Nightwish - February 2005

Written by Silvia Deurwaarder

“Push yourself to the maximum; don’t take the easy way out!”  

Interviews are most of the time very personal, but I never had an interview like the one with Tuomas Holopainen of Nightwish. He’s the spirit behind this successful gothmetal band and a very sensitive person. The conversation in the cantine backstage in Belgium wasn’t very comfortable and I had problems with concentrating myself, but it went unexpectedly well. Both of us were very surprised with the result and I must say that, even though I can’t bring back the atmosphere, you can sense a small part by reading the interview and hopefully you discover what I mean.

Tour life 

The band is just back from a tour period in England where all the shows were sold out. More than 2500 people came to see the shows. Tuomas tells that it was better than he expected: “It was exceptionally good. The people over there are the most polite people in the whole world: everything with “Sir”. It was great, but still there were some things; like there wasn’t always a shower. All in all, I am very satisfied with this tour. It’s the longest tour so far but we still have some free moments.”  

He really looks forward to go home: “I live in the middle of nowhere, next to a lake. I still live with my parents. I just bought a house, but it needs  renovation, so maybe I can get it in three years time. I love to meet people around the world, but when I am back home I love to be on my own. I am really unsocial at home: just me, my parents and my three cats. The last thing I want is going to a bar. I usual go to my summer cabin which is on a small island in the middle of a lake. It beautiful, especially in the winter. I have to punch a whole in the ice to get water, there’s no electricity.”

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