WITHIN TEMPTATION

Within Temptation

Gothic rock band Within Temptation is one of the most successful Dutch bands. Their characteristic sound is defined by the clear voice of singer Sharon den Adel, powerful guitar riffs, orchestral arrangements and Celtic influences. The live shows are completed with impressive stage settings, fireworks and moving images. World wide ...
Full biography

Members

Jeroen van Veen (2)   basgitaar
Robert Westerholt   gitaar, zang
Ruud Jolie   gitaar
Martijn Spierenburg   toetsinstrumenten
Sharon den Adel   zang
Mike Coolen   drums
Stefan Helleblad   gitaar
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Former members

Dennis Leeflang   drums
Richard Willemse   drums
Martijn Westerholt   toetsinstrumenten
Ciro Palma   drums
Ivar de Graaf   drums
Michiel Papenhove   gitaar
Jelle Bakker   gitaar
Stephen van Haestregt   drums
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Mentioned in the biography of

1992   Oscar Holleman
1996   Ordo Draconis
1996   Xenomorph
1997   Orphanage
1998   Ayreon
1999   Manny van Oosten
2000   Frozen Sun
2000   Liar Of Golgotha
2000   Patrick Mühren
2001   Rosemary's Sons
2002   Aemen
2002   After Forever
2002   Chen Mo
2003   Vals Licht
2004   Blind Sight
2005   After Forever
2005   Delain
2005   God Dethroned
2006   Aemen
2008   Metropole Orkest
2009   Anneke van Giersbergen
2010   Leonie Meijer
2011   Cloudmachine
2014   Cloudmachine
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Concerts & Festivals

by Podiuminfo / Festivalinfo

6/15/23, Hellfest, Clisson
6/23/23, Download Festival Germany, Donington Park
6/30/23, ParkCity Live, Heerlen
8/12/23, M'era Luna, Hildesheim
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Biography Within Temptation

Gothic rock band Within Temptation is one of the most successful Dutch bands. Their characteristic sound is defined by the clear voice of singer Sharon den Adel, powerful guitar riffs, orchestral arrangements and Celtic influences. The live shows are completed with impressive stage settings, fireworks and moving images. World wide Within Temptation sells more than three million records. The band wins prestigious national and international awards and plays sold out concerts in Europe, Asia and the American continent.

1996

Guitarist/singer Robert Westerholt (formerly the Circle and Voyage) forms Within Temptation with singer Sharon den Adel, bassist Jeroen van Veen (ex-the Circle) and guitarist Michiel Papenhove (ex-Voyage). Later they are joined by Robert's brother Martijn on keyboard and drummer Richard Willemse (ex-Ejaculate, ex-Near Dark). Willemse leaves soon after to pick up the mike for skatepunk band Barton Green. He is replaced by drummer Dennis Leeflang. Within Temptation records the demo 'Enter'.

Barton Dean Ejaculate Near Dark The Circle Voyage

1997

Enter becomes demo of the month in hard rock magazine Aardschok. Within Temptation is signed to the DSFA label. Leeflang has left the band (in 1999 he will resurface in the band Sun Caged) and is replaced by Ivar de Graaf. The band records the debut album Enter and plays at the Dynamo Open Air festival. In November the band embarks on a European tour with Orphanage.

Orphanage Sun Caged

1998

Within Temptation plays at the Noorderslag festival. In the spring the band releases the mini-CD The Dance, which contains new material and some remixes. De Graaf is replaced by new drummer Ciro Palma. Den Adel works with Arjen Lucassen (Aryeon) on his album The Electric Castle.

Ayreon

1999

In May Den Adel is guest vocalist with the Heideroosjes on their Pinkpop and Dynamo Open Air festival gigs. Because all band members have other priorities (study, work) Within Temptation decides not to tour this year. Drummer Ivar de Graaf rejoins the band.

Heideroosjes

2000

Within Temptation again plays the Noorderslag and Pinkpop festivals and releases the singles Our Farewell and Ice Queen. Guitarist Michiel Papenhove leaves the band. The single Ice Queen reaches number 72 in the Dutch Mega Top 100. In September Within Temptation headlines a festival in Mexico City.

