TIMO TOLKKI: Bassist JARI KAINULAINEN Reunites With Former STRATOVARIUS Bandmates For 'Return To Dreamspace'

Finnish bassist Jari Kainulainen (who is currently a member of Sweden's EVERGREY) will join Timo Tolkki (REVOLUTION RENAISANCE, STRATOVARIUS) and fellow ex-STRATOVARIUS members Tuomo Lassila (drums) and Anti Ikonen (keyboards) to record a new album, titled "Return to Dreamspace", for a fall 2009 release. This means that the project's lineup is exactly the same as the one that recorded STRATOVARIUS' "Dreamspace" LP that was released in 1994.

Regarding the musical direction of the CD, Tolkki previously said, "It has been 15 years from [STRATOVARIUS' 'Dreamspace'] album, so it will be interesting, for sure... It's not a 'remake,' but a brand new album. A closure for [what] I consider to be the end of STRATOVARIUS. It completes the cycle and returns to the beginning."

Tolkki drew up and signed an official waiver on May 20, 2008 giving up all rights to the STRATOVARIUS name. The remaining STRATOVARIUS members — Timo Kotipelto (vocals), Jens Johansson (keyboards) and Lauri Porra (bass) — have since announced plans to carry on with new guitarist Matias Kupiainen.