NIGHTWISH: 'Dark Passsion Play' Certified Quadruple-Platinum In Finland

NIGHTWISH's latest album, "Dark Passsion Play", has been certified quadruple-platium in Finland for sales in excess of 120,000 copies. The has also been certified platinum in Switzerland, and gold in Germany, Sweden, Austria and Poland.

NIGHTWISH was honored with an Echo award in the "Rock/Alternative (International)" category last Friday night (February 15) in Berlin, Germany. The other nominees in that category were FOO FIGHTERS, KAISER CHIEFS, MARILYN MANSON and WITHIN TEMPTATION.

NIGHTWISH performed the song "Amaranth" at the Echo Awards, which was broadcast in Germany on the RTL network. Footage of the playback performance can be viewed below.

As previously reported, NIGHTWISH will play a Tuska festival warm-up show on June 26 at the Kaisaniemi Park in Helsinki, Finland, the day before the official start of the festival. They will play the main stage along with AMORPHIS and EPICA. Tickets go on sale on March 3. It should be noted, however, that the NIGHTWISH concert is not part of Tuska festival and will require separate tickets to attend.

NIGHTWISH has been nominated in the following categories at the Emma Gaala (Finnish Grammy equivalent):

* Band Of The Year
* Best Metal Album ("Dark Passion Play")
* Best Album" ("Dark Passion Play")
* Song Of The Year ("Amaranth")
* Best Finnish Artist

Emma Gaala will be held on Saturday March 8, 2008 at Kulttuuritalo in Helsinki.

NIGHTWISH will perform at the House of Blues in New Orleans, Louisiana on September 20 as part of the third U.S. leg of the band's tour in support of the "Dark Passion Play" album. The trek, which will also include a September 24 date at the Tremont Music Hall in Charlotte, North Carolina, is tentatively scheduled to begin at the end of August and run through the end of September. Final details, including special guest support and on-sale dates, will be officially announced in early April. Discussions have also started to bring the band back to North America in early 2009 for additional touring. Those plans should be finalized by the summer.

In other news, NIGHTWISH has officially sold out of all VIP tickets for its spring 2008 tour.