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translated by Nessa Elensar

Nightwish in Tivoli

The Finnish metalheads charmed Slovenia

At the first sight Tuesday seemed like an ordinary day, if we excluded the heavy snowing, of course. But for the majority of fans of the Finnish metal group Nightwish, 4.3 was the day they have waited for a long time. The group came to Ljubljana, to Hala Tivoli, to present their latest album Dark Passion Play

The metalheads have been a part of the scene from the year 1996. They got famous about 2 years later with "Oceanborn". For less than a year they have a new singer on board. They have the credit for making symphonic-power metal popular. Before they took over the stage in an hour and half, they also took the time for some interviews or as usual- Tuomas Lauri Johannes Holopainen did.

Small, a bit dark room in backstage had two couches, covered with white coverlets, a low table with an ashtray and lots of drinks, which is only for the ones, who are older than 18 . I don't know why, but in a second I felt like I was on a high school party. I felt home. I was there for a minute, when the 31-year old Tuomas with black hair came into the room in his binding outfit with a hat and smiled friendly. There was no trace of any sublimity or haughtiness and as the interview went on, he only showed he is a real star, who deserves every single fan. And he is way cuter in live than on photos.

Hei, Tuomas! Greetings!How are you?
"Thank you, I'm great. Just as our fans we also can't wait to start with the show."

First off I would like to congratulate you for the ECHO award, which you won for the band of the year in "rock/alternative band" category in Germany. Was it a suprise, that you beat the famous music names or did you just expected to win?
"We never expect anything. Seriously. We were really suprised, because it's the first major award we ever recieved- if we exclude the ones in Finnland, of course.. To get a reward for the best band in the 2nd biggest music competition is definetly a huge achievement. Also because we were in the same category as Marilyn Manson, Foo Fighters and Within Temptation. The felling is really undescribable and the award is a big motivation for us and above all a proof that working with your heart pays off. And that we are on the right track.

Do you have any singers who inspires you, any band, who is a role-model to you?
"My greatest idols come from the world of movie music; Vangelis and Hans Zimmer- he especially is the best for me. I'm his fan for 10 years and that definetly influences the songs I write.

Which band do you like very much?
"Of the older bands definetly Metallica, Pantera and Tiamat. Besides that I'm trying to keep up with the Finnish metal scene, but I'm not very sucessful in that. I also like Enigma.

Tuomas, you do a lot of traveling with the band and this way you get to know lots of different audiences. Which was the one, who stands out the most with being loud and open- and did you ever came across an audience which was really holding back?
"When we come to true fans of rock and metal, they are quite similar no matter where they are from. But it is a slight difference among them; the more to the south we go on this planet, the more crazy it gets all together- in South America and in South Europe people are way louder than for example in Scandinavia. But that doesn't mean that we prefer to do shows in the South than in the North. We enjoy everywhere."

What do you think of the Slovene audience?
"We've been in Slovenia in 2005 and I remember we had a very good show in the open. I'm sure tonight we will have just as good."

Do you have any special rituals, rutines, before you go to the stage- besides drinking, of course- It looks like you are a very thirsty group by the amount of drinks here...
"No, no, this is for the reporters (laugh). Didn't they offer you anythig? Yeah, we are thirsty- before and after the show, but I don't think I'll be drinking tonight, because a cold is coming on me. I can already feel it (points to his throat). But I do usually have a glass of red wine, a cigarette and 5 minutes of silence before the show. Than I'm ready."

Today you will be able to have an extra minute of relaxing- you will start the concert as late as 9:30PM instead at 8PM like it was meant to be.
"Yeah, because of the hockey game which is taking place in the neighbouring hall, but it's not a big deal. I myself like hockey very much, in fact it's my favourite sport. Well, in the end all Finns are hockey fans."

Tell me the strangest, most anoying thing that happened to you on the tour or during a show.
"Hmmm... I remember I had to do something on the 1st album, which is something I can't do and something I really hate. I had to sing, basicly because there was no one else to do it. On top of it all we did a show in front of 30.000 people- can you imagine- wih my terrible signing. That was in 2001 and I can't understand how can we still have so many fans, because I was sure most of them died of laughter at that time (laugh). Signing is my worst nightmare and I really hope I woun't have to do it again."

What about the most beautiful thing which happened to you in your musical carieer?
"The most beautiful thing? There is a lot of them. But I did saw 3 gravestones with our songs carved in. I think that is really the biggest compliment which you can get."

