Children Of Bodom Guitarist Leaves The Band - Replacement Announced

There has been a small diversion for the band Children of Bodom, their long time guitarist Roope Latvala has left he band.  Children of Bodom is currently working o a new album and is getting set to go out on tour.

This message was posted on the band's official Facebook page:

Dear COB Hatecrew, we need to share something with you at this point. Our friend, brother, and a guitar player for 12 years, Roope, is no longer with the band. As we parted ways with no bad blood, we wish him nothing but the best and thank him for allowing us to share the last 12 years of our lives with him. Hope you know that this will not affect the upcoming shows or the new album as we recorded it as a four piece and it is already mixed, mastered, heavy as shit and ready to go! Enough said, See you soon!

But that hasn't slowed the band down.  They have already have a replacement for their upcoming shows.  Guitarist Anttie Wirman will be stepping in and making this live debut with the band this Saturday (June  6th), as they play a show in Helsinki, Finland.

Antti Wirman is the brother of keyboardist Janne Wirman and will continue with the band up to the Kuopiorock Festival on August 1st.  This was the official statement from the band announcing Antti.

We wanted to go with someone close to the band we can count on and who can nail these songs. Antti was the obvious choice", says Antti's older brother Janne Wirman. 

Children of Bodom 2015 Tour Dates

June 4 - Sweden Rock Festival, Solvesborg (SWE)
June 6 - Laulurinne, Joensuu (FIN) w/ Nightwish
June 11 - Club A2, Saint Petersburg (RUS)
June 12 - Ray Just Arena, Moscow (RUS)
June 13 - Premio, Nizhniy Novogorod (RUS)
June 19 - Hellfest, Clisson (FRA)
June 20 - Den Atelier, Luxemburg (LUX)
June 21 - Graspop Metal Meeting, Dessel (BEL)
June 26 - Rock am Härtsfeldsee Festival, Dischingen (GER)
July 17 - Resurrection Fest, Viviero (SPA)
July 31 - Ratinan Stadion, Tampere (FIN) w/ Nightwish
August 1 - Kuopio Rockcock, Kuopio (FIN)
October 10 - Loud Park, Saitama (JAP)