Nightwish

The idea of Nightwish was "born" in July 1996 at midnight when Tuomas was spending a night with his friends around a campfire. The first three songs, which were acoustic mood music, were recorded between October and December 1996. At that time, the band had three members: Tuomas, Tarja and Emppu.



The band wanted to see what the music would sound like if drums were added (Jukka joined the band). Also at this time, the acoustic guitar was replaced with an electric. After a couple of weeks of training, the band went to the studio this was in April 1997. At that time seven songs were recorded. These songs can be found on the limited edition of the album Angels Fall First.
In May 1997, Nightwish signed a recording contract with Spinefarm for two records. That August, the band went to the studio and recorded four new songs. Before the release of Angels Fall First, a single called The Carpenter was released, and made it to number eight on the official singles chart in Finland. Angels Fall First was released in early November and went number 31 on the official album chart in Finland. Nightwish played their first gig in Kitee on the 31st December 1997. After that Nightwish played only seven gigs in the following winter because Jukka and Emppu were in the army and Tarja was busy with her studies. Nightwish and at this time, Spinefarm extended the contract to include three records instead of two.



In April 1998, they started filming the first video, The Carpenter. It was ready in early May and was first played on Jyrki. In late May, Tuomas and Tarja interviewed on that show. In the following summer, the bassist Sami Vänskä joined the band.
During the summer, songs for the new record were rehearsed and the band went to the studio in early August; the recordings were finished in late October. On November 13th, Nightwish played a gig in Kitee during which, a video for Sacrament of Wilderness was filmed. That song's single was released on November 26th and the new record called Oceanborn was released on December 7th.
Everybody was surprised by the success of Oceanborn. It went up to fifth place on the official Finnish album chart and the single Sacrament of Wilderness was the number one on the singles chart for weeks.



In winter 1999, Nightwish played a lot of gigs all around the country for three months which included a gig on the Lista chart show program. In spring Oceanborn was first released outside of Finland. In May, the band started to play gigs again and toured the country for two and a half months, playing in almost all of the big rock festivals. At the same time the single Sleeping Sun was recorded, which was written for the eclipse in Germany. In August, the single was released in Germany and it also included the songs Walking in the Air, Swanheart, and Angels Fall First. In Germany alone the single sold 15,000 copies in just one month. In August, Nightwish learned that Oceanborn and Sacrament of Wilderness had sold gold. At the same time it was confirmed that Nightwish would be touring Europe for 26 gigs with the German band Rage.



In early 2000 the band entered the studio again for the recording of their third album. A welcome interruption came to the repetitive studio work when they took part in the Finnish qualification for the Eurovision Song Contest with the song Sleepwalker. Nightwish cleared the first round of the qualification, but the final position was second despite an overwhelming win in the public televoting.
The new album, Wishmaster, was released in May and the Wishmaster Tour started from Kitee, the home town of the band. After the show, the band received gold discs for the album Oceanborn and the singles Sacrament of Wilderness, Walking in the Air, and Sleeping Sun. Wishmaster went straight to number 1 on the Finnish album charts and stayed in that position for three weeks, during that time, it also reached the gold disc mark. Wishmaster was approved by both the fans and the media and it was named the album of the month by the German magazine Rock Hard in their issue 6/2000, past the long-awaited new releases by Bon Jovi and Iron Maiden.
Wishmaster also debuted in the National German Charts at No. 21 and No. 66 in France! The "Wishmaster World Tour", which started from Kitee, continued first to the big festivals in Finland and then to South America in July 2000. The three-week tour in Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Panama and Mexico turned out to be one of the band's greatest experiences so far. This was followed by successful shows at Wacken Open Air, Biebop Metal Fest and the first headliner European tour with Sinergy and Eternal Tears Of Sorrow. In November, Nightwish also played two shows in Montreal, Canada.
The next project of Nightwish included the making of a full-length concert DVD & VHS with a limited live album (only for Finland). The concert was performed in Tampere on the 29th of December 2000. The material was released in April 2001 in Finland and worldwide during the summer of 2001. At the end of the show, Nightwish were given platinum discs for "Wishmaster" and gold discs for the single "Deep Silent Complete".

the tale continues...



