ONCE UPON A NIGHTWISH: The Official Biography 1996-2006, by Mape Ollila

ONCE UPON A NIGHTWISH was published by Bazillion Points in December 2008, and is currently out-of-print in original deluxe softcover format. However, the ebook edition (eISBN 978-1-935950-98-1) remains available worldwide:

Amazon Kindle (link to US store) | Barnes & Noble Nook | Kobo

The Finnish bestseller by Mape Ollila has been revised and corrected for U.S. publication, with an introduction by legendary rock impresario and Finnish Idol judge Jone Nikula, and a complete list of international concert appearances from 1996-2006–the entire Tarja Turunen era.

ISBN 9780979616327
352pp includes 32 color pages of unseen photos
Exquisite 100gsm paper
eBook: Kindle | Nook | Kobo[hr]”Despite hailing from a country with fewer people than the state of Virginia, Nightwish is given the true rock star bio treatment. Ollila’s sense of band history and beyond-the-stage access elevate this book above a tourist’s guide to a foreign flavor.” — Library Journal

Hailing from the tiny hamlet of Kitee, Finland (pop. 10,000) Nightwish has captivated the world’s imagination with magical million-selling releases like Once, Century Child, and Wishmaster. Their saga is a heavy metal fable as dramatic and tumultuous as the band’s epic symphonic music. In these details and confessions, a vivid and painfully honest portrait of a musical dream emerges—and tensions swell as a split with original singer Tarja Turunen becomes inevitable.

In this remarkably revealing official biography, author Mape Ollila charts the rise from village student project to global stardom, gaining unprecedented access not just to the members of Nightwish past and present; but also their families, their loyal and lewd crew, their peers, their critics, and countless other insiders from the Nightwish adventure. The book lays bare the creative firepower and personal demons of songwriter Tuomas Holopainen; the unique talents and traits of guitarist Emppu Vuorinen, drummer Jukka Nevalainen, and bassist Marco Hietala; and the true reasons behind the 2005 departure of vocalist Tarja Turunen—in the band’s words and hers.

Along the way, the band struggles with religious protesters, fortune-tellers, naked crew members, health problems, shady promoters, out-of-control fans, and the growing pains of an ever-steeper rock star learning curve. Happily ever after or not, these unique Finnish personalities are brought to life in this journey into the mysteries of…Once Upon a Nightwish.