Eicca Toppinen

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Eino Matti Toppinen
Background = non_vocal_instrumentalist

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Born = birth date and age|1975|8|5
Origin = Vantaa, Finland
Genre = Cello rock, symphonic metal
Occupation = Musician, Composer, Songwriter
Instrument = Cello
Drumms
URL =

Eino Matti "Eicca" Toppinen is a Finnish cellist, songwriter, and (as a hobby) drummer.Toppinen grew up in Vantaa's Hakunila, as the second eldest of 5 siblings.Toppinen began to play the cello at the age of 9, and decided to start playing drums at the same time.He called himself Eicca since a very young age because there was confusion with his sister's name, Aino Toppinen.

He attended the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, where he met Paavo Lötjönen, Antero Manninen and Max Lilja. When he attended the Sibelius, Eicca couldn't get an apartment or student support money because he lived too close to Helsinki; where the Academy resides. At the beginning, that made Eicca feel down. He tried to get away from his parents house, but that wouldn't work: He had to have at least 21 years, and he even couldn't afford living by himself.After graduating, he played for several orchestras, like "Radio Symphony Orchestra" or "Avanti". He's also a foundation member of the Sibelius Academy's Cellosextet.

In 1993, he changed his mind about this college life. The members of the young Vivo Christian Orchestra got to witness how their orchestra mates played 3 songs from one Metallica's album, Ride the Lightning.Two years later, Apocalyptica performed at Helsinki. A week later, Kari Hynninen contacted Eicca for a deal to make their very first record: Plays Metallica By Four Cellos.

Toppinen married Kirsi Ylijoki, a Finnish actress, in 1997. They have 2 children: Eelis, born in 1999 and Ilmari, born in 2002.

After first writing songs for Apocalyptica, Toppinen also became involved in the writing of music for various other projects, such as the theatrical performance "Paper Rain" and the Finnish Film "Milja".

In 2007, Toppinen composed the soundtrack for the Finnish movie "Musta Jää" (Black Ice). He has since been nominated and, on February 3, 2008, won a Jussi Award for his writing of the score. He also wrote the movie's main theme, sung by Hanna Pakarinen. Toppinen says his biggest achievement is Apocalyptica.

Toppinen's Idols

Yo-Yo Ma

Tom Waits

Mstislav Rostropovich

James Hetfield

Tarja Turunen

Equipment

Cello

*Terzi Antivarius
*Bendikt Lang (1984)

Bow

*Wilson/Benedek (1988)
*Tourte

Strings

*Jargar Forte

Quote of Choice

"If it's too loud, you're too old!"

External links

* [http://www.apocalyptica.com Apocalyptica.com]
* [http://www.cellist.nl/database/showcellist.asp?id=465 Cellist.nl]