2001

Within Temptation again plays the Noorderslag and Pinkpop festivals and releases the singles Our Farewell and Ice Queen. Guitarist Michiel Papenhove leaves the band. The single Ice Queen reaches number 72 in the Dutch Mega Top 100. In September Within Temptation headlines a festival in Mexico City.

2002

Guitarist Ruud Jolie (ex-Brotherhood Foundation) replaces Jelle Bakker. The album Mother Earth reaches gold: 14 months after its release 40.000 copies of the album have been sold. Within Temptation plays at the Rock Werchter festival in Belgium. During their gig at the Parkpop festival in The Hague the band is awarded a platinum album for Mother Earth. Sharon den Adel duets with Aemen's Toine van der Meijden on the band's new album Fooly Dressed. The duet is released is a single. The Mother Earth tour is released on a double DVD.

Aemen Brotherhood Foundation Chen Mo

2003

Within Temptation signs to Gun Records, a BMG Germany sublabel that is also responsible for the success of Guano Apes and HIM. On January 27 the international version of Mother Earth is released in Germany. The album contains four extra tracks and is sold in a brand-new special edition packaging. The band kicks off an extensive European tour with Paradise Lost in Germany on February 14. On February 24 Within Temptation is awarded a Zilveren ('Silver') Harp music award. In January former Within Temptation drummer Ivar de Graaf releases a demo with his new band Jambone. Within Temptation wins an Edison Music Award in the category Best DVD National. Running Up That Hill, a Kate Bush cover, reaches number 13 of the Dutch Top 40. The band is also popular in Germany: Mother Earth reaches number 6 in the album charts and the single Ice Queen is a hit. In October the single Mother Earth is released in Germany and enters the charts at 13.

2004

Just before its show at the Noorderslag festival in January, Within Temptation receives a gold disc for its sales in Germany. It receives the award from the managing director of its German label Gun Records. On February 10 the band wins the Dutch Export Prize, proving that they are the best selling Dutch act abroad. In June and August they play at the main stage at Belgium's Rock Werchter festival and the 12th edition the Lowlands festival. For its next album the band collaborates with Swedish producer Daniël Gibson (of Kim-Lian, K-Otic and Di-rect fame). First result of the collaboration is the single Stand My Ground. In all aspects the album The Silent Force, featuring a Russian philharmonic orchestra and choir, outdoes Mother Earth. Within three weeks after release (end of November), the album that enjoyed a number 1 entry in the Dutch album charts, reaches the gold status (40.000 copies sold) at home. In Germany and Belgium it is in the Top 5 too. Other countries where the album is charting include France, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden and Norway.

2005

Sharon den Adel is one of the vocalists on Als Je Iets Kan Doen ('If You Can Do Something') the benefit single for the Tsunami victims.The Silent Force is an international success. In January 300.000 copies have been sold. The single Stand By My Ground reaches number 26 in the Spanish charts. For the second time Within Temptation receives the Conamus Export Prize 2004. The single Memories is released and the band tours Europe in February and March. On February 14 Within Temptation wins an Edison music award in the category Best Group. In April the band receives a TMF Award in the category Best Rock National. The single Stand My Ground hits the top spot of the Spanish airplay charts of CHR-formatted Los 40 Principales in May. Mid May 450.000 copies of the album have been sold, 180.000 of which in Germany alone. The Silent Force becomes gold in Finland. On July 22 Within Temptation plays a show at the Java Eiland in Amsterdam supported by After Forever, Heideroosjes and Orphanage. By the end of August The Silent Force has sold in excess of 500.000 units internationally, for which they are bestowed with a World Music Award in the category Best Selling Dutch Artist. The Silent Force Tour double DVD contains five hours of live footage (among which the Java Eiland and Rock Werchter shows), television appearances, impressions and interviews. At the launch of The Silent Force Tour 2DVD on November 21 in The Hague Within Temptation receives a platinum album acknowledging sales in excess of 80.000 copies of the The Silent Force CD in Holland. Former keyboardist Martijn Westerholt (band member from 1996-2001) and drummer Ariën van Weesenbeek (God Dethroned) form the Goth rock band Delain.