Did it ever happened to you that a fan crossed the line, follow you around maybe or something like that?
"In fact I only have one bad experience with a fan but I will not talk about it (Even after perssuasion I can't beat him, what can we do, he is a man of principles). No matter how much they love our music and us, most of them are very nice and considerate. But it is strange sometimes, even scary, when you sit on your couch at home and you're watching TV and than you hear the doorbell and in front of the door you see fans:"Hi, we came from South America, we just want to say "hi" and give you this bunch of flowers." They do go afterwards but still... I mean I am happy beacuse of the flowers and of the atention, but still I think that a thicker line should be drawn between private and public life. I don't think it's right that they just invade in my privacy like that, even though I love to hang out with them, beacuse in the end our fans are the ones who put bread on our table."

When Anette joined the band, you said you woun't perform "Phantom of Opera" anymore. Why?
"This song was really made for the previous singer and for her style of siniging so it simpy woudn't be right to "force" Anette with it. The song would simply turn out quite different- not worse or better-just different."

What were the fan's reactions to the new singer like? Were you worried how they will accept her?
"We didn't want to reveal her identity too soon, becasue the last thing we wanted was her being judged on the name or a photo and I think we did the right thing. When the album came out and we just in Finnland sold more the 120.000 copies, we realized she is accepted. She is accepted on the shows very nice. Yeah, previous singer seemed better to some people, but time goes on and what happened, happened."

In what terms are you with Tarja now?
"In none. In fact we haven't heard and saw for 2 and half years, the same goes for the rest of the band. When we cut off musically, we separated privately too."

When can we expect a new album?
Since we will be still on tour 'till September 2009, don't expect anything before the year 2010. But you can expect some smal suprises in a few months time, not necessarily connected with the band, more like a side project... I can't give any more specific information but I can tell that in a month or two a new video is coming out. Don't ask for which song, beacuse we (band members) promised each other not to say anything." (If he doesn't say it, may I add that 30.5 the 5th singel will come out- "The Islander".)

Tuomas, most of our readers are teenagers. You know, the "troubled years". Were you a difficult teenager?
"My mom still says I was the nicest kids that ever lived. Supposedly I didn't go through puberty at all, I was never a problem and I didn't had a "rebel stage". ......

Tuomas, most of our readers are teenagers. You know, the "troubled years". Were you a difficult teenager?
"My mom still says I was the nicest kids that ever lived. Supposedly I didn't go through puberty at all, I was never a problem and I didn't had a "rebel stage". I remember I was more like a lonely wolf, I had some friends and that was it. I was never teased in school or even noticed. I was a good student, I had almost straight A. Yeah, if I kind of draw the line, the thing I remember the most is that I was happy, pleased but alone most of the time- I lived alone with my parents, away from the noise and in middle of a forest. My brother and my sister are 12 years older than me and they've left the nest long ago. And I was left with my imaginary friends (laugh)."

What about your 1st love, do you remember it?
"Yeah, it happened quite late. When I got "involved" the 1st time and fallen in love, I was already 14 years old, and I've waited two more years for my 1st true kiss. Really late, right?"

Can I ask you something intimate?
"Yeah."

How old were you when you jumped between the sheets for the 1st time?
"18. We were together for a few months, than we stopped the relationship. With one mind, no one was really hurt. Today I have only nice memories of her."

How would you described your band in a few words, what makes you special?
"We are a good band with great vocals (laugh). I think that we are not that much different, we just do "landscape music for escapees"- wow, I said that nicely (laugh)."

Tuomas, one more question: Did you ever felt like just walking of the stage in the middle of a concert? Why?
"Yeah, in the year 2004. You know, mutual relationships, especially when it comes to relationships between two people, are something most difficult in the world. At that time it happened that we had to go on a concert right after something really scary (again he doesn't says what it was) and I was emotionaly so ruined I wished I could just vanished.

The Finns have won Slovenian hearts once again with the show. And how we accepted Anette? Even the ones, who don't adapt easily to changes gave compliments to her. And we all saw, sorry- heard, that girl knows what she's doing! She and the guys are a perfect team and the band filled the whole place with energy and pyrotechnic effects. They all breathed as one. Nightwish went to Hungary the next day and than they had two days off. If Tuomas's throat didn't heal in that time, it did for sure in warm Greece, where the tour went on.

P.S
Because the band was too tired, they've cancelled the after party, where they should meet with fans and journalists. But still they say, that we/you were a great audience and they will be back for sure. We will hold on to it.