Nightwish, one of the world’s most prolific symphonic metal outfits, has posted a statement today on the group’s official website explaining that they will be parting ways with their vocalist of 5 years, Anette Olzon.
According to Blabbermouth, rifts began to form within the inner circles of the band after Olzon was unable to perform on stage due to illness. Rather than cancelling the gig scheduled for last Friday at the Ogden Theatre in Denver, Colorado, her bandmates replaced her with fill-in vocalists and Kamelot backup singers Elize Ryd and Alissa White-Gluz.
Olzon was not too pleased with the move, and took to her blog to raise her concerns:
I was never asked if it was OK they used Elize and Alissa in the show [Friday] night. I don’t think it’s a good decision they made and I’m sorry for those of you who came to see the whole band but got something else. But I was very ill and this decision wasn’t mine…This is just music. Like life, sometimes we get ill and shows do get canceled. Rihanna wouldn’t ask Britney Spears to sing for her if she was ill… To think a show is more important than the humans in the band is, for me, so totally not in this world.
Nightwish, who are set to perform in Australia early 2012, quickly responded through the band’s website, releasing the following official statement:
Another chapter of the Nightwish story has ended today. Nightwish and Anette Olzon have decided to part company, in mutual understanding, for the good of all parties involved.
In recent times it has become increasingly obvious that the direction and the needs of the band were in conflict, and this has led to a division from which we cannot recover.
Nightwish has no intention of cancelling any upcoming shows, and as a result we have decided to bring in a substitute vocalist starting in Seattle 1.10.2012. Her name is Floor Jansen from The Netherlands (ex-After Forever, ReVamp), and she has graciously stepped in to help us complete the Imaginaerum world tour.
We are all strongly committed to this journey, this vehicle of spirit, and we are sure that this will lead to a brighter future for everyone.
We forever remain excited about the adventures to come, and we are extremely proud of the two beautiful albums and the wonderful shows we shared together.
– NIGHTWISH & Anette Olzon
There has been no word of any future shows being cancelled, so Aussie fans should probably expect to see a different vocalist. Nightwish are making a bit of a habit out of ditching singers mid-tour, Olzen got the job herself after the band’s previous frontwoman, Tarja Turunen, got the flick.
