http://nightwish-at-piczo.piczo.com?g=37456160 true 60 Mon Nov 23 19:54:22 PST 2009 http://nightwish-at-piczo.piczo.com?g=37456160&showonepost=y&id=12686940&cr=1&compid504921407&pageid=37456160&scroll=107815671 Behind-the-scenes footage from the making of "October & April", the new video from Finland's THE RASMUS which features a guest appearance by NIGHTWISH frontwoman Anette Olzon, can be viewed below. The track was released as a single on November 11.

Olzon was scheduled to THE RASMUS on stage earlier tonight (Friday, November 20) at The Dome 52 in Graz, Austria to perform "October & April". The concert will be broadcast on Germany's RTL 2 station on November 27.

In a September 2008 interview with Italy's Musica Metal, THE RASMUS singer Lauri Ylönen stated that the idea for the song came to him nine years ago when Tarja Turunen was still the lead singer of NIGHTWISH, but he only got around to recording the track during the sessions for last year's "Black Roses" CD. "I actually asked Tarja, but she said no!" Lauri revealed. "Then I called Anette, and she was like, 'Yeah, I would love to sing a song with you, I'm a big RASMUS fan, actually two years ago before I joined NIGHTWISH, I was singing THE RASMUS songs in karaoke bars!' so we went with her."

"October & April" was not included on "Black Roses" because the CD was a concept effort and the song didn't fit in with the overall idea for the album. Instead, the track will make its debut on THE RASMUS' "Best of 2001-2009", a compilation of all the hit songs from their four latest albums, including the million-selling "In The Shadows", most of the singles and a few rarities.
 
Commented Lauri: "We felt it was time to sum up these past ten years. Eero said, let's call the album, 'This is how I spent my twenties.' No matter how stupid it sounded, that is pretty much the truth. We went on this crazy rollercoaster ride; it has been an amazing time. We have travelled to more than 60 countries, from India to Siberia, met thousands of fans all over the world and enthusiastic people working with our records. And when I look back on these last four records, I feel very proud of them. We decided to include most of the singles to the album with a couple of our favorite album tracks, and the new song 'October & April'."

"October & April" behind the scenes link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SriIrNHHnxc&feature=player_embedded
]]> Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:08:19 PST http://nightwish-at-piczo.piczo.com?g=37456160&showonepost=y&id=12686940&cr=1&compid504921407&pageid=37456160&scroll=107733972 U.K.'s Terrorizer magazine recently conducted an interview with NIGHTWISH mainman/keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen. A few excerpts from the chat follows below.

Terrorizer: You've done it. The [last] show [of the "Dark Passion Play" tour] is over. You're officially on "holiday." How do you feel?

Tuomas: "I didn't sleep on the night before and I didn't sleep last night either. You know it's a weird thing, two years on the road and then the final show that you're like shit-scared of and really excited as well. And then it goes as well as it did it's just such a relief and such a sensation of sadness at the same time that you don't really know how to be. It's like you have been in the nicest prison on earth for two years and finally you're free and you don't know what to do. Yesterday's show [at the Hartwall Arena in Helsinki], I think it was top three we ever did."

Terrorizer: So, then it's back into the studio, right?
Tuomas: "Yeah, well first, in about two weeks I'm going to go to the Mediterranean to do a sailing trip with my dad, with my uncle. Kind of like a family thing, yeah the boys at sea that's it. It's going to be fun, in the Mediterranean, in Turkey and Greece, and after that it's going to be a week and then we go to Australia for six weeks, after that it's almost Christmas. Then in January I'm going to go to Orlando to visit Donald and Goofy and Mickey and the pals again after that..."

Terrorizer: So... after the annual cartoon intake, then what?

Tuomas: "Yeah after that I start working on the next album 24/7 and we have already booked a rehearsal place. That's going to be happening in July/August next year then we'll have September off and we're going to enter the studio beginning of October so that's the plan."

