Nightwish is a symphonic metal band from Finland. Current lead singer is Anette Olzon. Bassist Marco Hietala also does lead vocals. Tuomas Holopainen plays keyboards and does back up vocals. The guitarist is Emppu Vuorinen and Drums are played by Julius Nevalainen.
Once upon a Nightwish:
The Official Biography 1996-2006 by Mape Olilla.
The first 10 years of the band, before the addition of Anette.
Get it on Amazon.com
Nightwish was formed in Kitee, Finland in 1996 by Tuomas Holopainen, Emppu Vuorinen and former lead singer Tarja Turunen. The first three songs were recorded before the addition of drummer Julius Nevalainen in 1997. In April of 1997 the band recorded 7 songs. In May of that year they signed to do two records for Spinefarm, which later that year was extended to three.
The band filmed its first video in 1998 and added bassist Sami Vänskä. In 1999 the album Oceanborn was released outside Finland and went gold later that year. In 2001 Marco Hietala replaced Sami as bassist. In 2005 Tarja left the band and wasn't replaced until 2007, with new lead singer Anette Olzon.
I was fortunate enough to have been introduced to the music of Nightwish in the fall of 2007 when Amaranth played on one of my Pandora stations. I listened to several of their songs on Youtube and found their myspace page. There I noticed that they were going to be playing in Tempe. Later I was talking to my son who was 14 at the time and told him about this band I had been listening too. He asked who it was, I told him Nightwish and he told me they were his favorite band. I told him they were going to be playing in town soon and asked him if he'd like to go. Of course he did.
The concert was November 7th at the Marquee.
Discography
Angels Fall First (1997)
Oceanborn (1998)
Wishmaster (2000)
Over the Hills and Far Away (2001)
Century Child (2002)
Once (2004)
Dark Passion Play (2007)
I tried to get my son to come up to the front near the stage but he wasn't interested so we stayed to the back. I have to admit that not only did I really enjoy the music but the eye candy of the guys and their great hair was pretty darn nice too. I wish I would have taken pictures.
