Remember That Stratovarius Thing?
Compiled by James Edward Raggi IV
Posted March 2006
Some say it was Timo Tolkki having a complete breakdown in public. Some say it was all a publicity stunt. Whatever it was, it all happened. Every single word is exactly how it appeared in the listed source.
The reason I saved all of this at the time was because I knew the situation would resolve itself one way or the other. I didn't expect a reunion, but when the next Stratovarius album came out, I knew all of this would be erased from the official history of the band. It was going to be forgotten. Perhaps denied later on. And there are no news updates remaining on the Strato site between November 4, 2003 and April 11, 2004. But you can bet that it was constantly updated at the time.
This is the version without my added thoughts. If you'd like to see what I thought of everything, as it happeend, go here.
October 29, 2003
News breaks that Stratovarius has agreed to a three album, three million Euro record deal with Sanctuary Records, with the contracts signed with the blood of an elk.
November 2, 2003
News breaks that Stratovarius new album Elements Pt 2 has hit number four on the Finnish national charts.
November 11, 2003
This as part of a news item reported by Blabbermouth.net: "Tolkki has declined to comment on the rumor that he only talks to Stratovarius singer Timo Kotipelto via lawyers, stressing instead that it is time to concentrate on what he knows to do best, which is writing memorable and dramatic songs."
November 23, 2003
Timo Tolkki statement on Strato's website:
"I am in the process of talking seriously with each bandmember about the future of Stratovarius. There are lots of rumours circling around and this statement is issued to clear some of those. The band is in a severe crisis at the moment. Looking back now, it is very clear to me why the situation has catapulted into crisis. I have my own way to lead Stratovarius and since being in this band since '84 (almost twenty years) I have had a very clear vision about the musical direction of Strato. To put it short and simple, this is my band. Decide what Stratovarius sounds like. Stylists might decide how Stratovarius looks like. I don't give a fuck about that though, I love music and we are not some fucking Backstreet Boys. We eat metal and shit chains. Before some of you start shouting 'dictator', I would like to tell you that we have always shared the income from the band equally. Everyone gets the same from all income. I can tell you many bands when it's not like this. Up until very last weeks I though things were fine, there have been arguments, but nothing fancy. At this point I feel that my vision of where to take Stratovarius next is threatened. Along with many other things, which I cannot tell you due to legal reasons. Let me just say this: when the things get so heated that some people in the band enter into fistfight, then something is wrong, wouldn't you agree? I am talking with [singer Timo] Kotipelto and [bassist Jari] Kainulainen here in Finland at the moment and next week I fly to New York to talk to [keyboardist Jens] Johansson. Then I fly to Germany to talk to [drummer Jörg] Michael. And then I have to think. So you guys have to wait for some more time for some more news. At this point it seems 95% sure that 3 bandmembers have to leave. I really hope I can work things out with them, but if not, then they will have to go. And to those who say I should leave Stratovarius I say, hmmm well, perhaps it's better that I don't say anything, so I just say, 'Fuck Off!' I am not leaving anywhere, we just signed this new deal and I am going to continue writing new songs and there will be more albums, no matter what the line up will be."
November 23, 2003
Jens Johansson via the Strato's message board:
"Within the band we made the agreement that [guitarist/mainman] Timo [Tolkki] will decide who plays in the band, I mean on the records, live etc. I actually drew up the agreement myself, so that none of us would be able to entertain any illusions of 'hijacking' the band by a democratic majority vote or something. To me, I think this is a useful arrangement, I would say even if I get booted out as a result, believe it or not! I am a man of principles. And anyone is free to leave on their own volition too, of course. It's a band, not a concentration camp, like Yngwie used to say. I can assure you, nobody feels like leaving voluntarily. But what goes on in the hearts and minds of Finns is sometimes difficult to detect. Especially if they don't answer their phone!!!! If Timo wants to have new people in the band I would of course be very sad, because I quite enjoy working with these guys. But there is nothing I can do about how people feel. Either musically or about other things. Timo is a stubborn guy, or he wouldn't have gotten this far!"