Terrorizer: Last time around you went into the new album with so much up in the air, who would be the vocalist on it being the biggest hurdle you had to get over. Does it feel like a different process this time around? Are you happier about heading back to the writing desk?

Tuomas: "Much much happier, so much more light at the end of the tunnel. I have a very clear vision of the next album already, which feels really weird but I have all the song titles. I know how many songs there are going to be. I have four songs done already even though it's still pretty preliminary, the whole album, but I have a good idea what it's going to be like and uh, it's still going to be metal but I think it's going to be a bit brighter than 'Dark Passion Play'."

Terrorizer: Brighter — more pop songs? No more long epic symphonic compositions? They must be a sod to write.

Tuomas: "No, they come much easier for me. I remember 'Creek Mary's Blood', that's eight-and-a-half minutes, that came out in two hours. 'The Poet And The Pendulum' in just a couple of days, same thing with 'Ghost Love Score', they just come up naturally, I don't know. But then again a song like 'Nemo', I couldn't get it together. I worked for months and months and it's only four minutes."

Terrorizer: Ten years on did you guys think you'd be headlining Hartwall like you did last night?

Tuomas: "I never thought it, none of us did, for anything like this to ever happen. I was studying biology in university and I was supposed to be a mad scientist. Jukka was doing computer studies in the university and Emppu was working in a carpet factory or whatever. Everybody was doing it just for fun and we had our own pace and then everything just got out of hand. We dropped out of school and started doing it 24/7 and this approach has had its advantages and disadvantages; disadvantages being that we have always been really naive but the plus side is that it's always been really sincere at the same time because we haven't had any expectations, [and] there has never been any posing. You know, it's not like we try to achieve anything else than just the pleasure of playing and free booze."

Terrorizer: Do you ever get pissed off with the fame?

Tuomas: "Yeah, I actually do, you have to be a bit more careful here than in other countries with what you do. I can't piss in the street publicly. Well, you can always say it's a matter of choice of career but sometimes, it's like two weeks ago there was a three-page story about my house and they had actually hired a helicopter to fly over the house and photograph it. This kind of stuff bothers me a little bit, and they have the directions of how to get to the house."

Terrorizer: Is this something that has affected a lot of metal musicians in Finland?

Tuomas: "I think that HIM and THE RASMUS, maybe, there was a big story about RASMUS getting a new car yesterday. But no the media has been quite kind to us actually, sometimes it hurts a little bit, especially this house thing when they had actually come to my house to film it with directions and everything, so that's a bit too much."

Rad the entire interview from Terrorizer magazine.
 ]]> Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:00:13 PST http://nightwish-at-piczo.piczo.com?g=37456160&showonepost=y&id=12686940&cr=1&compid504921407&pageid=37456160&scroll=107722892 According to Keskisuomalainen, NIGHTWISH mainman/keyboardist/composer Tuomas Holopainen earned more than double last year compared with 2007. Holopainen's taxable income last year was 379, 210 euros. In 2007, the amount was 185, 934 euros. In September 2007 the Finns released their successful Dark Passion Play album, with sales figures approaching one million worldwide. The band's nearly two-year world tour ended in September at Helsinki's Hartwall Arena.]]> Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:44:04 PST http://nightwish-at-piczo.piczo.com?g=37456160&showonepost=y&id=12686940&cr=1&compid504921407&pageid=37456160&scroll=107719549 Anette Olzon has shot down reports that the band's next studio CD has a working title of "Wind Embraced". She writes on her blog, "Some people have asked me about some Wikipedia comment saying that our next NIGHTWISH album already has a title. I haven't heard anything about any title, and since the songs aren't even done yet, I am pretty sure it's only someone making the name up to make a story."