In March 2001 Nightwish entered the studio again to record their version of Gary Moore's classic Over The Hills And Far Away, with 2 new songs and a remake of Angels Fall First's "Astral Romance". The Finnish release for this EP was in June 2001. The German version of "Over The Hills And Far Away" (released by Drakkar) includes 6 live tracks in addition to the 4 unreleased songs. Nightwish has also extended the record deal with Spinefarm Records with one full-length album, which was set to be released in Summer 2002.
The video for the track "Over the Hills and Far Away", which had rapidly sold platinum in Finland as a mini-CD, was shot in August 2001 in Finland. The tour in Finland the same year ended in Nivala, and the band was close to disbanding. Tuomas went hiking and gathering his thoughts in Lappland; some changes had to be done in order for Nightwish to be able to continue. According to his own words, Tuomas wanted to end the band due to prolonged disagreements within the band. Luckily, that didn't happen. But something happened, a lot in fact. Sami Vänskä, who had been with them since Oceanborn, had to leave. Marco Hietala, known from Tarot and Sinergy, promised to step in as a replacement for the next album and tour. King Foo Entertainment became their new booking agency, and long-time friend and colleague, Ewo Rytkönen, was to become their manager. To celebrate the "new beginning", the first official shop for fan-products, Nightwish-Shop, was opened on the band's homepage on November 24th 2001, a month before Christmas. The recording of the next album Century Child started in January 2002.




The beginning of 2002 brought Nightwish good news, in comparison to previous rough times. As a band and as individual musicians they were voted to the top on many domestic and foreign magazines reader's polls. The fans had not abandoned them after the changes, on the contrary. Ever Dream, the first single from the forthcoming album, went gold in Finland within 2 days. At the same time Nightwish announced they would take a break as soon as the "Century Child World Tour 2002" would be over, Tarja would finish her educations in Germany during the break. That announcement brought up all kinds of speculations among fans. Sami leaving the previous Fall, now a break that would last a year...
Century Child came out in May 2002 and made a sales record, selling gold in Finland within 2 hours! Within two weeks it sold platinum (30,000 copies) and continued selling rapidly. At the same time Nightwish held the top-position in both singles-and album charts, for their first time ever. Foreign countries responded, too: in Germany, Century Child went straight to number 5 and in Austria, number 15, those two being the band's highest positions abroad so far. In July, Nightwish toured successfully in South America, where nearly all gigs sold out. In Brazil, the first edition of Century Child was sold out in one day, and the successful European tour that year didn't go unnoticed by booking agencies. Many European gigs were broadcasted live on the internet, needless to say the connections were often jammed. At its most, nearly 10,000 fans were trying to follow the live feed. Having sold an astonishing 59,000 copies in Finland, Century Child was the country's 2nd best selling album in 2002. The first visit to Sweden took place on 16th November 2002, in Fryshuset, Stockholm. The break started in late 2002, and sure enough there was no rest for the guys. Jukka played with Sethian and Bitch Driven, Tuomas with Sethian, For My Pain..., and Timo Rautiainen & Trio Niskalaukaus, Emppu played with Altaria, and Marco with Tarot. All in all the break wasn't to last nearly a year, back on the road...



