Fugazi

From Radio Metal: not exactly a new interview (it's from September 2020) but still nice to hear Tuomas for a change. He mentioned working on his book again, but gave no further details. And a "Making Of" the same interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOhE-iFdkF4

From Floor's social media: https://www.facebook.com/floorjansen.singer/posts/304443704375822 Wishing her a quick recovery, definitely such rotten luck to fall ill the moment you finally get to travel and rejoin your band mates!

For the last time, Marko Hietala, Turmio's Midwives and numerous Kuopio musicians are playing from Henry's Pub in Kuopio https://kaaoszine.fi/kuopion-henrys-pubista-kajahtaa-viimeista-kertaa-marko-hietalan-turmion-katiloiden-ja-lukuisten-kuopiolaismuusikkojen-voimin/ (April 6, 2021) We recently published a news release on our website saying that Henry's Pub, known as the living room and gig venue for the whole nation, started in Kuopio in 1970. The decision to close "Henka" throughout the pandemic was made by restrictions on gatherings that made it difficult for the entire country's restaurant and event sectors to operate. The legendary stage of Henry's Pub in Kuopio will be performed for the last time on Saturday April 24th, when members of Henry's pub house band, which became a local legend, take to the stage with a litany of Kuopio musicians; In addition to the Turmio Midwives and Reckless Love crew, the livestream also features Marko Hietala, who recently ended his Nightwish career, and other local musicians. During the livestream, funds will be raised for the collection of the Association of Events and Domestic Assistance to assist the Finnish cultural field," Henry's Pub says in its release: The saga at Henry's Pub ended after more than 50 years and the time has come to bid an official farewell to the Farewell Party. The event date is Saturday 24 April 2021 at 7pm and the jams are streamed by Cheeseflower TV on their YouTube channel. The high-quality streaming together videokuvat.fi, Bluesounds Oy and H. Kervinen Sounds. The first Henry's Pub Open Stage jams were held in October 2007 and these farewell jams are number 130. Jamei got to play or sing with his own ensemble or with Henka's House Band. This time, Jamie's musicians and singers are Henka's invited guests. The following artists will be seen on the Henka stage: Marko Hietala, MC Raaka Pee, Olli Herman, Sakari Kuosmanen, Jouni Markkanen, Tatu Kemppainen, Tommi "Tuple" Salmela, Kaitsu Kääriäinen, Marianne Juutilainen, Calle and, of course, not forgetting our beloved house band. The main organiser of the event is Kalle "Calle" Pakarinen, who was also the event's shopper. "It is important to say goodbye to the house band and invite guests to join us," says Pakarinen. The future of events and gigs in the absence of a clear exit plan and adequate support for operators in the sector, the future of the event industry looks uncertain for a long time to come. "We want to be involved in highlighting the plight of the event industry and highlight a clear example of the means of assistance," says Jenni Kulin, Marketing Manager at Vararengasravintolat Oy. During the livestream, viewers can make a donation to the Finnish Event Industry Association's and Domestic Assistance's Work Prohibited campaign. The campaign raises donation funds to help people in the event industry and their families. Donation funds will be used to help those in need financially, through goods or food aid, or to take other necessary measures to improve the quality of life of those in difficulty. The event industry is working to organize events as soon as it is safe to do so again. Before that, we invite all Finns – individuals and companies – to provide assistance. Domestic help delivers help to everyone personally through diaconian work. People in need of help can communicate with the deacon work of the parish in their locality. You don't need church membership to get help.

It's a nice insight into how she felt during this show and this particular performance... one that really consolidated her position as the new Nightwish voice and face. And I can understand her emotion at reliving this huge live performance at a time when the next live show is but a distant hope. This forced break didn't do Nightwish any good, especially with losing Marko along the way.

More live performances from the EMFB World tour, this time Last Ride Of The Day from Masters Of Rock on July 12, 2015: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAFxLXqP8UM

And it actually happened! 😲 A very nice reaction, light on the technical side but very emotional, and we can all agree that Floor's emotional delivery is integral to her unbelievable performances as much as her technical prowess.

We NEED this reaction... 🤣

Some of the summer festivals in Europe are being cancelled already, for a second year. Will vaccination save any of the 2021 shows?