November 27, 2003
Tolkki announcement on the Strato site:
"Unfortunately my trip was delayed for one day because I had to travel to Orimattila and Lahti. I am writing this in my beautiful suite in New York after trying to talk some sense to [keyboardist Jens] Johansson. Next I will be going to talk to [drummer Jörg] Michael. Many thanks for all those who supported me in these heavy times. Through tough times you find out who your real friends are. For those who have been attacking me I only want to say one thing: FUCK OFF! And I repeat it one more time that it becomes clear: FUCK OFF!!! Thanks for showing me the way idiots!"
December 1, 2003
Tolkki on the Strato site frontpage:
"After speaking with all the band members I am now travelling to Berlin to talk with the Sanctuary team about the future of Stratovarius. At this point I cannot say more about the situation. I am very sorry if my statements have offended someone. I have been under heavy pressure lately and my therapist has prescribed me some heavy antidepressants. They make it even more difficult for me to control my temper. I have received death threats, which has forced me to hire 2 bodyguards. They are both former military people with martial arts training. This is sad really, but what can you do? Anyway, I apologize once more if I have offended anyone with my comments. I hope you understand what kind of pressure we all are living in at the moment. I would like to say that things are not always what they seem. The music world can be very frustrating, largely due to legal and business matters. I hope I can tell you some news after returning from Berlin."
December 7, 2003
More Tolkki words from Stratosite::
"I thought I cheer you guys up by giving you a small report from the place where I have been writing songs for about a month already. I have already 10 songs written and I can give you some titles as well: 'And You Hate the World', 'I See Black', 'PopKiller' and 'Back to Madness' are amongst the songs that I have completed by now. The working title of the album is called 'PopKiller'. Because the situation of the band is unclear, except that [keyboardist] Jens [Johansson] will stay in the band, I have no idea when this album will be recorded. We have also several festival appearances booked for the next summer and one Spanish festival at the end of February. I don't know how we are going to handle those because we are committed legally to do them. I am not thinking about that at the moment, I am just writing songs, which always has been a good therapy for me. This place is absolutely fantastic and I am completely surrounded by nature and there is a sea view as well. I will travel to Berlin this weekend and talk with the whole Sanctuary team. I hope next week brings the final solution to our problems. Thanks for you patience and understanding."
December 8, 2003
Strato site headline: Kotipelto and Michael Out Of Stratovarius
"Due to irrevocable and massive difficulties between the band leader Timo Tolkki and me, it has been agreed that this is the best thing to do to preserve at least some of the integrity the band used to have. I will now fully concentrate on my solo album and I am convinced that this is the best way for me."
Jörg Michael says that his priorities lie elsewhere at the moment, but that the suddenly escalating trouble in the band is one of the main reasons he doesn't want to play in Stratovarius anymore.
Jens Johansson states that he thinks this situation is very unfortunate, but that he is ok with it nevertheless, given the tension and turmoil of the last couple of months.
Jari Kainulainen was not available for comment.
"I think this is the beginning of new era for Stratovarius and that the future looks bright and promising. I have composed some of my best songs during the last month," Timo Tolkki says from his writing mansion next to the Gulf of Finland. He promises that Stratovarius fans will be both surprised and amazed by the next album. "If anything good comes out of this, then I guess it will be the emotions I have managed to channel into new songs about this situation, which has been very heavy for all of us. I have been having quite bad mental problems lately, but I feel better now due to anti-depressive medication my therapist has prescribed me."
Also, according to the booking agent Continental Concerts, the current line-up is "100% certain" to fulfill all its obligations regarding festival dates next year even though there is a lot of simmering hate still, waiting to boil over.
December 9, 2003
Tolkki in the Strato site forum: "Just drop by to tell you guys that I have talked with Jens and Jari about the hate attacks present in this forum and guestbook. We are all amazed about the amount of hate this thing has generated. I would like to state that as was written in the official statement, everybody in the band thinks this is the best solution. That means also Kotipelto and Michael. We are all determined to be civilized enough to handle the festivals we are committed playing next year. There was also an attack of two hackers, one, which seem to originate from Brazil and other one from USA. Both hackers attacked the same server that also hosts Kotipelto's website. Our internet team managed to stop these attacks."
