A genuine "Monster" Metal band. Hailing from the Lapland capital of Rovaniemi, apparently also reputed hometown of another larger than life character - Santa Claus, LORDI hide their identities behind elaborate creature costumes, refusing to be seen in public without this defence. The band prompted curiosity with their first two albums but then achieved overnight international fame via the unlikeliest of means available to a Heavy Metal band at the Eurovision Song Contest.

Known formative band members included bassists Magnum and Kalma with Enary (Erna Siikavirta), a session player for CHILDREN OF BODOM, on keyboards. Frontman Lordi is in fact Tomi Putaansuu whilst drummer Kita is better known as Sampsa Astala of AIN'T FAKE. Putaansuu, forming the concept of LORDI when just 18 years old, drew upon his two other vocations as instigator of the official KISS fan club in Finland and a parallel career in movie special effects make up. The combination and practical employment of these two passions would stand the band apart.

Their opening January 2003 album 'Get Heavy', released through the German Drakkar label and preceded by the number 1 Finnish single, 'Would You Love A Monsterman?' complete with 12 page comic book, was produced by TT Oksala at Finnvox Studios in Helsinki. LORDI's second album, the April 2004 outing 'The Monsterican Dream', was produced by Hiili Hiilesmaa. Limited edition variants of this record hosted a DVD of the 18 rated short movie 'Lordi's The Kin'. LORDI, comprising Lordi, guitarist Amen, bassist Ox, keyboard player Awa and drummer Kita, acted as openers to HAMMERFALL's April 2005 European dates.

New album recordings later that year, for 'The Arockalypse' opus for Drakkar Records, saw the guest inclusion of former ACCEPT frontman Udo Dirkschneider, ex-KISS guitarist BRUCE KULICK and TWISTED SISTER frontman DEE SNIDER and guitarist Jay Jay French.

In March 2006, adeptly tying with the international release of third opus 'The Arockalypse', LORDI, quite surreally, became the official Finnish entrant into the Eurovision song contest by winning the national heats with 'Hard Rock Hallelujah'. LORDI won the top honours easily, drawing 67,369 votes or 42.2% of the total, which outstripped their nearest rival TOMI METSÄKEDON by a significant margin, who scored 28.5%. Quite spectacularly, in a first for Heavy Metal, LORDI won the 51st Eurovision Song Contest held at the Olympic Stadium complex in Athens, Greece. 'The Arockalypse' duly shot to the top of the Finnish charts. In celebration, the mayor of the band's hometown Rovaniemi declared a new city square would be named after the band. Upon their return to Finland, LORDI played a celebratory concert in Helsinki's central market square to over 90,000 people, the largest public gathering ever seen in the city. In addition, over a million Finns, a quarter of the entire population, watched the event on television. 'The Arockalypse' also regathered pace to climb to the top of the Swedish charts just as the new beverage 'Lordi Cola' was announced.

In September new single 'Who's Your Daddy' gave the band another Finnish number 1. Swedish dates that same month had SABATON as guests. On the 26th LORDI pulled off another unique achievement, gaining the world record for most people singing karaoke simultaneously. The feat had been officially recognised when their victory celebration for winning Eurovision on May 26th when over 80,000 people sung the winning song 'Hard Rock Hallelujah' in Helsinki.

In September 'The Arockalypse' album was certified gold status in Sweden for sales in excess of 30,000 copies. LORDI's 'Bringing Back The Balls To UK' British tour in October saw support from Finnish pagan Folk Metal band TURISAS. LORDI's fame generated a spoof in November as THE RATTZ, Rizzy Ratson, Hercules von Wotta and Gene La Borotta, charted with their rodent themed cover version of 'Hard Rock Hallelujah' re-dubbed 'Hard Rattz Hallelujah'. In December 'The Arockalypse' was certified triple platinum in Finland for sales in excess of 90,000 copies. Expanding their branding even further, a LORDI themed restaurant, Lordi's Rocktaurant, was opened on December 15th in Rovaniemi. The band was also given their own credit card though Finland's Sampo Bank, LORDI candy, a LORDI kebab and a comic book.

On March 10th 2007 LORDI totally dominated the prestigious 21st Emma Gaala awards held at Helsinki's Kulttuuritalo. So complete was the band's victory that they won every category they were nominated for: 'Band of the Year', 'Album of the Year' ('The Arockalypse'), 'Song of the Year' ('Hard Rock Hallelujah'), 'Producer of the Year' (Jyrki Tuovinen) and 'Top-Selling Album of the Year'.

LORDI signed to The End Records for a US release of 'The Arockalypse' on March 20th 2007. This North American release added three bonus tracks, 'Would You Love A Monsterman? '06', 'Mr. Killjoy' and 'Evilove', plus DVD footage. A further offshoot of LORDI manifested itself with horror movie 'Dark Floors', written by Lordi and writer Veli-Pekka Hänninen. This slash epic also theme music from LORDI.

Touring throughout April and May witnessed shows in South Korea, Japan before gigs planned for the USA. However, LORDI subsequentlu postponed the North American leg of this jaunt with the exception of an appearance at the Bamboozle music festival in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The group joined the OZZY OSBOURNE headlined 'Ozzfest' extravaganza for arena dates throughout June and July across the USA.

LORDI's debut in New Zealand came with a concert at the Wellington Westpac Stadium 'Rock2Wgtn' festival over Easter 2008 sharing a bill with ALICE COOPER, KISS, OZZY OSBOURNE, WHITESNAKE and POISON. First product of the year came with the single 'Bite It Like A Bulldog' released by Sony BMG in August. 'Deadache' the album, produced by Nino Laurenne, arrived on 28th October through The End Records.

LORDI united with LIZZY BORDEN for US concerts in November 2008.