After Forever Delain God Dethroned Heideroosjes Orphanage

2006

Within Temptation wins the prestigious Pop Prize 2005. Whereas Sharon is on maternity leave - she is at home nursing baby Luna - the band dressed up and made up as its first lady, wearing long ball gowns and wigs, picks up the prize at the Noorderslag Festival in Groningen in January. In the Jury report Within Temptation is praised for being the arch fathers/godmother of the new Gothic rock scene. The week after Noorderslag Within Temptation wins the annual Export Prize, as established by Buma Cultuur. On February 6 the band receives this prize at the Harpen ('Harps') Gala in Bussum's Theater 't Spant. Within Temptation provides exclusive tracks for the worldwide introduction of PC game The Chronicles Of Spellborn. At the 3FM Awards in Amsterdam's Melkweg Within Temptation wins in the category Best Rock Artist. Within Temptation writes the song The Howling especially for the online fantasy game The Chronicles of Spellborn, which is released worldwide in the spring of 2007. In December the band signs a deal with the US arm of Roadrunner Records and US booking agency Pinnacle Entertainment.

Kingfisher Sky

2007

For the fourth time in a row Within Temptation wins the Export Prize. In February What Have You Done (featuring Keith Caputo) is the first single of new album The Heart Of Everything, slated for a March release. In the same month the band embarks on an extensive European tour, consisting of 25 shows in 10 different countries. Next the band is on the bills of various large European festivals, among which Pinkpop. Also, the band is supporting Italy's Lacuna Coil at its US tour in May. The band takes care of the first and the third leg of this tour, while the Gathering takes the dates in the middle. Dates in Japan and Australia follow. On April 15 the band wins a 3FM Award in the category Best Rock Artist. In July The Heart Of Everything is also released in the United States and reaches the top of the Heatseeker Charts, the chart for bands that have not released albums in the US before. A promotional tour is kicked off in September with shows in Chicago (House Of Blues) and New York (Irving Plaza). In the autumn Within Temptation plays in England, Germany, Switzerland, Austria and France. In October, Within Temptation wins two TMF Music Awards, for Best Live Act and one for Best Video for single What Have You Done. In Monaco the band wins a World Music Award in the category Best Selling Dutch Artist.

2008

Under the title Black Symphony, Within Temptation and the Metropole Orchestra perform a special a concert together on 7 February at the Ahoy' in Rotterdam. Guests include a choir and artists Keith Caputo, Anneke van Giersbergen and George Oosthoek. Black Symphony is released on DVD in September. In the summer, Within Temptation is support act for British hardrock band Iron Maiden twice. In August the band travels through France, Belgium and Switzerland as support act for Metallica. Black Symphony is also a success in England. The DVD shoots straight to second place of the English music DVD charts. Both the DVD and the CD enter the Dutch Top 5. The band rounds off the year with an exclusive theatre tour in the Netherlands and Belgium. Due to family circumstances, drummer Van Haestregt cannot be part of this tour. He is replaced temporarily by Mike Coolen (Brotherhood Foundation, Daybroke).

Brotherhood Foundation Metropole Orkest

2009

Sharon den Adel can be heard on Pure Air, the solo debut of singer Anneke van Giersbergen (Agua de Annique). On 5 March Within Temptation wins a Golden Harp music award. On 23 April, during the annual 3FM Music Awards, Within Temptation is winner in the category Best Live Act. During the first edition of the Gala of Popmusic, Sharon den Adel wins an award for Best Singer. This music prize is an initiative of the department Pop of Music Center the Netherlands (formerly Dutch Rock and Pop Institute). The winners have been elected by their fellow musicians through online voting. The live album An Acoustic Night At The Theatre is released in October in over 45 countries and includes footage of the very successful 2008 theatre tour. The CD also includes the single Utopia, a duet with British singer Chris Jones.

Agua de Annique

Photos Within Temptation

Audio/Video Within Temptation

Video Within Temptation