Melamory: Let's start from all that situation around To/Die/For. Why did you leave the band and what happened then?

Jape: I was so pissed off because of Tommi and Jope, especially because of Tommi. The only thing he was doing - he was drinking too much, every fucking day, at every place and every time. Then with Jope we had kinda fight because of pop guitars sound. It was so fucking boring. At first I was going to quit all this fucking business. And then I went to Turkey to have some holiday. And then I made a new band called Tiaga. And then Ewo from King Foo called me and said "To/Die/For is your name and your band, why did you leave To/Die/For?" And then people from Spinefarm were calling me and telling me the same shit. And… well, I don't know. To/Die/For has always been my band. I made almost every song. I'm the one who made To/Die/For, so… why not? And nowadays we are like friends with Tommi and Jope again, we don't have to fight.

M: And what Tommi and Jope are doing now?

Jape: Nowadays they play in Hateframe.

M: Is this band still alive? A friend of mine told me Tommi sold his drums.

Jape: Yes, he did.

M: So what he plays, if the drums are sold?

Jape: He plays some friend's drums, I think.

M: Ok. And tell us what does the word Tiaga mean?

Jape: Exactly I don't even know. Yeah, I know. It's a forest area where people have never been. That's what Tiaga is.

M: Is it a Finnish word?

Jape: No, it's a place somewhere in South America.

M: When you formed Tiaga, how did you choose and call the members to the band?

Jape: It was easy to ask Juska to play with us. He didn't play anywhere anymore, and he was so bored in Kouvola. And I've been friends with all the guys all the time.

M: Who are the members of To/Die/For now?

Jape: Me, Alli and Juppe. New bassist is Jarkko. Drums are played by Santtu, he used to play in New Dawn Foundation. Juska plays keyboards.

M: And what are the plans for the nearest future?

Jape: Tomorrow we have to go to studio to record the album stuff. The album should be out in January. The single may go out maybe in November or December.

M: Will they be released by Spinefarm?

Jape: Yes.

M: And do you plan any gigs?

Jape: Tonight is the last gig before album.

M: And the first one? :) Ah, yes, you also played at Koria-Roll.

Jape: Yes. And we were also touring in Mexico. And in December we have to play a couple of gigs in Greece and maybe in Italy.

M: And how was it in Mexico?

Jape: My favourite country.

M: What is so good there?

Jape: I don't know. People are so lazy, you know, like me. And we had a couple of holidays in Acapulco. We were drinking a lot and stuff.

M: Did you do any sightseeing?

Jape: Noo! But Mexico has always been my favourite country.

M: And tell us about Jaded. I think it's a bit… strange album.

Jape: Yes. I don't like it at all. That was the reason why we were fighting with Tommi and Jope. There's too much programming stuff. It doesn't rock enough, it's too pop for me. I made those songs, but I don't like that kind of sound.

M: So, it looks like the next album should be different.

Jape: Yes, not that much computer stuff. Now we don't need it, 'cos we have a real keyboard player.

M: But will it still remind that street-rock?

Jape: *laughs* No! You can call it gothic-rock or I don't know. There're still lots of melodic and melancholic stuff.

M: And let's speak about you. Do you work?

Jape: No, I don't. Now I don't have time, because we have to be in a studio almost every day. I don't like any kinds of day-job.

M: What music do you like now, what do you listen?

Jape: Almost everything - from Duran Duran to In Flames.

M: What was the last band you liked?

Jape: M-m… Muse! Do you know?

M: Sure, I know! Did they come to Finland, or you just found them?

Jape: I just heard their album and I have never seen them live, but now it's one of my favourites.

M: And what do you think about those young bands like Negative and Private Line?

Jape: I never heard Private Line. I know them, but… And Negative?.. I don't know, Hanoi Rocks were better than Negative.

M: And now we have some stupid and funny questions to you :)

Jape: Ugu. *laughs*

M: Do you like Lord of The Rings?

Jape: Yeah! I like it. But… I have seen only just the first one.

M: And what is your favourite Middle Earth race? Elves, dwarfs?...

Jape: Favourite?.. I don't have that kind of favourites.

M: What is your favourite cartoon?

Jape: I don't read any cartoons. Then… Then I have to say Donald Duck *laughs*.

M: What is your favourite pop-band in Finland?

Jape: Pop-band?.. M-m-m… I don't know. My favourite Finnish bands are, of course, Nightwish… Sentenced… Those are really good. But I have always been listening to all kind of music, so I can't say that something is my favourite.

M: And do you like that stupid Russian stuff like Tatu and Nu Virgos?

Jape: I don't like Nu Virgos. Tatu was a little bit better.

M: Today we were at Tuska backstage, and we asked one metalhead what stupid question we could ask from a rock-musician. And he said that the only good stupid question we may ask is: when was the last time you were drunk. So, when and why?

Jape: I was drunk… on Friday [interview was taken on Sunday. - Melamory].

M: What was the reason?

Jape: I like beer! That is the reason. *laughs* I don't need any more reasons.

M: Are the prices in Alko cheaper now like they should be?

Jape: Yes, it's cheaper than few months ago.

M: Actually, we haven't noticed any difference.

Jape: Well, koskenkorva is much cheaper now *laughs*.

M: And what cider do you like?

Jape: I hate cider. I like beer. Karjala is my favourite beer. Then I like whiskey. And vodka.

M: And what is the best place in Kouvola?

Jape: My home. I hate Kouvola, there's nothing. But hey, nowadays I don't live in Kouvola. I live near by Kouvola, there are lots of lakes and there's nothing else.

M: And what is the funniest place in Kouvola?

Jape: The whole fucking city is so funny. It's like a Finnish asshole, I really mean it.

M: It is our inside joke, when you called To/Die/For music as street-rock, we laughed that there're only two streets in Kouvola.

Jape: Exactly.

M: And have you seen Sibelius monument?

Jape: Yeah…

M: Did you come there to see it?

Jape: No! But of course I have seen this fucking monument.

M: You don't like it, do you?

Jape: It's ugly.

M: And do you know where is Aleksis Kivi monument in Helsinki ?

Jape: No… *laughs*

M: Do you like Moonsorrow?

Jape: Yeah, a little bit. I mean I'm not their fan, but the band is great.

M: And what non-Finnish band do you like?

Jape: Of course, Type O Negative, Duran Duran, Depeche Mode… Danzig , Misfits… Many-many bands.

M: And what do you think about Sleepy Sleepers?

Jape: *laughs* Finnish red-necks.

M: And at Ruisrock we have seen Peer Gunt. Do you like them?

Jape: Yes! They are my friends!

M: What was the weirdest thing you've done one stage?

Jape: Oh… Once we were naked with To/Die/For when we were playing in Paris, we were touring with In Flames and Sentenced. We were naked because we were drunk and we thought that is funny.

Kris: Did the audience like it?

Jape: I don't remember.

K: Wanna repeat?

Jape: Noo… Now I don't like it. *all laugh* Tommi was playing naked the whole fucking gig. But it's not funny anymore.

K: Did anyone film that?

Jape: I hope – not! And when it was our last gig in the tour and Sentenced was playing we were running naked on stage. And that stuff was filmed! Now maybe Tommi has that video. But I don't wanna see it.

M: And can you remember not that brutal but maybe funnier things you did on stage?

Jape: Nothing else. I'm not funny. *laughs*

M: Ok, and finally serious question about the gig tonight. What are you gonna play? Any new songs, or maybe covers?

Jape: We will play three new songs. They are not even ready yet, but we want to play them.

M: What are the names?

Jape: World Is Made For Me, Chaotic Me and No Turning Back.

M: So, have a good gig and thank you :)