7 Heavy Metal Songs About Vicious Personal Feuds

By the release of their fifth album Once in 2004, Nightwish’s acclaim had spread well beyond their native Finland, though mounting success apparently resulted in a change in band dynamics that keyboardist and band leader Tuomas Holopainen found unbecoming.

Frustration stemmed from the change of attitude Holopainen and his bandmates perceived in then-singer Tarja Turunen, whose interests had allegedly turned more commercial and sentiments toward the band more dismissive by the end of her stint.

Following a performance in Finland on October 21,2005, the last date of the Once tour, Tuomas gave Turunen a letter that he later posted online as an open letter and announcement that they would be parting ways.

After replacing her with Annette Olzon, Nightwish released Dark Passion Play with the song Bye Bye Beautiful intended to be the nail in the coffin. After lamenting the state of the band by the time of Turunen’s dismissal (“They used to love having so much to lose. Blink your eyes just once and see everything in ruins.”), Holopainen questions Turunen’s motives (“Did we get this far just to feel your hate? Did we play only to become pawns in the game?”) before declaring “you chose the long road but we’ll be waiting.”

Both parties have since expressed respect and admiration for each other’s accomplishments, though any significant exchange has not been reported.