One can think of Timo Tolkki in many ways: he is a gifted guitar player – he ranks 88th among the most influential guitar players of all time or 50th among the fastest; a first-rate composer that with Stratovarius created that signature sound known as melodic metal made in Finland that inspired so many younger bands; an authentic musical pro. One can as well rememeber Timo for the dark moments he lived and told about in his book “Loneliness of a thousand years”, a tale of true human fragilty.
Timo Tolkki as we meet him today is a man who is at peace with his past and, aware of what all his experiences taught him, and shaped by what he has accomplished, looks at his future with eyes more serene and free from the pressure that a musician’s life involves. Music, of course, is still one of the key (to the universe) features of his life.
Beyond the question-answer structure that an interview requires and the comments on his musical adventures (Stratovarius, Revolution Renaissance, Symfonia, etc…), Timo’s words deserve a careful reading as they show to what extent a musician and a thinker can be a means of ideas and wisdom.
I am deeply thankful to Timo for this interview and I invite you readers to enjoy it as much as I do: may you find in these words true inspiration, something to hold in your hearts, just like that simple yet deep “I did it my way” worked for me. Enjoy.
A special thanks to Eva and Fabiana.
Hi Timo, thanks in advance for kindly accepting this interview. One year ago I was in Helsinki for the first concert of SYMFONIA and you were fully taken for the promotion and the release of In Paradisum. Well, now things have changed, you are no longer in the music business and, according to your statements you live a “normal life” with your family. How are you? And how do you feel after so many years spent around the world?
I feel good. I have organized my life in a way that it is very simple and I have minimized all the hassles that can be going on in a modern lifestyle. I used to go to clubs but since I quit drinking 6 years ago, I haven’t visited any. I find myself, the older I get, to be drawn towards nature and to be in quietness.
Any regrets for the choice to quit with the music business? I mean, have you anytime thought these weeks to get back again, perhaps in other ways?
It wasn’t so much a choice but a necessary move. I have worked very hard with my new bands after I left Stratovarius and unfortunately they didn’t prove to be successful enough that it would make sense to continue them. I always said to myself that I will keep on playing and making music as long as people want to listen. However being 4 years away from being 50 years old, I find myself thinking much less of this aspect. Music is part of me because I was born with it. It is a channel and expressive one. Whatever comes out of that in the next 10-15 years could be the most important things I have done in music. Not necessarily for the public, although that is also possible, but for myself.
We have read (link to the statement) what didn’t work with SYMFONIA. What hurted you more? Any personal contrast with the other band members?
It hurts me more when certain journalists try to get provocative answers from me because they know I sometimes speak my mind very directly. Just kidding. I went to creation of Symfonia with full heart and enthusiasm and came out of it with a huge disappointment. It took me almost 6 months to understand what happened in there. All I can say is that certain band members were not really expressing themselves honestly and certain band members were there in the hope of monetary benefit. It is important to get paid for your work, but dealing with the realities of the modern music business, if the band doesn’t sell enough records, there is no money. I am sure Andre Matos got a lot of benefit for his solo career out of Symfonia although in this market situation, it might be not much help. I still like “In Paradisum” album and I used over one thousand working hours for planning, engineering, mixing, mastering and producing the album.
Your collaboration with Michael Kiske for Revolution Renaissance gave us great moments of music. His voice perfectly fits with the music you write. Have you tried to ask him to join SYMFONIA?
I don’t think he would have joined. Michael follows his own path and rightly so. What can you say about the guy? If angels would have a human voice, that would probably be it. I still hope that in the future we could do something together. A track or two. I wish him all the best with his life.
You revealed that the song Don’t Let Me Go is in honour of Steve Lee. How much important is friendship in your life? In the hard world of music industry, is it possible to find any true and loyal friend?
It’s not in “honour” of Steve but I simply wrote the song when I heard the news about his death. Part of the lyrics is mine plus the title. Money usually comes in between so called friendships in music business. You would have to define what you mean with friendship first. All my true friendships have been outside the music business and I am really fed up of all the people that expect something from me be it then money, success or new tennis socks.
Who’s the best musician you played with?
Without any doubt, that is Jens Johansson.
