Final Destination

Welcome to my website dedicated to this excellent Dutch rock band!

Within Temptation first came into being as we know them in 1996. However, their roots trace back as far as 1992, when Robert Westerholt and schoolpal Martijn Spierenburg started penning their ideas. Along with Jeroen van Veen, they created The Circle - a band completed with guitarist Arjan Groenedijk and singer Ernst van der Loo. With the departure of the latter two, singer Carmen van der Ploeg and drummer Ciro Palma arrived.

At around this time, Robert heard Sharon den Adel singing and invited her to join him. Although The Circle was still ongoing, now under the name of Voyage (who recorded one album 'Embrace' in 1995) Within Temptation now started to take shape. Martijn Westerholt (keyboards), Michiel Papenhove (guitars) and Ivar de Graaf (drums) completed the original line up, all three staying with the band from their arrival in 1997 until 2001.

Their first album 'Enter' was recorded and released on DSFA records along with the single 'Restless'. Paradise Lost had been a major influence in the bands' early days, and that deep, powerful sound is echoed on 'Enter', with Sharon's angelic vocals completing the effect. The album turned more than a few heads, and there is still a yearning for those original songs amongst fans today. The EP 'The Dance' followed...

It was their second album 'Mother Earth', however, which saw Within Temptation make major waves. It was a huge success, helped in no small way by the release of 'Ice Queen' as a single - still a huge favourite today, and the traditional show-closer. The band signed with AT productions, and this in turn led to a record deal with GUN/BMG and a tour including Rock Werchter and Parkpop festivals. This got Within Temptation the recognition they so richly deserved outside their native Holland. A tour DVD was also released. There were departures too... Martijn Westerholt was forced to leave due to ill health, Ivar de Graaf left to pursue other projects, and Michiel Papenhove to set up his own internet company. And so the current line up came into being in 2001.

2004 saw the release of 'The Silent Force', with a huge bombastic feel to it, and incorporating choral and orchestral elements too. This album was again a huge success and led to several awards, supported by a tour which lasted until autumn 2006 including a huge 'mega-show' at Java Eiland, Amsterdam in summer 2005 and a visit to Japan at the end of the tour. Three singles were also released: 'Stand My Ground', the ballad 'Memories' and 'Angels'. Once more, an extensive DVD of the tour was produced. During this period, drummer Stephen became a proud father to Silvin, and Sharon/Robert became parents too with Eva Luna.

2007 saw their latest offering 'The Heart Of Everything'. It retains the overall style of their previous album, but more refined and a little heavier. Robert has stated that the band wished to retain the choral/orchestral parts, but felt that on 'The Silent Force' these were too widespread - thus on this album they are still present but less frequent and perhaps a little more subtle too. There are also some acoustic elements, played by Ruud.

The album's release was followed by another massive worldwide tour, including their first gigs in the USA (resulting from their penning a deal with Roadrunner Records). As part of this tour, two extraordinary gigs were arranged. The first in the Beursgebouw in Eindhoven featured two support bands and guest artists including George Oestehook and took place in November 2007. This was similar in size to the Java Eiland gig of 2005, but indoors. This however was eclipsed by the band's biggest event to date when, on 7th February 2008, they played a huge gig in the Ahoy Arena in Rotterdam. This took many of the elements, effects and special guests from Eindhoven but was performed with a live orchestra for the very first time. It also featured the largest ever video screen, occupying the entire width of the massive stage, and was notable too for featuring Keith Caputo both as support and guest artist on the duet 'What Have You Done' - which of course he had previously recorded with the band.

Since then, the band embarked on a short theatre tour, performing a mainly acoustic set in seated venues around the Netherlands, but are now taking a year out to have some time for themselves. During this time, Stephen has got married and his wife Veroniek is expecting their second child, and Sharon and Robert have also had another new arrival. Ruud and Stephen have also both been busy with solo projects. The band have used this time, furthermore, to write, record and mix material for their new album which we hope will arrive in 2010. A re-run of the theatre tour is also planned for 2010.

July 2009

Within Temptation current line up:

Sharon den Adel - Vocals		Born 12.07.1974 Partner of Robert Westerholt Two children with Robert, named 'Eva Luna' born 07.12.2005 and 'Robin Aiden' born 01.06.2009 Pets: two cats, named Haplo and Lola Musical favourites: Nirvana, Tori Amos, Type-O Negative, Kate Bush and Alanis Morissette amongst many others Likes: movies, painting, fantasy books, the natural world
Robert Westerholt - Guitar		Born 02.01.1975 Partner of Sharon den Adel Musical favourites: Paradise Lost, Iron Maiden and Tori Amos amongst others Likes: Football, Formula 1 and fantasy books
Ruud Jolie - Guitar		Born 19.04.1976 Musical favourites: Iron Maiden, Incubus, Johnny Cash, Alison Krauss, Opeth and more Likes: Star Wars, pc gaming, gym, and playing/teaching guitar (away from WT he also plays in a blue-grass band, and also guests at tuition/masterclasses from time to time).
Jeroen Van Veen - Bass		Born 26.10.1974 Partner of Vera Musical favourites: Progressive and Symphonic rock Likes: Sci-fi and horror movies, web design and 3D computer animations
Martijn Spierenburg - Keyboards		Born 30.01.1975 Partner of Gaby Pets: three horses, Flucky, Nikki and Beau; and two cats, Pino and Jeanny Musical favourites: Rammstein and Sting amongst others
Stephen Van Hastregt - Drums		Born 12.09.1972 Married to Veroniek One child with Veroniek, named 'Silvin' Pets: one cat, Yoda Musical favourites: A Perfect Circle, Rammstein, Tori Amos, Anastacia and others Likes: Xbox, also works from time to time as a producer/sound engineer (has worked with After Forever and Aemen amongst others)