Trans-Siberian Orchestra

When Paul O'Neill first conceived Trans-Siberian Orchestra, his goal was as straightforward as it was ambitious. "The whole idea," he explains, "was to do a progressive rock band that would push the boundaries further than any band before, following in the footsteps of Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Pink Floyd, the Who...but take it way, way further."

TSO has sold more than seven million copies of its first four rock operas -- 1996's CHRISTMAS EVE & OTHER STORIES, 1998's THE CHRISTMAS ATTIC, BEETHOVEN'S LAST NIGHT in 2000, and THE LOST CHRISTMAS EVE in 2004. On the road, meanwhile, they have become one of the world's top touring acts, with a $20 million-plus production that by 2009 played to over 7 million people in 80+ cities, selling more than $280 million worth of tickets. And, oh yeah, there was that crazy beer ad with the insanely decorated Christmas house whose lights were synced to TSO's "Wizards in Winter.”