Nightwish

Nightwish

http://www.nightwish.com/
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Biography

Tarja Turunen
Tuomas Holopainen
Marco Hietala
Erno 'Emppu' Vuorinen
Jukka Nevalainen

This Finnish band formed back in 1996 by only Tarja, Tuomas and Emppu. Threir first three songs were recorded acoustic style between October and December. The bamnd decided they needed not only drums (in came Jukka) but also replaced the acoustic guitar with an electric one. In April 1997 they returned to the studio and recorded seven songs that were later to be found on their first album.

Spinefarm signed them that year with a contract for two albums. 'Angels Fall First' went into the charts and topped at #31. Meanwhile the band were playing their first gigs in Kitee. Touring went slowly while Tarja was studying and Jukka and Emppu were in the army. Spinefarm extended their contract to three albums.

In 1998 Nightwish filmed their first video for 'The Carpenter'. Sami Vänskä joined on the bass before the band hit the studio between August and October. For the release of the first single from the new album 'Sacrament Of Wilderness' Night wish recorded their performance in front of fans in Kitee on the 13th November. The single was #1 in the charts for weeks and the album 'Oceanborn' topped at #5. Touring to promote the new album began around the country and lasted for three months. A short break saw 'Oceanborn' released internationally then Nightwish were called upon to do most of the large rock festivals.

'Sleeping Sun' was released for the eclipse in Germany, 15,000 copies shifted in a month. The band were then confirmed for a European tour with German band Rage. 2000 saw them back in the studio, in a short break they tried out for the Eurovision song contest, clearly the public's favourite but unfortunately didn't get through. But the new album proved beyond that Nightwish were popular, 'Wishmaster', released in May went straight into the charts at #1. In Europe 'Wishmaster' went to #21 in the German charts and #66 in France.

The 'Wishmaster World Tour' was Nightwish's next project. All the big festivals in Finland were played before the band went on to South America (Brazil - Chil - -Argentina - Panama - Mexico) then Wacken Open Air and Bie bop Metal festival. The headlining European tour was just as busy with Sinergy and Eternal Tears Of Sorrow in tow. Finally completing the tour with two shows in Montreal, Canada. Just before the end of the year Nightwish recorded a full length concert DVD and limited edition live album, these were released early in 2001 in Finland and worldwide in the summer.

Meanwhile problems were occuring in the band. Tuomas, clearly not happy with the situation went off hiking in Lappland. When he returned Sami Vänskä had quit the band. Marco Hietala (ex Sinergy and Tarot) picked up his duties and the band not only claimed new booking agents, King Foo Entertainment but a new manager too, Ervo Rytkônen and the Nightwish shop opened online.

Recording for the next album 'Century Child' began in January 2002. Despite all the problems in the band the fans had not deserted them, the first single 'Everdream' went gold in just two days. Nightwish put out a press release that they would take a break after they completed the world tour for their latest album. 'Century Child' was released in May selling gold in Finland in a staggering two hours, in the next two weeks it was to hit platinum. In Germany it charted at #5 and Austria #15. July saw them return to South America, nearly all the shows were sold out and many of the European shows were streamed live on the internet.

Late 2002 Nightwish took their promised break. There was no rest for the band as Jukka joined with Sethian and Birth Driven, Tuomas also played for Sethian, but also helped out For My Pain, Timo Rautiainen and Trio Niskalaukaus. Emppu worked with Altar and Marco returned to Tarot.

2003 saw 'Century Child' go double platinum and in October the band released a DVD 'The End Of Innocence'. It was also reported that Tarja had secretly got married. At the end of the year Nightwish auctioned off the backdrop they had used during the 'Century Child' world tour. It raised 1750 euro's that were donated to Parikanniem's Childrens home in Ristiina.

'Once' was the next release. Recorded in London's Pheonix Studios with the help of orchestral and choral arrangements by Pip Williams (Uriah Heap). A big budget video directed by Antti Jokinen (Eminem, Shania Twain) for 'Nemo', the first single, it was actually released by Nuclear Blast but distribution in Finland was kept by Spinefarm. Nuclear Blast advertised the new releases like crazy and both 'Once' and 'Nemo' went gold on their first day of release.

In 2005 the heavy workload Nightwish endures does not seem to be easing up. An Australian tour in March leads on to a European festival binge through to October including Download (UK), Himos Festival (Finland) and Wakken Open Air (Germany)and three days at the Live N Louder festival (S.America).

Nightwish have also announced that they have their own beer in Hamburg named 'NIGHTWISH Megabueno Cerveza'.
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