{"id":856279,"date":"2026-09-22T05:46:12","date_gmt":"2026-09-22T05:46:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/856279\/"},"modified":"2026-09-22T05:46:12","modified_gmt":"2026-09-22T05:46:12","slug":"nightwish-leader-tuomas-holopainen-thinks-the-symphonic-metal-superstars-could-continue-without-him-nightwish-has-always-been-more-than-the-sum-of-its-parts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/856279\/","title":{"rendered":"Nightwish leader Tuomas Holopainen thinks the symphonic metal superstars could continue without him: \u201cNightwish has always been more than the sum of its parts\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\"Nightwish\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/a><\/p>\n

Nightwish<\/a> founder, keyboardist and lead songwriter Tuomas Holopainen says that the Finnish symphonic metal<\/a> titans should be able to carry on without him when the time comes.<\/p>\n

Talking exclusively in the new issue of Metal Hammer<\/a>, the 49-year-old, who started the six-piece in 1996, says that \u201cNightwish has always been more than the sum of its parts\u201d, to the point that it could carry on without any current member, including himself.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI honestly think at this point, if any member \u2013 including myself \u2013 left, the rest of them could continue,\u201d Holopainen says. \u201cAny of us. Because we have evidence enough that this band can work with any combo.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The musician is alluding to the multiple lineup changes that Nightwish have undergone over the past three decades, which have left him and guitarist Emppu Vuorinen as the sole constant members. They\u2019ve cycled through three different lead singers: Tarja Turunen (1996\u20132005), Anete Olzen (2007\u20132012) and the incumbent Floor Jansen, who joined in 2013. Their latest shake-up took place in 2021, when bassist Jukka Koskinen replaced longtime member Marko Hietala.<\/p>\n

Holopainen reflects on the particularly tumultuous split with Turunen<\/a> in the new interview, as well, admitting that the band got blamed for the bust-up \u201cfor good reason\u201d. The lineup let their singer go via a scathing public letter which alleged that \u201cbusiness\u201d and \u201cmoney\u201d had become more important to her than the emotion behind the music. Turunen denied the accusation.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere was no future for us together,\u201d Holopainen reflects. \u201cWe were just operating in survival mode and plagued by these dark thoughts. We got completely butchered in the media \u2013 it was like we were these evil neanderthals who\u2019d hurt our wonderful ex-singer. I got some really interesting letters, let\u2019s put it that way.\u201d<\/p>\n

The keyboardist now has a cordial but distant relationship with Turunen, and rules out the idea of ever reuniting with the singer. \u201cIt was a divorce, and an ugly one at that,\u201d he explains, \u201cso I think we have our own lives now. Someone did say to me if we got Tarja and Marko back in, we could tour just South America for a year straight. That\u2019s not gonna happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Nightwish will celebrate their 30th anniversary with the release of rarities compilation The Greatest 30 Years On Earth on December 11. Their latest album, Yesterwynde<\/a>, came out in 2024, and they\u2019re currently on hiatus from live shows.<\/p>\n

Holopainen has six songs prepared for the band\u2019s impending, 11th studio album. He also suggests to Hammer that 2028 will be the year the band return to the road. \u201cNext year is too early to be going back on tour. The year after, possibly?\u201d he says. \u201cI want to do another album before any live shows, and that\u2019s definitely happening.\u201d<\/p>\n

If you can\u2019t wait until then to see a Nightwish member onstage, Floor Jansen has European and South American tour dates with her solo band in place for 2026 and 2027. See the list of dates and get tickets via her website<\/a>. The singer\u2019s solo album, Hytress, is out on January 15.<\/p>\n

Read the full interview with Holopainen, looking back on Nightwish\u2019s career, in the new Hammer. Order now and get it delivered directly to your door.<\/a><\/p>\n

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\"Nightwish\n<\/p>\n

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