Tonmi Lillman
| Tonmi Lillman | |
|---|---|
Tonmi Lillman promo picture
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| Background information | |
| Also known as | Otus |
| Born | 3 June 1973 |
| Origin | Helsinki, Finland |
| Died | 13 February 2012 (aged 38) |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, producer, graphic designer |
Tonmi Lillman (born Tommi Kristian Lillman, 3 June 1973 – 13 February 2012) was a Finnish musician, best known as Otus, the former drummer of the Finnish hard rock band Lordi.
Lillman died on 13 February 2012 after a bout of illness.
Lillman's father was a musician, and as a result he grew up surrounded by a large assortment of instruments. Tonmi received his first drum kit at age 9 and started performing live at age 14. Apart from drums and bass guitar, his primary instruments, Tonmi also played the keyboards and guitar. Prior to his death, he was involved in the bands Ajattara, Kylähullut, Vanguard and 3rror. From his previous bands, he became best known as the drummer of Sinergy, To/Die/For and Lordi.
In his professional career Lillman has also taught digital recording and drums at Kouvola Musiikkiopisto (Kouvola Conservatoire). He has played in numerous folk, dance and pop orchestras, as well as handling the drums on the "Dimebag Beyond Forever 2009" tour alongside Rainer "Raikku" Tuomikanto.
After Kita, the drummer of Lordi had decided to pursue a solo career, Tonmi sent a sms to Mr. Lordi saying that he had heard they needed a drummer. He had already worked with Mr Lordi when he helped him with Lordi's stage props. Mr Lordi accepted the offer and Tonmi became their second drummer with his new stage name "Otus" which is Finnish for “creature” or “thing”. His first gig with the band took place during the "Europe For Breakfast Tour" on 5 November 2010 in the hall Ozhidania St. Petersburg (Russia).
His character was described as a combination between a butcher, an executioner, an alien, a lizard, and a zombie. According to Lordi he was a "tough dude. And definitely one of the ugliest members in our family …"
Otus edited the DVD of the compilation album Scarchives Vol. 1 and can be heard on the documentary track. He didn't record any studio album with Lordi before his death, but the outro track of To Beast or Not to Beast is a live-record of Otus' drum solo.
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