Jani Liimatainen
Jani Liimatainen (born September 9, 1980 in Kemi , Finland ) is a Finnish guitarist .
Sonata Arctica
Liimatainen is one of the founding members of the power metal band " Sonata Arctica ", which was formed in 1996 under the name "Tricky Beans". Although he took a few guitar lessons at a young age, he taught himself most of his technique. When he started playing guitar at the age of about 12, he was inspired by Guns N 'Roses guitarist Slash and Kirk Hammett (" Metallica "). Today he describes Yngwie Malmsteen , Steve Vai and especially John Petrucci (" Dream Theater ") as his greatest musical influences. This also includes Disturbed, Dream Theater and Metallica.
Liimatainen plays Ibanez guitars (including the models Custom Shop RG, Custom Shop Destroyer, RG2120XTB, RG 1527CB, USA CUSTOM RG "Street Wise", RG560 and the JPM P4 ).
From 2004 on he also took part in the songwriting of his main band "Sonata Arctica". The title My Selene on the album Reckoning Night and the intro Prelude for Reckoning , which u. a. on the live album and the live DVD For the Sake of Revenge is entirely from his pen.
In August 2007, Sonata Arctica announced that it had separated from Liimatainen. Elias Viljanen was introduced as his successor.
Cain's offering
In spring 2009 Liimatainen announced his new band Cain's Offering on his Myspace page , where u. a. Stratovarius singer Timo Kotipelto, as well as ex Sonata Arctica keyboarder Mikko Härkin have found space. The first album Gather the Faithful was released in the summer of 2009. The music and the lyrics are entirely by Liimatainen.
Side projects
In 2000 he joined the Finnish power metal band “ Altaria ” as guitarist and keyboardist together with Emppu Vuorinen (“ Nightwish ”) , for which he also wrote some songs: Unchain the Rain and Falling Again , both on the album Divinity can be found. At the end of June 2005 Jani left "Altaria" due to his obligations to "Sonata Arctica".
Jani has a side project with Sonata Arctica's keyboardist Henrik Klingenberg called "Graveyard Shift". Liimatainen is active in the bands Dream Asylum and Sydänpuu ; with the latter under the artist name "Allan Anderssén" . He also wrote the song The River Runs Dry for the up-and-coming band Sturm & Drang for their new album Rock'n Roll Children and also played some solos.
For several years he has appeared in Finnish clubs with Stratovarius frontman Timo Kotipelto and covers numerous rock and metal classics with only acoustic guitar and Kotipelto's vocals. In 2012 her album Blackoustic was released , on which songs by Stratovarius, Deep Purple , The Who , Sonata Arctica and many more. have been covered.
He was also involved in the Stratovarius album Nemesis , on which he contributed parts of the text and music to two songs ( Out of the Fog , If the Story Is Over ). In the song If the Story Is Over he also plays the acoustic guitar.
Together with the former Nightwish singer Anette Olzon , he released two albums under the band name The Dark Element . Since July 2019 he is the fifth member of the Finnish melodic death metal band Insomnium .
Discography
With Sonata Arctica
- 1999: Ecliptica [Remastered in 2008]
- 2001: Silence [Remastered in 2008]
- 2002: Songs of Silence - Live in Tokyo
- 2003: Winterheart's Guild
- 2004: Reckoning Night
- 2005: The End of This Chapter (Best-of)
- 2006: For the Sake of Revenge
- 2006: The Collection 1999-2006 (best of)
- 2007: Unia
- 2008: Deliverance (bootleg compilation with cover versions, rare songs and single versions)
With Altaria
- 2001: Sleeping Visions (demo)
- 2002: Feed the Fire (Demo)
- 2003: Invitation
- 2004: Divinity
With Timo Kotipelto
- 2013: Blackoustic
With The Dark Element
- 2017: The Dark Element
- 2019: Songs the Night sings
Guest appearances
- 2003: Celesty - Reign of Elements
- 2004: Janne Hurme - Unelmien Valtatie
- 2004: Human Temple - Insomnia
- 2009: Sturm und Drang - Rock'n 'Roll Children
- 2013: Stratovarius - Nemesis
Unpublished band contributions
- Dream Asylum
- Graveyard Shift
- Neverday
- Sydänpuu
- DJ penetrator
With Cain's Offering
- 2009: Gather the Faithful
- 2015: Stormcrow
Web links
- www.janiliimatainen.net - English fansite
- www.sonataarctica.info Website of Sonata Arctica
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Liimatainen, Jani |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Finnish musician |
| DATE OF BIRTH | September 9, 1980 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Kemi , Finland |