The beginning of 2003 saw more good results in reader's polls of various magazines, and a studio was booked in order to start recording the next album, planned to be released the next year. Happenings also at the home-front: Jukka and his girlfriend Satu had a daughter, Luna, on March 11, 2003. Nightwish received their first double-platinum award for Century Child, having sold 60,000. The band performed mostly abroad in 2003, the only gig in Finland was at RMJ 2003 on June 20th. The second visit to Sweden took place at the sold out "Gates of Metal"-festival in Hultsfred. During 2003, the forthcoming DVD-documentary End of Innocence was being put together, and it's release was postponed a few times due to huge amount of material.
In May 2003, Tarja Turunen announced that she had secretly gotten married a few months earlier, and would be moving back to Finland. The DVD "End of Innocence" was finally released on October 6th 2003, and at that point, Nightwish had already started recording the next album. Their fifth album "Once" would be the most important release in the history of Nightwish. Meanwhile, Finland's President, Tarja Halonen, had also taken note of Nightwish's achievements and invited Tarja Turunen and her husband Marcelo Cabuli to the annual independence-day party held at the presidential residence. Tarja's dress was voted as the most beautiful dress that evening.
Before the Christmas of 2003 Nightwish auctioned their "Century Child World Tour"-backdrop, and donated all the money to charity. The outcome was 1,750 EUR, and was given to Parikanniemi's Children's home in Ristiina on December 2003. The funds were handed out by Tarja Turunen, Michael "Big Tini" Leipold from Germany became the new proud owner of the backdrop.



The year 2004 was eagerly expected by both the fans and the band. Exhausting studio-sessions took their toll both physically and mentally. The actual recording took place at the Phoenix-studios in London, the same studio and with the same orchestra (The Academy of St. Martins in the Field) that Howard Shore used for writing the score for "The Lord of the Rings"-trilogy. Orchestral-and choral arrangements were written by Pip Williams, who has produced "Status Quo"and "riah Heep" Big time, great expectations!
Nemo was the first single released off the forthcoming album, and a big-budget video was made. The director was Antti Jokinen, who had previously worked with Shania Twain and Eminem.
With the new album, Nightwish had some changes with the recording contract, and the new material was released by Nuclear Blast. Good old Spinefarm Records would still handle the distribution in Finland. Nuclear Blast spent a considerable amount of money marketing Once, especially in Germany. Pictures of Nightwish and Once were splattered all over the television-channels, subways, buses and streets, and the press wasn't forgotten either. Every German will know Nightwish by now.
Once went gold in Finland on its day of release, as did the single "Nemo". Nightwish started a world Tour of 150 concerts in all continents, the tour lasted until the end of 2005. This tour was be the biggest in the history of Nightwish so far. The album "Once" sold gold in Finland immediately on its release day, as did the single "Nemo". In May 2004, Nightwish started the Once World Tour. The Once World Tour lasted until the end of October 2005. There were about 130 gigs all over the world, including new countries such as Japan, Australia, Colombia, Ecuador, Poland, Slovenia, Portugal, Denmark, and Greece. The tour was the biggest in Nightwish's history. From month to month the venues grew bigger and the news told about success.
The second single, Wish I Had An Angel, was released in Autumn 2004. The song's video was directed by Uwe Boll, director of the movie "Alone In The Dark", in which the song was also played. The second single was again a great success and boosted the sales of the Once album.
In August, Nightwish finally made it to the USA! The tour was very successful and they planned to come back for a bigger tour in 2005. After the tours in Europe and South America in the Autumn of 2004, and some separate gigs in December, the band had some time off in January 2005.



