On September 12, 2025, the music world found itself looking both forward and back. Finnish alternative rock band The Rasmus burst back onto the scene with the release of their new album, Weirdo, and a much-anticipated EU/UK tour announcement. Meanwhile, fans and critics alike paused to reflect on the legacy of Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here, which marked its 50th anniversary on the same day. Both albums, though separated by half a century and musical style, share a deep resonance with listeners searching for meaning, connection, and the courage to be themselves.
For The Rasmus, Weirdo is more than just another entry in their discography. According to Frontstage Magazine, frontman Lauri Ylönen explained that the album’s title was inspired by the very first song they wrote for the project—a track that set the tone for the entire record. "Weirdo was the first song we wrote. That was kind of the key song for the album. It sort of created the whole concept," Ylönen shared. The band wanted to celebrate being different, unique, and unapologetically oneself—a message that’s clearly struck a chord with fans. "When we announced the title I think many of the fans were very excited. Like 'oh, yeah, I get it. I already know what you mean, only by seeing the word weirdo.' So it’s definitely a positive title," he added.
Ylönen’s reflections on embracing individuality stem from personal experience. He described his own journey from feeling burdened by his quirks in youth to taking pride in his uniqueness as an adult. "I think when I’ve got older, I’ve gained some confidence. And I’m actually very proud that I’ve always been a weird weirdo. Because I’ve still had a perfect life, it doesn’t matter. Like you don’t really have to follow the rules you’ve been given or like I’ve made crazy choices in my life, you know, sacrificed everything for the band." That spirit of self-acceptance is woven throughout the album, even if not every song tackles the theme directly.
Musically, Weirdo stands out in The Rasmus’ catalog for its heavier, more modern sound. The band collaborated with legendary producer Desmond Child—famed for his work with Kiss and Bon Jovi—as well as Los Angeles-based Joseph McQueen, who brought a contemporary edge to the production. The result is an album that feels both classic and current, a testament to the band’s ability to evolve while staying true to their roots.
The creative process for Weirdo was as eclectic as its sound. Most of the songs were written on the Greek island of Folegandros, a tradition for the band, which Ylönen described as "a very special magical place to write music because it’s nice to be away from home and from everything busy and to focus on that moment and writing songs." The album was later finished at Sienna Studios in Nashville, a legendary space that has hosted everyone from country stars to Taylor Swift. This time around, the band was finally able to come together in person after the isolating experience of recording their previous album remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic. "We really enjoyed this time coming together, spending a lot of time in the studio, jamming and improvising there. Because that’s where the magic happens: When we’re all together," Ylönen said.
Adding to the album’s freshness is the full participation of guitarist Emilia Suhonen, who joined The Rasmus four years ago. This is her first album with the band from start to finish, and her contributions—both as a guitarist and vocalist—have brought new energy to the group. "She is also singing some parts and some songs on the album and, and that’s really refreshing. Also when we play live she’s a really kick-ass girl. She’s really, really great. A lot of the fans really like her," Ylönen enthused.
In keeping with modern trends in rock music, Weirdo features collaborations with artists from both Finland and the U.S. Niko Vilhelm from Blind Channel lends his voice to "Break These Chains," while Lee Jennings of American band The Funeral Portrait appears on the title track. The connection with Jennings was almost serendipitous; both bands had songs celebrating the idea of being weird, and a recent American tour together cemented their friendship. "It was kind of a coincidence because they, without me knowing, had a song called 'Stay Weird'. It’s almost the same idea in the song, it’s good to be weird, this type of idea. So I was like, what? This is so crazy. This is like a destiny talking, like this was meant to be," Ylönen recounted.
With the album released, The Rasmus are gearing up for a major tour across Europe and the UK, starting November 11, 2025, and including stops in Hamburg, Berlin, Munich, Cologne, and other cities. The Funeral Portrait will support them on the German dates, promising a cross-continental celebration of rock’s enduring weirdness. Ylönen expressed particular excitement about returning to Germany, recalling the band’s early success there two decades ago and the passionate fanbase that helped launch their international career. "Germany was the first country after Finland where something started to happen. So we owe a big thank you to all the German fans who started calling for Viva back in the day. There was almost a hysteria kind of happening in Germany, 20 something years ago," he reminisced.
For Ylönen and his bandmates, touring isn’t just about playing shows—it’s about immersing themselves in each city’s culture, meeting fans, and soaking in the local vibe. "We go running or at least walking the city. And if there’s a national park, that’s a perfect thing to do. Get some exercise, go to see some museum, have a good lunch somewhere local. It’s nice if we can have a local guide. Sometimes we ask the fans, from Instagram, like, 'Hey, who wants to show us around?'" he explained. This approach, he believes, helps create the best possible concert experience for both the band and the audience.
While The Rasmus look to the future, Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here continues to cast a long shadow over rock history. As Radio X noted in their retrospective published on September 12, 2025, the album—which followed the monumental success of Dark Side Of The Moon—was born from a period of turmoil and introspection. The title track, with its haunting lyrics and evocative melody, remains one of the band’s most poignant works. Roger Waters, who penned the lyrics, once said, "I played a few chords and wrote the song very, very quickly, as I recall. Probably in an hour. It was one of those happy times when stream of consciousness works, and words come out."
The album’s themes of loss, absence, and longing—particularly as they relate to former frontman Syd Barrett—continue to resonate with listeners decades later. Waters explained in a 2012 documentary that the song was a personal call to remain engaged with life, to resist retreating into comfort or detachment. "It’s to encourage myself not to accept a lead role in a cage, but to go on demanding of myself that I keep auditioning for the walk-on part in the war, ‘cause that’s where I want to be." The enduring power of Wish You Were Here lies in its ability to speak to universal feelings of separation and the desire for connection—a thread that, in its own way, ties back to The Rasmus’ celebration of the outsider on Weirdo.
As autumn 2025 unfolds, both albums—one a fresh release, the other a golden anniversary classic—remind us that music’s greatest gift is its power to help us embrace who we are, flaws and all, and to reach out to others in our shared weirdness and longing.
