Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Playing Christmas carols in a rock opera style may not appear to be the most lucrative of plans, but it has served the Trans-Siberian Orchestra so well that they have managed to sell millions.

The eclectic sounds of the TSO first came together in 1996, when friends Paul O’Neill, Jon Oliva, Robert Kinkel and Al Pitrelli decided to form a band, but this core membership is augmented by the talents of a full 60 piece orchestra, a choir, vocalists, narrators and musicians. The resulting live show -- which features an impressive display of pyrotechnics, lasers and lights -- is complex and spectacular, and has been well-received by fans across the world.

The band’s studio outings have been similarly enjoyed, with three of their five albums achieving platinum sales.