Tuomas Holopainen was born in Kitee, Finland and is the youngest in his family. His musicality and skill in text expression showed early in school, especially when he took piano lessons at age seven and studied jazz and classical music styles for over 10 years at a music college. Holopainen joined his first bands in 1993. He played in several bands, including recording keyboards for three albums with black metal band Darkwoods My Betrothed and playing with Dismal Silence, Nattvindens Gråt and Sethian. In July 1996, Holopainen began thinking of starting a band of his own, for which he would write the music and play keyboards. This was the birth of Nightwish, around a camp fire. He asked Emppu Vuorinen to join what was then an acoustic project. After hearing Turunen's strong voice, and because of the metal influences of Vuorinen and drummer Jukka Nevalainen, Tuomas decided to turn Nightwish into a metal act. He and Nightwish didn't break through until they released their second album, Oceanborn. During the Century Child era, Holopainen decided to make music changes and added orchestral music to his work, from Century Child, Once and Dark Passion Play. Once became the ultimate breakthrough in the USA. In 2005, the lead singer, Tarja Turunen was fired after the last concert at the Hartwell Arena in Finland by a letter written by Tuomas and signed by the band. In 2006, Holopainen went through a dark period filled with anxiety and depression, made worse by rumors about himself and Nightwish in the tabloids every day. These events also inspired him in the writing of Dark Passion Play, Nightwish's latest album, which may be considered their darkest album yet. In 2007, the new vocalist, Anette Olzon was announced. In the late August in 2007, Dark Passion Play was released, which makes Nightwish's most successful album yet.
His favorite author are J.R.R.Tolkien and Stephen King.
His favorite book is "The Lord Of The Rings" by J.R.R.Tolkien.
His favorite director is James Cameron.
He also play in bands For My Pain and Timo Rautiainen.
Claimed that Disney inspired him when he was just 2 years old.
During the winter of 2005/2006 he says he watched the film The Village 10 times a week, often 2 or 3 times a day. He referred to this film as "Escapism at its best". Holopainen often describes himself being an escapist, and has written a song about it with the same name.
Holopainen has been noted as a source of inspiration for other bands, especially within symphonic, gothic and power metal. Simone Simons, lead singer of Epica, stated that she began singing due to Nightwish.
Has said that his biggest inspirations are Greek composer Vangelis and German composer Hans Zimmer.
Studied jazz and classical styles, but he didnt appreciate these styles preferring to be influenced by harmonic film music.
Studied clarinet, tenor saxophone, piano and music theory for eleven years at a music college.
His mother signed him up for piano class in school when he was seven years old.
Says that Donald Duck is his favorite Disney character.
Has stated that he was not a fan of heavy music at all until he attended a Metallica and Guns N Roses concert in Kansas City whilst on a foreign exchange trip.
Claims he gets his musical inspirations from film music and fantasy novels.
Most of his songs are about his feelings about situations in which he has been.
Favorite movies are the Village, The Shawshank Redemption, Dances with Wolves, Dead Poets Society and Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Enjoys NHL hockey.
Got his graduation diploma at age 15.
One of his favorite albums is The Black Album by Metallica.
His favorite Nightwish song is The Poet and the Pendulum.
Has been in a relationship with a popular Finnish pop singer Johanna Kurkela since 2009.
(July 2010) Making demos for Nightwishs upcoming new album.
Is engaged to Finnish pop singer Johanna Kurkela, after being in a relationship for 5 years [2014].
Enjoys pinball.
Married Finnish pop singer Johanna Kurkela on October 28th, 2015.
Worked on the side as a substitute teacher during the early days of Nightwish.
A newly discovered species of insect has been named after him. Conservation biologist Jukka Salmela of Metshallitus Parks & Wildlife in Finland recently discovered a new insect species in his home country. While remembering Tuomas Holopainens love for nature, he decided to name it "Sciophila Holopaineni".
Is a vegetarian.
