Eino Matti "Eicca" Toppinen (born 5 August 1975) is a Finnish cellist, in 1993 he formed the #symphonic #metal quartet Apocalyptica.[1]
He attended the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, where he met future Apocalyptica band members Paavo Lötjönen, Antero Manninen, and Max Lilja. He played for several orchestras, including Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra and Avanti! chamber orchestra. He's also a founding member of the Sibelius Academy's Cellosextet. When attending Sibelius Academy, Eicca could not get an apartment or student support money because he lived too close to Helsinki, where the Academy resides.[2]
In 1993, when Toppinen was still studying in Sibelius Academy, the young Vivo Christian Orchestra played three songs from the Metallicaalbum, Ride The Lightning. According to Toppinen, he bought a book of guitar music for the album, and did not have notes for any other albums.[2]
Two years later, Apocalyptica performed at Teatro Heavy Metal Club in Helsinki,[5] on the same night with His Infernal Majesty, later to be known as HIM. A week later, Kari Hynninen of Zen Garden Records contacted Eicca to discuss a deal to make their very first record, Plays Metallica by Four Cellos.[6]
