Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Trans-Siberian Orchestra
TSO performing in 2006
TSO performing in 2006
Background information
Also known asTSO
OriginTampa, Florida, United States
Genres
Years active1996 (1996)–present
Labels
SpinoffsJon Oliva's Pain
Spinoff ofSavatage
MembersJon Oliva
Al Pitrelli
Robert Kinkel
Past membersPaul O'Neill
Touring member list
Websitetrans-siberian.com

Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO[5]) is an American rock band founded in 1996 by producer, composer, and lyricist Paul O'Neill, who brought together Jon Oliva and Al Pitrelli (both members of Savatage) and keyboardist and co-producer Robert Kinkel to form the core of the creative team. The band gained in popularity when they began touring in 1999 after completing their second album, The Christmas Attic, the year previous. In 2007, The Washington Post referred to them as "an arena-rock juggernaut" and described their music as "Pink Floyd meets Yes and the Who at Radio City Music Hall."[6] TSO has sold more than ten million concert tickets and over ten million albums.[5][7] The band has released a series of rock operas: Christmas Eve and Other Stories, The Christmas Attic, Beethoven's Last Night, The Lost Christmas Eve, their two-disc Night Castle and Letters From the Labyrinth.[5] Trans-Siberian Orchestra is also known for their extensive charity work and elaborate concerts, which include a string section, a light show, lasers, moving trusses, video screens, and effects synchronized to music.[3]

Both Billboard Magazine and Pollstar have ranked them as one of the top twenty-five ticket-selling bands in the first decade of the new millennium.[8][9] Their path to success was unusual in that, according to O'Neill, TSO is the first major rock band to go straight to theaters and arenas, having never played at a club, never having been an opening act and never having had an opening act.[10]

  1. ^ a b c d Kerestan, Greg (December 17, 2014). "BWW Reviews: Trans-Siberian Orchestra Opens 'The Christmas Attic' at Consol Energy Center". Broadway World Pittsburgh. Archived from the original on July 18, 2015. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
  2. ^ "Christmas concerts: Straight No Chaser, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Chicago, Brave Combo, more". Chicago Sun-Times. Sun-Times Media Group. November 11, 2011. Archived from the original on November 23, 2015. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
  3. ^ a b Fuoco-Karasinski, Christina (7 December 2010). "SoundSpike Interview: Trans-Siberian Orchestra's Paul O'Neill". Soundspike. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 13 September 2011. The progressive rock band is known for its live shows complete with an orchestra, a massive light show, lasers, dozens of pyrotechnics, moving trusses, video screens and other effects that are synchronized to the music.
  4. ^ "Trans Siberian Orchestra". www.rotharmy.com. 16 December 2012. Archived from the original on 7 January 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  5. ^ a b c Shah, Neil (3 December 2015). "How the Trans-Siberian Orchestra Became a Holiday Hit Machine". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 6 February 2016. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  6. ^ Harrington, Richard (14 December 2007). "On a Trans-Siberian Holiday". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 2013-10-16.
  7. ^ "Biography". Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Archived from the original on 19 January 2016. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  8. ^ "Top Touring Artists of the Decade". Billboard. 11 December 2009. Archived from the original on 16 March 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2011.
  9. ^ "The Pollstar Top 50". Pollstar. 31 December 2009. Archived from the original on 31 January 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  10. ^ Geiken, Brittany (14 April 2010). "TSO: Paul O'Neill Talks About The Band And Beethoven". Lumino Magazine. Archived from the original on 19 December 2015. Retrieved 23 January 2016.