Timo Tolkki | |
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 Tolkki performing withStratovarius in 2007 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Timo Tapio Tolkki |
| Born | (1966-03-03)3 March 1966 (age 59) Klaukkala,[1]Nurmijärvi, Finland |
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| Years active | 1984–present |
| Labels | |
| Website | timotolkki |
Timo Tapio Tolkki (born 3 March 1966) is a Finnish musician best known as the former guitarist, singer, songwriter and producer of thepower metal bandStratovarius. With his tenure lasting for more than twenty years, he was the longest standing member of the band before his departure in 2008. After leaving Stratovarius he formed twosupergroups namedRevolution Renaissance andSymfonia, both of which have since disbanded. In a 2011 article byGuitar World magazine, Tolkki was included in the all-time top 50 list of the world'sfastest guitarists.[2]
Tolkki started playing guitar at the age of seven and practiced intensely, sometimes eight hours a day.[3] When he was twelve years old, his father committed suicide byjumping from the fourth floor of his apartment.[4]
Before joining Stratovarius in 1984, Tolkki 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 alllead andrhythm guitars, and at timesbass guitar (untilJari Kainulainen's arrival in 1993). After the band's third album,Dreamspace (1994), Tolkki handed over vocal duties toTimo Kotipelto, who took over fromFourth Dimension (1995) onwards. This was largely due to Tolkki's desire to evolve the overall musical direction of the band and concentrate on his guitar work. Further changes were made afterDreamspace, including the departure of the remaining original members of the band, keyboardist Antti Ikonen and drummer Tuomo Lassila, due to creative differences.[5]
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 primarilyinstrumental compositions. His second solo album,Hymn to Life (2002) showed a more personal side, dealing with such emotional issues as his relationship withGod and his late father.
He was diagnosed withbipolar disorder in 2004, following anervous 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. A finalself-titled 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. He later claimed this was done as a protest due to the remaining members deciding to continue the band as Stratovarius.
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Tolkki's next project was an album described as arock opera, namedSaana – Warrior of Light Pt 1. Released on 14 March 2008, it featured a number of guest vocalists, includingsoprano Jennifer Sowle in the lead role, as well asHeikki Pöyhiä ofTwilightning. Also in 2008, he founded a band calledRevolution Renaissance, which released three albums between 2008 and 2010.
In 2010,Symfonia was formed as a power metal supergroup comprising Tolkki, singerAndré Matos, keyboardistMikko Härkin, drummerUli Kusch and former Stratovarius bandmate Jari Kainulainen.[6] They made their debut performance at the 2011Finnish Metal Expo and later released their only studio album,In Paradisum, but in December of that year Tolkki announced the discontinuation of the band, and subsequently his retirement from the music industry.[7]
In March 2012, Tolkki stated on hisFacebook profile (and official Symfonia page) that although he had left the music business, he hadn't given up on music altogether: "With all the tools available for us today to release music, you will hear something interesting from me". Later he released a mock album cover entitledClassical Variations and Themes Vol 2, suggesting a new solo album.[8] On 10 April 2012 he released a new instrumental track named "Dinner with Paganini", which was made available as a free download throughPledgeMusic, as well as a revised name for a potential new album,Classical Variations and Themes II: Credo.[9] However, on 26 July, he announced the cancellation of the project.[10]
On 8 January 2013, Tolkki announced the opening of a newmixing andmastering studio named Studiotolkki, located inHelsinki, Finland.[11]
In February 2013, Timo announced his new project,Avalon, featuring a group of guest musicians such asMichael Kiske (Unisonic,Helloween),Sharon den Adel (Within Temptation),Elize Ryd (Amaranthe),Russell Allen (Symphony X,Adrenaline Mob,Star One),Rob Rock (Impellitteri,M.A.R.S.),Tony Kakko (Sonata Arctica),Jens Johansson (Stratovarius,Yngwie Malmsteen),Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater) andAlex Holzwarth (Rhapsody of Fire).[12] The album, released on 17 May 2013, follows a story set in a post-apocalyptic future. In 2055, Earth has been almost destroyed by natural catastrophes, and a small group of survivors decide to set off a journey to find a sacred place known as The Land of New Hope.[12]
In October 2013 Timo launched a news website for the project in which he announced the sequel toThe Land of New Hope, which was provisionally titledAvalon II.[13] The cast of guest musicians will be revealed one by one.[13]Simone Simons ofEpica fame is the first confirmed singer.[14]Floor Jansen will play the leading role.[15] It was also announced that Timo's former bandmates in Stratovarius, drummerTuomo Lassila and keyboardist Antti Ikonen will play on this album.[16][17]
A European tour was planned for May 2014, coinciding with the release of the album.[15]
On 28 January, Timo revealed title of the album (Angels of the Apocalypse) and the rest of the cast:Fabio Lione (Rhapsody of Fire,Angra),David DeFeis (Virgin Steele),Elize Ryd (Amaranthe) and Caterina Nix.[18] Timo also announced that there will be a contest for guitar and keyboard players, with the winners getting a chance to perform a solo with him in one of the songs.[18]
In June 2019, Timo Tolkki released the third part of theAvalon trilogy, the albumReturn to Eden, with the main working song, "Promises".[19][20]
In 2021, Timo Tolkki releases his new solo album with "Infinite Visions" project's songs, called "Union Magnetica", as the fourth Avalon album, which is called "The Enigma Birth", with many musicians as guests. The new metal opera album has the main working songs "Master of Hell" and "The Fire and the Sinner".[21]
On 24 July 2013, Tolkki announced via his Facebook page (among a statement regarding Stratovarius) that he would be the producer, mixer and songwriter for a new album of the duoAllen/Lande, composed of Symphony X vocalist Russell Allen and Norwegian singerJørn Lande. The albumThe Great Divide was released on 17 October in Europe and 21 October 2014 in North America.[22]
In May 2015, it was announced that Timo would produce and perform in a project with Chilean singer Caterina Nix titled Chaos Magic. Caterina and Timo met in Chile when Stratovarius was performing there. She would later guest sing in Avalon's second album,Angels of the Apocalypse. Their first, self-titled album is set for a 3 July release in Europe.[23] In June 2015 they released their first videos: a video for the song "I'm Alive",[24] and two lyric videos for "One Drop of Blood"[25] and "A Little Too Late".[26]
From the period spanning Stratovarius' first three albums, Tolkki's guitar playing was moreprogressive andheavy. During this time he preferred E♭tuning, with his compositions often bearing a dark and unnerving tonal quality (particularly onDreamspace). Following Timo Kotipelto's arrival as lead singer, Tolkki's style shifted gradually more towards the traditionally speedy andmelodic format of power metal, with an emphasis on such elements asneoclassicalphrasing andfastalternate picking.
Tolkki has been married three times. He has one daughter from his second marriage, born in 1988.[27][28] Since 2000, Tolkki has been in a relationship with Dominika Gottová, eldest daughter of Czech singerKarel Gott.[29] They got married in 2010. Gottová filed for divorce in December 2019, but the proceedings were halted in November 2020 after the couple decided to reconcile.[30]
In November 2023, Tolkki was convicted by the Helsinki District Court for fraudulently claiming income support in 2020.[31] He received a 45-day suspended prison sentence and was ordered to pay €3,063 toKela.
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