Finns dismayed after Eurovision monsters 'Lordi' unmasked

HELSINKI - Nearly 200,000 Finns have signed an online petition to express their dismay after tabloid magazines published pictures of Eurovision winners Lordi out of their trademark monster suits.

Though viewers around the world were curious about the real identity of the five monsters who shot to fame with their song Hard Rock Hallelujah, many Finns were annoyed to have them unmasked and had signed the petition by Friday.

The band had asked media not to run pictures of them out of character, but two Finnish tabloid magazines went ahead, sparking a chorus of online jeers.

Hosts of the online petition said about 200,000 people had added their names so far.

Band leader Mr Lordi is recognisable to millions around the world since achieving victory in a silver monster suit, with horns and blazing red eyes.

But Tomi Putaansuu, as he is also known, was revealed to be a bespectacled 32-year-old with long brown hair and a goatee, when his picture was published in the magazine 7 Paivaa (7 Days) this week.

Rival magazine Katso ran pictures of the other four members of the band - Kita, Amen, Ox and Awa - who, along with Mr Lordi, took Finland to their first Eurovision victory.

"It's so wrong," said 15-year-old Milla Luoto, dressed in black and walking with two similarly clad friends in the centre of the Finnish capital. "Lordi didn't want his face shown and they just did it anyway. I am really angry."

- REUTERS