Marko "Marco" Tapani Hietala, born on January 14th, 1966, in Finland, made his mark in Finnish music with his inaugural band, Tarot, a collaborative project with his brother Zachary, where he played bass and took on vocal duties. Their breakout hit, "Wings of Darkness," released in 1986, catapulted them to fame. Since then, Hietala has been an integral part of various bands, including Sinergy, Impaled Nazarene, and Delain.
In 2002, he joined Nightwish, following the departure of former bassist Sami Vanska, and their joint album, "Century Child," marked a significant shift in the band's style, incorporating powerful male vocal parts. Tracks such as "Planet Hell," "Wish I Had an Angel," "Slaying the Dreamer," and their cover of "The Phantom of the Opera" showcase his exceptional vocal range, blending elements of hardcore and opera.
When Tarja Turunen was dismissed from Nightwish in October 2005, Hietala became the sole vocalist, a position he held until October 2006. During this period, the band began working on a new album and launched a search for a new vocalist.
