Kai Hahto is a Finnish musician, best known as the drummer of Nightwish.
Kai with Wintersun at the 2013 Tuska Open Air Metal Festival
Nightwish is a Finnish symphonic metal band from Kitee. The band was formed in 1996 by lead songwriter and keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen, guitarist Emppu Vuorinen, and former lead singer Tarja Turunen. The band soon picked up drummer Jukka Nevalainen, and then bassist Sami Vänskä after the release of their debut album, Angels Fall First (1997). In 2001, Vänskä was replaced by Marko Hietala, who also took over the male vocalist role previously filled by Holopainen or guest singers. Although Nightwish have been prominent in their home country since Angels Fall First, they did not achieve wider success until the release of the albums Oceanborn (1998), Wishmaster (2000) and Century Child (2002).
Nightwish after a performance in Toronto in May 2022; (L–R): Jukka Koskinen, Tuomas Holopainen, Floor Jansen, Troy Donockley, Kai Hahto, Emppu Vuorinen
Tuomas Holopainen (left) and Emppu Vuorinen (right), two of the band's founding members.
Tarja Turunen was the band's first lead vocalist from 1996 to 2005.
Former bassist and vocalist Marko Hietala, replaced Sami Vänskä in late 2001 and performed with the band until his departure in 2021.
