Interviews

A very very tired looking man comes to the interview held in famous Tavastia-club in Helsinki. Timo Kotipelto who just released his 3rd soloalbum titled "Serenity" arrived from Stockholm, Sweden where he was recording another episode for MTV's Headbanger's Ball.

He is about to start his European tour which lasts almost 3 weeks and all the finnish promotion of his soloalbum should be done in just one day!

"When I get on tour, that is easy. I can do the interviews during the day and hit the stage on the evening. Being on stage to me doesn't require much brain really. So one could say that touring for me is like taking a vacation."

I started my own magazine!

The VJ-job of Headbanger's Ball came as a total surprise for Timo. "I have done some stuff to radio in the past but that was very much different. The great thing about this VJ-stuff is that I get to play music that is close to my heart and I can play that to people."

Being a journalist is no stranger to Timo cause he has his own Rock The Metal-magazine.

"I wanted to buy a backcover advertisement on one finnish magazine but they wouldn't sell it to me so I decided to make my own magazine.", Timo laughs.

Relationship to Tolkki is better nowadays.

Timo become famous as a vocalist of Stratovarius. Band has gained a lot of success also outside Finland. During 2003 Stratovarius however went through a deep crisis and as a result of that, Timo and the drummer Jörg Michael left Stratovarius. Especially the relationship between two Timo's were very bad. Eventually the hatchet was buried and according to Kotipelto, the chemistry between members of Stratovarius are good nowadays.

"We have started recording the new album already. Tolkki has composed 10 songs and the drums are recorded already. The album will be out probably sometime next year but we don't have any deadlines for the release date. The relations between me and Timo are very good nowadays. He has the illness which has been diagnosed and he is doing things for it. Which is different from the past cause in the past he didn't do anything for that illness."

Drink alcohol if you will.

Usually alcohol and heavy partying is connected to metal bands. Timo states though that all the members of Stratovarius go on stage sober.

"Drinking alcohol is not very wise for me. I can have a glass of wine or few beers after the show but if we a show the next day, I won't get shitfaced."

Members in Kotipelto's soloband can drink alcohol if they want. According to Timo, alcohol in the rockscene is a two-headed sword really.

"Backstages are full of booze. It's a tradition that musicians are served with alcohol. But it's not a very good road..."

Blown up toilet in Hungary

While touring Timo and his bass-player Lauri Porra have other things to do besides drinking alcohol. They have this hobby of exploring high buildings.

"Almost all the highest buildings are explored actually. Maybe I could develop a theme around that or something.", he laughs.

It is also very important to take care of not only your voice but your shape too. And get enough sleep.

"If you are on the road for weeks and don't get enough sleep, my voice gets fucked up immediately."

Some more or less funny incidents have happened while touring. Timo remembers this one trip to Budapest in Hungary with Stratovarius where Jens Johansson exploded a toilet!

"If one explodes a toilet by accident...I guess that can be considered funny but vandalism is where I draw the line."

Many might wonder what is his current relationship status. Timo has a view about that.

"No I won't go there...don't even try. That's my personal life."