A new episode of Floor Finds in live with Epica's Simone Simmons, with an emphasis on discussion of being a woman in metal. Nice to hear them share their experience on this topic that remains always relevant. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yK0PtS9Rprk

A new live performance from the vaults, this time Alpenglow in Mexico from the EMFB tour in 2015. There's no such thing as too much Alpenglow. 😁 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BheqVR4zr84 Maybe the voice tracks could have been brought forward a bit more in the mixing, but the intimate camera work is totally worth it. 👍

Anette social media links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anetteolzonofficial/ Blog: https://nouw.com/anetteolzonofficial

One thing I noticed going through the available recordings from this tour: "Dead Boy's Poem" was actually performed a number of times with Anette during the latter half of the tour, and although it would still be missing the song's last minute or so (for some reason Tuomas wasn't very fond of that ending, even with Tarja singing), Emppu would extend his solo to include half a minute of "Walking In The Air", which hadn't been performed live with Anette (and would only be performed once with her singing). Here's this recording for example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ouBa1zF6EQ It would take the Decades tour for a proper complete live rendition of "Dead's Boy Poem". But that's a story for another thread. 😉

A new cover! Movie music this time, Floor's take on Oblivion by M83 and Susann Sundfor, from the movie Oblivion. An interesting choice, and while I remember seeing the movie I couldn't recall that song. Anyway, here's the link. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zG-ptrlJ4pM

End Of Innocence (2003) Recorded during the World Tour Of The Century and Summer Of Innocence Tour (2002-2003). Track list (with relevant threads when available) Live performance (DVD) End Of Innocence (documentary) "Tuomas, Jukka and Tapio [Wilska] tell the history of Nightwish featuring tons of clips from all over the world. From the very first Nightwish show ever to the Century Child World Tour." Including the only official release of "Kiteen Pallo", a short piece composed by Tuomas for his hometown baseball team and available for a time on the Nightwish web site. YouTube End Of All Hope (official video) Over The Hills And Far Away (official video) 4-8: live performance from Oslo, Norway on July 4, 2003 Sleeping Sun Wild Child Beauty And The Beast She Is My Sin Slaying The Dreamer 9-14: live performance from Summer Breeze Open Air, Germany on August 23, 2002 End Of All Hope Dead To The World 10th Man Down Slaying The Dreamer Over The Hills And Far Away Sleeping Sun MTV Brasil interview Extras (limited edition bonus CD) live performance from Summer Breeze Open Air, Germany on August 23, 2002 End Of All Hope Dead To The World 10th Man Down Slaying The Dreamer Over The Hills And Far Away Sleeping Sun The Kinslayer Come Cover Me From the band:

A teaser for the new album:

It would appear that the Floor's solo shows in Amsterdam have been moved from March to September 1-3, 2021.

In other news, it would appear that Delain are breaking up, or at the very least "going back to basics". Band members are going separate ways while founder Martijn Westerholt is promising more music with presumably new session musicians. He says "many familiar faces will be returning to join me on this journey". According to singer Charlotte Wessels "it is the sad conclusion of more than a year of trying to find solutions to built up grievances". Bassist Otto Schimmelpenninck adds that "it became increasingly clear that Martijn was very unhappy to be on tour, and unhappy about how Delain had developed from his own project, to the band it became. It was obvious to everyone we couldn’t continue in this way". https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/delains-martijn-westerholt-announces-end-of-bands-most-recent-lineup-the-others-have-chosen-to-pursue-different-paths/ European metal is a small world. It will be interesting to see who will take part in Delain's next project, and what will become of the leaving band members.

Just for fun, here's a short bio from the official NW web site, back in 1999. Name: Tuomas Holopainen Date of birth: 25.12.1976 Place of residence: Kitee E-mail: tuomas@nightwish.com Hobbies: Music, movies, hiking and collecting Disney stuff. Musical background: I started playing piano when I was eight. At the age of nine I started playing clarinet and to study music theory in college of music from where I also got a diploma. I’ve played saxophone in a jazz band and a clarinet in a brass band. Keyboards have been my instrument since the age of 16 and I have played in various bands, for example Nattvindens Gråt. I still play as a session musician in Darkwoods My Betrothed and Furthest Shore. Favorite... food: Freshly-baked rye bread. Favorite drink: Coffey. movies: Braveheart, Dances with the wolves and T2. director: Steven Spielberg tv-program: MacGyver actor/actress: Morgan Freeman book: Lord Of The Rings author: J.R.R Tolkien music: From the "heavy" section, Rhapsody, 3rd And The Mortal and My Dying Bride. From the "floating" section, Kitaro, Vangelis and Enya. album: Kitaro : Kojiki song: H. blake : Walking In The Air season: Winter Our best gig: Tammerfest 7.7.99 Best gig you have seen: Metallica/Guns'n Roses in Kansas City in autumn '92 Worst nightmare: Everything that has something to do with spiders. Place you'd like to go: Africa Life philosophy: The Road Goes Ever On Instruments: Different models of Korg.

