GEORG LAAKSO LEAVES TURISAS

Mr. Lapin Kulta · July 12th, 2006, 01:22 PM

Georg Laakso, the guitarist of Turisas, who was badly injured in a severe car-accident in October 2005 has left the band.

"Nearly nine months has passed since the accident took place, and after six years in the band, I have now come to the point where I am forced to leave Turisas.

I have been diagnosed with spinal cord injury which has an effect on all the functions in my body. In practice it means that nothing from my chest and below is working properly or at all, and I am now tied to a wheelchair - most likely for the rest of my life. Unfortunately my fingers are not working either and it is very unlikely that I will be able to play the guitar - or any instrument for that matter - ever again. To avoid sounding too gloomy I would like to point out that considering the circumstances I should have been dead many times already. Thanks to hard rehabilitation, zest for life and persistency I have already made some progress and I am slowly re-learning the basics of life. I have a hard battle of my own ahead of myself, but battles are meant to be won.

I would like to thank all of you for the support you have given me during these hard months. All the letters, cards and greetings have gladden my heart enourmously. A big thank you to everyone of you! I would have wanted to inform you much sooner, but my constitution and the unclarity in things have made it impossible for me to give any kind of a reasonable statement earlier than now. I know that also this is still pretty vague, but I am hoping to be able to give you more information when things first come clear to myself. There is no such thing as giving up!"

Turisas is not looking for a replacing guitarist at the moment, but will continue doing all upcoming shows with only one guitarist as the band has already done since the accident took place. The band is currently concentrating on the work for a new album with a release tentatively scheduled for first early 2007. Witness Turisas in battle this summer:
14.07.2006 Dong Open Air, Neukirchen-Vluyn, D
15.07.2006 Bloodstock Open Air, Derbyshire, UK
11.08.2006 Party San Open Air, Bad Berka, D
18.08.2006 Summerbreeze Festival, Dinkelsbühl, D
19.08.2006 Hörnerfest 2006, Brande-Hörnerkirchen, D

Feel_The_Force · July 12th, 2006, 01:30 PM

melchen · July 12th, 2006, 01:57 PM

so those speculations and rumors were true.. however, i wish you all the best for the further rehabilitation to come. i know how hard it is to accept to make "only" those small steps towards (so called..) normal life, but the way behind you was much longer than the street to go! never forget about this.. i hope you can find much motivation to go ahead and hopefully you get better one day.. and thanks a lot for all the input/music/etc. work you've done with turisas (and cadacross)..!!

son_of_northern_darkness · July 12th, 2006, 05:48 PM

Georg our hearts are with you and the other members of Turisas - it must be like losing a member of the family having had Georg playing with Turisas for six years..

Thanks for all your work with Turisas and I hope you carry on to live as full a life as you can...like you say, battles are meant to be won!!

This Saturday at Bloodstock I will raise my horn in your honour and I'm sure Mathias will say something special about you from the stage.

Hope you get to read this, many regards Georg!
Ben

eva_dolly · July 12th, 2006, 06:17 PM

damn poor guy. I hope things so not get any worst for him in the long run.

kieblack · July 12th, 2006, 06:46 PM

cannot say nothing else..

I do hope that Georg gets better, it may be slow but I know he can do it.

CliffBurton · July 12th, 2006, 08:42 PM

Good luck to him and his family.

Heavenscent · July 13th, 2006, 04:44 AM

Horrible news, since I hadn't even heard about the accident.
Good to see that he stays possitive, I don't know if I could if it would happen to me.
I'd love to see him back in action, but I would be glad for him if he manages to get his life on the road again altogether.

Much strength and fight your battle with pride, much sympathies from Holland.

KristJaeger · July 13th, 2006, 04:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by melchen

so those speculations and rumors were true.. however, i wish you all the best for the further rehabilitation to come. i know how hard it is to accept to make "only" those small steps towards (so called..) normal life, but the way behind you was much longer than the street to go! never forget about this.. i hope you can find much motivation to go ahead and hopefully you get better one day.. and thanks a lot for all the input/music/etc. work you've done with turisas (and cadacross)..!!

couldn't say it better!
thanks for everything!

lunatic_cherry · July 13th, 2006, 06:06 AM

That's just too bad...