December 11, 2003
From Blabbermouth.net:
According to Tolkki, he and Kotipelto got into a physical altercation three weeks ago. Originally, Tolkki had stepped in to break up a fight between drummer Michael and Kotipelto, but after the latest episode, both he and Kotipelto realized that they would not be able to carry on working together. Tolkki says that the fight was due to Kotipelto wanting to have more involvement in the songwriting process as well as more say in the band's business affairs. The members of the most recent Stratovarius lineup will be forced to work together one more time as they prepare to play all of the previously announced summer festivals in order to avoid paying out huge cancellation fees. Tolkki has admitted that he doesn't know if they will be able to get along with each other long enough to do the upcoming shows and had made it clear that he would prefer to call off the dates altogether."
December 17, 2003
Tolkki from the Strato site:
"Since the rumours are wildly speculating about the new Stratovarius singer and drummer I have decided to tell you how things are going at the moment. First of all I have not been in contact with Michael Kiske about being the replacement for Timo Kotipelto. I know Michael well enough not to suggest anything like that to him and I have enormous amount of respect to him and his musical career. He knows what he wants and I am sure it is very different from what I want. I have received lot of interest from lots of different singers and drummers, some of them have been quite surprising and some of them are even singing/playing in quite big groups at this writing. Thank you for your interest. Also three female vocalists have sent me their tapes and I must say that one of them sounds unbelievably talented and she has the looks that kill as well. I hope I can give you some news about the replacements as soon as possible. I am still writing new songs and it is going very smoothly. New songs seem to have completely different direction compared to those ten songs that I wrote first. Even I am very surprised about the songs and how different they sound compared to the previous Stratovarius songs. It seems that I am more positive now, since we found the solution that we all can live with. It's not about FUCKING money by the way. I have quit the anti depressives and therapy at the moment and I am feeling really good. I was drinking with Jari last weekend and we had a really good time together. We did pass out from drinking too much, but hey, YOU LIVE ONLY ONCE!!!"
January 10, 2004
Tolkki on the Strato boards explaining why the old lineup will play the upcoming gigs: "The gigs must be done because the contracts for those shows have been signed and the line up must be for this condition. We should pay huge cancellation fees to the promoters (around 100,000US per show) if we don´t play the gigs. I am not in a mood to do them at all, but I hope we can act civilized. At the moment things are still bad so I am worried how it will go in Spain."
January 15, 2004
Strato site news headline: New Vocalist For Stratovarius is Called 'Miss K'.
The vocal talents of this sultry Finnish lady vary from raunchy rock to classical operatic. Her voice range is over three octaves and she is capable of transforming Stratovarius sound to something unique, something that has never been heard in Metal before.
She is thirty years old and has a background in gymnastics, where she has twice become a Finnish Champion, and in acting.
She has until now been singing in some local bands and has done over two hundred gigs.
Drummer for the next album will be Anders Johansson, the brother of Jens Johansson.
After selling over 1,500,000 copies of their previous records, Stratovarius is now ready to take the next step in their career.
The band will enter the studio, a secret place, in May to record 11th studio album, which has a working title PopKiller.
The album is due February 2005 followed up by massive World Tour.
In legal news, Sanctuary Records is asking Timo Tolkki to pay back one million Euros from the recording agreement advance. Tolkki refuses to pay it, and comments: "They have sent me a notification and are asking me to pay that amount back. Their position is that the agreement was for the old line up. My legal staff doesn't interpret the agreement this way, and have advised me not to agree to this demand. It means that we might be going to court in Berlin, but I am confident I will win this case and that justice will prevail."
The Strato messageboard lit up like crazy. So then, did Mr. Tolkki.
To a fan who dared question his judgement in the band matters: "I have never cared about your opinion. I don't need you opinion when I am deciding the musical direction of my band. Other than that, you will always find me polite and good mannered. You get what you order you know."