Just for fun, here's a short bio from the official NW web site, back in 1999. Name: Erno Vuorinen Date of birth: 24.06.1978 Place of residence: Kitee E-mail: emppu@nightwish.com Hobbies: Just hanging around Musical background: I started playing guitar when I was 12 as a private study. Since then I’ve played in various bands. Favorite... food: beef in a cognac souce drink: Beer movie The Enemy of the State was pretty good. director: I have no favourite director. tv-program: I don't watch any tv-show regularly. actor/actress: Sandra "Bulldog" book: 1001 positions. author: I don't read much. Actually I don't read at all. band: Yölintu. Heh.. there are many. album: There's a lot of good ones. It's hard to name the best one. song: There are many, but I just listened to "I want out" by Helloween and it is always really good. season: Late summer/early fall. Our best gig: Ilosaarirock '99 Best gig you have seen: There are many. One that comes to mind is a gig by Stratovarious in Jyväskylä about three years ago. Worst nightmare: A duet with Tuomas in front of thousands of people. Place you'd like to go: Egypt Life philosophy: Sex, Drugs & Rock'n Roll... eh. Instruments: Laney amp, Marshall cabinet and Washburn guitar.

Just for fun, here's a short bio from the official NW web site, back in 1999. Name: Jukka Nevalainen Date of birth: 21.04.1978 Place of residence: Kitee E-mail: jukka@nightwish.com Hobbies: Swimming, badmington, jogging and music. Musical background: I started playing drums when I was in fifth grade but for the first five years I was able to practise only half an hour per week because I didn’t have any place to play in. I’ve played in various bands which have been from different genres. Favorite... food: Mashed potatoes and steak. drink: With food I drink milk and when I'm not eating I drink "leijonaviina" with apple juice. movie: Titanic, Braveheart and T2 director: James Cameron tv-program: The Simpsons and Men behaving badly. actor/actress: Robert DeNiro book: Dragons Of Autumn Twilight author: Margaret Weis ja David Eddings band: Dream Theater, Stratovarius and Freedom Call album: Dream Theater: Images & Words song: Stratovarius: Black Diamond/Sarah Brightman: Eden season: Summer Our best gig: Ilosaarirock '99 Best gig you have seen: Dream Theater in Helsinki at March 2000 Worst nightmare: Music Television Place you'd like to go: Egypt Life philosophy: Live every day like it was your whole life. Instruments: Tama Starclassic drums, Zildjian cymbals, Pro Mark sticks and Remo drumheads

Just for fun, here's a short bio from the official NW web site, back in 1999. Name: Tarja Turunen Date of birth: 17.08.1977 Place of residence: Kuopio E-mail: tarja@nightwish.com Hobbies: Music is both my work and my hobby. Musical background: I started singing with the help of my teacher and taking private piano lessons when I was in lower grades of the basic school. When I was in the upper grades of the basic school I started playing flute in a college of music. After the upper grades I started music high school in Savonlinna with classical singing and music theater as my major. Then I went to Sibelius-akademy to study church music. At the moment I’m specializing in classical singing. Favorite... food: Pepper steak and potatoes with garlic. drink: Medium dry white wine. movie: Mr. Bean music: Bhrams, Celine Dion director: Steven Spielberg tv-program: Tv-Shop actor/actress: Spike (Notting Hill) book: RT author: M. Waltari band: It's hard to name the best one. There's a lot of good bands. album: Oceanborn song: Bhrams: Von eviger liebe season: spring. Our best gig: Provinssirock '99 Best gig you have seen: Timo Mustakallio '98 Worst nightmare: That I wake up in the morning being mute! Place you'd like to go: Exotic, small island somewhere far, far away. No turism, no finns. Only silence. Life philosophy: Smile : )

Just for fun, here's a short bio from the official NW web site, back in 1999. Name: Sami Vänskä Date of birth: 26.09.1976 Place of residence: Kitee E-mail: sami@nightwish.com Hobbies: - Musical background: I started playing bass seven years ago as a private study. At that time I’ve played in a few bands which have been mostly from the metal genre. Before Nightwish I played, just like Tuomas, in Nattvindens Gråt. Favorite... food: Pizza. drink: With food I drink water and when I want to get pissed I drink beer. movie: One flew over the cuckoo’s nest. director: Steven Spielberg tv-program: X-Files actor/actress: Jack Nicholson book: Talisman author: Stephen King band: Rush, Primus, RHCP, Death, Pantera, Manowar... album: There are many... it varies. song: There are many... it varies. season: Summer Our best gig: Hopefully it's ahead. Best gig you have seen: Faith No More, Helsinki Worst nightmare: I have no nightmares. Place you'd like to go: To watch the eclipse in North America a couple of years from now. Life philosophy:There's no one Instruments: Ampeq amp, Ampeq cabinet and Warwick bass.

The VIP tickets for pre-show virtual meeting with the band and new bassist will be on sale later today. Being more expensive than the show itself I'm not sure they're such a good deal, but I guess value is in the eye of the beholder. And at this point one can't blame the band or the management to try and make up for the lost revenue over the last year.

Reactions get repetitive after a while but this guy has an ear for key changes and musical structure: Doug Helvering reacting to TGSOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5m51shoapY

Keeping up with Kai on social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kai.hahto.96