Finland's Nightwish has issued the following update via their homepage :

"Today (Friday, September 15), Nightwish enters the studio to begin recording the new album. Jukka starts the process by recording the drum parts in the next 5-6 days. Then guitars, bass and demo keyboards, followed by orchestral/choir recordings. After those, the final synths and vocals will be recorded. The whole process will last six months minimum, so we should have the final master copy in our hands sometime during the spring."

Read more ››

Source:	nightwish.com
Band profile:	Nightwish

Ex-Nightwish frontwoman Tarja Turunen has posted eight rare Nightwish songs at her official MySpace profile. The tracks "Sleepwalker", "The Forever Moments", "The Wayfarer", "Nightquest", "Nightwish", "Once Upon A Troubadour", "A Return To The Sea" and "Lagoon" can be downloaded here.

The tracks will only be available for download until July 16th.

Read more ››

Source:	metal-temple.com
Band profile:	Tarja

According to a very brief video-blog at the official Nightwish website, the band have finished writing the material for their next album. They are now preparing to record pre-production versions of the songs, after which they will be edited and arranged. To check out the video-blog go here

The band are currently seeking a replacement for departed singer Tarja Turunen before entering the studio in September 2006 to begin recording the follow-up to 2004's "Once", tentatively due in mid-2007.

Read more ››

Source:	nightwish.com
Band profile:	Nightwish

Marcelo Cabuli (Tarja Turunen's husband) has finally posted some comments on the whole 'Nightwish vs Tarja & Marcelo' thing and answered a lot of questions from Tarja's fans. You can read the entire (quite lengthy) text at http://www.tarjaturunen.com/fans.html

Read more ››

Source:	nightwish.com
Band profile:	Nightwish

Nightwish have launched an official video-blog page that will allow fans to watch the band during their rehearsals this summer. Go to http://fanblog.nightwish.com to check it out.

Nightwish have also opened up a Nightmail forum that allows fans to ask the band questions, the replies for which are posted online at the end of every month. This is just a reminder that Nightwish keyboardist/founder Tuomas Holopainen will be tackling the mailbag for June. Send your questions to him at this location.

To read the previous two Nightmail installments click the following links:

May 2006 - Emppu Vuorinen (guitars)
April 2006 - Jukka Nevalainen (drums)

The band's new DVD/CD, End Of An Era, went gold in Finland only one day after its official release. The DVD sold over 9,000 copies and the live 2 CD set over 15,000 copies.

Nuclear Blast Germany released End Of An Era on June 2nd in Europe. The DVD/CD was filmed/recorded live in the band's hometown of Helsinki, Finland at the Hartwell Arena on October 21st. It was the final show featuring singer Tarja Turunen, as she was ousted from the band shortly after the event. It will be issued in three formats: DVD, 2CD and a Limited Edition box featuring a 2CD digipack, the DVD and a concert ticket.

Read more ››

Source:	bravewords.com
Band profile:	Nightwish

Finland's Nightwish have posted the following message on their official web site:

"The hassle with the media seems to have died. We've been off tour for some months and we've had a nice and long vacation. It's time to get back to business."

"Nightwish is currently and actively looking for a new singer/frontwoman for the band. We need the obvious things: Looks, charisma, courage, and, of course, a big voice. Good grasp of the English language is also very helpful. We don't necessarily need a classically trained vocalist like Tarja Turunen (the former vocalist). We welcome all kinds of styles and voices, natural and trained, from rock and pop to classical, and all that you can find in between. You should however be prepared to sing with a lot of dynamics and versatility. From loud and high to very sensitive stuff."

"You should preferably send us a CD containing 2-3 songs that you consider to be your best work. If you send an album, would you mark out 2-3 most important songs, please? If you record and send NIGHTWISH songs, then the most important thing is your PERSONAL TOUCH. Photographs are needed as well."

"We will look into different applications and all candidates, but doing it this way would save us some time and energy. If you think you have it, just send your stuff to our management, and we'll be happy to take you onboard."

All submissions should be sent to:

KING FOO ENTERTAINMENT LTD OY / EWO
Fredrikinkatu 61 A 7.krs/floor
FIN-00100 Helsinki
Finland

Source:	nightwish.com
Band profile:	Nightwish

Finland's Nightwish have announced the final tracklisting for their forthcoming much-anticipated live CD/DVD package "End of an Era", due out June, 2nd.

NIGHTWISH - End Of an Era - Live at Hartwall Arena 21.10.2005

1. Dark Chest Of Wonders
2. Planet Hell
3. Ever Dream
4. Kinslayer
5. Phantom Of The Opera
6. The Siren
7. Sleeping Sun
8. High Hopes
9. Bless The Child
10. Wishmaster
11. Slaying The Dreamer
12. Kuolema tekee taiteilijan
13. Nemo
14. Ghost Love Score
15. Stone People
16. Creek Mary´s Blood
17. Over The Hills and Far Away
18. Wish I Had an Angel

http://www.nuclearblast.de

Band profile:

Nightwish

The Release Of The New Dvd Is In Danger To Be Postponed!

