Although Nightwish has been prominent in their home country since the release of their first single, "The Carpenter" (1997) and debut albumAngels Fall First, they did not achieve worldwide fame until the release of the albumsOceanborn,Wishmaster andCentury Child, which were released in 1998, 2000 and 2002 respectively. Their 2004 album,Once, which has sold more than 1.2 million copies,[1] led to Nightwish video clips being shown onMTV in the United States and inclusion of their music in US movie soundtracks. Their biggest US hit single, "Wish I Had an Angel" (2004), made it onto three US film soundtracks as a means to promote their North American tour.[2] The band produced three more singles and two music videos for the album, as well as "Sleeping Sun", from the 2005 "best of" compilation album,Highest Hopes, prior to vocalistTarja Turunen’s dismissal.
In May 2007, former Alyson Avenue frontwoman,Anette Olzon, was revealed asTurunen’s replacement,[3] and in the autumn, the band released a new album –Dark Passion Play, which has sold more than 1.5 million copies.[4] The supporting tour started on 6 October 2007 and ended on 19 September 2009.[5][6] A new E.P./live album,Made in Hong Kong (And in Various Other Places), was released in March 2009 as aMCD/DVD.
Pekka joined Nightwish for the final concert of Dark Passion Play tour atHartwall Areena and later played violin solos for the albumImaginaerum. Pekka later joined Nightwish for the Imaginaerum Movie Premiere atHartwall Areena and played violin/pipe battle withTroy Donockley.
^Donockley (born 30 May 1964) is an English composer and multi-instrumentalist most known for his playing ofuilleann pipes. He performed onDark Passion Play andImaginaerum. He accompanied the band on most of their Dark Passion Play tour and is featured on the music video for the single "The Islander". When the band released their latest albumImaginaerum in 2011, he was asked to play a wide array of instruments, including uilleann pipes, Celtic bouzouki, and tin and low whistles. He was asked to supply some Cumbrian chanting on the song "The Crow, The Owl, and the Dove." He also joined the band on theImaginaerum World Tour. On 9 October 2013, he was confirmed as a full-time member of Nightwish.
^Jansen (born 21 February 1981) is aDutchsoprano singer, who was the lead singer of thesymphonic metal bandAfter Forever which disbanded in 2009, and the singer forReVamp which disbanded in 2016. She is also a member ofsupergroupStar One. She started touring with Nightwish on 1 October 2012 when Anette Olzon parted from the band. She was originally scheduled to play with the band until the end of theImaginaerum World Tour. On 9 October 2013, she was confirmed as the new full-time lead vocalist for Nightwish. Jansen's side-projectNorthward released their first album in October 2018.[11]
^Hahto (born 31 December 1973) stepped in to record the drums for the new Nightwish album, replacingJukka Nevalainen, who went on hiatus from the band due to insomnia, and performed in all live shows to date. In July 2019, Nevalainen announced he would not be returning to the band, as Hahto had become Nightwish's full-time drummer. Prior to replacing Nevalainen, Hahto was Nevalainen's drum tech as well as being a founder ofWintersun.
^Koskinen was announced to perform with the band on tour throughout 2021 and 2022. On August 21, 2022, he was announced to be the new bass player for Nightwish.[12]
^Tarja (born 17 August 1977) is a Finnish singer-songwriter, composer and actress, whose work includes eight solo albums. She was dismissed from the band on 22 October 2005[3] after nine years, at the end of theOnce Upon a Tour. In 2006, Turunen released a Christmas album,Henkäys Ikuisuudesta, with a support classical tour between 25 November and 26 December. Since 2007, she has been active as a successful solo performer with her own band.
^Nevalainen (born 21 April 1978) is a Finnish drummer. He spent his early years in the city ofKitee; his drumming career started at age eleven when his music teacher at school told him that a new educational program for music was opening, and he thought Nevalainen would fit in well as a drummer. His first band was The Highway, but he joined his first real band at the age of 15–16. The band had a rehearsal place, but was restricted to practicing only a couple of days a week. After he left that band, he joined up withEmppu Vuorinen and they got a permanent practice place. Nevalainen announced his departure from the band in July 2019 after being on hiatus from 2014 due to persistent insomnia.Kai Hahto who had previously filled in for Nevalainen for the 2015 album and the subsequent world tours has replaced Nevalainen.
^Sami (born 26 September 1976) started playing bass as a private study. He has played in a few bands which have been mostly from the metal genre. He started his career in the band Nattvindens Gråt, withTuomas Holopainen. He made two albums,A Bard's Tale (1995) andChaos Without Theory (1997), and a demo,Dar Svanar Flyger (1995), with them. He joined Nightwish for the second studio album,Oceanborn, and was soon replaced byMarko Hietala.
^Olzon (born 21 June 1971) is a Swedish singer. She replacedTarja Turunen after her dismissal on 21 October 2005. Olzon was formerly the vocalist in the Swedish AOR bandAlyson Avenue. After her admission into Nightwish, she played with several bands, in studio and live, includingBrother Firetribe andPain, and will release a new album in the near future, under her own name.[13] Anette's departure from Nightwish was announced on 1 October 2012, midway through their North American tour, and Floor Jansen took over on vocals for the remainder of theImaginaerum World Tour.
^Hietala (born 14 January 1966) is a Finnish bassist and vocalist, who is often seen as an icon for the Finnish metal scene. He is also the vocalist and bassist as well as composer/lyricist for heavy metal bandTarot. He joined Nightwish following the departure of previous bassistSami Vänskä. He was a prominent guest musician inDelain, a project involving many members of thegothic/symphonic metal community. Hietala is the bassist and lends his voice to a number of songs. He also participated in the recording ofInvitation, byAltaria, providing backing vocals. He has also been part of the bandsSinergy andNorthern Kings. InDelain, he played the bass for the albumLucidity and was also the main male vocalist on the album. He is also featured as vocalist on two of the songs on Delain's albumApril Rain. In March 2009, Hietala joined the bandSapattivuosi, they coverBlack Sabbath songs in Finnish.[14]
On January 12, 2021, Marko announced his retirement from the band and from the music industry.[15]
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