Marcelo Cabuli, the husband of formerNIGHTWISHsingerTarja Turunen, and his business partners are demanding 50,000 euros (approximately $72,500) in defamation damages from the parties behind theNIGHTWISHbook"Once Upon a Nightwish: The Official Biography 1996-2006". Named in the lawsuit were the publishing houseLike Kustannus Oyand the author of the book,Marko "Mape" Ollila.
According to the Finnish newspaperIlta-Sanomat, the Helsinki District Court began processing the defamation case last Thursday in a preparatory session.
Cabulidropped some of his previous demands, such as that the author and publisher should receive harsher punishment because "Cabuliis a citizen of Argentina," according toIlta-Sanomat.
Cabuliand his three Brazilian business partners are demanding 15,000 euros compensation each. They claim that the information published about them in the book is completely false.
Like Kustannus OyCEOPäivi IsosaariandOlliladeny the charges and stand behind the 380-page book, which chroniclesNIGHTWISH's rise to the status of one of the most successful symphonic metal acts in the world, including the circumstances that led to the departure ofTurunen.IsosaariandOllilainsist that they had good reason to believe that the claims of the book were true and they intend to callOllila's sources, including several influential music-business figures, as their witnesses.
"Well, I did read the text and I authorized it to be published and therefore I stand behind the book,"IsosaaritoldIlta-Sanomatin a 2009 interview.
Turunenwas fired fromNIGHTWISHa year before the book was published.
In his 2006 review of the book,Jarkko JokelainenofHelsingin Sanomatwrote, "The book points the finger [for the split withTarja] most firmly in the direction ofMarcelo Cabuli, husband and personal manager of the band's former vocal soloistTarja Turunen. With every turning page, the charges against the ArgentineCabuliget heavier and heavier.
"The portrait ofMarcelo Cabulidepicts a money-grasping, less-than-honest, arbitrary, and manipulative manager who was engaged on setting up his wife's solo career and who drove a wedge between her and the other members of the power metal band.
"NIGHTWISH's contractual dealings and touring plans became a painful exercise, as there was 'a Hispanic in the works' at every turn.
"Against this background, it is somewhat awkward that the defendant himself does not get a hearing in the book, even though the other sources close to the band are given full rein to open their hearts and mouths. Not evenTarja Turunengets to comment on her husband's doings.
"It is probable that the decision is the couple's own, but this does not disguise the fact that it is the book's greatest drawback. The authorMarko 'Mape' Ollilahas sought to be even-handed in his coverage, but in part for the reasons above, this band-history inevitably becomes a speech on behalf of the male members of the group and other figures in the background.
"NIGHTWISHwould seem on the basis of this work to have been so divided into two distinct camps that both sides of the story cannot be fitted between the covers of one book."
Read the entire review atthis location.
Bazillion Points Booksis offering a free download of "Chapter 5. The Upward Spiral", excerpted from the North American edition of"Once Upon a Nightwish: The Official Biography 1996-2006", byMape Ollila.
Joining the book in progress at the start of 2000 during the aftermath of"Oceanborn", this chapter gives inside perspective on events includingNIGHTWISH's early gigs withRAGEand future bassistMarco Hietala's early bandSINERGY; singerTarja Turunen's bloody battles with mosquitoes in the wilds of Finland; the band and chief songwriterTuomas Holopainen's rarely discussed and ill-fated flirtation with theEurovisionsong contest; and the creation of what would ultimately be the breakthrough"Wishmaster"CD.
The sample chapter can be downloaded fromBazillion Points Booksatthis location.
Source: www.Blabbermouth.Net
