Stratovarius

The band was founded in 1984 by bassist John Vihervä, drummer and singer Tuomo Lassila, and guitarist Staffan Stråhlman. The band's first name was Black Water. John Vihervä left the band at the end of 1984 and was replaced by Jyrki Lentonen, who had previously played with Timo Tolkki in a band called Road Block. In 1985, it was Staffan Stråhlman's turn to leave the band, a week before a concert planned in Aalborg, Denmark. Tuomo Lassila called on Timo Tolkki to replace him. The latter soon took charge of the vocals. In 1989, the band Stratovarius's first album was released. Composed by Timo Tolkki, the album is titled Fright Night. In 1992, the second album, called Stratovarius II, was released in Finland. Some time later, in 1992, the album was released with a new cover and a new name, Twilight Time.