Anette as Phoenix

It is not our place to say who's right or wrong in the matter of Anette Olzon's departure from Nightwish, for our hearts beats as loudly for Tuomas Holopainen's epic and overwhelming songwriting and for Anette's tragic and powerful voice.
But one thing's for sure, that voice is the one the character of Phoenix requests, and it is now available for the Phantom Of The Paradise project.
One question remains though : will Anette's contribution be more of the symphonic metal Nightwish dragged her into or more of the pop rock she used to, and now is back to embrace ?

Hansi Kürsch as old and tortured Swan

Although the perfect match for the part of the forever young Swan still remains to be found, it is now a fact that one-of-a-kind metal menestrel Hansi Kürsch will play the inner voice of a torn apart, tortured and aging Swan, the one he could have become if he had not sold his soul to the devil, but still acted like some kind of a "Chainsaw Charlie in the new Morgue". Can you imagine the clash of the devils between the veterans Blackie/Winslow and Hansi/Swan ?

Pink finally gave up on Phoenix

Is it Pink's badass attitude which finally changed the masterminds' minds ? Was she too much of an alley cat to play the fragile yet ambitious character of Phoenix ?

Well, maybe.

But the n again, maybe she had her say in Joss Whedon's unexpected idea to write this new badass-female-version of Biff, called Rose Bud, and give the part to Pink !

Avantasia Of The Paradise

Who would have dared to dream that the words "Avantasia" and "Phantom of The Paradise" would eventually appear on the same album cover ?
But it is now a dream come true because Tobias Sammet finally and officially announced that the "New Phantom Project" would definitely be the next Avantasia rock epic. Joss Whedon was so over his head with the major motion picture Avengers 2 that he finally agreed to let his Phantom go his own way.
Although it is quite a deception to see the on-stage part of the project fade away, you have to admit that Tobias Sammet's hability to gather an unexpected wild bunch of metal gunslingers casts a new exciting spell on the whole thing.
Still based on the original Joss Whedon's "scenata" (story and lyrics), and still co-produced by legendary Mountain King Jon Oliva, the record will gather as many rock and metal legends as ever.
Stick around for the official name announcements !

Infamous Blackie Lawless completes the scene

After metal hero Tobias Sammet and pop fairy P!nk, it is now up to Blackie Lawless to turn the Joss Whedon & Jon Oliva's Phantom Of The Paradise into an even more fantastic event to come ! Lawless will be playing the part of an aging, infamous and burnt-out-from-glory version of Winslow Leach. It was Whedon's idea to create this ghostly and haunted figure of a successful non mutilated Winslow : "We don't want Winslow to just be this hateful and miserable victim of his devouring genius. It would be nothing but fascinating to imagine what would have become of him if his inner violence and rage had burst out on his path to glory and accomplishment."

No doubt that Blackie Lawless will give this tormented incarnation the perfect tone. 

 

 

P!nk as Phoenix

Rockstar P!nk officially announced she will be part of the long awaited on-stage recreation of Brian DePalma's Phantom Of The Paradise!
Although it was never intended to cast a famous name to play Phoenix, the "Glitter In The Air" track of the 2008 P!nk album Funhouse changed the new Phantom masterminds' hearts : "The Christine McVie spirit P!nk managed to give to this song with such power and grace left us breathless", said writer/producer Joss Whedon, "her dark and fragile humanity suddenly gave life to our character."

Phantom Of Avantasia

On the eve of the long awaited release of Angel Of Babylon/The Wicked Symphony, Avantasia's mastermind and last metal hero Tobias Sammet just announced he will be part of the Joss Whedon/Jon Oliva Phantom Of The Paradise project.
It is a fact that Tobias Sammet recently worked with Jon "Mountain King" Oliva, who sang lead vocals on one track of the yet-to-be-released new Avantasia album. Did they discuss the future of the Phantom together ? I guess that is something we can only assume for the time being.