LIV KRISTINE – When Velvet Darkness Falls

By Carl Begai

Leaves’ Eyes vocalist Liv Kristine Espenæs Krull and I recently sat down to discuss her new solo album, Skintight. Towards the end of the interview (found here) I asked her for her thoughts on her former band Theatre Of Tragedy’s decision to call it quits after 17 years. Liv was an integral part of the band, and it’s fair to say they were one of the building blocks in my metal education. It’s sad to see them go, and I’m not the only one that thinks so.

“I received an invitation from the guys in Theatre Of Tragedy asking me if I wanted to make a guest appearance in Stavanger at their final gig on October 2nd,” Liv reveals. “I’ll be in the States on tour so there’s no way I can do it, which is a pity. My mother is going, though, and I’m still in touch with Raymond (Rohonyi / vocals) and Lorentz (Aspen / keyboards). We’ve talked about what happened between us and, well, it is what it is. You can’t change the past.”

“Without Theatre Of Tragedy I wouldn’t be where I am today. I learned a lot during those years. I founded the band with Raymond when I was 18 and we went on tour when I was 19. It was crazy, and what we learned and experienced in those years was fantastic. We still have all those fans and friends out there. It’s a pity that this chapter of Theatre Of Tragedy is closing now because I think the band still has much more to offer. They’re busy in their daily lives and their careers, so I think there’s something like a lack of inspiration there to keep going. It’s a shame because I do like the band.”

“I don’t think there would be Nightwish without Theatre Of Tragedy, either,” she adds. “Tuomas (Holopainen / keyboards, founder) and I did an interview together once, which was a great pleasure and an honour for me. I was thinking ‘Wow, I’m going to meet Tuomas from Nightwish’ but he was actually shaking when we met (laughs). He said ‘I have to tell you something before the interview starts. Thanks to you there is Nightwish. Okay, I said it…’ (laughs). He was so cute, and that was very, very flattering.”

Click here for my parting tribute to Theatre Of Tragedy. Examples of Liv’s work with the band can be found at the links below.

‘A Hamlet For A Slothful Vassal’
‘Seraphic Deviltry’
‘Der Spiegel’
‘Lorelei’

– live photo of Liv Kristine by Carl Begai. All rights reserved.

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