Timo Tolkki

Timo Tolkki
Tolkki performing with Stratovarius in 2007.
Background information
Birth name	Timo Tapio Tolkki
Born	3 March 1966 (1966-03-03) Nurmijärvi, Finland
Genres	Power metal, progressive metal, neo-classical metal, heavy metal, instrumental rock
Occupations	Musician, songwriter, producer
Instruments	Guitar, vocals
Labels	Nuclear Blast, Sanctuary
Associated acts	Stratovarius, Revolution Renaissance, Symfonia
Website	[1]
Notable instruments
ESP Mirage Series

Timo Tapio Tolkki (born 3 March 1966) is a Finnish musician best known as the former guitarist, songwriter, and producer of the power metal band Stratovarius. He left Stratovarius in 2008 and formed a new band, Revolution Renaissance. To this day, with his tenure extending for more than twenty years, Tolkki was the longest standing member of Stratovarius before his departure. Guitar World magazine ranked him in the top 50 fastest guitar players in the world.

Biography

Tolkki started playing guitar at the age of seven. As a young teenager, it was not uncommon for him to practice eight hours a day. Before joining Stratovarius in 1984, he had played with the bands Antidote, Thunder and Road Block. At the beginning of his career with Stratovarius, he served as vocalist as well as handling all lead and rhythm guitars, and at times bass guitar (until Jari Kainulainen's arrival in 1993). After the band's third album, Dreamspace (1994), Tolkki handed over vocal duties to Timo Kotipelto, who took over from Fourth Dimension (1995) onwards. This was largely due to Tolkki's desire to evolve the overall musical direction of the band and concentrate on his guitarwork. Further changes were made after Dreamspace, including the departure of the remaining original members of the band, keyboardist Antti Ikonen and drummer Tuomo Lassila.

In 1994, Tolkki released his first solo album, Classical Variations and Themes, which had at the time been one of his longtime ambitions. The album was similar to his work with Stratovarius, but with more focus on primarily instrumental compositions. His second solo album, Hymn to Life (2002) showed a more personal side, dealing with such emotional issues as his relationship with God and his late father.

He was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2004, following a nervous breakdown which occurred some months after Stratovarius acrimoniously disbanded. After a period of rehabilitation, he went on to make a full recovery later that year and subsequently opened his own recording studio, named Goldenworks Mixing Suite. A final album with Stratovarius was released in 2005, after which he announced his departure from the band in 2008. Upon leaving he decided to waive the legal rights to the name, allowing the band to continue as Stratovarius.

Tolkki's next project was an album labelled as a rock opera, named Saana – Warrior of Light Pt 1. It was released on 14 March 2008, and featured a number of guest vocalists, including soprano Jennifer Sowle in the lead role, as well as Aino Laos, Janette Sainio, and Heikki Pöyhiä of Twilightning.

In 2010, he formed Symfonia, a power metal supergroup comprising singer André Matos, keyboardist Mikko Härkin, drummer Uli Kusch and former Stratovarius bandmate Jari Kainulainen. They made their debut performance at the 2011 Finnish Metal Expo, but in December of that year he announced that the band will no longer continue, and subsequently his retirement from the music industry.^{[citation needed]}

Playing style

From the period spanning Stratovarius' first three albums, Tolkki's guitar playing was more progressive and heavy. During this time he preferred E♭ tuning, with his compositions often bearing a dark and unnerving tonal quality (particularly on Dreamspace). Following Kotipelto's arrival as lead singer, Tolkki's style shifted gradually more towards the traditionally speedy and melodic format of power metal; adopting such elements as neo-classical phrasing and various shredding techniques.

Equipment

Throughout his career, Tolkki has played ESP Guitars. His primary model is a customised M Series, most notably in solid black and another with the Visions (1997) album artwork on the body. In some Stratovarius music videos, he is seen playing an ESP EX series. Mesa/Boogie and Laney was his amplification of choice until 2001, after which he switched to using Marshall Amplification. Since 2007 he has used an ENGL Powerball.^{[citation needed]}

Discography

Stratovarius

• 1989: Fright Night
• 1992: Twilight Time
• 1994: Dreamspace
• 1995: Fourth Dimension
• 1996: Episode
• 1997: Visions
• 1997: The Past and Now (compilation)
• 1998: Visions of Europe (live)
• 1998: Destiny
• 1999: The Chosen Ones (compilation)
• 2000: Infinite
• 2000: 14 Diamonds (compilation)
• 2000: Infinite Visions (DVD)
• 2001: Intermission
• 2003: Elements, Pt. 1
• 2003: Elements, Pt. 2
• 2005: Stratovarius
• 2006: Black Diamond: The Anthology (compilation)

Revolution Renaissance

• 2008: New Era
• 2009: Age of Aquarius
• 2010: Trinity

Symfonia

• 2011: In Paradisum

Solo albums

• 1994: Classical Variations and Themes (1994)
• 2002: Hymn to Life (2002)
• 2008: Saana – Warrior of Light Pt 1 (2008)

Other appearances

• 1998: Edguy: Vain Glory Opera — guitar solo on "Out of Control"
• 2001: Avantasia: The Metal Opera — vocals on "The Tower"
• 2002: Avantasia: The Metal Opera Part II — guitar solo on "The Seven Angels" and "Into the Unknown"
• 2002: Thunderstone – Thunderstone — guitar solo on "Like Father, Like Son"
• 2003: Gimmel – Kaksi kertaa enemmän