Here's a rich quote: "All great artists have been misunderstood in their time. In one hundred years someone will know the effect to the big picture."
"Go listen to fucking Thunderstone and their new album crybaby!"
January 17, 2004
More Strato messageboard fun from Timo: "On Thursday there were 75,000 people visiting StratoCom and 2,000 people visiting KutipeltoCum... Because my brother Tero has designed the entire StratoCom and KutipeltoCum and he told me."
January 18, 2004
Strato site headline: Interview With Tolkki, Jari Kainulainen, and MissK
(This interview was conducted by a journalist close to the band)
The new line up was announced on Thursday. It's all over the media and quite surprising for many people it seems. How do you feel about the reaction?
TT: It is quite surprising. I have received about 20 emails, where my life has been threatened directly. Be them real or not, it surely doesn't feel nice. I am sure the amount of hatred doesn't feel nice for MissK neither, who has just joined Stratovarius.
MK: Well, I don't care about those. It's my career that I am thinking about here. I see this whole thing from an entertainer's point of view. I am an entertainer. I was asked by Timo Tolkki to join this band, after we had met many times, talked about life, music and all. We have made lots of demos together and the new songs sound really really promising. It was me who contacted him however, when I heard that Timo Kotipelto left the band. I saw my chance and I took it and here I am!! To stay, like it or not!!
JK: I don't know about the reaction, I have been drinking Jack Daniels for the whole week. What fucking reaction? The only reaction I know has been when I have been vomiting in the mornings.
Hmm, I see. I hope you feel better already.
TT: What makes me wondering is the amount of hate that this line-up change has generated among the fans. It seems I will be crucified, no matter what I do. I personally feel that I have given Stratovarius fans a lot of music along the years, organized lots of tours and done thousands of interviews. I think I have given them a lot! And still they say I don't respect them and that I should respect them more? I say that respect is a mutual thing. All the outbursts from my side have only been reactions to very violent and arrogant reactions from people who call themselves "Stratovarius fans". And now when people see a bit of blood (it's real blood by the way), they freak out."
MissK, how do you feel about this blood issue and why are you showing your middle finger?
MK: I like blood. Elisabeth Bathory used to bathe in blood of young virgins. That sounds exciting to me! Do you think I should try that sometime? I eat babies for breakfast!! HAHAAAAAAHAAA!! The middle finger is not directed to anyone by the way!! But have you seen "Kill Bill" by Tarantino?
No I haven´t. Jari, how do you see this blood issue?
JK: I haven't even seen the pictures. I have been too busy driving my mountainbike in my apartment. Besides, I just had a claustrophobic attack in the park. That was horrible.
Timo Tolkki, you are drinking vodka straight from the bottle as we speak. Why are you doing that?
TT: This whole violence shows that mankind hasn't truly learned anything from the past. If you consider this: If a simple rock band is able to generate this much hate and direct death threats, then how is it with larger things and with things that REALLY matter? Is it any wonder why we still have wars in the world when you look at this fucking reaction from Stratovarius fans? So that's why I am drinking vodka straight from the bottle.
Are you still going to therapy?
TT: I quit that, but now I think I have to go back there. Perhaps start taking antidepressive medication again. This whole thing might make the whole band enter group therapy. I heard there is really good group therapist in Germany, who is specialized in problems of rock groups. Besides I am facing 1,5 Million Dollars lawsuit from Sanctuary, so it's all downhill for me now anyway.
You saw your father committing suicide when you were just twelve years old. Have you gotten over that?
TT: None of your business asshole. Why do you have to ask that? I will never get over that. When your own father cuts his wrists with razorblades and jumps down from the fourth floor in front of your eyes, don't you think it will have some influence to you?
I am sorry I asked. Sorry Timo.
TT: OK, no prob. You journalists just want to sell your fucking magazines! I know you! I know you!
MissK and Jari, how are the new Stratovarius songs?
MK: We have been singing some old songs that Tolkki has selected carefully. I can sing all the songs though, with my range it is no problem for me to sing Father Time and songs like that. The new songs I haven't tried so much, because Tolkki has this new psychological producing style where he doesn't really tell the band in advance how the songs are. We just get some guitar riffs and that's all. I guess they are doing some recordings already.