During your career, you have always, as choices demonstrate, followed your personal path, or better I’d think you can proudly say:”I did it my way”. But, is there anything you regret of having done against your ideas, in order to get compromises for an apparent good reason?
My personal path includes much more than music. I have lot of regrets about many things I have done but would I regret even more if I would not have done something or tried. I don’t think life works backwards. We are truly meant to be here. The nature is designed as an artwork for those who have stopped and still see the yellow butterfly, eagle shaped cloud formation, the beauty of sunrise. We humans have made a neurotic mess out of this planet and a sick, twisted and neurotic system we humans have created called society is responsible for so much ugliness in this world that it is almost impossible to bear.
You are still referred to the name Stratovarius. Now Stratovarius is another band and only Timo Kotipelto and Jens Johansson are remained from the probably best period and most known line up. How do you feel looking what they are now, and what you were before?
I don’t think Stratovarius exists anymore but that’s just my opinion. I feel nostalgic about the past because 22 years is a long time. What they are doing now, I don’t care about that. But we are all getting old and reaching the big “50” mark soon. In my opinion, at some point in metal, one has to make the decision if it is convincing to sing about “Legions of the Twilight” anymore but to each on its own.
As we often read, the equation for many people is just simply Mr. Tolkki=True Stratovarius. This equation is a burden more than a reason for satisfaction?
I think it sound more like something from the mouth of the Manowar bass player. People form their opinions based on what the press writes. My wife or my mother has for sure a different opinion about me than Jesus Gonzales from Guatemala. It is unfortunately common for people to look for a target for their neurotic hate. For me it is very important to remind myself that internet and magazines such as, doesn’t really exist but my daily life and the people I love do exist. As long as I am able to keep this as a guideline, I will be okay.
In 2008, you definetely left all royalties and rights of Stratovarius to the remaining members. How hard was for you, who actually founded the band, to take such a strong decision?
That was done more out of anger than anything else. I just couldn’t believe they decided to continue as Stratovarius without me. I was really naïve back then, some growth has occurred since then and the masks have fallen, which is always a good thing. It was more like a protest to sever the contacts with these people. I could actually get that name back but that would require court case of many years and at the end of the day, I don’t think it is worth it. So have fun while you can, it goes as fast as the hair gets thinner!
There’s anyone from your old band mates, that you still consider a friend?
No.
You’re a provoker by nature, do you think that people always need to be pushed to another level of thinking? Your maieutics makes an attempt to open your interlocutor’s mind or is it an observation about human beings’ pettiness?
Most of the time its just out of boredom. Especially in face to face interview, which are usually always the same, I do this quite a lot. I am not trying to push people to another level of thinking by the way. And the reason is largely that they don’t want to think on another level. I’d like to make things a bit more interesting that just “rock on!” or “I think this definitely our best record”. It is also a hobby. Especially with people who don’t know me, I might get really provocative because I am very fast in learning to get to know the persons character and value system. But it is mostly just out of boredom.
Have you got any songs, stuffs, riffs which are probably going to be unrealeased forever? If yes, why?
No, but I can tell you that I am still full of music or more like where my music is coming from is an endless source.
Any chance to see you again around the world, not in a band, but at least as teacher for guitar clinics? Or maybe as a writer, with a new book to follow the poignant “Loneliness of a thousand years”?
Never say never. In this moment I am just very happy to live this life the way things are. I would say that the failure of Symfonia in all its levels was enough for me never to form a new band anymore. I want to be a doctor. I’m really interested in diseases and their causes.
What is the highest peak of Timo Tolkki’s life as musician? And the lowest?
It’s impossible to say one highest because there has been so many. One is when me and Mikko Karmila had been working on the mix of “Season of Change” for days and he went home for that day and I stayed in the studio and listened to the song really loud. The intensity of the emotions hit me like nothing ever and I sort of broke down and started to cry. But it was a crying that contained also happiness, achievement of hard work and just succeeding in expressing a lyric like that in a very emotional surrounding. It is still one of my favourite songs.
The lowest point is easier. It is obviously the publicity stunt around the self titled Stratovarius album back in 2004 orchestrated by the band and the Sanctuary record company boss Antje Lange. But in its weird way, even that seems to fit to the puzzle.
