Stratovarius

Finnish power metal band

Formed in 1984

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Upcoming shows

Sat Oct 24 Yokohama, Japan · PIA ARENA MMwith Rage, Gus G. Tickets
Tue Oct 27 Guangzhou, China · Mao Livehouse Tickets
Thu Oct 29 Nan Jing Shi, China · Daoxiang Music Space Tickets
Sat Oct 31 Guangzhou, China · Mao Livehouse Tickets
Sun Nov 1 Guangzhou, China · Mao Livehouse Tickets
Fri Nov 13 Oulu, Finland · Ouluhalli Tickets
Sat Nov 14 Kuopio, Finland · Kuopio-halli Tickets
Fri Nov 20 Tampere, Finland · Tampere Ice Stadium Tickets
Sat Nov 21 Joensuu, Finland · Joensuu Areena Tickets
Fri Nov 27 Vaasa, Finland · Vaasan Sähkö Areena Tickets
Sat Nov 28 Vantaa, Finland · Myyrmäki Hallwith Sonata Arctica Tickets
Fri Dec 4 Lahti, Finland · Lahden Suurhalli Tickets
Fri Dec 11 Hyvinkää, Finland · Wanha Areena Oy Tickets
Sat Dec 12 Salo, Finland · Salo Sports Hallwith Sonata Arctica Tickets
Fri Jun 11 Okres Plzeň-město, Czechia · Lochotin amphitheater Tickets
Thu Jun 17 Zamora, Spain · Recinto Ferial IFEZA Tickets
Fri Jul 2 Helsinki, Finland · Suvilahtiwith Judas Priest Tickets

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Tour dates elsewhere: Bandsintown · Songkick

About

Stratovarius is a Finnish power metal band formed in 1984. They have released sixteen studio albums, six DVDs, and six live albums. The band's line-up has changed many times, with no founding member left since the departure of drummer Tuomo Lassila in 1995, and no member from their early recording days left following guitarist Timo Tolkki's departure in 2008. Currently, the longest standing member is singer Timo Kotipelto, who joined in 1994.

The band was founded in August 1984 as Black Water, consisting of Lassila as singer and drummer, guitarist Staffan Stråhlman, bassist John Vihervä, and, later, keyboardist Antti Ikonen. In Summer 1985, the band changed its name to Stratovarius, which was soon followed by line-up changes. Tolkki replaced Stråhlman and with this line-up, the band released its first album Fright Night in 1989, with Tolkki as sole songwriter. While going through many bassists, the band released the albums Twilight Time in 1992 and Dreamspace in 1994. In 1994, Kotipelto replaced Tolkki as lead vocalist, and after the release of Fourth Dimension in 1995, Lassila and Ikonen left the band and were replaced by Jörg Michael and Jens Johansson respectively.

This line-up, sometimes identified as the "classic line-up" of Stratovarius, lasted ten years and released eight albums, including most of their popular works, until Tolkki's departure in 2008; Tolkki had originally intended to disband Stratovarius, but allowed the rest of the band to continue without him. The band's following albums were all positively received, and were acknowledged as a return to form for the band. The current line-up, which has remained the same since the arrival of drummer Rolf Pilve in 2012, is the longest-tenured in the band's history.

The group have topped the charts in their native Finland four times and are viewed as a significant and influential band in the power metal genre.

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Also in Français

Stratovarius est un groupe de power metal finlandais originaire d'Helsinki. Formé en 1984, le nom est une contraction entre Stratocaster et Stradivarius.

Le groupe a produit seize albums studios, dont le dernier, Survive, est sorti en 2022.

Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0