In February 2005, Nightwish won five awards in Emma-Gala (Finnish Grammy). Among the others they won awards for "The Band of the Year" and "The Best Selling Album of the Year". Tuomas and Marco flew from European tour to Helsinki to receive the awards. The last show in the European tour was so far the biggest gig of their own, in Stuttgart there were 10,001 people watching the show!
In March, Nightwish performed the first time in Japan and Australia; in April and May, they had to have a break because of Tarja's other interests, but at the end of May the band started the tour again by playing with Iron Maiden in Poland and with Mötley Crüe in Norway.
In July, the 3rd single, a new version of Sleeping Sun, was released since the record label had decided to use it to promote the forthcoming collection Highest Hopes. The new version of the video for "Sleeping Sun" was directed by Joern Heitmann and shot in August 2005 in Prague. During the Autumn 2005, Nightwish played several shows and performed in the legendary Hammersmith Apollo Venue for sold out seats. After a short festival tour in South America (in October), the Once World Tour was coming to an end. The final concert was played on 21 October for 11,500 people in Hartwall-Arena in Helsinki. The concert was also recorded to be released as an End of an Era live DVD.
After the last concert, Tuomas, Emppu, Marco and Jukka fired Tarja Turunen, and her manager Marcelo Cabuli. The reason for this was because during the Once Tour their attitude and actions had turned out to be against almost all that Nightwish represents. As one may guess, the news of the firing was followed by an incredible sensation and hullabaloo. Once the nearly ridiculous fuss was finally starting to calm down in the end of 2005, Nightwish was able to look to the future and wait for an adequate singer to be found.
By the end of 2005, "Once" has sold approx. 1,000 000 copies worldwide as well, it has sold triple platinum in Finland, platinum in Germany, and gold in Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, Greece, and Austria. The "Highest Hopes" collection has sold double platinum in Finland and gold in Norway by the end of the year 2005.

Name:
Anette Olzon

Birthday:
21 June 1971

Place of residence:
Sweden

Hobbies:
Exercising, clothes, reading books and taking long walks in the wild.

Vices:
None ;=)

Musical background:
I was raised in a musical family and I've been singing since childhood. My mom also forced me to play the oboe for 8 years! I toured constantly with my mom and her band in my childhood, sometimes I even sang on stage with them.

After I turned 13, I started competing in several talent shows. I joined my first real band when I was 17, it was a cover band and all the other musicians were older than me. After playing cover songs, I joined a band called Alyson Avenue, first just as a studio singer, later as their leading lady. We've released 2 albums since 2000.

At the age of 21, I played the leading role in a rock opera/musical called "Gränsland" in Helsingborg. After that I got in to the Balettakademien in Gothenburg. In addition to the already mentioned, I've been in several other bands over the years, I've sung in choirs, done studio work for various projects and I've even occasionally been a wedding singer. Recently I sang a duet with Michael Bormann (ex-Jaded Heart-singer) on his album "Conspiracy". During my singing career I've sung nearly every kind of music that there is!

In my earlier days I took singing lessons at the Copenhagen Music Conservatorie, in Helsingör, Denmark with a private teacher. Nowadays, when its needed, I take lessons from a private teacher at the Malmö Music University.

Equipment:
Whatever microphone and in-ear system the NW-crew fix for me.

Idols in music:
I don't have any real "idols" nowadays, but I do look up to all musicians that are humble and do not think too much of themselves.

Idols in life:
People that are themselves, despite what other people think.

Life philosophy:
Live your life fully - love, laugh and cry with all your heart, life doesn't last forever...

Place you would like to go:
Oh, there are so many!! Lapland, Australia, New Zealand, Iceland, Egypt....

What makes you laugh:
Oh, many things... it's easy to make me laugh... but mainly funny tv-series like Jackass and Friends and of course Emppu and Ewo..

First record you bought:
Well the first one was, of course since I am Swedish, an ABBA album...

All time top 5 albums:
Can't name just 5...

Killing time on tour:
We'll see... But it'll most likely be reading, watching movies and playing games.

Preparation for a show:
I do my vocal warm-up and drink some green tea with honey. I always need to spend the last 10 minutes before a show on my own to focus properly, to prepare myself mentally and to relax.

Strangest experience on tour:
I do not have the kind of tour memories that the guys have since I've only done concerts in Scandinavia, but I still remember the old days with my first cover band Take Cover, when we played at a motorcycle party somewhere in the south of Sweden. They had strippers, and the crowd was screaming "Show us your boobs" etc. to me.. After the gig, when we should've collected the payment, some MC-guys started to fight with the guys in our band and we had to drive away with a full-loaded car and its attached trailer as fast as we could.. I was scared... Brr...
They also destroyed one of our big speakers by pouring beer into it...
Grrr...

