As previously reported, STRATOVARIUS guitarist and leader Timo Tolkki officially put an end to the band last week and has launched REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE. The band's debut album is entitled New Era and will be released on June 6th via Frontiers Records. It features all the lead vocals from such legends as Michael Kiske (ex-HELLOWEEN) and Tobias Sammet (EDGUY, AVANTASIA), and Tolkki has invited people to submit material for consideration. He has issue the following update:

"Thanks for the mails so far, keep them coming! I have no time to answer your questions so just follow exactly the instructions at www.timotolkki.com . Those who do not, I will not consider so read them carefully. The mailbox was full for a moment and now it’s working normally, there was a bug. Also, please don’t send me messages about your application, I will contact you in time if I choose you. Thanks and good luck!"

Cheers, Timo

Tolkki recently issued the following follow-up statement regarding his decision to put an end to Stratovarius:

"First of all many thanks for your mails and messages. They have been very supportive. I have also received some messages that are not so nice. Please do not make this a war because it is not. I do not want you to say bad things about TK (Timo Kotipelto - vocals) and Jörg (Michael -drums) etc. As I have written and what some people do not seem to understand, sometimes going away is the only solution to multiple problems one is facing. But you can do it with love and dignity. I decided to tell you much much more than the average 'we are breaking up because of musical differences.' There is no one single cause for the split, but as I wrote it is a process of many years. So instead of channelling your energies in flaming wars or taking sides, why don’t you try something else? Why don’t you support every Stratomember and carry us through this with compassion and understanding instead of hate, anger and war? Most Strato songs are about love and peace in some form anyway. Just give it some thought."