STRATOVARIUS Announces New Drummer

Last year Jörg Michael announced his departure from STRATOVARIUS after sixteen years of incredible drumming, countless tours and nine studio albums. Jörg played his final tour with the band in 2011. One of the last concerts in Finland was recorded, and will be released as a live DVD/Blu-ray on June 27. It is titled "Under Flaming Winter Skies - Live In Tampere". The DVD is the first live DVD the band has ever released, and sadly it is the final for Jörg Michael. It includes two hours of a very powerful live show, plus a 30-minute-long documentary about the band with interviews with all band members. It is a must-have for all STRATOVARIUS fans with lots of inside information, very honest interviews, and the once-in-a-lifetime departure of an outstanding member and friend: Jörg Michael. Even though he will still be working for the band on the management and agency side, it was a dramatic and nostalgic moment when he finally left the stage. As a bonus track, the Blu-ray disc contains a 5.1 mix of the 18 minute song "Elysium" from the last studio album with the same name.

It was not easy to find a new drummer who is not only an excellent musician and a cool guy, but also courageous enough trying to fill the big hole Jörg Michael has left. 24-year-old Rolf Pilve from Finland is that courageous and gifted drummer.

Commented STRATOVARIUS singer singer Timo Kotipelto: "Although the competition was fierce, Rolf was clearly the best one of the bunch. His precise playing, sureness and right attitude was there right away. He has an astonishing technique and to top that of he has a very musical way of playing, so he can bring something of his own into our old songs as well. Rolf has played a variety of different styles of metal, so fast tempos or more progressive parts will not be a problem. Whatever songs we might compose in the future — I have no doubt that he will be able to play them."

Added Rolf: "I had prepared for the audition thoroughly, learning all the songs we agreed on, with the live endings and everything. In addition to that, I had also learned some extra songs just to be safe. Playing with the guys was excellent, and already the next day after the audition I got to hear that I had been the best one of the drummers they had auditioned. What followed was yet another audition where we would play more casually and jam."

STRATOVARIUS received more than 100 applications, some of them very competent and high-caliber Finns, but also included were some foreign drummers who had already made a name for themselves.

Timo Kotipelto describes the criteria the band had for the new drummer: "He had to be a really good player, but also a nice guy. We were not looking for a Jörg Michael clone.“

STRATOVARIUS has been an influence for Pilve for years, and now he gets to step into the big boots of his idol. Rolf Pilve will join STRATOVARIUS first time on stage at Tavastia, Helsinki, Finland on July 11.