Worst nightmare on stage:
Losing my voice, not being able to sing as good as I'd want...

Favorite Nightwish song:
All the songs from the new album "Ever Dream", "Higher than Hope".

Worst nightmare in general:
Losing my voice and that something would happen to my closest family members or to my friends.

Favorite band/musician:
There are too many!

Favorite book:
I have many favourites, but I love Paolo Coelho's books, mainly "Veronica decides to die". I also loved Dan Brown's "Angels and Demons".

Favorite drink:
Sparkling mineral water with some nice added taste, vanilla vodka and cider.

Favorite food:
Many - Chinese, sushi, Thai, Mexican...

Favorite animal:
Cats and horses.

Favorite movie:
"Titanic", "Gladiator", "Braveheart" and many more...

Favorite TV show:
I don't watch that much TV, but I love "Desperate Housewives" and "Friends"!

Dumbest question you have ever been asked:
None, there are no dumb questions.. 'cause if the person asking the question feels that she/he wants to know it, it's not a dumb question for them.

Name:
Tuomas Holopainen

Birthday:
25.12.1976

Place of residence:
Kitee, Finland

Hobbies:
Movies, books, Disney, traveling, hiking

Vices:
Coffee & cigarettes

Musical background:
Piano, clarinet, tenor sax & music theory in music school for 11 years. Keyboards in different groups since '93. (Dismal Silence, Nattvindens Gråt, Darkwoods My Betrothed, Sethian, For My Pain, Nightwish). Occational whoring in Timo Rautiainen & Niskalaukaus and Kotiteollisuus.

Equipment:
KORG OASYS, KARMA, N364, TRITON, TRINITY

Idols in music:
Vangelis, Hans Zimmer

Idols in life:
Mom `n Dad, MacGyver, Moominmamma

Life philosophy:
Tomorrow and yesterday are always equally far away, Carpe Diem.

Place you would like to go:
Alaska

What makes you laugh:
Jack Sparrow

First record you bought:
"Asylum" by KISS

All time top 5 albums:
Zimmer/Gerrard: Gladiaattori-soundtrack, Metallica: Black Album, The 3rd And The Mortal: Tears Laid In Earth, Pantera: Vulgar Display Of Power, Tiamat: Wildhoney

Personal highlight with Nightwish:
Writing songs for the next album.

Best Nightwish show so far:
Hartwall Arena, Helsinki

Killing time on tour:
Movies, books, interviews

Preparation for a show:
5 minutes alone.

Strangest experience on tour:
"Singing" in front of 20000 people.

Worst nightmare on stage:
Having to sing again.

Worst nightmare in general:
Losing my creativity and the people I care for.

Favorite Nightwish song:
The Poet And The Pendulum

Favorite band/musician:
Hans Zimmer, Vangelis, Danny Elfman, Trevor Jones, Enigma, Metallica, Pantera, Tiamat, My Dying Bride, The 3rd And The Mortal, the whole Finnish metal scene.

Favorite book:
Lord Of The Rings, The Dark Tower saga 1-7, The Count Of Monte Cristo, Talisman, Moominbooks, Brothers Lionheart.

Favorite drink:
Coffee

Favorite food:
Thai, Mexican, Sushi.

Favorite animal:
Wolf

Favorite movie:
Dances With Wolves, Braveheart, Sleepy Hollow, Shawshank Redemption, Dead Poets` Society, Dead Calm, Village, Wolf Creek, Lord Of The Rings, all the Disney classics.

Favorite TV show:
MacGyver

Dumbest question you have ever been asked:
"Are you Jesus 'cause you look just like him?"

Name:
Jukka "Julius" Nevalainen

Birthday:
21.04.1978

Place of residence:
Joensuu, Finland

Hobbies:
movies and taking a walk

Vices:
Perfectionism.