All the best for you!!! Never give up fighting!!!

Cherry

El Diablo · July 14th, 2006, 10:08 AM

The main thing is that you get well someday, Georg!

July 12th, 2006, 01:22 PM	#1 (permalink)
Mr. Lapin Kulta I wanna live in Beermuda! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Northernmost Sweden Posts: 357	GEORG LAAKSO LEAVES TURISAS Georg Laakso, the guitarist of Turisas, who was badly injured in a severe car-accident in October 2005 has left the band. "Nearly nine months has passed since the accident took place, and after six years in the band, I have now come to the point where I am forced to leave Turisas. I have been diagnosed with spinal cord injury which has an effect on all the functions in my body. In practice it means that nothing from my chest and below is working properly or at all, and I am now tied to a wheelchair - most likely for the rest of my life. Unfortunately my fingers are not working either and it is very unlikely that I will be able to play the guitar - or any instrument for that matter - ever again. To avoid sounding too gloomy I would like to point out that considering the circumstances I should have been dead many times already. Thanks to hard rehabilitation, zest for life and persistency I have already made some progress and I am slowly re-learning the basics of life. I have a hard battle of my own ahead of myself, but battles are meant to be won. I would like to thank all of you for the support you have given me during these hard months. All the letters, cards and greetings have gladden my heart enourmously. A big thank you to everyone of you! I would have wanted to inform you much sooner, but my constitution and the unclarity in things have made it impossible for me to give any kind of a reasonable statement earlier than now. I know that also this is still pretty vague, but I am hoping to be able to give you more information when things first come clear to myself. There is no such thing as giving up!" Turisas is not looking for a replacing guitarist at the moment, but will continue doing all upcoming shows with only one guitarist as the band has already done since the accident took place. The band is currently concentrating on the work for a new album with a release tentatively scheduled for first early 2007. Witness Turisas in battle this summer: 14.07.2006 Dong Open Air, Neukirchen-Vluyn, D 15.07.2006 Bloodstock Open Air, Derbyshire, UK 11.08.2006 Party San Open Air, Bad Berka, D 18.08.2006 Summerbreeze Festival, Dinkelsbühl, D 19.08.2006 Hörnerfest 2006, Brande-Hörnerkirchen, D __________________

July 12th, 2006, 05:48 PM	#4 (permalink)
son_of_northern_darkness Full Time Metalhead Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Here Posts: 171	Georg our hearts are with you and the other members of Turisas - it must be like losing a member of the family having had Georg playing with Turisas for six years.. Thanks for all your work with Turisas and I hope you carry on to live as full a life as you can...like you say, battles are meant to be won!! This Saturday at Bloodstock I will raise my horn in your honour and I'm sure Mathias will say something special about you from the stage. Hope you get to read this, many regards Georg! Ben __________________ A feast awaits us when we get back Awaiting all that fought in wrath By the long fires we sit in glory And beer cools our sore throats

July 13th, 2006, 06:06 AM	#10 (permalink)
lunatic_cherry a.k.a. Kirsikka Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Vienna/Austria Posts: 98	That's just too bad... All the best for you!!! Never give up fighting!!! Cherry __________________ ELUVEITIE... a new wave of folk metal

July 12th, 2006, 01:30 PM	#2 (permalink)
Feel_The_Force Thrash 'Til Death!! Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: England Posts: 3,914

July 12th, 2006, 01:57 PM	#3 (permalink)
melchen I AM NNT DSUNK!!!! Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: zürich Posts: 138	so those speculations and rumors were true.. however, i wish you all the best for the further rehabilitation to come. i know how hard it is to accept to make "only" those small steps towards (so called..) normal life, but the way behind you was much longer than the street to go! never forget about this.. i hope you can find much motivation to go ahead and hopefully you get better one day.. and thanks a lot for all the input/music/etc. work you've done with turisas (and cadacross)..!!

July 12th, 2006, 06:46 PM	#6 (permalink)
kieblack Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Finland Posts: 8	cannot say nothing else.. I do hope that Georg gets better, it may be slow but I know he can do it.

July 14th, 2006, 10:08 AM	#11 (permalink)
El Diablo Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Kerava, Finland Posts: 461	The main thing is that you get well someday, Georg!