JK: I never rehearse because I am so good. I have played in this band always. It is my band actually! You guys just don't know this. Besides I have more important things to do than to play. Like drinking and driving mountain bikes. My mountain bike costs 25,000 US Dollars by the way and it is a fucking nice piece of equipment!
Hmm I see.. MissK, but your vocal performance in your previous band has been criticized among the Stratovarius community.
MK: I can understand that. They were recorded years ago and I always told the guitar player of that band that the songs are written in the wrong fucking key for me!! Too fucking low! He never listened. It is an amateur band really, it is not even a band you know. Just one guy.
TT: I never based my choice of MissK to those soundclips. Frankly, they are quite horrible. What people think? I was convinced about MissK when we met several times and talked about life and music and played together. She is truly an amazing performer, everybody will be surprised in the end when they will hear it! The songs in that old band of hers, were quite poor in my opinion with horrible production and completely in a wrong key for MissK. Her talent was wasted to death and now she has the chance to prove what she is really made of.
Many people expect Nightwish number two?
TT: That´s because to the masses everything is black and white. The new songs have absolutely fucking NOTHING to do with that style. Do you think I am stupid or something?
(At this point the interview had to be stopped because Tolkki was already so drunk that he could barely talk anymore. His assistant took him to rest and I continued with MissK for a while) So MissK, how do you see Timo Tolkki?
MK: He is such a gentleman with me. He listens to my feelings, fears (yeah, even I get scared sometimes!!) and what I want. I have never met anyone like him before. You know that he almost became a psychotherapist because of his father's suicide. It hurt him so bad. He has over six hundred books in his library and he is intelligent and well read and always been to me a really really nice and calm guy. So he has an alcohol problem, that's too bad. He always says to me that he hasn't got an alcohol problem, the alcohol has a problem with him. He has such a great style of humour. Really black. Many people take everything what he says literally, but many times it's just his humour.
(at this point Tolkki returns and surprisingly looks completely sober!!!)
TT: I get these attacks sometimes, sorry. I am missing a gene and that results that I get drunk very easily and get also sober very quickly. Sometimes.
I see. Last words for Stratovarius fans?
TT: Remember that I am the guy who wrote all the fucking Stratovarius classics! I wrote them all! I wrote Paradise, I wrote Hunting, I wrote Black Diamond!! I wrote Father Time, Kiss of Judas!! I wrote all those classics completely, also the vocal melodies. Kotipelto just wrote a few lyrics, but to me the music is what really counts. Lyrics are really not that important on a larger scale. He never wrote any of the music or melodies of any of my songs. Just a few lyrics. And even on those songs where he wrote some lyrics, the song titles were always mine. I compose like that you know. I always come up with the title first. So don't come to tell me to leave the band I created and in which I have been in 20 years!!! If you don't understand my decisions, then you are always free not to listen to it or buy it. Don't buy fucking stuff you don't like!! So all I want to say is that although I do understand the disappointment of the fans in generally, I do not understand and accept the violence and prejudism concerning the lineup change. Through the tough times you see who your REAL friends are!! And at the end of the day my Friends, it is just a FUCKING ROCK BAND!!!!
January 18, 2004
Tolkki responding on the messageboard to allegations of the interview being a publicity stunt:
"You are utterly out of your fucking mind!!! You think this all is funny? You try to receive fucking death threats and people's hatred for yourself and then call it a publicity stunt. Just one thing to say to you: FUCK OFF!!!"
"The interview was conducted by Juho Juntunen from Soundi and it is a known fact that he always does these drinking interviews."
Timo also had gracious words for his ex-bandmate:
"If someone is lying, then it's fucking Kotipelto. He hasn't said anything about the split because it has largely to do his dictatorial attitude towards the rest of the bandmembers. He always wanted things in his way and refused to listen to the majority of the band. This is the fucking truth!"
"I will never play in the same band with that guy again. You don't know his true face."
