TIMO T0LKKI: Giving a response to Stratovarius statement concerning the usage of Stratovarius name in the future

23.10.2008

TIMO TOLKKI (REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE, Ex-Stratovarius) has responded to the statement Stratovarius made earlier today:

"I, like everybody, read today that Kotipelto, Michael and Johansson are continuing their new band as "Stratovarius".

I have really nothing else to say except to comment the quote of Jens Johansson "After Tolkki gave his blessing for us to go on without him".

I have never gave them any "blessing" to continue as Stratovarius. As I have said many times, I think it is wrong and I would never have continued Stratovarius without Timo Kotipelto, Jörg Michael or Jens Johansson. What Johansson calls a "blessing" was that I gave them the rights to the name I owned and the rights to something like 14 Stratovarius albums. But not as a gift, but as to cut all the ties to them because I was told then that they will continue as Stratovarius which I though was totally wrong towards the fans and of course to me.

They write that they continue the Legacy of Stratovarius, but it cannot be continued. Even I cannot really continue it because it existed only when we were together. It's a shame to see that they cannot start from the clean table like me, but are just using the name. Without that name, they know that they would have it much harder. They took a long time in deciding if they will use the name or not and some of them were totally against using that name. Now that has apparently changed. It is timed very well also to the release of the website of my new band Revolution Renaissance.

It is a sad day for me, because I believe that Stratovarius as a band died to the publicity stunt the whole band, management and record company organized in 2004 when nothing that was happening was true. After that nothing was the same and the truth could not be told before I told it some days ago in an interview with ontrackmagazine.com.

Finally to sum it up: I do not think that the band that now calls itself "Stratovarius" is the band that its fans came to know as "Stratovarius". I think it is a sad way to make a financial use of the name and shows lack of courage to stand on their own feet and music and instead going on as a new band with a new name that I believe would have been the right way.

Stratovarius is dead, Long live Stratovarius!"

Source: www.myspace.com/ttolkki

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Who cares!

Claudia wrote on 23.10.2008 at 16:21
Evidently Claudia you don't care. But Timo has a right to give his opinion about the statement. Frankly I hope Tolkki would shut up about Stratovarius cause he is better without them. He has a killer line-up with his new band and they are making awesome music!

We care! wrote on 23.10.2008 at 16:26
A lot of Bands changed their Line-Up and the show goes on. Maybe thats what the Statement of Claudia means. Sometimes Change is good, sometimes not. To me bad examples are Queen and Nightwish.
Best Wishes to both Timo and Stratovarius that it will end in a good way.
Every Heavy Metal Band is needed !

Magic wrote on 23.10.2008 at 20:41
Timo Tolkki is right. He was the heart of Stratovarius.
I don't agree with Magic. Nightwish only fired previous vocalist and the heart of Nightwish - a person who creates the songs and the atmosphere of the music is still there. Timo was for Stratovarius the same what Tuomas is for Nightwish.

Kate wrote on 23.10.2008 at 22:19
Love Timo Tolkki and everything, but I don't see a problem with them using the name. I would if I was them.

It's just a name. And if it helps publicity then hell, why not? If you've got it, flaunt it!

High five each other and get on with it.

James wrote on 24.10.2008 at 01:08
I think Timo`s right. When the band´s line up changes this way, the band`s essence also changes. The new Stratovarius will never play the same way, because there will be a totally different type of songs. I don`t think they should keep the name Stratovarius.

Rockma wrote on 24.10.2008 at 12:39
Has just been beginning, without the negative affluence of one.
Unfornately Timo your bitter cry is just the proof of your guilty.

New era wrote on 25.10.2008 at 22:09
Timo Tolkki is a grate composer. I love his songs and I will sing them forever.

Magdalena Lee wrote on 01.11.2008 at 12:20
WHO CARES WHAT A FUCKING
MESS KOTIPELTO HAS ALREADY A BIG NAME IN
MUSIC BIZ LET IT BE
KOTIPELTO
YOU ARE GREAT

KEHÄNEN wrote on 07.11.2008 at 21:50
Hey!! I`m a Stratovarius fan, the band who i grew up.
I think: Timo T. was Stratovarius Mastermind and the new Band sounds great. keep the flame burnning!!!

Augusto wrote on 10.12.2008 at 13:22