and emailing me their comments and compliments! I made this site in August '06 because I couldn't find anything else truly dedicated to Roope on the internet. Thanks to you guys, I feel that all my efforts in researching information on Roope and his guitars and making this site have paid off! CHEERS!
December 19, 2006
"Guitars and Equipment" page updated with pics of Roope's new ESP and several other guitars.
November 20, 2006
Roope and Alexi are in the November 2006 issue of Guitar Player. The article is titled "Black Metal Magic Tricks" and details 15 different shred licks, plus a few cool photos. Here's the link (tabs and sound clips included): http://www.guitarplayer.com/story.asp?storycode=15831
There is a brand new video of Roope on YouTube, uploaded by Arkenstone. He is playing "Soap on a Rope," a song he wrote for a recently-released Finnish album called "Guitar Heroes". More information about the other collaborators and the album in general can be found here: http://www.guitarheroes.fi/
May 14, 2007
I haven't updated the site in some time, but I just wanted to say a BIG thank you to everyone who has been visiting, signing the guestbook, and emailing me their comments and compliments! I made this site in August '06 because I couldn't find anything else truly dedicated to Roope on the internet. Thanks to you guys, I feel that all my efforts in researching information on Roope and his guitars and making this site have paid off! CHEERS!
December 19, 2006
"Guitars and Equipment" page updated with pics of Roope's new ESP and several other guitars.
November 20, 2006
Roope and Alexi are in the November 2006 issue of Guitar Player. The article is titled "Black Metal Magic Tricks" and details 15 different shred licks, plus a few cool photos. Here's the link (tabs and sound clips included): http://www.guitarplayer.com/story.asp?storycode=15831
Welcome to the Unofficial Roope Latvala Tribute Site!
Although often overshadowed by lead guitarist and frontman Alexi Laiho in Children of Bodom, Roope Latvala remains a pioneer in Finnish thrash metal, actually cited by Laiho as one of his main influences.
Latvala was born on June 25, 1970 in Helsinki, Finland, and he began playing guitar at the age of 13. Within two years, in 1985, he and Janne Joutsenniemi founded the now legendary Finnish band "Stone." Over the next six years, Stone recorded four studio works, as well as releasing live and compilation recordings. After the group disbanded in 1991, Latvala recorded an instrumental album with his brother entitled "Latvala Bros." Afterwards, Latvala participated in numerous side projects, including Dementia, Nomicon, Pornonorsu, Jailbreakers, Gloomy Grim, Soulgrind, and others. Eventually, he settled down with the band Waltari, and stayed with the group for the next six years.
In 2001, Latvala joined Kimberly Goss's band "Sinergy," where he met the young Finnish guitarist Alexi Laiho (also of Children of Bodom fame). When Alexander Kuoppala, Bodom's rhythm guitarist, left the band in 2003, Laiho asked Latvala to fill in. Roope was the one musician that Bodom knew could step in with such short notice and learn the necessary material before the next show, less than a month away. After playing the show successfully, Latvala continued to play with COB, and Laiho soon asked him to become the new, permanent rhythm guitarist.
Latvala currently remains an active member of both Sinergy and Children of Bodom.
Thanks for visiting, and sign the Guestbook while you're here!
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roope_Latvala
http://www.endlesswar.net/SOB/site.php?go=roope&lang=en