I love this: "I don't give a flying fuck about record sales or fame. I have enough money after Sanctuary deal anyway, even if I have to pay some back to them. I will end Stratovarius after few albums and start my producer career. So why the fuck I would care about the things you said? Kotipelto and Michael got big portion of that money by the way. I don't see anyone complaining when Kotipelto drives with his Audi TT and Rolex and about Michael living in a new castle in Germany. Once again it's just fucking me who is the bad guy. But that´s ok... you know why? Because I DON´T GIVE A FUCK!!!"
January 19, 2004
A fan reaction to the interview on the messageboard: "Lighten up a bit. It's so obvious. Just the Jari comments gives it out right away. This is but a joke. Tolkki wants to make some of you guys realize that the fact that somebody left the band doesn't make him a devil. This is all sarcasm. Timo isn't as stupid as a lot of you might think."
Timo's reply: "You are a fucking joke."
Then Timo throws this up: "The vibrations feel good now. I can feel the radiant beams of spectral colors from countless souls, bouncing off the whole galaxy as if it were a giant lens, and focusing on me. There is a greater force within me who is whispering in my ear and guiding my every step. And I have just found out that I have passed the test, that I have made the right decisions up to this point."
And more from the Tolkkinator: "The interview was done drunk, I admit and I am sorry about that. It was done by a Finnish journalist Juho Juntunen of Soundi magazine and he always provokes things. I tried to stop that release, but the management put it up there already and now there is no point anymore."
More messageboard fun about Kotipelto, from the Innocent One, Timo Tolkki: "I have never said anything bad about his vocal abilities. His decision not to comment these things just piss me off. He is doing it for the reasons you know nothing about. He is not this angel he pretends to be, but a very good actor. If I am a dictator then in many things so is he (acting against the majority of the band members). He knows exactly what he is doing by keeping the silence."
To a fan trying to offer encouragement and support: "Thank you for your advice, but let me say this: You have absolutely no way of understanding the pressure I live in at the moment with all the death threats and violence. That does make one to say stupid things sometimes you know. You have temper, you are South American! You from all people should know this."
"But Kotipelto wasn't fired and neither was Jörg. Plus they got lot of money from the Sanctuary deal. Both bought a very nice houses and are driving nice cars (Jörg even bought a castle) and I am the one who might lose everything because I am going to court with Sanctuary in Berlin."
"But it is a hell of a place to be when 99% of your fans that loved and respected you before abandon you and turn very violent and hateful. Just in the moment when especially me, Jens and Jari would need your support, you turn your backs to us and hit a knife to our backs. THAT my friend, feels like BETRAYAL!"
January 20, 2004
Tolkki on the board: "I have asked Anders [Johannson] to join Stratovarius permanently and I believe he will do so."
Tolkki on accented singing: "Finglish rules!! One of the funniest things was always for me that the biggest critics about Kotipelto's pronunciation came from Finland. The promised land of "rally driver English" or "Mika Häkkinen" English. I do not give a flying fuck about pronunciation and I realized that it is not even necessary after Swedish band Ace of Base went number one in USA with that Swedish accent. For those who criticize the pronunciations, go to fucking University with your opinions and leave us who just want to enjoy the music ALONE!!!"
January 21, 2004
Tolkki on the board: "Besides those blood pictures represent the change in Stratovarius and they are full of good Christian values... Christianity is a cannibalistic religion. They drink the blood of Christ and eat his flesh. Therefore these pictures represent good Christian values."
January 22, 2004
Timo Tolkki on the official Strato site under the headline Anders Johansson Out Of Stratovarius: "He gave me a call and said that he doesn't want to join the band permanently and that he is happy to be in HammerFall playing True Metal. Since I am looking for a permanent member, we agreed in good spirits to go separate ways. I am very disappointed that he didn't want to join Stratovarius permanently, but at the same time I wish him and the HammerFall guys well and best of luck with their career. I suspect that the decision of Anders has something to do with my reputation. I can understand him very well, I wouldn't join a band in which I would be playing in. I have already contacted a Finnish drummer and I hope I can announce his name very soon."