Musical background:
First I started to play drums in the age of 11 but couldn't really practise since I didn't had a place to rehearse in. So basically I just played some exercises by hitting couch or what ever proper target was available. My first band in the age of 11 or 12 was called "The Highway" and it really rocked... =) Then on the age of 15 or 16 I got in to my first band. We got a practising place where we could play couple of times a week. After quiting in this band we started playing together with Emppu and got a permanent rehearsal-place. This was a bless since from then on we were able to play every day if we felt so. And we did play a lot. First we played some Finnish rock but quite soon got into more heavier stuff like Stratovarius, Helloween and Yngwie Malmsteen. On the age of 17 (if I remember right) Tuomas and Emppu asked me to join a project called Nightwish and the rest is History.

Equipment:
Tama Starclassic Maple drums
Paiste Cymbals
Pro Mark 5B Sticks

Idols in music:
When I was younger and still taking influences the biggest influences came from Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater and Jörg Michael of Stratovarius. Nowadays I don't really observe other drummers playing but if drummer is a good player and is doing a good show it's fun to watch. Example Mikkey Dee and Tommy Lee.

Idols in life:
All the people who understand to enjoy their lives and treat other people well.

Life philosophy:
Treat others like you want them to treat you.

Place you would like to go:
Pyramids in Egypt.

What makes you laugh:
My daughter Luna, my son Niki and Ewo our manager.

First record you bought:
Most likely Sepultura's Arise.

All time top 5 albums:
Gladiator - Soundtrack
Dream Theater - Images And Words
Metallica - Black Album
Pantera - Vulgar Display Of Power
Dream Theater - Scenes From A Memory

Personal highlight with Nightwish:
New Nightwish album

Best Nightwish show so far:
Hartwall Arena on 21st October 2005.

Killing time on tour:
beer & movies

Preparation for a show:
A few beers during the day and just before the show a proper boost by Jägermeister.

Strangest experience on tour:
We were almost forced to cancel the show in Portugal since promotor tried to fuck us. He didn't pay our fee and we were forced to stay in a hotel until he did pay it. The show was delayed but fortunately we got to play.

Worst nightmare on stage:
I loose the click and we play in a different timing with the background-tape. And when I shout Tero to shut it up he doesn't hear me and we keep on playing totally wrong.

Worst nightmare in general:
Something bad would happen to my family.

Favorite Nightwish song:
The Poet And The Pendulum

Favorite band/musician:
Pantera and Metallica. Musician... I don't know. There are so many I appreciate. Let's list a few. Dimebag Darrell, Hans Zimmer and Alexi Laiho.

Favorite book:
The Dirt

Favorite drink:
Beer

Favorite food:
Indian food

Favorite animal:
Shark

Favorite movie:
Gladiator, Braveheart, Titanic

Favorite TV show:
American Chopper

Dumbest question you have ever been asked:
Actualy this is not a dumb question. This is extremely good question which was asked by my daughter Luna. She once asked "Is our house outside or inside?". Think about it and if you'll find an answer please let me know.

Name:
Marco Tapani Hietala

Birthday:
14.01.1966

Place of residence:
Kerava, Finland

Hobbies:
Sci-fi, fantasy & horror books and movies, Videogaming

Vices:
Still lazy

Musical background:
Active musical family background. I´ve been exposed to jazz, rock and classical ever since I was born. I´ve been playing guitar and bass since the age of 12. 3 years of classical guitar, vocal and musical theory studies in musical college. 2 more years of bass and musical theory lessons in Oulunkylä Pop and Jazz Conservatory.

Equipment:
Warwick infinity basses and Warwick amps

Idols in music:
These people are/have been good at what they do. Bass: Geezer Butler, Bob Daisley. Vocals: Ronnie James Dio, Rob Halford, Kate Bush.

Idols in life:
Neil Armstrong. (The first man to walk on the moon, or an obscure patch of desert in states, as some people claim).

