Gas Lipstick
The powerhouse drummer whose thunderous beats provided the rhythmic backbone for HIM's chart-topping 'love metal' anthems.
Born 1971 (age 55)·Swedish-Finnish drummer·Birthday: February 8·Generation X
Biography
Mika Karppinen, known universally as Gas Lipstick, brought a hard-hitting, punk-infused energy to the Finnish rock scene. Before joining HIM in 1999, he cut his teeth in the aggressive worlds of deathgrind and punk, a background that informed his powerful, no-frills style. His arrival coincided with HIM's international breakthrough; his drums anchored hits like 'Join Me' and 'Buried Alive by Love,' providing the sturdy foundation for the band's melancholic melodies. For over fifteen years, his iconic look and relentless playing were central to HIM's identity, helping to define the 'love metal' genre. Beyond his main gig, he maintained ties to his roots, playing in side projects like To Separate the Flesh from the Bones. Lipstick's departure from HIM in 2015 marked the end of an era, but his work remains etched into the sound of a band that conquered European charts and cultivated a dedicated global following.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Gas was born in 1971, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Gas Was Born
The biggest hits of 1971
#1 Movie
Fiddler on the Roof
Best Picture
The French Connection
#1 TV Show
Marcus Welby, M.D.
Gas's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1971Born
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1976Started school
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1984Became a teenager
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1987Could drive
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1989Could vote
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1992Turned 21
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2001Turned 30
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2011Turned 40
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 50
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 55 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Served as the drummer for the Finnish band HIM from 1999 to 2015, during their peak international success.
- Played on multiple platinum- and gold-certified HIM albums, including 'Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights' and 'Dark Light.'
- His drumming helped define the 'love metal' sound that propelled HIM to mainstream recognition in Europe and the US.
- Performed on HIM's album 'Dark Light,' which debuted at number 18 on the US Billboard 200 chart in 2005.
Did You Know?
His stage name 'Gas Lipstick' was inspired by a misheard lyric from a Misfits song.
He is a trained graphic designer and has contributed artwork for some of his bands.
Before joining HIM, he was in a deathgrind band called To Separate the Flesh from the Bones.
He is known for his distinctive appearance, often featuring heavy eye makeup and a goatee.
“My job is simple: hit hard, keep time, and serve the song.”
