Flashback Interview: TIMO TOLKKI (STRATOVARIUS) (1998): Road Report From Wacken Open Air

A 1998 indoor photograph featuring two members of the Finnish power metal band Stratovarius with Metal Express Radio’s Stig Nordahl. Stig stands in the center, flanked by keyboardist Jens Johansson on his right (viewer's left) and vocalist Timo Kotipelto on his left (viewer's right). They are posed casually, smiling for the camera in a warmly lit room.

Timo Tolkki talks about life in Stratovarius at full speed: fresh off the Visions of Europe live album, juggling a packed festival summer and secretly finishing the new album Destiny. He explains how he still manages to write fast, why releasing albums is often better for fans, and how classic bands like Rainbow and Deep Purple shaped his work ethic.

In this interview, he also reveals why they chose to record a heavier, more aggressive cover of Scorpions’ “Blackout”, what it’s really like playing chaotic summer festivals, and how much nonstop touring keeps him away from Finland. If you’re into classic power metal, songwriting talk, and late‑90s Stratovarius at their peak, you’ll want to hear this.

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Stig G. Nordahl· 875 articles

Stig is the founder and the president of Metal Express Radio, based out of Oslo, Norway. He has been around doing Metal radio since the mid-eighties. In fact, running Metal Express Radio takes almost all of his time. Is it worth it...? "Most times, yes," Stig says. "My philosophy is to try to give all Metal releases a fair chance to get promoted in one way or another. As you can imagine, it can be an arduous task to listen through about 20 albums every week! Still, I know we have the best METAL dedicated radio on this planet, and that is a reward in and of itself. I hope one day the whole Metal community can and will make listening to Metal Express Radio part of their daily rituals! Yeah, right..."

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