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The year 2004 - and partly 2005 - have been a rollercoaster ride for Stratovarius and so it was a little surprise that after the release of the self-titled album the band hit the streets. The interest in Stratovarius was huge, too many questions waited to be answered. During the set of HammerFall Timo Kotipelto granted some time to answer some questions. They were already on tour for about 2 weeks... "So far the tour is very good." Timo stated. Together on tour with HammerFall some might have expected some Johnsson brothers to cause some mass. "Jens broke some table and plates backstage - and something else -, but since Anders' sons are with us on tour they behave a little better." Not everybody is playing Russia and so I was curious how that shows been. "It was the second time we played there. The audience was very good, everybody knew the words." Even if not that many copies get sold over there... "It was the same promoter who booked us last time, but this time the organization was even better - at least for us as a band." More bands are playing there these days, thanks to a new promoter. "From Finland it's easy to go there, just take the train. Well, I flew back and forth. I didn't want to sit on a train for 13 hrs with my back problems." But still from St. Petersburg to Moscow he had to face a 9 hrs. long train ride, but in a sleeping compartment. Many bands release their debut self-titled, but Stratovarius named their latest album after the band - the re-united band. "This feels like a new start for the band and when Timo came up with the idea it feels right. You can only do this once in your career." Back together, but is it still the same? "It's different, we have a new bassist." Timo says with a smile. As Tolkki stated before that the line-up with bassist Jari is the one and only, it's a bit strange... "Jari played on the album, but when it came to tour, he took his leave. He married about 2 years ago and wasn't up to it any longer." Lauri was the obvious choice and as Kotipelto worked - and still works - with him, they got him on board with Stratovarious. "He's an equal member. Some band might have a lot of money to split, but we don't and so everybody gets the same. He's a good guy." So Timo tells that even in his solo band he shares everything and not just hires some guys for playing live or for the recording. "Actually I got less money then my band from the solo tour, coz I paid everything." That proofs that he‘s still down-to-Earth and not acting like a rock star off stage. "It was like a dream come true when I got the offer for the solo tour. It was like 'now or never' and I did it! It was great. I like playing early, coz you can only win. Expectations aren't that high. On this tour with HammerFall we are co-headlining, but at some shows HammerFall play second and we headline. It's great." Next time Timo hopes he can bring on solo shows the recording line-up, but last time the schedule didn't allowed it. On other occations Jens jumped in. But we came together to talk about Stratovarius... The track Götterdämmerung caused some discussions and it was first called Hitler. Tolkki even planned to use some part off a Hitler speech. "It was Timo's idea. And yes, there should have been some speech used, but I'm aware that this subject should be treated very sensitive. In a way I understand this arguing, but on the other hand it's just about a person in history. And we want to make people aware of this, about this dark days in history." But fans might get it wrong... "The label said 'no' to the title Hitler and then Jörg - or Timo - had the idea to call it Götterdämmerung." Here he confesses that he don't know much about it, only that it was off some old legend as Jörg told him. He got used to sing lyrics written by Tolkki, even if it's hard sometimes. "He never really plans where to go lyrically. He just writes what he feels and so this one is darker. Some sort of depressive..." That‘s no surprise when you think of waht Tolkki been through. So it's a diverse album and reactions been mixed. "Some good, some bad. Timo is composing and writting the lyrics and I'm not sure, if he knows what's next. Anyway, I hope it's more positive..." The band was signed to Noise International / Sanctuary, then Nuclear Blast and now back with Sanctuary. "There aren't that myn metal labels and we don't want to be no. 30,200 at EMI or another major. Why back to Sanctuary? Well, the deal ran out." With a new label and back on tour there is an obvious question... What about a DVD? "We actually recorded a show in Såo Paulo and Jens is supposed to edit it. But now we are on tour, but as soon as he finds time he'll edit it and then Timo will mix it. So, no idea when it'll come out." When Stratovarius have some time off, will the band Kotipelto be active again... "Well, I have already written some songs. Only composing music, but no lyrics yet. I also wrote some songs together with Lauri and Tuomas who are playing in my band and they will be on the next record. I hope we can start in February, but it depends on Janne's schedule and if he‘s on tour with Children Of Bodom. If we start working in February then it might be out in September / October 2006." And if Stratovarius won't start working on their coming album. The next Kotipleto album should be out before Stratovarius anyway and perhaps then there is time to tour again... "I hope I can do another tour. The European tour was fun, no stress. Well, money-wise it could be better..." It seems that Timo Kotipelto really likes to play as support and so some might hope for a tour of Kotipelto and Stratovarius. "It would be great to do some shows with Thunderstone, Warmen, Stratovarius and Children Of Bodom. Not in this paticular order, but you know to mix up a bit. I've been working with Janne, singing on Warmen albums and Mirka is playing on Warmen and on my album - it would be like having two bands on stage. Perhaps we can do that in Helsinki one day..." But Children Of Bodom would give the other bands a tough time, coz live they blow you away. But it would be fun... Not just for the bands!
And that was it for today, perhaps next time there is more to talk about. And I have the feeling that he‘s much more talkative when he can talk about his own band... When there is a new Kotipelto album, there is a chance to find out.
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