Life philosophy:
Live and let live.

Place you would like to go:
Space.

What makes you laugh:
Tickling.

First record you bought:
Me and my brother pestered our father into buying the Rainbow album "Long live rock´n´roll". The first that I bought with my own money was probably Iron Maiden "Killers" or Black Sabbath "Mob rules". Can´t remember which.

All time top 5 albums:
Rainbow: Long Live Rock´n´Roll, Black Sabbath: Heaven and Hell, Judas Priest: Painkiller, Thin Lizzy: Live ´n´Dangerous, Deep purple: Burn. And then there´s a hell of a load of other albums that I like as much as these.

Personal highlight with Nightwish:
The album "Once" and the success that kept on growing and surpassing all our expectations.

Best Nightwish show so far:
There´s been way too many great shows for me to pick just one. Greatest recently in 2005 were probably Wacken Germany, Hammersmith England, Hartwall arena Helsinki Finland just to mention a few.

Killing time on tour:
Books, movies, videogames, occasional drink?

Preparation for a show:
Oh yeah! The occasional drink.

Strangest experience on tour:
Hey, it´s all strange!

Worst nightmare on stage:
Losing the voice.

Worst nightmare in general:
Something bad would happen to my family when I´m away, and couldn´t do anything.

Favorite Nightwish song:
The Siren.

Favorite band/musician:
I don´t have an actual favourite anymore, but Black Sabbath and the way Tony Iommi wrote his riffs have definetely influenced the way I see music and play myself.

Favorite book:
Yep, The lord of the rings. Is this a cliche or what?

Favorite drink:
Lager beer

Favorite food:
Finnish sausage called "lenkki"

Favorite movie:
Still the original Star Wars Trilogy.

Favorite TV show:
I think that the TV is just a natural extension of a DVD-player or a game console. Otherwise it´s basically a waste of time. I´ll still go for the Babylon 5. There might be something better these days, but this one made an impact on me.

Dumbest question you have ever been asked:
Would you give me your own and your bandmates birthdates, adresses and phonenumbers.

Name:
Emppu Vuorinen

Birthday:
24.6.1978

Place of residence:
Kerava

Hobbies:
music

Vices:
hmmm.. none

Musical background:
several bands/projects

Equipment:
ESP guitars

Idols in music:
many

Idols in life:
dad and mom

Life philosophy:
everyday could be the last

Place you would like to go:
actually I have been in every country I want, but "holiday trip" to Japan would be very nice.

What makes you laugh:
Good jokes... and bad ones too..

First record you bought:
I think it was some Iron Maiden...

All time top 5 albums:
Metallican black album, Yngwie Malmsteen:The Seventh Sign, Steve Vai:Sex&Religion, Helloween:Keeper Of The Seven Keys I & II

Personal highlight with Nightwish:
All the tours all over the world.

Best Nightwish show so far:
I can't remember... very many.. but maybe Helsinki, Hartwall arena

Killing time on tour:
reading and walking around the cities.

Preparation for a show:
actually I have no special rituals...

Strangest experience on tour:
gig without any mistakes.. haven´t had yet..

Worst nightmare on stage:
I usually don't sleep on stage, so no nightmares

Worst nightmare in general:
I usually don't sleep, so no nightmares =)

Favorite Nightwish song:
Many

Favorite band/musician:
Many

Favorite book:
all Dan Browns

Favorite drink:
Beer

Favorite food:
"trashfood"

Favorite animal:
turtle

Favorite movie:
I just wached movie called "deja vu" and really liked it..

Favorite TV show:
news at 10 o´clock

Dumbest question you have ever been asked:
there are no stupid questions...

