Prog Magazine recently caught up with ex-NIGHTWISH vocalist Anette Olzon, who discussed getting fired from the band while on tour in October 2012. An excerpt from the interview is available below:

The sudden split followed the dismissal of previous frontwoman Tarja Turunen in 2006, and came midway through a US tour. An official announcement stated the move had been made “in mutual understanding”.

But Olzon insists that’s not the case. She tells Prog: “I have been getting frustrated with people saying I left the band – because I didn’t. I was fired exactly as Tarja was fired, but maybe in a more quiet way.”

She points to her pregnancy as the reason behind her dismissal. “That’s how I see it,” she says. “Why should they kick me out when they got to know I was pregnant?

“We, of course, had some problems in 2009, but we had a good tour and there was nothing else coming until then.”

She was replaced at short notice by Floor Jansen (REVAMP, ex-AFTER FOREVER), who was recently confirmed as Nightwish’s full-time vocalist. The band recently released live album Showtime, Storytime with Jansen fronting the band.

Olzon adds: “The reason I didn’t say this a year ago is because I didn’t want to state something so negative. I felt really bad about the situation – it was quite a big divorce.”

Go to this location for more. Watch for Prog's complete interview with Olzon, due to be published in February.

The Nightwish camp recently responded to accusations levelled by Olzon in the Finnish publication Menaiset via their official website here, disputing many of Olzon's claims:

"Welcome to the laundry room...

The interview of our former vocalist Anette in Me Naiset magazine is full of twisted truths and defamation. This 'one woman vs. the Neanderthals' scenario is an easy to way to take advantage of our media history.

The split with Anette wasn't because of pregnancy or illness. We discovered her personality didn't fit this work community, and was even detrimental to it.

These claims we can invalidate right away:

Claim: Moments before being fired, Anette had told Tuomas Holopainen of her pregnancy

Truth: Anette told of her pregnancy to the whole band already a week earlier in Montreal. Everyone was congratulative, and Anette herself offered an option of hiring a replacement vocalist if she can't manage everything, which was already agreed on. Later she took back her decision, and the difficulties really started. Fear of losing money and position seemed obvious.

Claim: The boys of the band decided everything for me

Truth: Neither Tuomas nor any other of the boys of the band can singlehandedly decide where we take off to and when. There have been discussions inside the band and support of people on a personal level. Also Anette. Managers and promoters discuss about possible concerts, record releases, etc., and wishes of all the band members have been taken into account. All these details have been negotiated with Anette and her manager. We have the e-mails.

"To keep the touring life bearable, it's reasonable and right to make things comfortable on a personal level. Based on these discussions, Anette was given liberties from interviews and fan meetings. She and her family got an own tour bus and driver in both Europe and America. The expenses were paid by the organization, not Anette or her company. Others of the band didn't use similar benefits.

Claim: Other income went directly to the men

Truth: Anette and her company has been paid a fifth of everything that was done during her time and with her. We have no reason to lie, because this cake has provided enough slices for us all. The finances of the band have always been handled openly, honestly and evenhandedly. The books exist. How individual members spend their share is up to their own responsibility.

We neither want to nor intend to comment this more now.

Doing the laundry is tiring. Remember to help your ladies with that occasionally."