Stratovarius Community

Hey Jens, I read somewhere that you tried out for Dream Theater after Kevin Moore left the band and that you wern't accepted? Is this true?

I've heard that too somewhere, but it was before he joined Stratovarius, 1995 or earlier... Can't remember the reason he was refused the place though...

stratobabius wrote:I've heard that too somewhere, but it was before he joined Stratovarius, 1995 or earlier... Can't remember the reason he was refused the place though...

He's too good!

I've heard a rumor about something like that recently, but not with Dream Theater.. But it was just a rumor, nothing else.

If DT rejected Jens, then I must say: n00bZ!!!!

actually, this is true my friends, jens was kind of rejected of dream theater after he went to an audition, you can hear it in the audio comments of once in a live time dvd of dream theater. (i think was there were i listened to it.)

I see Jens more as a TruePower metalhead instead of a proggy

There's something about it on his website, in one of the interviews.

So we've been lucky... Otherwise Jens would play great Keyboard-Solos for a band with a cheesy singer now

Thanks god...cause DT sucks cock.

well, DT does not suck cock, but jens is not the right man for that band...

bashoofd wrote:well, DT does not suck cock, but jens is not the right man for that band...

He is great, though. But a bit too excentric for the band which is DT : this band is doing music more mathematically than with the heart, which does not Jens, who plays with his guts and for the pleasure of playing music. That's cool that he wasn't taken in DT and that's he is still in Stratovarius, our beloved favorite band!

nepi wrote:I see Jens more as a TruePower metalhead instead of a proggy

No, have you heard his solo material? It is definitely progressive. In fact, it could be debated whether Jens is more progressive than DT is because Jens has released so many albums that consisted of almost every style of music. Jens' technical and improvisiational prowless would've probably added a unique dimension to DT music.

@ the others bashing dream theater - Just because this is a Strato forum, I could expect bias, but "chessy singer, sucks cock, n00b and doesn't play from the heart" is just kinda blind. Plus I've heard people describe Strato the exact same way so I wouldn't try and be all rightous against DT

Burning Reflection wrote: @ the others bashing dream theater - Just because this is a Strato forum, I could expect bias, but "chessy singer, sucks cock, n00b and doesn't play from the heart" is just kinda blind. Plus I've heard people describe Strato the exact same way so I wouldn't try and be all rightous against DT

Well.. I've heard DT live at Graspop Metal Meeting last year. And YES (god knows), the DO have a cheesy singer.

Burning Reflection wrote: @ the others bashing dream theater - Just because this is a Strato forum, I could expect bias, but "chessy singer, sucks cock, n00b and doesn't play from the heart" is just kinda blind. Plus I've heard people describe Strato the exact same way so I wouldn't try and be all rightous against DT

The problem is that I saw the Dream Theater's recording sessions in the studio and they really play very "automatically" and "artificially" and their recording manner is without any soul. Moreover, their songs are mathematically thought, as precise and "cold" as a swiss clock.
Stratovarius is totally the contrary : they play with sunshine in their hearts and not mathematically they think their songs, that's what I appreciate by them and that's the reason why Stratovarius is my favorite band with Iron Maiden.

Well, if he would haven taken to DT, then Strato wouldn´t have had as good career as they have, or our fav band could have been somewhat maybe even really different.

Personally, I'm glad that they didn't work out with Jens, because Jens is perfect for Strato and Jordan is perfect for DT. Enough said.

I never understood why people have to make bad comments about DT in order to justify the idea that they didn't choose Jens.

And also, I can't understand why people trash on DT because their music is "mathematically perfect". Does that mean they're incapable of emotion? I think not. They have some of the most moving songs, at least to me. Whether or not anyone else likes them, I don't really care. To me, learning to play your instruments well *is* emotion. I'm tired of bands that play like crap and critics rave them as being "so emotional", simply for the fact that they play like crap.

(This obviously does not apply to Strato, I'm just saying.)

Metal angel, what you are saying is really stupid. Most of DT songs take shape from jam sessions. And i dont know that you mean with mathematically because I think that is more "mathematically" making songs with the common progressions " I- IV- V" than crazy non common progressions that DT use.

Exactly. And the funny thing is, I'm sure if DT had picked Jens, most of these same people that go on about how DT "sucks" would all of a sudden be kissing their asses. Please.

brought2ubyletterC wrote:And also, I can't understand why people trash on DT because their music is "mathematically perfect". Does that mean they're incapable of emotion? I think not. They have some of the most moving songs, at least to me. Whether or not anyone else likes them, I don't really care. To me, learning to play your instruments well *is* emotion.

