NIGHTWISH and the atmosphere of end in Brazil and Finland

czarnycharakter

"Sometimes the bustle goes out of control"
NIGHTWISH and the atmosphere of end in Brazil and Finland

Over 1 000 000 concert tickets, 20 000 bears, 6000 plectrums, 5000 flights, 3000 hotel nights, 300 pairs of drum sticks, 127 gigs, 18 months and also couple damaged hotel rooms... and that one letter.
Guitarrist Emppu Vuorinen is sitting in Hartwall Arena´s backstage after the last gig of Once-tour and is thinking for a while about the numbers of Nightwish´ world tour, that we mentioned in the introduction.
- Woah. Well those really are big numbers. I guess it´s time to lay for hibernation...
So the break is welcome and necessary matter to Nightwish that repaired it´s band member situation. The relationships between the male members of the band and Tarja Turunen and her manager Marcelo Cabuli were destroyed totally while the year and half long, hard tour. Vuorinen, keyboarder Tuomas Holopainen, bassist Marco Hietala and drummer Jukka Nevalainen searched the solutions to the problems for a long time, but in the end there was only one chance left. To fire the singer.
Musicians gave the letter to Turunen immediately after performing in Hartwall Arena. The letter, signed by all guys in the band, is unembellished account that throws for example these sentences to Tarja´s face: "You have said yourself that you are merely a "guest musician" in Nightwish. Now that visit ends and we will continue Nightwish with a new female vocalist" and "It was agreed by the five of us that Nightwish would be the priority in everything that we do during 2004-2005. Still so many things were more important to you. The ultimate example being the already sold-out show in Oslo, which you wanted to cancel because you needed to rehearse for your solo concerts, meet frieds and go to the movies".
Also Tarja´s husband/manager is receiving very hard critisism. "Somehow Marcelo has changed you from the lovely girl you were into a diva, who doesn't think or act the way she used to. You are too sure of your irreplaceableness and status."
- Well that was it. Many things have reached their end today and that´s why the live-DVD is called "End of an Era", says Nevalainen 30 minutes after giving the letter, keeping his deepest feelings hidden inside.
Holopainen, the soul of Nightwish, is in very touched state of mind.The man, surrounded by the people he loves, praises the gig to be "the best Nightwish-gig ever" and maybe he´s not wrong at all. Jack Sparrow look-a-like musician´s eyes are wet by tears.
-There has been a hangman´s loop around my heart for a long time. And I haven´t slept well for few months because I have been thinking about this thing all the time. Unfortunately the only chance was left to us because we weren´t ready to bury the results of nine years work.
Slowly and considerly speaking Tuomas doesn´t seem to be bitter, maybe more a sad knight that has given all his strenght.
- The biggest feeling now is huge fustration and disappointment. And I´m sure that this feeling won´t change very soon.
Confused Turunen tells that the firing desicion came as a total surprise.
- I´m absolutely shocked about what happened. It´s cruel to bring this kind of thing into public. I´m also sad because my husband was pulled into this mess. We could have reached the same solution by some other way. Luckily this will never destroy all that great music Nightwish did while it´s career. But I will never forget that I had no chance to say farewell to fans as singer of Nightwish.

All alone by herslef

Let´s go back in time for about one and half week, to thousands miles away to hectic Sao Paulo.
Nightwish have flown to Brazil from the capital of Mexico and the band is going to perform in Live ´n´ Louder-event with for example Scorpions, The 69 Eyes and Destruction. The band members seem to be on quite happy mood - though you can sense the tight feelings under the surface.
Tarja is having no contact with the guys, the necessarily communication is working between Marcelo and the Nightwish-manager Ewo Pohjola. This isn´t really making me surprised, because this has been the system for many months. In other words Tarja has came and left by her own schedule, without caring about the other members. Tuomas, Jukka, Emppu and Marco have been doing the soundchecks, fan meetings and the most of the interviews - Tarja´s only duty is to sing. And that part she is doing like a professional.
- I critisize myslef terribly much. That "whatever attitude" in totally unknown to me. Sometimes I feel that this endless rigour against my own achievments is almost sick. But singing is my everything, Tarja sighs and continues.
- It´s not a secret that me and Marcelo like to be alone together. How more longer this Once-tour lasts, the less I want to go for some kind of rock bar. I´m afraid for my voice. If I´m tired or stressed, it always affects to the gig. The guys have been wondering why I always leave right after the gig to hotel. I have been trying to tell that I must act this way or I can´t do my job with the best way I can.
Turunen says that long flights are straining the voice a lot.
- The artificial air of the plain is almost poison to throat. The flight between Mexico City and Sao Paulo lasted for nine hours but luckily our performance is only day after tomorrow. Now I´m annoyed only because the flying company lost my luggage. We´ll see if I´ll never see them again.

