Mika Kristian Karppinen, better known as Gas Lipstick (born 8 February 1971), is currently the drummer for the rock band HIM. He is also the drummer for Finnish deathgrind band To Separate The Flesh From The Bones, punk band Ååritila, and metal band Bendover. He also was a drum tech for Stratovarius at one point and was on the Stratovarius DVD for a couple of parts.

Read More...

Mika married his girlfriend Natali in Temppeliaukio church, Helsinki, on 30 August 2008. Mika became a father when his daughter was born on 16 January 2009.

Gas is an endorser of Tama 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 most current drummers.

Gas can be seen during some of the festival season with 3 bass drums with HIM spelled across or a Heartagram in the middle and Tama logo on the left and right bass drum. However, normally on their headlining tours he will only have 1 bass drum with a Heartagram on it.

Mika Karppinens former band(s):

Valvontakomissio (1990-1994) - Vocals, Drums

Discharge (1991) - Drums

Kyyria (1992-1998) - Lyrics, Composition, Drums

Dementia (1994-1995) - Vocals, Lyrics, Guitar

User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License and may also be available under the GNU FDL.