Stratovarius Community

It's with much sadness and heavy hearts that we have to announce that our bass player for the past decade Marko Paasikoski is no longer in the band.

States Marko:

"I have come to a situation in my life where being a part of a touring band is not an option for me anymore and it's time to explore other things. I wish to thank all the fans and my bandmates for all the good times, great shows and adventures that we have had over the last decade.
The memories from this time will stay with me forever but at the moment I don't have the motivation or the passion that is required to be in the band so it's better for all parties involved that we go our separate ways. I wish all the best for the guys ! -Marko"

We understand Marko's decision and this is of course a thing that we have talked about during the last tour. We appreciate Marko being a stand up guy and finishing up the Stones Grow Her Name- World Tour. Thank you Marko for all these years and best of luck and fortunes with your future endeaveurs, we'll miss you bro !!

Our new bass player is Pasi Kauppinen (Silent Voices, ex-Requiem, Winterborn). We've known him for many years and he has mixed both our DVDs as well as recorded parts of our last 3 studio albums. He will join the band starting with the upcoming album.

Sonata Arctica will start rehearsing in September and enter the studio in October. The new studio album will be out next spring with a world tour to follow.

cheers,
Sonata Arctica

Rebel wrote:SURELY THIS WILL FIX EVERYTHING WRONG WITH THE BAND

truly haha i believe the one that can fix the band is janni he's the one who should comeback

Rebel wrote:SURELY THIS WILL FIX EVERYTHING WRONG WITH THE BAND

HinatAArcticA wrote:There's nothing wrong with the band... oh well, I expected you Stratoforum

I still love you all, really. 4 Years arround everyone are worth it ~

Rebel wrote:

HinatAArcticA wrote:There's nothing wrong with the band... oh well, I expected you Stratoforum

I still love you all, really. 4 Years arround everyone are worth it ~

They should fire Tony Kakko, really

AAAAAAAAAA wrote: According to a recent interview he wrote 50 songs for the new album. So he probably writes each song in ten minutes, perhaps while on the toilet.

Thank you all!

AAAAAAAAAA wrote:

Rebel wrote:

HinatAArcticA wrote:There's nothing wrong with the band... oh well, I expected you Stratoforum

I still love you all, really. 4 Years arround everyone are worth it ~

They should fire Tony Kakko, really

I agree. He's a mediocre live vocalist and his songwriting has turned to feces. He should be replaced by Jari Behm, or at least Tuomo Lasssila. According to a recent interview he wrote 50 songs for the new album. So he probably writes each song in ten minutes, perhaps while on the toilet.

Thank you all!

HinatAArcticA wrote:There's nothing wrong with the band... oh well, I expected you Stratoforum

I still love you all, really. 4 Years arround everyone are worth it ~

icecab21 wrote:the band should start taking advice from rebel and his successful band that tours the world.

icecab21 wrote:the band should start taking advice from rebel and his successful band that tours the world.