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

"On November 30th Century Media will make available for the first time in the U.S. two previously unavailable Nightwish releases the End Of Innocence DVD and the Over The Hills And Far Away EP. Fans will revel in the detailed film footage and interview history as well as videos, live footage, and photo gallery found on the DVD. The EP's title track is one of the band's most coveted singles, and the additional three studio tracks and six live tracks round out this magnificent experience. Additionally, Century Media will be releasing Nightwish's From Wishes To Eternity DVD on January 25th, 2005. Content details for all the Nightwish releases can be viewed at the band's website, and they will be available from the Century Media website".

www.nightwish.com
www.centurymedia.com

Band profile:

Nightwish

WISH I HAD AN ANGEL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE TOP IN FINLAND!
Nightwish´s second single from the album ONCE, "Wish I Had An Angel", went straight to #1 on finnish TOP-20 singlechart!
www.ylex.fi
www.nightwish.com

Band profile:

Nightwish

Drakkar Records has set an October 18 European release date for a NIGHTWISH "best of" collection, entitled "Tales From the Elvenpath". The complete track listing for the album is as follows:

01. Wishmaster
02. Sacrament Of Wilderness
03. End Of All Hope
04. Bless The Child
05. Sleeping Sun
06. She Is My Sin
07. Walking In The Air
08. Stargazers
09. Over The Hills...
10. The Kinslayer
11. Dead Boy's Poem
12. Sleepwalker
13. Nightquest
14. Lagoon
15. The Wayfarer

Also:

TARJATURUNEN.COM IS OPEN!
The official website of Tarja Turunen is now open. Welcome! The address is www.tarjaturunen.com.

Band profile:

Nightwish

Nightwish got certified with a golden record both in Switzerland (20.000 sold copies) and Norway (25.000 sold copies) for their hit album "Once"! Single "Nemo" has passed the golden border in Norway as well and gets certified too for more than 5.000 sold CDs. Currently the band is in Norway, playing sold-out shows for three weeks now!

Band profile:

Nightwish

NIGHTWISH have entered the German Media Control Charts on # 1 with their new album "Once"! That marks the biggest success for the band thus far and also for record company Nuclear Blast, as this is the first number 1 album in the label's history! The current single "Nemo" remains in the German Top 10 as well with a strong 9th place (top position so far: # 6) NIGHTWISH songwriter Tuomas Holopainen reacted to the great news as follows: "Holy fuck! I will get drunk now!"

"Once" also captured the rest of the European charts:

Finland: # 1 (platinum record for more than 30.000 sold copies!)
Norway: # 1
Greece: # 1
Slovenia: # 1
Hungary: # 1
Switzerland: # 4
Austria : # 4
France: # 9
Netherlands: # 11

Band profile:

Nightwish

NIGHTWISH have sold more than 15,000 copies of their new bombastic album "Once" in Finland after only half a day - enough for the CD to be certified with gold in the band's home country! "Once" is scheduled to be released in the rest of Europe on June 7 through Nuclear Blast Records.
In other news, NIGHTWISH's current single "Nemo" received gold in Finland as well - the song remains on top of the Finish single charts for over three weeks now. Further chart positions Europe-wide are as follows:

Finland - 1
Hungary - 1
Greece - 2
Norway - 4
Germany - 6
Slovenia - 8
Sweden: 15
Switzerland - 16
Austria - 20
Netherlands - 64
France - 64

Read more ››

Band profile:

Nightwish

Finland's NIGHTWISH have posted the cover artwork for their upcoming album, "Once", here.

The much-anticipated follow-up to 2002's "Century Child", "Once" is scheduled for release on June 7 through Spinefarm Records. A U.S. release date for the album has yet to be announced. The band recently shot a video for the first single, "Nemo", with renowned director Antti Jokinen, who has previously directed music videos for such international artists as CELINE DION, EMINEM and SHANIA TWAIN. "Nemo" is due in the Finnish shops on April 26 (postponed from its originally announced April 19 release date).

NIGHTWISH will launch their world tour in support of "Once", dubbed "Once Upon A Tour 2004-2005", this summer. The trek is expected to last until the autumn of 2005.

