Nightwish have had 11 official members since forming in Kitee, Finland, in 1996. The current line-up is Tuomas Holopainen, Emppu Vuorinen, Troy Donockley, Floor Jansen, Kai Hahto and Jukka Koskinen. Holopainen and Vuorinen are the only members from the first year.
The band has had three lead singers: Tarja Turunen, Anette Olzon and Floor Jansen. Each one marks a different era of the band.
Tuomas Holopainen – Keyboards (1996–present)
Tuomas Holopainen founded Nightwish and has played keyboards on every release. He also sang male vocals from 1996 to 1998.
Emppu Vuorinen – Guitars (1996–present)
Emppu Vuorinen has played guitars since 1996. He also covered bass from 1997 to 1998, before the band had a permanent bassist.
Troy Donockley – Uilleann Pipes, Whistles and Guitars (2013–present)
Troy Donockley plays uilleann pipes, tin whistle, low whistle, guitars, bouzouki and bodhrán, and sings male vocals. He was a session and touring musician from 2007 and became a full member in 2013.
Floor Jansen – Lead Vocals (2013–present)
Floor Jansen joined as touring vocalist in 2012 and became the official lead singer in 2013. She has sung on every release since Endless Forms Most Beautiful.
Kai Hahto – Drums (2019–present)
Kai Hahto was a session and touring drummer from 2014 while Jukka Nevalainen was on hiatus. He became a full member in 2019.
Jukka Koskinen – Bass (2022–present)
Jukka Koskinen toured on bass from 2021 and joined officially in 2022. Yesterwynde (2024) is his first album with the band.
Former Members
- Tarja Turunen: lead vocals (1996–2005). She sang on all releases up to Once (2004).
- Jukka Nevalainen: drums (1997–2019), on hiatus from August 2014 to July 2019. He played on all releases from Angels Fall First (1997) to Imaginaerum (2011).
- Sami Vänskä: bass (1998–2001), from Oceanborn (1998).
- Marko Hietala: bass, guitars and vocals (2002–2021), from Century Child (2002).
- Anette Olzon: lead vocals (2007–2012), on the releases from Dark Passion Play (2007) to Imaginaerum (2011).
Guest and Touring Performers
Several musicians have performed with Nightwish without joining. Samppa Hirvonen (bass) and Marianna Pellinen (backing vocals, keyboards) played on the debut tour in 1997–1998. Tapio Wilska sang male vocals in 2000–2001 and 2018. Pekka Kuusisto played violin in 2009 and 2012, and Alissa White-Gluz sang in 2012 while Anette Olzon was in hospital.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who are Nightwish’s lead singers in order? Tarja Turunen (1996–2005), Anette Olzon (2007–2012) and Floor Jansen (2013–present).
- Who founded Nightwish? Tuomas Holopainen, in 1996. Emppu Vuorinen was there from the first year.
- Who replaced Marko Hietala? Jukka Koskinen, who toured from 2021 and joined in 2022.
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