She adds, "Things in the Internet are very often not true, and our album won't be out until 2011, so it's far too early to tell about the album title now."]]> Sun, 01 Nov 2009 10:28:55 PST http://nightwish-at-piczo.piczo.com?g=37456160&showonepost=y&id=12686940&cr=1&compid504921407&pageid=37456160&scroll=107678953  NIGHTWISH have issued the following update:

"Nightwish is showing respect for Finnish singer/songwriter veteran Jaakko Teppo by recording his song 'Hilma Ja Onni' in Finnish. Jaakko Teppo is well known in Finland of his humorous protest songs associated with the labor movement. 15 years ago a serious illness forced Jaakko Teppo to withdraw from the stages. Today many of the brightest stars in Finland are honoring Jaakko Teppo’s legacy for Finnish music culture by recording his songs on tribute album Pörsänmäen Sanomat. Nightwish's rendition of 'Hilma Ja Onni' is available on iTunes and CDON.COM and the album Pörsänmäen Sanomat – Tribuutti Jaakko Tepolle can be ordered through www.fanzone/jaakkoteppo. The profit of the sales is directed to Jaakko Teppo. Thank you for your support!"]]> Thu, 22 Oct 2009 08:52:24 PDT http://nightwish-at-piczo.piczo.com?g=37456160&showonepost=y&id=12686940&cr=1&compid504921407&pageid=37456160&scroll=107678949 NIGHTWISH singer Anette Olzon has issued the following update:

"I am at my hotel room in Stockholm after a day full of creating songs in the studio together with Stefan and Johan. Its been really nice and also fun to sit down and making songs together. We have one song that is ready to record some vocals on tomorrow and then two more ideas that we will work more with. Now I just need to write some more lyrics to them, in my own private space.

This will be so great and its so nice to have such great songwriters and musicians to help me with the songs. We work that way that we sit down by the piano and the guitar and just try melodies etc and then I write down lyrics and we try and test the structure of the song. Then Johan goes and puts drums, bass etc in the computer to get the music recorded for me to test-sing it. Then we work from there. It's so nice to create songs like this, I haven't done that since we started ALYSON AVENUE, so its been a while but I'll soon get a hang of it again.

And I really like the sound of it already!

Now: time to write some lyrics writing before I fall asleep...my head's tired.

Sleep well!"]]> Thu, 22 Oct 2009 08:51:55 PDT http://nightwish-at-piczo.piczo.com?g=37456160&showonepost=y&id=12686940&cr=1&compid504921407&pageid=37456160&scroll=107658707 Anette Olzon makes a guest appearance on "October & April", the new single from Finland's THE RASMUS, which is scheduled for release on November 11. The song, which is available for streaming below, has been sent to radio stations in Europe and the video for the track will premiere on October 23.

In a September 2008 interview with Italy's Musica Metal, THE RASMUS singer Lauri Ylönen stated that the idea for the song came to him nine years ago when Tarja Turunen was still the lead singer of NIGHTWISH, but he only got around to recording the track during the sessions for last year's "Black Roses" CD. "I actually asked Tarja, but she said no!" Lauri revealed. "Then I called Anette, and she was like, 'Yeah, I would love to sing a song with you, I'm a big RASMUS fan, actually two years ago before I joined NIGHTWISH, I was singing THE RASMUS songs in karaoke bars!' so we went with her."

"October & April" was not included on "Black Roses" because the CD was a concept effort and the song didn't fit in with the overall idea for the album. Instead, the track will make its debut on THE RASMUS' "Best of 2001-2009", a compilation of all the hit songs from their four latest albums, including the million-selling "In The Shadows", most of the singles and a few rarities.

