FORMER sex shop worker Ville Valo says he can't leave it alone and that pornography made him into a monster.

Next Friday he'll be telling all of Cardiff about it in the International Arena. He and his pop-goth band HIM have come all the way from their homeland in Finland to promote their latest album Love Metal.

It's their biggest hit to date and has spawned several Top 40 singles including Buried Alive By Love, The Sacrament and The Funeral of Hearts in January 2004.

In April they released a cover of Neil Diamond's Solitary Man which finally gave them a Top 10 single.

It seems they are about to make the jump to America with more record companies currently chasing their signature than did Guns 'n'Roses. But despite having all these hits and selling out show after show they have yet to appear on any major TV shows in the UK.

It probably due to Valo's constant rambles about smoking, defecating and all manner of unpleasantries.

Most of the songs are based back in the sex shop, which his dad owned, in which Valo used to work, which also doesn't help.

But it does sell records and squillions of teens eager for news of Valo's latest 'toy' have made him a star.

HIM Play Cardiff International Arena on Friday, October 15. Dial 029 2022 4444 for more info.