Band profile:

Nightwish

Finland's NIGHTWISH have announced the details of the three different versions of their new single, "Nemo", which are planned for release in late April/early May. All three versions are currently on pre-sale at the "Nightwish-Shop" on the band's official web site, Nightwish.com. The details are as follows:

"Normal" version (release date: April 19):

01. Nemo (from the album "Once")
02. Planet Hell (from the album "Once")
03. White Night Fantasy (non-album bonus track)
04. Nemo (orchestral version)
05. Enhanced part: Studio footage

"Collector's Edition Digipack" version (release date: April 26):

01. Nemo (album version)
02. Live To Tell The Tale (non-album track)
03. Nemo (orchestral version)

"DVD" version (release date: May 3):

01. Nemo (full-length stereo mix)
02. Nemo (5.1 mix)
03. Planet Hell (5.1 mix)
04. "Nemo" promotional video
05. The Making of "Nemo"

"Nemo" comes off NIGHTWISH's much-anticipated follow-up to 2002's "Century Child", entitled "Once", due on June 7 through Spinefarm Records. A U.S. release date for the album has yet to be announced. The band recently shot a video for the track with renowned director Antti Jokinen, who has previously directed music videos for such international artists as CELINE DION, EMINEM and SHANIA TWAIN.

NIGHTWISH will launch their world tour in support of "Once", dubbed "Once Upon A Tour 2004-2005", this summer. The trek is expected to last until the autumn of 2005.

Band profile:

Nightwish

NIGHTWISH keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen recently spoke to Get Ready To ROCK! about the songwriting and recording process for the group's new album, "Once". Asked why they chose to record the orchestral parts for the album in London using the London Session Orchestra, Tuomas said, "Well the simple reason is that we really wanted to have the best, you know. It sounds kinda corny, but we wanted to have the best no matter the costs, and our record engineer Mikko Karmila, he had some connections with Pip Williams who is doing the arrangements and he recommended him to us. We contacted him and he was very interested in us and then he booked the orchestra for us. To be honest, the whole thing, the orchestra, it costs like twice as much as the whole previous album altogether. But it doesn't matter because the result is so awesome. So I'm very proud to be working with them."

With regards to whether "Once" was a more difficult album to write than its predecessor, 2002's "Century Child", Tuomas said, "['Century Child'] was very difficult and this one was equally difficult, but it's been more fun than ever though. I mean it's been in a very positive spirit, both for me and for the whole band. The whole process has been really smooth even though it has been really difficult and really long but we're all having the time of our lives here. I think that there is a bit of a positive touch to this album, more than before. Just fun, having fun doing what we're doing."

As previously reported, "Nemo", the first single off the group's forthcoming CD, is due on April 19 through Spinefarm Records. The band recently shot a video for the track with renowned director Antti Jokinen, who has previously directed music videos for such international artists as CELINE DION, EMINEM and SHANIA TWAIN. "Once" is scheduled for release on June 7 through Spinefarm. A U.S. release date for the album has yet to be announced.

NIGHTWISH will launch their world tour in support of "Once", dubbed "Once Upon A Tour 2004-2005", this summer. The trek is expected to last until the autumn of 2005.

Band profile:

Nightwish

NIGHTWISH have set a June 7 Finnish release date through Spinefarm Records for their brand-new album, "Once". A single containing the album track "Nemo" is due on April 19.

In other news, the "Once" album cut "Creek Mary's Blood" will feature an appearance by Lakota tribe's Indian John Two-Hawks. John (johntwohawks.com), a NAMMY-nominated master Native American flute player and musician, will reportedly play the flute, sing and contribute a poem to the recording.

"NIGHTWISH sent me their 'Century Child' album and I found out that it's great album. It's not your 'typical' heavy metal and I'm into the lyrics as well," John Two-Hawks told Finland's Sonera Plaza.

"Then I got the rough mix of 'Creek Mary's Blood' and I was very, very impressed! It's a very spectacle-kind of song and I'm sure that [NIGHTWISH keyboardist] Tuomas Holopainen has taken some influences from the 'Dances With Wolves' soundtrack.

"Tuomas told me what he wants me to play and I agreed with him. I still asked him if I can play some more if I get some good ideas, and Tuomas agreed," John said.

Also on the NIGHTWISH-related front, all 3,700 tickets to the group's record-release show in Kitee, Finland on May 22 were sold out within a day. Among the people purchasing tickets to the gig were residents of the following countries: Finland, Germany, Monaco, Sweden, Russia, Belgium, Holland, Norway, U.K., Italy, France, Austria, Spain, Hungary, Argentina, Poland and USA.

NIGHTWISH will launch their world tour in support of "Once", dubbed "Once Upon A Tour 2004-2005", this summer. The trek is expected to last until the autumn of 2005.

Band profile:

Nightwish