CHILDREN OF BODOM Frontman Comments On Broken Shoulder: 'I'm Jinxed!'

Alexi Laiho, front man for the Finnish metal band CHILDREN OF BODOM, sustained a serious injury while on the road as part of the "No Fear Energy Tour" alongside with LAMB OF GOD, AS I LAY DYING, GOD FORBID and MUNICIPAL WASTE. Laiho, who was recently named the world's "Best Metal Guitarist" in the 15th annual Guitar World readers' poll, broke his shoulder when he was ejected from his bunk as a result of the band's tour bus taking an irregularly harsh sharp turn.

Against recommendation, Laiho has decided to remain on tour and will "bite the bullet" to give metal fans the electric live performances they have come to love from the Finnish act. For the duration of the tour — set to run through May 15 — Alexi will be resigned to wearing the arm in a sling, restricting movement at all times when he is not on stage.

When asked for comment, the celebrated axe-slinger said, "Four nights ago I fell out of my bunk in the tour bus and came down pretty damn hard as the driver was taking a sharp turn. It turns out I have a broken shoulder as well as internal bleeding. I am going through a great deal of pain every second that I am awake. However, I can still play the guitar and I will give everything I have to try to finish this tour and play every remaining show! I would just like to apologize in advance for not being able to move around or sing with my full power at all times and I hope the COB fans understand. What can I say? I'm jinxed! End of story."

Fan-filmed video footage of Alexi speaking about his broken shoulder during CHILDREN OF BODOM's April 29 set at The Uptown Theater in Kansas City, Missouri can be viewed below.

CHILDREN OF BODOM will release a new album, titled "Skeletons In The Closet", in September through Spinefarm Records. The follow-up to last year's "Blooddrunk" is a selection of cover versions, some of them existing recordings, others specially laid down for this release.

CHILDREN OF BODOM has been recording covers since the early days of its career, some predictably heavy ("Silent Scream" by SLAYER, for example), others reflecting an altogether broader taste ("Talk Dirty To Me" by POISON), so fans will be intrigued to see which of the existing ones get the final nod here, and also which news ones are added to the list.

The following is a list of most of CHILDREN OF BODOM covers recorded thus far (Note: It is not yet known which of these songs, if any, will make it to the "Skeletons In The Closet" collection):

* "Aces High" by IRON MAIDEN
* "Don't Stop At The Top" by SCORPIONS
* "Hellion" by W.A.S.P.
* "Mass Hypnosis" by SEPULTURA
* "No Commands" by STONE
* "Shot In The Dark" by OZZY OSBOURNE
* "Rebel Yell" by BILLY IDOL
* "Talk Dirty To Me" by POISON
* "Latomeri" by KLAMYDIA
* "Bed Of Nails" by ALICE COOPER
* "She Is Beautiful" by ANDREW W.K.
* "Silent Scream" by SLAYER
* "Somebody Put Something in My Drink" by the RAMONES
* "Oops!... I Did It Again" by BRITNEY SPEARS