I agree, and just a note, since when, being ""mathematically perfect"" is a bad thing? 'Cuz God knows I love DT because of that. It's just awesome.

And I think ppl should not bad things about a band just because they don't like them. It's annoying and I know they don't like it when ppl trash the bands that they like.

...

I think Jens is more free with Stratovarius because he's funny and jokes and that things. By DT he would be like a black sheep with this attitudes....

and I think MA would say the same, 'aight?

Some people should stop to believe rumors...cause it's only rumors...

Anyway, i agree with Nepi!

Aresius wrote:Metal angel, what you are saying is really stupid. Most of DT songs take shape from jam sessions. And i dont know that you mean with mathematically because I think that is more "mathematically" making songs with the common progressions " I- IV- V" than crazy non common progressions that DT use.

No, it's not stupid because I'm a great fan of DT, but a metal journalist before all. Why told I that? Because when you see DT on stage (God knows how many DT shows I was at), during one of their shows, the band seems really bored and doesn't express and doesn't seem to develop the passion of the music (for example : at le Parc des Princes, Paris, on june the 25th 2005). Then, I know that most of their songs are created in their jam sessions, but it doesn't mean that they are created with the flame of the music that a musician has to have in his heart. And by "mathematically", I mean the fact that their song (DT's ones) are always written on mathematical principles, they calculate their music, on the same line. Even Mike Pornoy told it in one of his interviews for a french magazine the last year when they released 'Octavarium'. To compare with Stratovarius, Tolkki creates more emotionnal songs when inspiration appear to his mind and this element, very important one, makes the music more "alive" and more "luminous". That's why his way of creation is natural and not forced by jamming always and always in order to find some good ideas. As a musician myself, I follow the Tolkki's way. The better ideas come from themselves...

And please, don't spit on my words and don't tell that what I'm saying is stupid because they just are the reflection of the feelings DT is giving to me when I listen to their music.

Its imposible for you to know if they are writing with their heart or not because you dont know what the fuck they are thinking/feelling. I saw DT twice and i saw lots and lots of bootlegs ( im a huge fan ) and i can tell you that they really show emotion when they are playing, but each musician has his own way of showing his feeling, you cant expect everyone to run and jump in the air like bruce dickinson or to stand in funny positions like timo does, each and everyone has his own way. Timo tolkki does not move a thinger while he is on stage and that doesnt mean that he is not exited or that he doesnt enjoy his music.

You misunderstood the mathematical concept of octavarium. That album is full of mathematical concepts but only in lyrics, duration and some pics on the album, because of the "octavarium" concept. I really dont see the reason why you are saying that they dont calculate their music.

Sory for my english, it sucks.

Aresius wrote:Its imposible for you to know if they are writing with their heart or not because you dont know what the fuck they are thinking/feelling. I saw DT twice and i saw lots and lots of bootlegs ( im a huge fan ) and i can tell you that they really show emotion when they are playing, but each musician has his own way of showing his feeling, you cant expect everyone to run and jump in the air like bruce dickinson or to stand in funny positions like timo does, each and everyone has his own way. Timo tolkki does not move a thinger while he is on stage and that doesnt mean that he is not exited or that he doesnt enjoy his music.

You misunderstood the mathematical concept of octavarium. That album is full of mathematical concepts but only in lyrics, duration and some pics on the album, because of the "octavarium" concept. I really dont see the reason why you are saying that they dont calculate their music.

Sory for my english, it sucks.

Most of the time, our feeling about music is nothing but a question of perception. If someone dislikes the music, then it's his right and nobody will change it. As the thoughts of the guy which thinks that DT is a question of artificial playing...

bashoofd wrote:well, DT does not suck cock, but jens is not the right man for that band...

yeah...not 100%, but 88%.

StragOvariuS wrote:

bashoofd wrote:well, DT does not suck cock, but jens is not the right man for that band...

yeah...not 100%, but 88%.

allright whatever

I like Dream Theater, but I think at least for solos Jens kicks all their keyboard players asses. Better phrasing, cooler runs, better lead sound, etc... Some people can be great pianists, but when it comes to soloing it's a different story.

By the way, greatest keyboardists of all time are Jens, Vitalij Kuprij and Richard Andersson! I also very much like the work of Michael Pinella.

Some people should stop to believe rumors...cause it's only rumors...

Actually, that was not a rumor, it really is true that they auditioned Jens back in the mid-'90s after Kevin Moore left.

brought2ubyletterC wrote:

Some people should stop to believe rumors...cause it's only rumors...

Actually, that was not a rumor, it really is true that they auditioned Jens back in the mid-'90s after Kevin Moore left.

That's the the thing, I don't have a source on that. Do you?

Look at this ---->
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jens_Johansson