Former Children of Bodom keyboardist Janne Wirman recently opened up about the tragic final years of bandmate Alexi Laiho. He shared a heartbreaking confession about Laiho’s struggles with addiction in an interview with The CMS Network.
Wirman’s comments addressed the difficult period from 2016 to 2019. During this time, he watched his friend and bandmate battle severe addiction issues that ultimately led to Laiho’s death in 2020.
“In 2016, everything just went to hell with Alexi (Laiho),” Wirman said. “And the remaining timing in the band is, you know, that you’re watching your friend commit a slow suicide. You know, with his addictions, that he shouldn’t drink, he shouldn’t do this and this, and he keeps doing it daily, and you’re, like, ‘Fuck! This is not gonna end well.’ So that is not fun.”
Wirman admitted that despite their efforts to help, Laiho refused assistance and made his intentions clear.
“He didn’t want help; he refused our help,” he continued. “So, a grown man who’s decided kind of to die by his addiction, you can’t help a person like that. They’ve made up their mind. And I don’t think he wanted to die, but that’s what he was doing. So it’s crazy. And you try to help. And also he said it to me, and he made it perfectly clear that he’s not gonna get sober ever again, and he’s just gonna whatever.”
The keyboardist reflected on the limitations of trying to help someone who refuses intervention.
“There are, of course, things that could have been handled differently, but in the end, if a grown man decides to die by their addictions, that’s what they’re gonna do,” Wirman stated. “If they’re gonna refuse all help and they’ve fucking made up their mind, that’s what’s gonna happen.”
These revelations prompted Wirman to begin distancing himself from the band. He eventually announced his departure in 2018. He mentioned that a book about Children of Bodom is forthcoming that will provide additional details about this difficult period.
Wirman’s recent statements provide deeper insight into the severity of Laiho’s condition during those final years. The revelations paint a clearer picture of the guitarist’s tragic decline.
Beat Route Media reported that Wirman revealed in 2023 that Alexi Laiho never truly stopped drinking after 2013 as publicly believed. The keyboardist disclosed that Laiho made his intentions devastatingly clear during their 2016 conversation. Laiho told Wirman directly: “I’m going to drink until I die.”
The band members witnessed Laiho’s deteriorating condition firsthand after his return from Australia. He had spent time there with his partner Kelli Wright. Guitar World noted that his bandmates observed severe weight loss. They also noticed that he could no longer play guitar properly due to his declining health. The physical manifestations of his addiction had become impossible to ignore.
The official cause of Laiho’s death further underscored the severity of his struggles. Wikipedia confirmed that Laiho’s ex-wife Kimberly Goss stated he passed away from “alcohol-induced degeneration of the liver.” At the time of his death, opioids and medications for pain and insomnia were present in his system. This highlighted the full scope of his health battles.
These additional details from Wirman and other sources illustrate the complete picture of a talented musician whose addiction ultimately proved insurmountable. This occurred despite the efforts of those who cared about him. The tragedy serves as a stark reminder of addiction’s devastating impact on both individuals and those who love them.
