STRATOVARIUS will perform in Guatemala, at Teatro de Bellas Artes in Guatemala City, on January 31st, 2012. This will now be the final show for drummer Jörg Michael, after 15 years with Stratovarius. Prior to the announcement of this date, is was expected that Jörg's final show with the band would be in Mexico, at Circo Volador in Mexico City, on January 28th.

Jörg Michael decided to leave the band for personal reasons.

Jörg joined the band in 1995 and the first Stratovarius album he played on was Episode (1996). He played on nine albums and performed nearly 1,000 shows with the band.

"The rest of us just has to accept Jörg's decision with a lot of sadness and wish him all the best for the future. But we can also assure that the band will still go on", says the singer Timo Kotipelto.

The band and Jörg are not going completely separate ways though, since Jörg will still be working for the band with his booking agency Twisted Talent Concerts.

"Our long journey of over 15 years together has not ended yet, as Jörg remains among our background forces - and we couldn't be more happy about that. Not only has he been a great drummer but also a close friend and a true professional. We're honoured to have Jörg by our side for this farewell Tour. We can't wait to rock with our 'German Steamroller' one last time! These shows will be unforgettable for all of us," Kotipelto continues.

Staying at home can be a real choice if you want to experience live music. Stratovarius, the Finnish power metal wonder, is next up playing for a global audience at an interactive online gig on November 20th. It is also a chance for the fans to say ‘farewell’ to drummer Jörg Michael, who is leaving the band soon.

LiveMusicStage.com lets people become part of live music events on the web. The living room is the stage, with your TV or laptop showing a global online crowd and a high-quality live stream of the show. You can chat and make friends, applaud, swing a lighter, vote for songs to be played and more. The band members see all that live and talk back to the audience between songs.

“It feels great to have a chance to say goodbye to all the Finns, friends and fans I have met over the past 15 years. These last shows will be very special to me, as I never forget the support we, and especially I, got through the years. Having the opportunity to broadcast live to all the fans around the world will be an extra motivation for the band. I can promise a very special set list which we have never played before. Watch out and check it”, says Jörg Michael.

The leading idea behind LiveMusicStage.com is to let everybody with broadband access to take part in real live shows.

“In the 24/7 on-demand era, it is exciting to pause for an hour and participate in something together as a community. One advantage to regular shows is that you can actually choose where you take part,” depicts Antti Eronen, CEO of LiveMusicStage.com. "On top of music, there’s an interview with the band. The audience can also chat with drummer Jörg Michael after the show."