To date, the teen rock band that debuted in the school hall has sold 2.5 million albums worldwide. At home, with their first album “Peep” (1996) they already shot into the charts – at the time still without “The,” simply as Rasmus. Lauri who at the time was only 17 stopped school early, because overnight success doesn’t leave any time for cramming. In the ensuing years, the national young stars release hit after hit. 1997 saw the release of “Playboys,” in 1998 “Hell Of A Tester” and in 2001 “Into,” now under the band name “The Rasmus” to avoid confusion with Swedish DJ Rasmus. They are taken under the wing of manager Seppo Vesterinen who had already proven himself with fellow countrymen HIM, and replace drummer Janne Heiskanen, who goes to Thailand to find himself, with band merchandiser Aki Hakala. On the side, together with the bands Kwan and Killer, they ambitiously found Dynasty, an amalgamation of Finnish bands. The garage where everything once took its stylish start meanwhile serves as a stronghold for the mountains of gold and platinum awards, which since the 2003 hit album “Dead Letters” and the international top single “In The Shadows,” have been pouring in from other countries as well. This album alone sells 1.5 million copies, entered the Top Ten in ten countries (e.g. England), and also tops the charts in Germany, Finland, Switzerland and Austria.