TIMO TOLKKI Slams STRATOVARIUS' Current Lineup For 'Pissing On My Music And Art'

Former STRATOVARIUS mainman Timo Tolkki — who drew up and signed an official waiver on May 20, 2008 giving up all rights to the STRATOVARIUS name — has slammed the band's current lineup for "exploiting" the STRATOVARIUS name and "pissing on my music and art."

STRATOVARIUS' present formation includes four members from the most recent version of the Tolkki-led lineup — Timo Kotipelto (vocals), Jens Johansson (keyboards), Jörg Michael (drums) and Lauri Porra (bass) — along with new guitarist Matias Kupiainen.

"Polaris", the new album from STRATOVARIUS, entered the official chart in Finland at position No. 2. The CD also debuted on the German Media Control chart at No. 55.

In a June 14, 2009 online posting, Tolkki stated about his former bandmates, "These guys keep on both exploiting the name and pissing on my music and art. More than personal choice it comes down to morals that STRATOVARIUS was completely my vision. Both musically and ideologically. As there cannot be STRATOVARIUS without Kotipelto, Jörg Michael or Jens Johansson, there surely cannot be STRATOVARIUS without me. They are not even leaving in peace some of the most deepest feelings I have composed like 'Forever', which I composed to my dead father. I am not convinced about the 'sincerity' that 'more music is better.' It is the money talking here. Plus that everything is dumped to my neck blatantly ignoring that I shared every single euro with these guys while I was in the band. We are talking about lot of money here. I take my music and art very seriously and I don't make compromises. I don't take my music to 'choir wars' and prostitute myself with cheap acts like that. And I take my responsibility when I have done something wrong, like in the stunt." [Referring to the purported "publicity stunt" STRATOVARIUS concoted several years ago when singer Timo Kotipelto was fired and a female replacement, Miss K, was drafted in, as well as the stabbing that took place in Madrid, Spain. According to Timo, the whole publicity stunt was organized very meticulously and the entire band, management and even the record company was in on it.] "I don't hide. What there guys are doing in this moment by calling their band 'STRATOVARIUS' is disgusting. Truly disgusting."

Tolkki recently announced plans to resurrect the classic "Dreamspace" lineup of STRATOVARIUS and record a new album under the name PROJECT STRATO "Return To Dreamspace". This album will see Timo Tolkki handling the vocals again.

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."