Timo Antero Kotipelto (born 15 March 1969)[1] is a Finnish musician best known as the lead singer of the power metal band Stratovarius, whom he joined in 1994, as well as fronting his own band Kotipelto.

Timo Kotipelto
Kotipelto at Wacken Open Air, 2016
Kotipelto at Wacken Open Air, 2016
Background information
Birth nameTimo Antero Kotipelto
Born (1969-03-15) 15 March 1969 (age 55)
Lappajärvi, Finland
Genres
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter
InstrumentVocals
Years active1982–present
LabelsSPV GmbH
Member of

Biography

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Kotipelto at the Ilosaarirock festival, 2009

He studied vocals at the pop/jazz conservatory in Helsinki, briefly singing for an amateur cover band named Filthy Asses. In summer of 1994, he applied to Stratovarius, who were looking for a singer at the time, and was accepted. His arrival corresponds closely with the band's rise to international fame. The first album he recorded with the band was Fourth Dimension, in 1995. Stratovarius has then become a top name in the European heavy metal scene, recording seven more albums and performing in numerous notable rock festivals.

In late 2003, Kotipelto split from Stratovarius after intra-band disagreements, notably with guitarist Timo Tolkki. After much turmoil throughout 2004, he rejoined the band in January 2005, recorded the album Stratovarius, and performed live on tour that covered North America, South America, Europe and Asia. In 2008, Timo Tolkki made public that he and Timo Kotipelto had arguments but Kotipelto never really left the band and the announcement that he left was part of a big publicity stunt.[2]

In 2002 Kotipelto started his solo project, called Kotipelto. So far he has released three albums: "Waiting For The Dawn", "Coldness" and the last one, released 20 April 2007, "Serenity". Aside from Stratovarius and Kotipelto, Timo Kotipelto has also provided additional vocals to Sonata Arctica's Silence album along with lead vocals with his close friend, ex-Sonata Arctica guitarist Jani Liimatainen and his band Cain's Offering. and lead vocals for the song "Out of the White Hole", on Ayreon's 2000 release Universal Migrator Part 2: Flight of the Migrator.

Kotipelto also provided vocals for the track "Eye of the Storm" on Warmen's 2009 album Japanese Hospitality.

Discography

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With Stratovarius

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Kotipelto

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With Cain's Offering

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Kotipelto & Liimatainen

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Guest appearances

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With Gamma Ray

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  • Time To Break Free Song live (1996)

With Tarot

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With Tunnelvision

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Timo Kotipelto and Klaus Flaming

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  • I Wanna Love You Tender (cover of Danny & Army) (2002)

With Warmen

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With Sonata Arctica

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With Klamydia

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  • Seokset (2003) – Vocals on 'Metanol Man'

With Ayreon

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Monstervision Freakshow

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  • Welcome to Hellsinki (2007)

With Ella Ja Aleksi

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  • Takapihan Tavikset (2009) - Vocals on "Ronnie James Biojäteastia"

With Leningrad Cowboys

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  • I Will Stay (2006)
  • Let's Have A Party (2006)

With Amberian Dawn

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With Hevisaurus

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  • Räyhällistä joulua (2011) – Vocals on 'Pieni liekki'
  • Bändikouluun (2019) – Vocals on '100'

With Soulspell

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  • The Second Big Bang (2017)
  • The End You'll Only Know at the End (2017)
  • Alexandria (Apocalypse version) (2017)

With La suma de las partes

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  • Vergel (2020) - Vocal on "Rain In The Ocean"

With Tarja

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With Jani Liimatainen

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References

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  1. ^ "About me". Kotipelto.com. Archived from the original on 5 April 2015. Retrieved 28 July 2014.
  2. ^ "Timo Tolkki Discusses Stratovarius 'Publicity Stunt'; Video Available". Blabbermouth.net. 13 November 2008. Retrieved 28 July 2014.
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