Name:
Marco Tapani Hietala
Birthday:
14.01.1966
Place of residence:
Kerava, Finland
Hobbies:
Sci-fi, fantasy & horror books and movies, Videogaming
Vices:
Still lazy
Musical background:
Active musical family background. I´ve been exposed to jazz, rock and classical ever since I was born. I´ve been playing guitar and bass since the age of 12. 3 years of classical guitar, vocal and musical theory studies in musical college. 2 more years of bass and musical theory lessons in Oulunkylä Pop and Jazz Conservatory.
Equipment:
Warwick infinity basses and Warwick amps
Idols in music:
These people are/have been good at what they do. Bass: Geezer Butler, Bob Daisley. Vocals: Ronnie James Dio, Rob Halford, Kate Bush.
Idols in life:
Neil Armstrong. (The first man to walk on the moon, or an obscure patch of desert in states, as some people claim).
Life philosophy:
Live and let live.
Place you would like to go:
Space.
What makes you laugh:
Tickling.
First record you bought:
Me and my brother pestered our father into buying the Rainbow album "Long live rock´n´roll". The first that I bought with my own money was probably Iron Maiden "Killers" or Black Sabbath "Mob rules". Can´t remember which.
All time top 5 albums:
Rainbow: Long Live Rock´n´Roll, Black Sabbath: Heaven and Hell, Judas Priest: Painkiller, Thin Lizzy: Live ´n´Dangerous, Deep purple: Burn. And then there´s a hell of a load of other albums that I like as much as these.
Personal highlight with Nightwish:
The album "Once" and the success that kept on growing and surpassing all our expectations.
Best Nightwish show so far:
There´s been way too many great shows for me to pick just one. Greatest recently in 2005 were probably Wacken Germany, Hammersmith England, Hartwall arena Helsinki Finland just to mention a few.
Killing time on tour:
Books, movies, videogames, occasional drink?
Preparation for a show:
Oh yeah! The occasional drink.
Strangest experience on tour:
Hey, it´s all strange!
Worst nightmare on stage:
Losing the voice.
Worst nightmare in general:
Something bad would happen to my family when I´m away, and couldn´t do anything.
Favorite Nightwish song:
The Siren.
Favorite band/musician:
I don´t have an actual favourite anymore, but Black Sabbath and the way Tony Iommi wrote his riffs have definetely influenced the way I see music and play myself.
Favorite book:
Yep, The lord of the rings. Is this a cliche or what?
Favorite drink:
Lager beer
Favorite food:
Finnish sausage called "lenkki"
Favorite movie:
Still the original Star Wars Trilogy.
Favorite TV show:
I think that the TV is just a natural extension of a DVD-player or a game console. Otherwise it´s basically a waste of time. I´ll still go for the Babylon 5. There might be something better these days, but this one made an impact on me.
Dumbest question you have ever been asked:
Would you give me your own and your bandmates birthdates, adresses and phonenumbers?