January 22, 2004
Anders Johansson in the HammerFall site guestbook: "I was never going to leave HammerFall. I think we have a great thing going with HammerFall and a cool vibe. Everybody fits together nicely both as musicians and people. Timo and Jens asked me to help out with the recording their new record. I told them all the time it was just to be a studio session. After a while Timo started to weird out. He talked about voices in his head, religion and German dictators all the time. And about what a legendary band we could be... breaking more WC's than any band before. Then Kainulainen started to call. He just sat there silent on the other side of the phone. What a strange bunch of guys..."
January 23, 2004
Blabbermouth.net reports on an interview with Timo Tolkki that ran on the Finnish site www.soneraplaza.fi:
"One of the worst things, in my opinion, is that Timo Kotipelto hasn't spoken about this situation publicly. I have said everything there is to say via our web site and in interviews and now everyone thinks that I'm the asshole! And Kotipelto has said nothing... I have released the facts of this situation on our web site."
[Well, I stopped keeping track of events around this time. But there was more. An alleged attack on Timo Tolkki. A festival performance where Jens Johansson pissed on Tolkki onstage. Here in 2006, In the interest of completing the story being told above, I'm going to use available resources to list the things that happened after I stopped being snoopy about all of this. Without comment. Here are news updates that appeared on Blabbermouth after this time. For the record, I don't believe for one second that Tolkki was actually attacked.]
January 25, 2004
January 26, 2004
STRATOVARIUS Leader TOLKKI: TIMO KOTIPELTO Won't Rehearse With Me
January 29, 2004
January 30, 2004
TIMO TOLKKI: 'KOTIPELTO Was The True Dictator Of STRATOVARIUS'
February 7, 2004
HAMMERFALL Drummer: TIMO TOLKKI Needs Professional Help
February 11, 2004
STRATOVARIUS Fans Give New Singer Shit (Literally!)
February 21, 2004
STRATOVARIUS Webmaster Distances Himself From 'Completely Crazy' TIMO TOLKKI
STRATOVARIUS webmaster Fred Derf has posted the following message on the band's official web site:
"Today I received a phone call from [STRATOVARIUS mainman] Timo Tolkki.
"He sounded like being in a very confused state of mind and was talking about red Kabbalah ribbons and how when he was reading Madonna's biography he felt warm waves all over his body and that the spirit of Jesus entered him and that now he really has found something he has been searching for all his life.
"I am very worried about him, he sounded like completely crazy.
"From this day onwards I will not take the responsibility of whatever is being released on this Website.
"As long as my paycheck arrives, I will continue putting on the site whatever Tolkki asks me to put there.
"But there is nothing I can do about it.
"I just work here."
February 21, 2004
It's Official: STRATOVARIUS' TOLKKI Loses His Marbles
February 22, 2004
STRATOVARIUS' TOLKKI: 'ADOLF HITLER Is Alive And Well'
March 1, 2004
Report: STRATOVARIUS Guitarist Assaulted In Spain, Treated For Stab Wounds
March 2, 2004
STRATOVARIUS Keyboardist Pisses On TIMO TOLKKI: Photos Available
March 9, 2004
STRATOVARIUS' TOLKKI Vows To Carry On
March 16, 2004
Former STRATOVARIUS Singer Blames Split On Alcohol Abuse, Non-Communication
April 3, 2004
TIMO KOTIPELTO: I'm Not Interested In Playing Another Show With STRATOVARIUS
April 3, 2004
STRATOVARIUS Leader Hospitalized For Symptoms Of Chronic Depression And Suicidal Thoughts
April 3, 2004
TIMO KOTIPELTO: I Am Relieved I Am Not In STRATOVARIUS
April 29, 2004
Drummer JÖRG MICHAEL: STRATOVARIUS Is In Deep Crisis
May 3, 2004
STRATOVARIUS' TIMO TOLKKI: I Want To Work Things Out With TIMO KOTIPELTO
June 21, 2004
STRATOVARIUS: KOTIPELTO Says He Is On Speaking Terms With TIMO TOLKKI
January 13, 2005