Backstage to repairs

Sao Paulo. Some appraisals say that over 25 million people are living there and there are most criminals in the world. For example movie City of God is telling harsh language about the brazilian suburb.
- I used to live in Rio de Janeiro, but I didn´t recognize my hometown from City of God. Then I moved to Sao Paulo and I have been robbed four times. And I don´t mean slums, in good areas, tells fan that has found his way to Nightwish´ hotel.
If City of God shows a glimpse about the life in slum, then The Ramones´ Raw-DVD gives some kind of picture about the passion of south american music fans. Cars that transported The Ramones were stuck in the middle of fans, and Nightwish is having the same for example before the interview of Music Television. Music channel have advertised eagerly about the visit of the band for a long time and a crowd of ardent Nightwish-fans is gathered to the MTV building, hoping for signature or maybe even a photo.
And these fans are far from shy. They know, that demanding "one photo"-screams and merciless pushing is the only chance to get near to the rock stars for a little while. Marco, that comes out from the car first, gets immediately into merciless cross-fire, and the chaos turns unbearable when Tuomas and Tarja get out of the car. One and another fan is crying because of happiness and because a quick signature from some band member. You can see Nightwish-tattoos in many arms.
- Fans are so wonderful. But when that big crowd is ripping you everywhere and everyone wants that own moment and a little piece if possible, you can´t enjoy about the situation in any way, says the singer later inside, shaking her head.
It´s easy to understand Turunen. There are many cities where she can´t leave her own hotel room. The hotel halls are crowded with fans and usually they are not content with photo and signature - no, they start to follow the artist. For example shopping isn´t so relaxing if there are huge crowd of people behind your back. And when this lasts for months, even the most patient human´s nerves are starting to crack. And they have cracked.
- I had problems with my voice in the beginning of Once-tour. Then plates and even full trays were threwn to the wall bacause I was so pissd off. Then I get to Kuopio to some voice massage-specialist´s treatment and got help to my problems, Turunen admits.
Also the other members and the crew get enthusiastic in unpacking the pressure.
- Sometimes the bustle simply goes out of control. Couple times the backstage was left in quite bad condition. Televisions have flewn - at least to the floor. Someone have arrived to the room through the door and then woke up when the carpenter repairs the frames back. Once in a hotel we used a bed as a slide and put it against the wall. Well, the bed went through the wall. But let´s not name the people who did these things, Nevalainen gives a laugh.

Is it cold in Finland?

Finally Nightwish gets inside and Jukka goes to toilet to put some slight make-up. Or as he says: "I go to put some fake-up before stress conference." The band doesn´t need to stress so much because Nightwish will do only this MTV interview in Sao Paulo. In the original plan there were few other interview but finally they are cancelled because Tarja is tired.
- Well, it´s your first time here in Brazil, the host girl of MTV starts bravely.
- Actually, this is our fourth time, Tuomas corrects quickly.
The girl doesn´t get confused and she continues with the questions. "What do you think of Brazil? Is it cold in Finland? What songs are you going to play tomorrow? Do you like Evanescnece?" and so on.
- Why do we get into these kind of interviews? Well, the hosts of MTV are always asking how does it feel to be in Brazil for the first time, says Emppu and shakes his head.
Of course the fans are still there. Surprisely the band gets back to the car without injuries and the driver drives fastly away almost touching people around.The traffic is moving fastly for a moment but then Sao Paulo shows it´s real face. Though the clock is almost nine PM there are still amazingly many cars. Suddenly a huge graveyard appears to the other side of the road, wich massive tombstones are making people cheerful.
- There you can practise about overturning the tombstones. I mean, even a big gang couldn´t do that, Ewo laughs.
Next day is totally free from official program and someone gets great idea in the morning: "Let´s go to check Sao Paulo from helicopter." Jukka, Tuomas and Marco are in right away. I guess it´s clear that huge city looks very cool from helicopter.
- That flight was definately one of the best free-time activities on this tour. Also the ride in australian super motor bote was great experience, Holopainen recalls.
- It was nice in Italy´s Garda lake. We opened a accoount to a restaurant and at the end of the day we noticed that the check was 667 euros. That damn, who took that one euro ice water, drummer smiles.
The rest of the evening is spent in Live ´n´ Louder organizer´s party. Even the guys of Scorpions arrive and it doesn´t take so long before the show of drummer James Kottak. Heavily drunken american is swinging around with butter knife which leads that Tuomas´ jacket gets some new colour. Tuomas, known as calm man, is starting piss off and luckily Kottak understands to leave. Later Scorpions-guitarrist Rudolf Schenker has something to say to Nevalainen.
- I have understood that Nemo is your compotion? Fucking great song.
Schenker leaves after short chat. Jukka is slighty disappointed after meeting the legend.
- He was very nice guy, but why he had cut his great moustache away?

