Marko Hietala facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Marko Hietala
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Hietala in 2024
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Marko Tapani Hietala |
| Born | 14 January 1966 Kuopio, Finland |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter, producer |
| Instruments | Vocals, bass, guitar |
| Years active | 1984–present |
Marko Tapani Hietala (born January 14, 1966) is a famous Finnish musician. He is known for his powerful singing voice and for playing the bass guitar. Many people know him as the former bassist and male singer for the symphonic metal band Nightwish. He also helped write some of their songs.
Marko is also the lead singer and bassist for the heavy metal band Tarot. He writes songs and lyrics for them too. He is part of a music group called Northern Kings. In 2013, he was a main character in Ayreon's album The Theory of Everything.
Contents
About Marko Hietala
Marko Hietala was born in Kuopio, Finland. He is the youngest child in his family. Marko lived in Tervo until he was 15 years old. Then, he moved to Kuopio to study music. He learned classical guitar, singing, and music theory in high school.
In 1984, Marko and his brother Zachary started a heavy metal band. They first called it Purgatory, but later changed the name to Tarot. In 1986, Tarot released their first album and went on tour. Before becoming a full-time musician, Marko worked with sound for live shows and in recording studios.
In 1998, while touring with Tarot, Marko met the band Nightwish. Nightwish was opening for Tarot at one of their shows. Marko watched them perform and thought their music was good. He noticed their strong energy and dramatic style. He later said he was wrong to think they would not last long.
Joining Nightwish (2001–2020)
Marko joined Nightwish in 2001. The band's leader, Tuomas Holopainen, and their manager asked him to join. They needed a new singer and bass player. Century Child was the first Nightwish album Marko played on. He joined after their previous bassist, Sami Vänskä, left the band.
When Marko joined Nightwish, new songs were written for him to sing with the band's main singer, Tarja Turunen. This allowed Nightwish to add a new sound to their music. A well-known example is their cover of "The Phantom of the Opera."
During Nightwish concerts, Tarja Turunen would take a break. Before Marko joined, the band would play an instrumental song. After he joined, they started playing cover songs during this break. Marko would sing the lead vocals. They covered songs by bands like Ozzy Osbourne and Pink Floyd.
After Tarja Turunen left Nightwish, Marko became more involved in making their album Dark Passion Play (2007). He sang lead on some songs. He also wrote the music for "The Islander" and played acoustic guitar on it. Marko also helped write "The Crow, the Owl and the Dove" for the 2011 album, Imaginaerum.
Marko also played bass and sang on songs for the band Delain. He was a guest vocalist on their albums Lucidity, April Rain, and The Human Contradiction.
In March 2009, Marko joined the band Sapattivuosi. This band plays Black Sabbath songs in Finnish. In Sapattivuosi, Marko only sings and does not play bass.
In 2010, Marko took part in Kuorosota, which is the Finnish version of Clash of the Choirs. He led the choir from Kuopio and came in second place.
In 2013, Marko was the first singer confirmed to be a guest on Ayreon's album The Theory of Everything. He also performed live with Ayreon in 2017.
Marko released his first solo album, Mustan sydämen rovio, in May 2019. He used his birthname, Marko Hietala, for this project. He described his solo music as "hard prog." An English version of the album, Pyre of the Black Heart, came out in January 2020. He toured with his solo band in Finland and Europe.
In 2020, Marko won the Finnish version of the TV show Masked Singer.
Leaving Nightwish and Solo Career (2021–Present)
In December 2020, Marko told Nightwish that he was leaving the band. He wanted to focus on his well-being and other projects. On January 12, 2021, Marko announced his departure publicly.
After leaving Nightwish, Marko continued to work on music. In June 2022, his band Northern Kings performed again after a 12-year break. This was Marko's first public performance in 17 months. He later said he had not been in contact with Nightwish members since leaving.
On July 8, 2023, Marko performed with his solo band in Switzerland. Later that evening, he joined his former Nightwish bandmate Tarja Turunen on stage. They sang "The Phantom of the Opera" together. This was the first time they had sung the song together since Tarja left Nightwish in 2005. They also performed the song in Finland. Marko and Tarja toured together in 2024. They also released a song together called "Left on Mars" in March 2024. Marko has said he might start a new band with Tarja.
Marko released a new song, "Frankenstein's Wife," on September 4, 2024. His second solo album, Roses from the Deep, was released on February 7, 2025.
In 2024, Marko participated in Season 15 of the Finnish TV show "Vain elämää".
Musical Influences
Marko Hietala has shared who inspired him in music. He said that Geezer Butler and Bob Daisley are his biggest influences as a bass player. For singing, he looks up to Ronnie James Dio and Rob Halford.
Marko listens to many different kinds of music. He enjoys everything from very soft songs to very heavy ones. He believes that listening to different styles helps him when he writes his own music. He once said that he is mainly a metalhead, but he respects all kinds of music. He feels that drawing ideas from other styles keeps his music fresh and interesting.
Personal Life
Marko Hietala has two sons, Antto and Miro, born in 2001, with his ex-wife Manki. They used to live in Kuopio, Finland. When Marko is not touring, he likes to read books, play video games, and watch movies. He especially enjoys fantasy, horror, and science fiction stories. In August 2018, Marko married Camila (Cavalcanti) Hietala. They have a daughter and live in Spain.
Marko was born Marko, but he often used the spelling "Marco" earlier in his career. He said he used "Marco" when he was younger to sound "cool." Now, he doesn't mind which spelling is used. However, starting with his solo album Mustan Sydämen Rovio, he decided to use his birthname, Marko, for all his future projects. He called the "Marco" spelling "the last lie I had constructed about myself."
Discography
Solo Albums
- Mustan sydämen rovio – 2019 (released in English in 2020 as Pyre of the Black Heart)
- Roses from the Deep – 2025
Tarot
- Spell of Iron – 1986
- Follow Me into Madness – 1988
- To Live Forever – 1993
- Stigmata – 1995
- For the Glory of Nothing – 1998
- Suffer Our Pleasures – 2003
- Crows Fly Black – 2006
- Gravity of Light – 2010
- The Spell of Iron MMXI – 2011
Nightwish
- Century Child – 2002
- Once – 2004
- Dark Passion Play – 2007
- Imaginaerum – 2011
- Endless Forms Most Beautiful – 2015
- Human. :II: Nature. – 2020
Northern Kings
- Reborn – 2007
- Rethroned – 2008
Sapattivuosi
- Ihmisen merkki – 2009
Sinergy
- To Hell and Back – 2000
- ... by My Side – 2002
Images for kids
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Marko Hietala in 2024
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Marko Hietala was Nightwish's bassist from 2002 to 2021.
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Marko Hietala in 2019
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Marko Hietala performing in Tavastia with his band in 2019.
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Marko Hietala in 2013
See also
In Spanish: Marko Hietala para niños
