Tolkki became the driving force and mastermind of the band assuming almost complete control of the song writing.
By 1984, Timo Tolkki entered the band, replacing Stråhlman in the guitar. In 1984, the name was changed to Stratovarius (a portmanteau of Stratocaster and Stradivarius), an idea of Stråhlman's. They went through a number of personnel and musical changes before the band found its own voice. Stratovarius was founded in Finland in 1984 from former members of the band Black Water. They became more popular in the '90s, and throughout their career have inspired upcoming power metal bands with their baroque arranged keyboard solos & Ritchie Blackmore-like guitar portions. Stratovarius is a power metal band from Finland.
