Former NIGHTWISH members Tarja Turunen and Marko Hietala have announced a show together, which will be help on at Z7 Summer Nights Open Air in Switzerland on July 8th.
Press release reads: “Finland’s most popular soprano voice, Tarja Turunen, comes to Pratteln to headline a first class Z7 Summer Night. Joining the symphonic metal queen, freshly returned to Europe from her ‘”‘Living The Dream'”‘ US tour, is her former NIGHTWISH colleague Marko Hietala and a very special guest to be announced soon. The opener Illumishade completes the fantastic line-up. The open-air event on July 8th guarantees a dreamy night for die-hard symphonic rockers and friends of versatile metal sounds.”
Marko left NIGHTWISH in January 2021 explaining in a statement that he hadn’t “been able to feel validated by this life for a quite a few years now.” He has since been replaced by session bassist Jukka Koskinen (WINTERSUN), who made his live debut with NIGHTWISH in May 2021 at the band’s two interactive experiences.
Turunen was fired from NIGHTWISH at the end of the band’s 2005 tour. Tuomas Holopainen and the other band members informed Turunen in an open letter that the band did not want to work with her any more, accusing her of diva-like behaviour and greed: “To you, unfortunately, business, money, and things that have nothing to do with emotions have become much more important.”
The split and, due to the open letter’s allegations, Turunen‘s character became the subject of close media coverage. Turunen responded through an open letter on her website and through some interviews in which she explained her view. She was upset that after nine years of working together, Holopainen announced the separation via an open letter.
