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Stratovarius Time Line




Timo Tolkki Timo Kotipelto Jari Kainulainen Jens Johannson Jörg Michael
"Here, were once was the land, is now the sea..." this wise stuff jsut to introduce you to the new history page, no longer under text form, but under a timeline order. Everything you want to know about Strato's here, without further, time-wasting researches. Enjoy!

    1984

  • Drummer & vocalist Tuomo Lassilla, guitarist Staffan Stråhlman and bassist John Vihervä join to create a band massively influenced by the '70s Metal.
  • After a gig in Aalborg, Danemark, Stråhlman leaves the band: he's replaced by Timo Tolkki, a virtuoso guitarist fan of Ritchie Blackmore and influenced by baroque music.
  • The band searches for a new vocalist without success; Timo Tolkki becames the new singer.

    • 1987

  • The band tours around the Helsinky district; they also record a demo-tape with three songs: Future Schock, Fright Night and Night Screamer.

    • 1988

  • At a show at the Tavastia Club, Helsinky, managers of the CBS Finland hire the band for the recording of their first album.
  • Keyboardist Anti Ikkonen joins the band.

    • 1989

  • The band releases Fright Night.
  • European tour; Giants Of Rock at Hämeenlinna with Anthrax.
  • The guys ready for another album, but CBS Finland is no longer interested in the project.

    • 1990-1991

  • New bassist Jari Behm hired; nevertheless he doesn't satisfy the needs of the band. He is fired.
  • The band auto-produces the second album.

    • 1992

  • Shark Records produces album number 2, "Twilight Time".
  • Japan: TT reaches the top 10 of the import albums chart.

    • 1993

  • Japan: TT is the first selling import album.
  • JVC Entertainment proposes a contract to the band for the distribution in Japan.
  • New bassist is found in Jari Kainulainen; anyway, the recordings for album three had been just finished. During 8 weeks of the recording, Sami Kuoppamäki, drummer of Kingston Wall, replaces Tuomo Lassilla, injuried by hand stress.

    • 1994

  • "Dreamspace" is released.

    • 1995

  • New singer found in young Timo Kotipelto; the band releases "Fourth Dimension".
  • Lassilla and Ikkonen leave the band; they're replaced by Running Wild's drummer Jörg Michael and by Malmsteen's keyboardist Jens Johansson.

    • 1996

  • Release of the best seller "Episode" album. The band gains international success.
  • World Tour.

    • 1997

  • Release of Stratovarius' "Opera Magna": "Visions".
  • Visions sells 500.000 copies worldwide with Noise Records.
  • World Tour reaches Korea and South America.

    • 1998

  • The success of Visions continues; release of Live Album "Visions Of Europe", recorded at gigs in Milan and Athens, summer of 1997.
  • The eight wonder: Destiny is released in October; starts the world tour.

    • 1999

  • Destiny sells Gold in Finland, being at number 1 for 3 weeks; worldwide tour continues.
  • Timo Kotipelto suffers from throat infection; nothing serious, but the tour is stopped for a month.




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