Pissing off in brazilian way

At last it´s the concert day. Nightwish crew leaves to the venue in the morning and in hotel those musicians, who are trying to kill time, mobile phones start to beep. SMS-messages speak their own language about the quality of local Peso-roader crew.
- Peso, that name fits the firm well! These guys know how to piss people off in brazilian way. We came here like we have agreed, but these guys were just getting started. And no one speaks english, the mixer of Nightwish, Kimmo Ahola says later that afternoon.
And the unfinished equipment itsn´t even the only problem. Hietala, that is suffering from bad stomach aches, is lying in backstage, looking painfull and the 30 degree heat is not making the bassist feel better. Luckily the gig is not in danger to be cancelled. Because those 20 000 people who are waiting for Nightwish wouldn´t accept the message without revolt.
- You can´t live like this, Marco says miserabely and closes his eyes again.
- Yeah! Highest Hopes is number one in finnish album list, dropping HIM´s Dark Light second! By the way, I guess that it was easy to smile for guys of HIM when the album went to 18th place on american chart, smiles Jukka who just received a SMS from Finland.
Holopainen, that is killing time, picks Ensiferum´s debut and Children of Bodoms new album from the iPod that is lying on table.
- Are You Dead Yet? is the only album that has recently sent shivers down my spine. And in movies Sin City had hard feeling going on. The cartoon-like elements made the violence little softer, it wasn´t too Saw-mood.
Do you still dream about making film music?
- Of course. Though if I would have to commit to do for example music for the second part of The Pirated of The Carribean, I would be screwed, because Nightwish is still my number one thing. And in other hand I´m a finn from my heart and soul. It would be great to compose something to some traditional finnish thing.
Tarja and Marcelo arrive to the venue only little before the gig. Turunen warms her voice in her own dressing room and then surprisely appears to the guys dressing room. Singer is clearly on good mood and she´s talking happily with Emppu before the concert starts.
- We had to move the last Sao Paulo gig because my voice problems. Now let´s kick some ass!
Holopainen has often praised the south american audience very fanatic and the words of keyboarder get a prove from the football stadium of Sao Paulo. The people are singing every word with Tarja and some are fainting. British Kerrang-magazine gave five stars from Nightwish´s last London gig and said: "Some people think that Nightwish has grown too big band. What in hell are you waiting from a band that does gigs like this?". Well said.

Ears are ringing quite well

Next morning the finnish gang is driven to the airport, because they are going to fly more south, to Porto Alegre to another Live ´n´ Louder gig. At the same night in local club a brazilian metal group Angra is performing, and a part of Nightwish end up to follow the gig of very skilful band. Angra´s last tour has almost 100 gigs in Brazil and tight touring have made the groups talents to their best. Suddenly Tarja and Marcelo arrive to the club.
- Very good playing, but the volume should be little smaller. Ears are ringing maybe too well, Turunen shouts at the end of the set.
Then something surprising happens. The heaven tears apart to rain and the old building doesn´t stand the pressure of hard rain. The seams in the roof don´t hold anymore and the water rushes in. Lots of water is gathered on the floor in a moment and the rain is still as hard as while ago. Angra keeps on playing without caring about the danger of electric shock but a part of the audience leaves, fearing that the foor will soon crash down. The streets outside the venue are full of water and thunder roars. It´s time to go back to hotel.
- I´m sick again. I got almost no sleep at all, singer is complaining next morning.
You can get almost every medicine from brazilian pharmacy but the vocalist isn´t using industrial medicine anymore.
- I changed to homeopatic products long ago. I haven´t eaten antibiots or aspirin in couple years.
Also Marco looks still very sick. Hietala´s, that is still suffering from the food poisoning, medicine are starting to work and they don´t have to cancle Porto Alegre gig either. The 69 Eyes, Destruction, Rage and fellows are warming the audience quite well but the security army gets into a real test while Nightwish´s hour and half long gig. The secutity fence that has been built in front of the stage is stretching out though the staff is trying to push the barrikade with their full power. Luckily it holds. And luckily Marco survives.
The backstage of old concert hall is indeed very dreary place and Nightwish returns to hotel right after the gig. Tuomas sits to the hotel bar for few night drinks and I must ask about the relatioship between the rest of the band and Tarja. You see, they seem to be "little" cold.
- We have strechted out in many things and went on with Tarja´s clauses during these last months. Everything possible have been done as easy as possible for her. Still she had wanted to cancel gigs and even whole tours according to starnge reasons. We´ll see what happens after the Hartwall Arena concert. Well I have some kind of presentiment about it.