In 2005, Nightwish seemed unstoppable. A year after the symphonic metal sensations had released their defining 2004 album, Once, they’d exploded across Europe, supported Iron Maiden and headed off on their biggest tour to date, playing to thousands of fans every night.
On October 21 that year, the band rolled into Helsinki for what should have been a triumphant homecoming. For the 12,000 fans gathered at Helsinki’s sold-out Hartwall Arena, it was a flawless showcase from a band fast becoming one of the biggest names in metal – but, behind the scenes, it was a different story. Unknown to fans, tensions had been rising for months and were about to boil over in the most dramatic of fashions.
