Ex-NIGHTWISH Singer Covers ALICE COOPER On Upcoming CD

Former NIGHTWISH singer Tarja Turunen has recorded a cover version of the ALICE COOPER smash "Poison". The song, which will appear on Turunen's upcoming solo album, "My Winter Storm", was laid down at the same studio where the original track was recorded — The Village Recorder (a.k.a. The Village) in Los Angeles, California.

Tarja previously stated about her decision to cover the track, "The original song has lots of backing vocals. I can say without a doubt that the song is a 'classic.' I decided to cover it after listening to it hundreds of times in the Finnish radio. I never performed the song before 'My Winter Storm' sessions. It is not a ballad…"

The original version of "Poison" (view video below) appeared on ALICE COOPER's 1989 album "Trash". Produced by the proven hitmaker Desmond Child, "Trash" featured guest appearances by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, and most of AEROSMITH. The record became a Top Ten hit in Britain and peaked at No. 20 in the U.S., going platinum. "Poison" became Cooper's first Top Ten hit since 1977.

Other songtitles set to appear on "My Winter Storm" include "I Walk Alone", "Oasis", "Lost Northern Star", "The Seer", "Damned And Divine", "Sing For Me", "Calling Grace", "The Reign" and "Ciarán’s Well".

Tarja Turunen's video for the song "I Walk Alone", can be viewed below. The clip was shot in Berlin, Germany with director Jörn Heitmann, who previously worked with NIGHTWISH on the "Sleeping Sun" clip in 2005. The "I Walk Alone" single will be released mid-October Universal Music, to be followed by the full-length CD, "My Winter Storm", on November 9.

"My Winter Storm" is being produced by Daniel Presley (FAITH NO MORE, JEWEL, THE BREEDERS),who has been joined in the studio by a truly stellar line-up of musicians: Doug Wimbish on bass (LIVING COLOUR, ANNIE LENNOX, JOE SATRIANI, JEFF BECK, MADONNA, ROLLING STONES),Alex Scholpp on electric guitars (FARMER BOYS) and Earl Harvin on drums (SEAL, PET SHOP BOYS, AIR),a player personally selected by Tarja after she saw him stealing the show at a SEAL concert. Keyboards and programming, meanwhile, are being provided by Torsten Stenzel, whose previous credits include NELLY FURTADO, MOBY, TINA TURNER, VANESSA MAE and more.

Tarja Turunen has scheduled the following shows in November/December:

Nov. 25 - D - Berlin Columbia Club
Nov. 29 - HU - Budapest Petöfi Hall
Dec. 10 - D - Köln Live Music Hall
Dec. 13 - NL - Amsterdam Melkweg
Dec. 18 - CH - Zürich X-Tra

Turunen has revealed the lineup of the backing band that will accompany her for the above-listed "warm-up concerts." It will be as follows:

Bass: Doug Wimbish
Guitars: Alex Scholpp
Drums: Mike Terrana
Keys: Maria Ilmoniemi
Cello: Max Silja and Markus Hohti
Lead and back vocals, guitars, additional electronic drums and keyboards: Toni Turunen
Lead vocals: Tarja Turunen

Released in 2004, the highly-acclaimed "Once" was Tarja's last studio outing with NIGHTWISH — an album that rose to the top of the charts around the world, from Mexico through to the European Billboard lists; the record picked up platinum awards in Germany and Finland, and turned gold right across Scandinavia, as well as in Brazil, Austria, Switzerland, Greece and Hungary.

Watch ALICE COOPER's "Poison" video: