Open letter to Tarja
22.10.2005
Dear Tarja,
It's time to choose whether the story of Nightwish ends here or
whether it will still continue an undetermined period of time.
We've been working with this creation for 9 years and we are not
ready to give up yet. Nightwish is a way of life, something to live
for, and we're certain we can't let it go.
Equally certain is the fact that we cannot go on with you and
Marcelo any longer. During the last year something sad happened,
which I've been going over in my head every single day, morning and
night. Your attitude and behavior don't go with Nightwish anymore.
There are characteristics I would never have believed to see in my
old dear friend.
People who don't talk with each other for a year do not belong in
the same band.
We are involved in an industry where the business-side of things is
a necessary evil and something to worry about all the time. We are
also a band which has always done music from the heart, because of
friendship and the music itself. The mental satisfaction should
always be more important than money! Nightwish is a band, it's an
emotion.
To you, unfortunately, business, money, and things that have
nothing to do with those emotions have become much more important.
You feel that you have sacrificed yourself and your musical career
for Nightwish, rather than thinking what it has given to you.
This attitude was clearly shown to me in the two things you said to
me in an airplane in Toronto: "I don't need Nightwish anymore." and
"Remember, Tuomas, that I could leave this band at any time, giving
you only one day's warning in advance".
I can't simply write any more songs for you to sing.
You have said yourself that you are merely a "guest musician" in
Nightwish. Now that visit ends and we will continue Nightwish with
a new female vocalist.
We're sure this is an equally big relief to you as it is for us. We
have all been feeling bad long enough.
You told us that no matter what, the next Nightwish album will be
your last one. However, the rest of us want to continue as long as
the fire burns. So there's no sense in doing that next album with
you, either.
The four of us have been going over this situation countless times
and we have realized that this is the thing we want to do in life.
It´s all we can do. In December 2004, in Germany, you said that you
will never tour again for more than two weeks at a time. You also
said that we can forget about U.S. and Australia because the fees
and the sizes of venues are too small.
In interviews I've mentioned that if Tarja leaves, that would be
the end of the band. I understand that people will think this way.
Nightwish is, however, a scenery of my soul and I'm not ready to
let go because of one person. A person who wants to focus her
creativity to somewhere else, a person whose values don't match
mine.
We were never bothered by the fact that you didn't participate in
writing/arranging songs, you never in 9 years came to rehearse the
songs with us before going to the studio. Not the fact that while
on tour you always wanted to fly, separately from us with your
husband. Not the fact that you are an undisputable front image of
the band.
We accepted and felt ok about everything except greed,
underestimating the fans, and breaking promises. It was agreed by
the five of us that Nightwish would be the priority in everything
that we do during 2004-2005. Still so many things were more
important to you. The ultimate example being the already sold-out
show in Oslo, which you wanted to cancel because you needed to
rehearse for your solo concerts, meet frieds and go to the movies.
Those were the words Marcelo used in an e-mail explaining the
cancellation. This being just one example of so many. I couldn't
think of a worse way of being selfish and dismissing our
fans.
Nightwish is a way of life and a job with many obligations. To each
other and to the fans. With you we can't take care of those duties
anymore.
Deep within we don't know which one of you drove us to this point.
Somehow Marcelo has changed you from the lovely girl you were into
a diva, who doesn't think or act the way she used to. You are too
sure of your irreplaceableness and status.
It's obvious that you blame your stress and misery on us four. And
you think we don't respect or listen to you. Believe us; We have
always had the uppermost respect towards you as a wonderful
vocalist and as a friend. And very often during the past couple of
years the plans were made according to your decisions only. You
were always the only one who wanted more money from the
shows.
This "compensation and more money from everything" -attitude is the
fact that we are most disappointed of!
We wish that from now on you will listen to your heart instead of
Marcelo. Cultural differences combined with greed, opportunism and
love is a dangerous combination. Do not wither yourself.
This decision is not something we are especially proud of but you
gave us no choice. The gap between us is too wide. And the decision
is made by us four unanimously. We are beyond the point where
things could be settled by talking.
All the best for your life and career,
Tuomas
Emppu Jukka Marco
Ps. This is an open letter for everybody.
source http://www.nightwish.com/en/article/6
