Internationally acclaimed guitarist and Metal frontman Alexi “The Wildchild” Laiho, who rose to fame with his band Children of Bodom, died five years ago. He was 41. His label, Napalm Records, originally announced the news. He died in his home in Helsinki, and his cause of death was officially Alcohol-related cirrhosis and pancreatitis.
The 41-year-old had suffered from long-term health issues in the years leading up to his death. Renowned for his prowess at guitar, Alexi seamlessly tied together Death Metal, Thrash, shredding leads, and heavy metal. In addition to CoB, Alexi had stints in Warmen, Sinergy, Kylähullut, The Local Band, and finally Bodom After Midnight.
Awarded with a Metal Hammer Golden God and several other international prizes, the guitarist was also the main star, leading a group of one hundred guitar players at the Helsinki Festival in 2015 in “100 Guitars From Hel” — a massive concert piece he composed. The band launched a new merch store in 2025. Jam out some tunes for Alexi!