According to Finnish tabloid "Iltalehti" (3.2.06) the release of the "End Of An Era" -liveDVD is in danger to be postponed due to some unexpected problems in contracts. Riku Pääkkönen, the chief executive of Spin-Farm tells that Tarja's manager Marcelo Cabuli is demanding the Spin-Farm -company, Nightwish as a band and the management staff to sign a contract that no one of them is allowed to say anything about Tarja or Marcelo, or anything related to them, without written permission from Marcelo. This kind of contract would practically prevent the publishing of the Nightwish -book this spring as well. "We really found the proposal to be strange and soon realized that this kind of a paper cannot be signed. You can't make contracts like this" says Riku Pääkkönen in Iltalehti arcticle. There would be a 250 000 Euros fine for breaking the contract.
The concert in Hartwall-Arena is about to be released as a DVD and as a live-album. To do that the agreement from all the parties is needed and because of this unfortunate mess it seems hard to get one member to sign.

In worst case Finnish fans will have to order their copy of the DVD from outside the Scandinavia.

"Maybe one could see this as another example how the fans are treated.." says Tuomas in Iltalehti article.

Source:	Iltalehti 3.2.2006
Band profile:	Nightwish

A message by Tuomas Holopainen was posted at Nightwish's official website:

"It's been 3 months since the last show in Hartwall Arena and things are finally calming down. I just read through the yet unfinished version of the upcoming Nightwish-book. I was very impressed. It made me feel nostalgic, happy, ashamed and sad at the same time. This book is written by Mr. Mape Ollila and it's being finished as we speak. The Finnish version of the book will be released in May. Also the live DVD "End Of An Era" will be released later this year but we have no information about the exact release date yet.
At the moment I'm occupied with writing songs for the next Nightwish album. 14 pieces done so far. I'm also participating in Timo Rautiainen's solo album, the new For My Pain album, and some Kotiteollisuus´ live gigs before summer. With Nightwish we will start rehearsing the new stuff in June, entering the studio in September. Again we will write a diary through this site so you guys know what's happening while in the studio. New Nightwish-homepage will also see daylight soon.

At the moment Emppu has his own side projects, Marco is working with the new Tarot-album and Jukka is busy with his new project, unrelated to music business.

The new singer will be announced through this site when the time comes. Please believe in nothing that's not confirmed on this page.

Spirits up,
Tuomas"

Band profile:

Nightwish

Nightwish's ex-singer Tarja Turunen has posted following message in her homesite:

Since last Sunday morning, I have been asked to express my position by magazines, newspapers, radio and TV stations, fan clubs and fans from Finland and from all over the world. So many in total that it is physically impossible for me to find the time to reply to them all individually. Hence I decided to put down a couple of words in this text to let my fans, family and friends and the public know how I feel after the recent events.

This is a moment of grief and pain and I find it very hard to speak.

At the moment I am in Argentina. I hope you can understand that after this shocking life change comparable to a divorce, I didn't want to stay alone at home in Finland. My husband had booked his tickets to Argentina many months ago and I decided to travel with him at the last minute.

But the fact that I am in Argentina and the long distance should of course not be an excuse not to comment on the situation.

Last Friday 21st of October was a day the whole band had been waiting for a long time.

Practice started early in the morning. I was very sick and nervous because of the fact that I was not even able to sing during the rehearsals.

Also nervous because the concert programme was going to be longer than usual for a Nightwish concert. Furthermore we were going to have a special guest to perform with us, more wardrobe changes for myself than usual and for the first time big screens and bigger production on stage.

Not to forget that the concert was going to be recorded and filmed.

The five of us had finally made it to play Hartwall Arena.

Even though every one of us knew in advance that the concert was sold out, finally on stage, we saw that screaming, applauding and standing people took every seat. The feeling was unbelievable.

I will never forget how amazing it was to experience the Finnish audience's gorgeous reception.

When the concert was over, I cried of happiness on stage. Happy tears because I was able to do my best as always even though I was sick. Happy tears because our long tour got the greatest possible ending and happy tears because of the best recognition an artist can get: applause and smiling faces.

At that moment I didn't know that I was going to cry again soon.

After the concert, the guys of the band invited me backstage to join them and asked me to hug altogether. This felt strange as it was the same kind of hug we traditionally came together for before every concert. That tradition remained between us, even though the tension and increasing pressure already existed since a long period of time.

Read more ››

Source:	tarjaturunen.com
Band profile:	Nightwish

Tarja has written a letter to the 'Tarja Turunen Fan' website outlining her feelings on her former bandmates decision to fire her. While not an official statement, the former frontwoman had the following to say:

"I don't have words to express my feelings at the moment. I am devastated. This thing happened in a way that I didn't have a slight chance to give my opinion about it. I got fired out of a band that represents the last 9 years of my life and I am very sad about it. It has been very cruel the way the band handled this in public. This doesn't change the fact that we were doing amazing music together, but I will never forget the fact that they didn't give me the chance to say good bye for the people as a Nightwish singer."

