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Band Timeline
Formation of Nightwish
Release of Debut Album: Angels Fall First
Breakthrough with Oceanborn
Expansion of their Sound with Wishmaster
Century Child and Lineup Change
Breakthrough with Once
Departure of Lead Singer Tarja Turunen
New Lead Singer and Dark Passion Play
Release of Imaginaerum
Lineup Changes: Departure of Anette Olzon and Addition of Floor Jansen and Troy Donockley
Drummer Transition and Continued Success
Bassist Change and Current Lineup
Induction into the Finnish Music Hall of Fame
Albums
Members
Current
Emppu Vuorinen
Classical guitar
Guitar
Bass guitar
Floor Jansen
Lead vocals
Troy Donockley
Background vocals
Low whistle
Uilleann pipes
Jukka Koskinen
Bass guitar
Tuomas Holopainen
Keyboard
Piano
Lead vocals
Kai Hahto
Drums (drum set)
History
Jukka Nevalainen
Percussion
Drums (drum set)
Anette Olzon
Lead vocals
Marko Hietala
Other vocals
Bass guitar
Classical guitar
Sami Vänskä
Bass guitar
Tarja
Lead vocals
Story of Nightwish
Hailing from Kitee, Finland, Nightwish exploded onto the symphonic metal scene in 1996. Founded by keyboardist and primary songwriter Tuomas Holopainen, guitarist Emppu Vuorinen, and vocalist Tarja Turunen, the band quickly added drummer Jukka Nevalainen and bassist Sami Vänskä after their 1997 debut, Angels Fall First. Marko Hietala joined in 2001, taking over bass duties and contributing male vocals, a role previously handled by Holopainen or guest artists.
While initially popular in Finland, Nightwish’s international breakthrough came with Oceanborn (1998), Wishmaster (2000), and Century Child (2002). Their 2004 masterpiece, Once, sold over a million copies, catapulting them to US success. The album spawned the hit single "Wish I Had an Angel," receiving significant MTV airplay and featuring on three major US film soundtracks. Once also yielded three more singles, two music videos, and a re-recorded "Sleeping Sun" for the 2005 compilation Highest Hopes: The Best of Nightwish. However, this period ended with Turunen`s departure in October 2005.
Anette Olzon stepped in as vocalist in May 2007, leading to the release of Dark Passion Play that September. This sixth album solidified Nightwish`s global status, selling nearly two million copies.
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