Alexi "Wildchild" Laiho (born April 8, 1979) is the lead guitarist/vocalist of Children of Bodom. He also plays in Sinergy and Kylähullut. He has played with Thy Serpent and Impaled Nazarene on occasion in addition to Warmen. Originating from the town of Espoo, Finland, Alexi began his musical training at the age of five by learning the viola. However, influenced by the music his sister listened to (heavy metal music bands such as W.A.S.P., Poison and Stone), he ended up dropping the classical instrument at the age of 11, in favour of guitars. A taped live performance of Steve Vai's song "For the Love of God" (from the Passion and Warfare album) was especially influential in Alexi's decision to become a guitarist. He then began taking lessons at the Finnish Pop & Jazz Conservatory in order to study the instrument. At the conservatory he also studied the piano. The development of his playing style was heavily influenced by Stone's Roope Latvala (who many years later became his bandmate in Sinergy and then in Children of Bodom). His vocal influences came mostly from Phil Anselmo (from Pantera) and Mille Petrozza (from Kreator). After taking part of an experimetal music band named T.O.L.K. with friends from the conservatory, Alexi founded in 1993 the death metal band IneartheD (which later became Children of Bodom) together with drummer Jaska Raatikainen and then-bassist Samuli Miettinen. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.