Speaking to Finnish broadcaster YLE, Tarja has stated that she will be holding a press conference in November to give her side of the story on her departure from Nightwish. She also told the network "I'm really upset. The way in which this was brought up publicly is cruel and sad. It wasn't enough that the letter talked about me, but the way in which my husband was also dragged into it is shocking.

To be continued in November...

Source:	yle.fi
Band profile:	Nightwish

The last gig of the "Once" World Tour in Hartwall-Arena, Helsinki was recorded for the "End Of An Era" live release. At the end of this gig a letter was given to Tarja Turunen (Nightwish's singer) by the rest of the band in which the they (Tuomas,Emppu, Jukka & Marco) explain their decision of leaving her out of the band.

The open letter given to Tarja says:

"Dear Tarja,
It's time to choose whether the story of Nightwish ends here or whether it will still continue an undetermined period of time. We've been working with this creation for 9 years and we are not ready to give up yet. Nightwish is a way of life, something to live for, and we're certain we can't let it go.

Equally certain is the fact that we cannot go on with you and Marcelo any longer. During the last year something sad happened, which I've been going over in my head every single day, morning and night. Your attitude and behavior don't go with Nightwish anymore. There are characteristics I would never have believed to see in my old dear friend.
People who don't talk with each other for a year do not belong in the same band.

We are involved in an industry where the business-side of things is a necessary evil and something to worry about all the time. We are also a band which has always done music from the heart, because of friendship and the music itself. The mental satisfaction should always be more important than money! Nightwish is a band, it's an emotion.
To you, unfortunately, business, money, and things that have nothing to do with those emotions have become much more important. You feel that you have sacrificed yourself and your musical career for Nightwish, rather than thinking what it has given to you.
This attitude was clearly shown to me in the two things you said to me in an airplane in Toronto: "I don't need Nightwish anymore." and "Remember, Tuomas, that I could leave this band at any time, giving you only one day's warning in advance".
I can't simply write any more songs for you to sing.

You have said yourself that you are merely a "guest musician" in Nightwish. Now that visit ends and we will continue Nightwish with a new female vocalist.
We're sure this is an equally big relief to you as it is for us. We have all been feeling bad long enough.

You told us that no matter what, the next Nightwish album will be your last one. However, the rest of us want to continue as long as the fire burns. So there's no sense in doing that next album with you, either.

Read more ››

Source:	nightwish.com [thanks to King Of Loss]
Band profile:	Nightwish

Another very special guest has been added to the Nightwish's October-show
at the Hartwall-Arena in Helsinki. John Two-Hawks, a Native American
hailing from Arkansas USA, will appear on the stage to perform the song
Creek Mary's Blood with Nightwish.

John Two-Hawks is a multi-instrumentalist who is devoted to spreading the
culture and mentality of Native Americans. He has published six solo-
albums and although he is constantly touring the US, Two-Hawks is very
rarely seen on European soil.

Creek Mary's Blood was composed by Tuomas Holopainen and the song was
featured on Nightwish's platinum-selling Once-album. On Creek Mary's
Blood John Two-Hawks plays the flute and reads a poem translated to his
native-language. The song has never before been performed by its original
recording line-up.

Tickets for the show go on sale on Monday 25th of July at 9:00 through
Lippupalvelu and Menolippu.

The concert is presented in cooperation with Radio City, whose metal
program Rautakanki will offer special features and contests regarding
this event, as well as SUE-Magazine, the biggest music magazine in Finland.

---------------

Nightwish and Sonata Arctica, Hartwall Arena, Helsinki 21.10.2005. Doors
Open 18:30, Show Starts 20:00. No age Restrictions.
Tickets on sale on 25.7.2005 through Lippupalvelu and Menolippu.
www.lippupalvelu.fi, www.menolippu.fi.
Ticket Price: 42/35 Euro.

Source:	Stuba Nikula
Band profile:	Nightwish

The official NIGHTWISH "beer," which was sold last year at Kitee's (NIGHTWISH's hometown in Eastern Finland) K-Market Kupiainen shop and from Kitee's Kievari restaurant, has now been made available in Germany, according to a posting on the group's web site. The lager-type beer, which is brewed by Pirkanmaan Uusi Panimo (PUP), features a label that says "A Megabueno Cerveza" and includes a NIGHTWISH photo. You can now purchase the beer from the following "cult" store in St. Pauli, Hamburg:

Kapanen.De
Davidstrasse 5
St.Pauli
20359 Hamburg
Germany
Tel. #: +49-40-380 196 96

Band profile:

Nightwish

According to BW&BK's Tokyo based source, NIGHTWISH will release a six track EP in Japan on February 23rd through Universal Music International to coincide with the band's Japanese co-headlining tour with ANGRA. The track list will be as follows: 'Kuolema Tekee Taiteilijan', 'Symphony Of Destruction' (live - MEGADETH cover), 'Wish I Had An Angel', 'Creek Mary's Blood' (two orchestral versions) and an as-yet-unspecified song.

http://www.bravewords.com/

Band profile:

Nightwish