TIMO TOLKKI's 'Masterclass' in Sofia; Video Interview, Performance Footage Available

Metal Hangar 18 conducted an interview with Timo Tolkki (STRATOVARIUS, REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE) prior to his April 2, 2010 "Masterclass Seminar" at the RBF club in Sofia, Bulgaria. Watch it below. Also available is footage of the actual "masterclass."

Tolkki recently announced that he was scrapping his already completed book because "much of [it] was written in anger and doesn't represent accurately how things are/were. I cannot release something like that. Specifically the parts of the book concerning some of the STRATOVARIUS members were written in much anger and even vengeance.

"I set out to write my own book with the help of a Finnish publisher LIKE, the same that published NIGHTWISH book. Somewhere along the way, I got lost.

"If my book will ever see the light of the day, it will concentrate more on my personal life and my childhood, and, of course, music. In these things I believe that my experiences can actually be helpful to some people."

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 recorded and released a new STRATOVARIUS album with guitarist Matias Kupiainen.