STRATOVARIUS: TOLKKI Jams On Hard Rock Classics, KOTIPELTO Celebrates Completion Of New Video

February 16, 2004

STRATOVARIUS guitarist Timo Tolkki participated in a very special "hard rock jam session" on Sunday (Feb. 15) at London Pub in Tampere, Finland. Joining Tolkki during the jam were HANOI ROCKS drummer Lacu and BOMFUNK MC'S bassist Ville Mäkinen.

The unnamed "band" performed nine cover songs, including KISS' "Lick It Up", IRON MAIDEN's "The Trooper", RAINBOW's "I Surrender", OZZY OSBOURNE's "Shot In The Dark", JUDAS PRIEST's "Turbo Lover", TWISTED SISTER's "I Wanna Rock" and WHITESNAKE's "Fool For Your Loving".

"This was the first time ever for me to jam like this in a public nightclub, and I was having a really good time," Tolkki said after the set.

STRATOVARIUS are preparing to reveal the identity of their new drummer in an announcement which may come as early as next week. According to Tolkki, the replacement for departed skinsman Jörg Michael may very well turn out to be a woman.

In related news, former STRATOVARIUS singer Timo Kotipelto celebrated the completion of his brand-new video (for the track "Reasons") in Helsinki on Saturday (Feb. 14). Among the party attendees was CHILDREN OF BODOM keyboardist Janne Wirman, who shot the 10-minute mini-movie "The Making of Coldness", to be included (along with the "Reasons" video clip) on Kotipelto's forthcoming "Coldness" CD as a bonus feature. The musicians later went on to see Finnish band DIABLO perform at the nearly sold-out Tavastia club.

Pictures from Tolkki's "hard rock jam" and Kotipelto's celebration can be viewed at this location.

(Thanks: Timo Isoaho / Sonera Plaza Kaista)

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