Gas Lipstick


Mika Kristian Karppinen, better known as Gas Lipstick, is a Swedish-Finnish musician, best known as the previous drummer of the Finnish gothic rock band HIM. Karppinen is also drummer to other bands, but they are on hiatus, such as Finnish deathgrind group To Separate the Flesh from the Bones, Finnish heavy metal group Bendover, Finnish punk group Valvontakomissio and International Finnish / Swedish punk group Ääritila.
Born in Eskilstuna, Sweden to Finnish parents, at age thirteen Karppinen moved to Finland with his family. He was a session drummer for one tour with the Finnish band named Tarot. Before joining HIM, he was also a member of Kyyria, which included Santeri Kallio and Niclas Etelävuori from the Finnish band Amorphis and singer Ville Tuomi of Suburban Tribe. He sang and played guitar in a Thrash Metal band called Dementia, including guitarist Roope Latvala of Children Of Bodom. He also was a drum tech for Stratovarius at one point and was on the Stratovarius DVD for a couple of parts.
In March 2011, the game company SongHi released internet music game with Karppinen's drum loops.
On 27 January 2015, Karppinen announced his departure from HIM, feeling that he needed to move on as a musician.

Personal life

Karppinen married Croatian photographer and influencer, in Temppeliaukio church, Helsinki, on 30 August 2008. Mika became a father when his daughter, Lara Natalija was born on 16 January 2009.

Drum set

Gas is an endorser of Ludwig drums, Paiste cymbals, Aquarian drum heads and Vic Firth drum sticks.
Furthermore, he is an open handed drummer, meaning he plays the hi-hat with his left hand and the snare with his right, opposite to many rock drummers.

Drums

LUDWIG Legacy Classic
SHELL SIZES:
HARDWARE: LUDWIG Atlas Pro
CYMBALS: PAISTE
DRUM HEADS: AQUARIAN
13" Rack Tom
Top Response 2 Coated
Bottom Texture Coated
16" Floor Tom
Top Response 2 Coated
Bottom Texture Coated
18" Floor Tom
Top Response 2 Coated
Bottom Texture Coated
14" Snare
Top Hi-Energy
Bottom Hi-Performance
22" Kick
Batter Force I White
Front Force II Black
DRUM STICKS: VIC FIRTH
American Classic Metal

Music Bands