TARJA TURUNEN, the exceptionally gifted singer, has signed to Universal Music on an exclusive worldwide basis. Tarja rose to prominence as the voice and the face of Finnish outfit Nightwish, with her unique tones and striking stage presence having played a key role in the international success of that band. Tarja is now ideally placed to take her solo career to a whole new level, both in terms of musical ambition and personal profile; to this end, the 29-year-old – originally from the Finnish town of Kitee – is currently working on her first recordings as a solo artist, with a studio deep in the Irish countryside the initial home for these sessions – a studio that has already played host to the likes of R.E.M., Michael Jackson and the Manic Street Preachers.

Tarja’s debut single, ‘I Walk Alone’, is being lined up for a mid of October release, with the full album, ‘My Winter Storm’, due to follow on November 9th. Both the single and the album are being produced by Daniel Presley (Faith No More, Jewel, The Breeders), who has been joined in the studio by a truly stellar line-up of musicians: Doug Wimbish on bass (Living Colour, Annie Lennox, Joe Satriani, Jeff Beck, Madonna, Rolling Stones), Alex Scholpp on electric guitars (Farmer Boys) and Earl Harvin on drums (Seal, Pet Shop Boys, Air), a player personally selected by Tarja after she saw him stealing the show at a Seal concert. Keyboards & programming, meanwhile, are being provided by Torsten Stenzel, whose previous credits include Nelly Furtado, Moby, Tina Turner, Vanessa Mae and more.

Throughout her career, Tarja has managed to achieve that most difficult of tasks – seamlessly joining worlds that, at first glance, would appear to be poles apart; in this case, Metal & Opera. Could these two ever really stand shoulder to shoulder without one diluting the other? Well… not only did the soprano singer drive herself to achieve the perfect balance, with hits such as ‘Nemo’ storming the international charts, but in doing so she helped to create a style that is currently exerting a huge influence on the Rock & Metal scene.

Released in 2004, the highly-acclaimed ‘Once’ was Tarja’s last studio outing – an album that rose to the top of the charts around the world, from Mexico through to the European Billboard lists; the record picked up platinum awards in Germany & Finland, and turned gold right across Scandinavia, as well as in Brazil, Austria, Switzerland, Greece & Hungary.

I terms of vocal training, Tarja started this (ongoing) journey at the age of six, and in due course she was accepted at the world famous Music University, the Sibelius Academy in Kuopio. It was here that she developed what has genuinely become a signature style, achieving an emotional connection with the listener that transcends language, location or musical type. Whether as a soloist with the Finnish National Opera, performing a concert in a church, or holding the gaze of 20,000 rock fans in arenas around the world, Tarja Turunen is a singing phenomenon. As simple as that.

And now, of course, she’s pursuing a solo career, taking a musical path that (in terms of direction, variety & scope) should keep her existing fanbase happy, whilst at the same time reaching out to a wider audience. Anyone who likes their music dark of spirit, dramatic in intent and shot through with giant slabs of melody will find plenty to interest them here, and as always, Tarja is pulling out all of the stops…

“Some of these new songs are already sending shivers down my spine; they’re awakening me to a new way of living, a way that I’ve never experienced before..”.

Tarja Turunen has always had the voice of an angel; now she’s about to (fully) spread her wings.

Oh,this girl is such a beauty.I adore those big green eyes!!!
And I love Nightwish's music too.To bad i missed their concert from last year in Romania.

too bad they threw Tarja out of the band

it wasn't last year.it was in 2005, at christmas.

I guess you're right!I misunderstood things.God!

Nice pics,nice band,great music! :amor:

I'm so sorry Tarja left I don't like the new singer at all!

Anette isn't guilty, she just doesn't stand a chance against Tarja...it's more of a voice duel...but i don't have anything against Anette...she just took Tarja's place, and considering that she was chosen, she must have been the best from thousands...

yes, you're right... still, from what I've heard, I don't like the new sound that much...

By the way... in the last picture... am I not seeing right, or is Empuu floating?

i have no idea Errat :roflmao: i just found the photo as it is
looks like it though

interview with Anette, taken on August the 29th, 2007 ,
Parts 1,2,3 and 4


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