Due on November 25, "Best of 2001-2009" features the following track listing:

01. In The Shadows
02. No Fear
03. Guilty (U.S. mix)
04. October & April (featuring Anette Olzon)
05. First Day Of My Life
06. Livin' In A World Without You
07. F-F-F-Falling
08. Chill
09. Immortal
10. Justify
11. Shot
12. Funeral Song
13. Ghost of Love
14. Open My Eyes (acoustic version)
15. In My Life
16. Ten Black Roses
17. Sail Away

Commented Lauri: "We felt it was time to sum up these past ten years. Eero said, let's call the album, 'This is how I spent my twenties.' No matter how stupid it sounded, that is pretty much the truth. We went on this crazy rollercoaster ride; it has been an amazing time. We have travelled to more than 60 countries, from India to Siberia, met thousands of fans all over the world and enthusiastic people working with our records. And when I look back on these last four records, I feel very proud of them. We decided to include most of the singles to the album with a couple of our favorite album tracks, and the new song 'October & April'."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKheBKeMUAY&feature=player_embedded]]> Sat, 17 Oct 2009 12:01:14 PDT http://nightwish-at-piczo.piczo.com?g=37456160&showonepost=y&id=12686940&cr=1&compid504921407&pageid=37456160&scroll=107606209 NIGHTWISH will release Lokikirja-box on November. It will contain all their albums and with tha box comes a nice booklet with pictures and lyrics.

Lokikirja will be released on November 11th so it's available nicely on time for Christmas. Lokikirja-box contains the following albums: Angels Fall First, Oceanborn, Wishmaster, Over The Hills And Far Away, Century Child, Bless The Child - The Rarities, Once and Dark Passion Play.

Dark Passion Play that was release couple of years ago has sold already quadruple platinum, almost 130 000 albums. After the release they started their world-tour that contained almost 200 shows around the world. Their last show was in sold-out Hartwall Arena, Helsinki, Finland on september 19th.

Nightwish will return in 2011 with a new album.

]]> Sat, 03 Oct 2009 02:49:11 PDT http://nightwish-at-piczo.piczo.com?g=37456160&showonepost=y&id=12686940&cr=1&compid504921407&pageid=37456160&scroll=107568435 NIGHTWISH ended their massive Dark Passion Play World-tour on saturday evening at Hartwall Arena, Helsinki, Finland. As the show ended and the band bowed to the audience, a song "The Heart Asks Pleasure First" by Michael Nyman was played in the background. The song was recorded by Nightwish but it will never be released on any album.

"We didn't get the permit from the original composer to release the song cause he didn't like our version of it.", Tuomas Holopainen said on an interview he gave to lordsofmetal.nl

The song was one of the first songs the band recorded after Anette Olzon joined Nightwish.

Nightwish will take a long break now and their new album will be released sometime during 2011. During this time each member of Nightwish will work on their own projects. According to Anette Olzon she will release a soloalbum at some point during the break.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpGEwk3jrfU&feature=player_embedded

]]> Mon, 21 Sep 2009 09:54:15 PDT http://nightwish-at-piczo.piczo.com?g=37456160&showonepost=y&id=12686940&cr=1&compid504921407&pageid=37456160&scroll=107568423 NIGHTWISH played a special homecoming show last night (Saturday, September 19) at the sold-out, 11,000-capacity Hartwall Arena in Helsinki to mark the end of the band's colossal "Dark Passion Play" world tour. Support at the gig came from APOCALYPTICA.

NIGHTWISH's setlist was as follows:

01. Intro - Finlandia (w/ U.K. multi-instrumentalist Troy Donockley)
02. 7 Days To The Wolves
03. Ever Dream
04. Wishmaster
05. Romanticide
06. Amaranth
07. The Siren (w/ Finnish violinist Pekka Kuusisto)
08. While Your Lips Are Still Red (w/ Finnish violinist Pekka Kuusisto)
09. Poet And The Pendulum
10. Nemo
11. Sahara
12. Dark Chest Of Wonders
13. The Islander
14. Walking In The Air (w/ U.K. multi-instrumentalist Troy Donockley)
15. Last Of The Wilds (w/ U.K. multi-instrumentalist Troy Donockley)
16. Meadows Of Heaven
17. Ghost Love Score
18. I Wish I Had An Angel

NIGHTWISH is not expected to play any more shows until the release of the band's next studio album, which will arrive in 2011.]]> Mon, 21 Sep 2009 09:50:45 PDT