Ville Hermanni Valo, also known as Ville Valo, is a Finnish singer, songwriter and musician, best known as the lead singer of the iconic goth rock band HIM.
Born and raised in Helsinki, Varo grew up in a culturally rich environment, the son of a Hungarian mother and a Finnish father.
He developed a passion for music early on and began his career playing bass and drums in various local bands before entering the spotlight as a singer.
contour
- Full name: Will Hermani Vallow
- Stage name: Ville Vallo
- Date of birth: November 22, 1976
- Age: 45 years old
- Place of birth: Helsinki, Finland
- Nationality: Finland
- Occupation: Singer, songwriter and musician
- Height: 1.85m
- Parents: Kari Vallow, Anita Vallow
- Siblings: Jesse Vallow
- Girlfriends: Jonna Nygrén (formerly), Sandra Mittica (formerly) and Christel Karhu (formerly)
- Children: None
- Relationship: Single
- Net worth: $12 million
early life and education
Ville Hermanni Valo was born on November 22, 1976 in Helsinki, Finland to parents Kari Valo and Anita Valo.
He also has a brother named Jesse Vallow. Vallo attended the Helsinki Pop Jazz Academy and briefly attended Sibelius High School, but eventually dropped out to pursue a career in music.
He is of mixed race, his mother is Hungarian and his father is Finnish. Vallow has not publicly stated that he has any particular faith and therefore keeps his religious beliefs private.
Profession
Ville Valo is best known as the lead singer and main songwriter of the goth rock band HIM.
His musical journey began in the early 1990s when he co-founded the band, originally called His Infernal Majesty.
Combining dark, atmospheric music with a gothic aesthetic, HIM quickly gained traction in the Finnish underground music scene.
Their debut album, Greatest Lovesongs Vol., released in 1997, showcased their unique sound and laid the foundation for their rise to prominence.
HIM’s breakthrough came with their second album Razorblade Romance (2000), which featured the international hit “Join Me in Death”.
The album brought the band global fame and made HIM the first Finnish band to receive a gold record in the United States.
Subsequent releases Love Metal (2003) and Dark Light (2005) further cemented their place within the goth rock genre.
Known for their haunting melodies and Vallow’s deep, booming baritone, the band’s music delves into themes of love, death and the struggle for survival, earning them a loyal fan base around the world.
In addition to his work with HIM, Valo also explores personal projects and collaborations with artists from different genres.
In 2023, he released his first solo album “Neon Noir” under the name VV, demonstrating his versatility as a musician.
Vallow’s influence transcended music, with his style and poetic lyrics being compared to literary icons such as Edgar Allan Poe.
Following his 2017 HIM farewell tour, Valo continues to be hailed as a key figure in goth and alternative rock, leaving an indelible mark on the genre.
Awards and nominations
social media
- Instagram account: @heartagram
- Twitter account: @theheartagram
personal life
Ville Valo had several famous relationships in his life.
He was engaged to Finnish TV presenter Jonna Nygrén from 2005 until their breakup in 2006, after which they briefly reconciled and then separated.
From 2012 to 2015, Valo also had a relationship with French model Sandra Mittica. He has been with Finnish model Christel Karhu since 2016, with the pair making their first public appearance together in February 2017.
Currently, Ville Valo does not have any children as he is mainly focused on his music career and personal relationships rather than starting a family.
discography
- The Greatest Love Song Vol. 666 (1997)
- razor romance(1999)
- Shadows and Silence(2001)
- Love Metal(2003)
- Dark Light(2005)
- The Last Days of Venus(2007)
- Screaming Works: Love in Theory and Practice (2010)
- Tears on Tape(2013)
- Neon Black(2023)
- Will Vallow and the Agents (2019)
- Bittersweet (with Revelation, 2004)
- Summer Wine (with Natalia Avelon, 2007)
- Just For Tonight (with Manna, 2007)
- Get to know me, get to know you (with MGT, 2016)
- Lusifer (with Teho Majamäki, 2016)
net worth
Ville Valo has an estimated net worth of $12 million.
He is widely regarded as the lead singer of Finnish rock band HIM, who rose to fame in the late 1990s and early 2000s with successful albums such as Razorblade Romance and Love Metal.
