LORDI – 20 years since winning the Eurovision Song Contest. Now the band is set to perform on the Pyrkon stage!

18 March 2026

A few words about the band

Let’s go back to 1992, when LORDI was officially founded by the frontman Mr. Lordi – singer, songwriter, visual artist and creator of iconic monster costumes. The ensemble originates from Rovaniemi in northern Finnish Lapland, and the austere landscape and mystical aura of this region harmonize perfectly with the aesthetics of the group. It is even said that Mr. Lordi is – after Santa Claus – the second most famous inhabitant of this part of the Arctic Circle.

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Although a long time has passed since the early nineties, the true age of Finnish monsters and how long they have wreaked havoc remains their closely guarded secret. However, we can tell you who the band members are and what roles they play on the stage.

• Mr. Lordi – Known to people for the many roles he has played in the past, but his true identity remains a mystery. He is a descendant of ninth-century demons and northern trolls. He plays the role of a vocalist in the ensemble.
• Kone – The band’s guitarist. A character so mysterious that even on the official website of the band, little is mentioned about him…
• Mana – a lesser-known legend from northern Scandinavian folklore. A shepherd of the dead, operating on the border between the world of the living and the dead. Certain old Sanskrits claim that in fact he was once a man and in the 11th century he worked as an itinerant pastor in Scandinavia. Right now he plays the drums.
• Hella – although her true human identity and origin remain unknown, we know that she is one of the victims of the mad scientist’s cruel experiments. Hella was imprisoned for months until she was brutally recreated in the form of plastic and rubber as a “living doll.” However, this does not affect her ability to play the keyboard.
• Hiisi – a reptilian troll from the Arctic. Ready to slip into your ear with his bass sounds and create real musical chaos.

One day during the 51st Eurovision Song Contest…

There is not one person in Europe that needs to be introduced to this competition, but for the sake of consistency, let’s present the facts: 

Eurovision, or the Eurovision Song Contest, is an annual international music competition organized by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). It is attended by over 40 countries that present their own works – usually in the form of one stage performance by a representative of a given country. The competition is famous for spectacular arrangements, a variety of musical styles and spectacular costumes. Points are awarded by both a professional jury and the audience from individual countries.

Enough with the facts. So what happened 20 years ago during one of the editions of this competition? In 2006, during the 51st edition of the Eurovision Song Contest in Athens, no one expected Finnish monsters to appear on stage in all their glory. With the song “Hard Rock Halleluyah“, LORDI shook Europe by winning the competition. Not only did they beat all previous records in terms of the number of points awarded, but they also proved that rock and heavy metal can exist in mainstream Europe – and in a way that no one has ever heard before, much less seen.

A week after returning from Athens, the band was welcomed by around 90,000 people in Helsinki – a historic moment for the relatively small Finnish pop culture scene. The then President of Finland, Tarja Halonen, presented Lordi with an oversized brown key as a symbol of recognition for their contribution to the promotion of Finnish music abroad. The band’s welcome was even included in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest mass karaoke in the world. The triumph also left a lasting mark in their hometown of Rovaniemi: the main square was renamed Lordi Square (Lordin aukio) in honor of the band – a visible symbol of their success to this day.

International Icon

Since then, Lordi has become not only an icon of the Finnish music scene, but also a living legend of international pop culture. They regularly appear at Eurovision anniversaries, special events and in the role of those announcing points for Finland, and their presence always arouses great emotions. 

Finnish monsters have repeatedly caused a sensation on television – appearing, for example, in German entertainment programs or surprising fans in the most unexpected moments.

The voice of those who cannot speak

In the heart of every rockman there should be a special place for four-legged friends – and when it comes to the LORDI band members, there definitely is. They even go a step further – for years, the band has been involved in important initiatives that aim to improve the living conditions of living beings. They supported, among others, PETA’S campaign against animal testing.

In addition, in 2024, Vogue Scandinavia invited the band to take part in a cover session in which LORDI presented vegan bags by luxury brands, combining their monstrous faces with modern fashion elegance in one image.

Listen to the band right now

Mr. Lordi’s musical inspirations reach deep into the horror genre – both in the lyrics and in the visual work of the band. Songs such as “Happy New Fear“, “Night Of The Loving Dead” or “Scare Force One” are full of funny word games and references to dark, monstrous mythology.

The intricately crafted costumes worn by the band members are also his creation. Even the shoes were designed by him to make each musician up to 30 centimeters taller, making them monumental, truly monstrous figures.

And if you can’t wait to feel their stage energy for yourself – below you will find their latest album on Spotify.

Twenty years after their historic Eurovision victory, LORDI are a symbol of courage, originality and proof that heavy metal can go mainstream – with humor, character and a healthy dose of monstrous charisma.

Now is the time to properly celebrate their special anniversary of success, right at Pyrkon. 

Once again – Hard Rock Hallelujah & Peace Out ✌️