Sami Vänskä
Encyclopedia
Sami Vänskä is the former bassist
of Finnish symphonic power metal band Nightwish
.
, with Tuomas Holopainen
. He made 2 albums, A Bard's Tale (1995), Chaos Without Theory (1997) and a demo, Dar Svanar Flyger (1995), with them.
for their second studio album, Oceanborn
. He played on the following tour, on Wishmaster
and on the tour afterwards. He also played bass on Over the Hills and Far Away
right before Tuomas Holopainen
, band leader, song writer and keyboardist
, asked the band's manager, Ewo Rytkönen, to tell Vänskä to leave Nightwish, when he felt that the musical differences between the two men were posing a threat to the band. He was soon replaced by session member Marco Hietala
, former bassist of Sinergy
, who also sings male vocals. Marco Hietala
became a fulltime member sometime during the recording of Century Child
.
Corvette (see Nightwish Sacrament of Wilderness music video) and a white Spector
bass guitar (see From Wishes to Eternity
show) - both four string. He has been seen with 4-string Warwick Fortress Masterman (single humbucker version) before he changed it to Corvette, and, considering the bass sound of the Oceanborn
CD, it's most probably recorded on the Fortress bass. In contrast to Nightwish's current bass player, Marco Hietala
, Sami has never used any overdrive or distortion, at least on recordings or recorded live shows available. Furthermore, he's a finger-style bass player (3 fingers technique) and has never been seen in Nightwish using a plectrum
.
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
of Finnish symphonic power metal band Nightwish
Nightwish
Nightwish is a Finnish symphonic metal band from Kitee, Finland. Formed in 1996 by songwriter and keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen, guitarist Emppu Vuorinen, and former vocalist Tarja Turunen, Nightwish's current line-up has five members, although Tarja has been replaced by Anette Olzon and the...
.
Background story
He started playing bass as a private study. He has played in a few bands which have been mostly from the metal genre.Nattvindens Gråt
He started his career in the band Nattvindens GråtNattvindens Gråt
Nattvindens Gråt was a Finnish band, mainly known for several of their members who have become famous in other bands, Tuomas Holopainen, Tapio Wilska and Sami Vänskä...
, with Tuomas Holopainen
Tuomas Holopainen
Tuomas Lauri Johannes Holopainen is a Finnish composer known best for symphonic metal music. He has also studied jazz and classical styles, but prefers to be influenced by harmonic film music....
. He made 2 albums, A Bard's Tale (1995), Chaos Without Theory (1997) and a demo, Dar Svanar Flyger (1995), with them.
Nightwish
He joined NightwishNightwish
Nightwish is a Finnish symphonic metal band from Kitee, Finland. Formed in 1996 by songwriter and keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen, guitarist Emppu Vuorinen, and former vocalist Tarja Turunen, Nightwish's current line-up has five members, although Tarja has been replaced by Anette Olzon and the...
for their second studio album, Oceanborn
Oceanborn
-Personnel:Credits for Oceanborn adapted from liner notes.The band*Tarja Turunen - Vocals*Tuomas Holopainen - Keyboards*Emppu Vuorinen - Lead guitar*Sami Vänskä - Bass guitar*Jukka Nevalainen - Drums and PercussionMain Crew...
. He played on the following tour, on Wishmaster
Wishmaster (album)
Wishmaster is the third album of Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish, released on May 19, 2000 by Spinefarm Records.Wishmaster's sound continues the bombastic symphonic power metal approach originally featured on Oceanborn, albeit with more emphasis on atmosphere and melody versus powerful speed...
and on the tour afterwards. He also played bass on Over the Hills and Far Away
Over the Hills and Far Away (album)
Over the Hills and Far Away is the first EP by Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish, released in 2001 by both Spinefarm Records and Drakkar Records...
right before Tuomas Holopainen
Tuomas Holopainen
Tuomas Lauri Johannes Holopainen is a Finnish composer known best for symphonic metal music. He has also studied jazz and classical styles, but prefers to be influenced by harmonic film music....
, band leader, song writer and keyboardist
Keyboardist
A keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. Until the early 1960s musicians who played keyboards were generally classified as either pianists or organists. Since the mid-1960s, a plethora of new musical instruments with keyboards have come into common usage, requiring a more...
, asked the band's manager, Ewo Rytkönen, to tell Vänskä to leave Nightwish, when he felt that the musical differences between the two men were posing a threat to the band. He was soon replaced by session member Marco Hietala
Marco Hietala
Marko Tapani "Marco" Hietala is a heavy metal vocalist and bassist. Internationally, he is most known as the current bassist, male vocalist and composer, of the symphonic metal band Nightwish...
, former bassist of Sinergy
Sinergy
Sinergy was a Finnish power metal band started in 1998 by American musician, Kimberly Goss. Aside from Sinergy, the most notable bands Goss has been involved with are Dimmu Borgir; as keyboardist, and Children of Bodom; where she filled in live for Janne Wirman and also contributed lyrics...
, who also sings male vocals. Marco Hietala
Marco Hietala
Marko Tapani "Marco" Hietala is a heavy metal vocalist and bassist. Internationally, he is most known as the current bassist, male vocalist and composer, of the symphonic metal band Nightwish...
became a fulltime member sometime during the recording of Century Child
Century Child
Century Child is the fourth studio album of Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish, released in 2002 by Spinefarm Records. It is the first album with current bassist and male vocalist Marco Hietala....
.
Root Remedy
Vänskä has played in the blues band Root Remedy after leaving Nightwish. He recorded three albums with them, Medication Time With, Root Remedy and The Crawler. He quit the band in 2008 and has not started a new project since.Gear
During his time in Nightwish Sami used a natural finish WarwickWarwick (bass guitar)
-Overview:Warwick basses were originally a premium brand offering a small range of models built from high quality and exotic tonewoods with 'Neck-through' design...
Corvette (see Nightwish Sacrament of Wilderness music video) and a white Spector
Spector
Spector is an American based company that manufacturers bass guitars. Founded in 1974 by self-taught luthier Stuart Spector, Spector's first few instruments were essentially crude experiments in instrument design and craftsmanship...
bass guitar (see From Wishes to Eternity
From Wishes to Eternity
From Wishes to Eternity - Live is a live DVD/VHS/CD by Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish. It was recorded in Tampere, Finland on 29 December 2000. The CD was released as a limited edition of 10.000 copies, available only in Finland. In the late 2005, Spinefarm managed to release it in Europe...
show) - both four string. He has been seen with 4-string Warwick Fortress Masterman (single humbucker version) before he changed it to Corvette, and, considering the bass sound of the Oceanborn
Oceanborn
-Personnel:Credits for Oceanborn adapted from liner notes.The band*Tarja Turunen - Vocals*Tuomas Holopainen - Keyboards*Emppu Vuorinen - Lead guitar*Sami Vänskä - Bass guitar*Jukka Nevalainen - Drums and PercussionMain Crew...
CD, it's most probably recorded on the Fortress bass. In contrast to Nightwish's current bass player, Marco Hietala
Marco Hietala
Marko Tapani "Marco" Hietala is a heavy metal vocalist and bassist. Internationally, he is most known as the current bassist, male vocalist and composer, of the symphonic metal band Nightwish...
, Sami has never used any overdrive or distortion, at least on recordings or recorded live shows available. Furthermore, he's a finger-style bass player (3 fingers technique) and has never been seen in Nightwish using a plectrum
Plectrum
A plectrum is a small flat tool used to pluck or strum a stringed instrument. For hand-held instruments such as guitars and mandolins, the plectrum is often called a pick, and is a separate tool held in the player's hand...
.