Jani Liimatainen
Encyclopedia
Jani Allan Kristian Liimatainen (born September 9, 1980, in Kemi
, Finland) is the former guitar
player and one of the founding members of the power metal
band Sonata Arctica
.
Most of his technique is self-taught, even though he had a few guitar lessons early in his life. He is endorsed by Ibanez
plays a Destroyer DT 200 Custom, the Ibanez JPM4, John Petrucci
's signature model and his own custom shop RG Series guitars. He cites Freak Kitchen
, Dream Theater
, and Pain of Salvation
as his biggest musical influences.
As well as playing, he has also contributed to the band's songwriting with "My Selene" on 2004's Reckoning Night
and "Prelude for Reckoning", their introduction tape in "For the Sake of Revenge". He has also co-written three songs for the band's first album, Ecliptica
, "8th Commandment", "Replica" and "Picturing the Past".
In May 2007, as a result of his failure to do his mandatory civil/military service he spent one month in a Finnish prison until he decided to perform these duties, because of this he and the other members of Sonata Arctica reached an agreement that they would go their separate ways. He left the band on good terms and was then replaced by Elias Viljanen
.
Jani also played with Altaria
, recording two full-length albums, before leaving them to concentrate on his work with Sonata Arctica. In addition, he has (or possibly had) a melodic death metal
side-project
called Graveyard Shift with former Sonata Arctica band-mate Henrik Klingenberg
. He also plays in a band called Sydänpuu (Hearttree), that plays rock music in Finnish. In Sydänpuu, he sings and plays guitars, bass, and keyboards alongside drummer Risto Koskinen.
In October 2007, he was the lead guitarist for metal singer Paul Di'Anno
's Finnish tour. Since mid-September 2007, Jani has been working with new band Dream Asylum with Altaria
singer/song-writer and former band-mate Marko Pukkila. They are yet to make any formal releases but have recorded a few demos.
In April 2009, Jani announced on his MySpace page that he would be playing in a band by the name of Cain's Offering
. Info about the new lineup was also released in the April issue of Burrn!
magazine. Timo Kotipelto
of Stratovarius
and Mikko Härkin
(ex-Sonata Arctica
) are also a part of the band. Though the band made no live show, Jani and Timo are usual to make some special acoustic gigs in Finland.
with his girlfriend. As was once stated in Sonata Arctica's website, his favourite animals are cats but he suffers from allergy. He stated also that he drinks very much but smokes occasionally.
Kemi
Kemi is a town and municipality of Finland. It is located very near the city of Tornio. It was founded in 1869 by royal decree, because of its proximity to a deep water harbour....
, Finland) is the former guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
player and one of the founding members of the power metal
Power metal
Power metal is a style of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional metal with speed metal, often within symphonic context. The term refers to two different but related styles: the first pioneered and largely practiced in North America with a harder sound similar to speed metal, and a...
band Sonata Arctica
Sonata Arctica
Sonata Arctica are a Finnish power metal band from the town of Kemi, originally assembled in 1995. Their later works contain several elements typical of progressive metal.....
.
Most of his technique is self-taught, even though he had a few guitar lessons early in his life. He is endorsed by Ibanez
Ibanez
is a Japanese guitar brand owned by Hoshino Gakki. Based in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, Hoshino Gakki were one of the first Japanese musical instrument companies to gain a significant foothold in import guitar sales in the United States and Europe, as well as the first brand of guitars to mass produce...
plays a Destroyer DT 200 Custom, the Ibanez JPM4, John Petrucci
John Petrucci
John Peter Petrucci is an American guitarist and songwriter best known as a founding member of the progressive metal band Dream Theater. Along with his former bandmate Mike Portnoy, he has produced all Dream Theater albums since their 1999 release, Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory...
's signature model and his own custom shop RG Series guitars. He cites Freak Kitchen
Freak Kitchen
Freak Kitchen is a heavy metal/hard rock band from Gothenburg, Sweden, formed in 1992. Because of the high technical level of their compositions people sometimes refer to their style as progressive metal or progressive rock.-History:...
, Dream Theater
Dream Theater
Dream Theater is an American progressive metal band formed in 1985 under the name Majesty by John Petrucci, John Myung, and Mike Portnoy while they attended Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts. They subsequently dropped out of their studies to further concentrate on the band that would...
, and Pain of Salvation
Pain of Salvation
Pain of Salvation is a Swedish progressive rock band featuring Daniel Gildenlöw, who is the lyricist, chief composer, guitarist, and lead vocalist. Their sound is characterised by powerful, accentuated guitar work, broad vocal range, abrupt switching between heavy and calm passages, intense...
as his biggest musical influences.
As well as playing, he has also contributed to the band's songwriting with "My Selene" on 2004's Reckoning Night
Reckoning Night
Reckoning Night is the fourth full-length studio album by the Finnish power metal band Sonata Arctica, as well as the first to feature keyboardist Henrik Klingenberg.-Track listing:...
and "Prelude for Reckoning", their introduction tape in "For the Sake of Revenge". He has also co-written three songs for the band's first album, Ecliptica
Ecliptica
Ecliptica is the first full-length album by the power metal band Sonata Arctica. It was released in 1999 through Spinefarm Records in Europe and through Century Media in the United States...
, "8th Commandment", "Replica" and "Picturing the Past".
In May 2007, as a result of his failure to do his mandatory civil/military service he spent one month in a Finnish prison until he decided to perform these duties, because of this he and the other members of Sonata Arctica reached an agreement that they would go their separate ways. He left the band on good terms and was then replaced by Elias Viljanen
Elias Viljanen
Elias 'E.Vil' Viljanen is a Finnish musician, known for being the guitarist for Sonata Arctica since 2007. Viljanen joined Sonata Arctica in spring 2007 in order to replace Jani Liimatainen, who left the band in August 2007 to fulfill his civil duties in Finland...
.
Jani also played with Altaria
Altaria (band)
Altaria is a power metal band from Jakobstad, Finland, who have released four albums on the record label Metal Heaven and a fifth on Escape Music.In January 2008, the band decided to part ways with their record label Metal Heaven for undisclosed reasons...
, recording two full-length albums, before leaving them to concentrate on his work with Sonata Arctica. In addition, he has (or possibly had) a melodic death metal
Melodic death metal
Melodic death metal is a heavy metal music style that combines elements from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal with elements of death metal. The style was developed during the early and mid-1990s, primarily in England and Scandinavia...
side-project
Side-project
In popular music, a side project is a project undertaken by one or more persons already known for their involvement in another band. It can also be an artist or a band temporarily switching to a different style....
called Graveyard Shift with former Sonata Arctica band-mate Henrik Klingenberg
Henrik Klingenberg
Henrik "Henkka" Klingenberg is a keyboardist and singer. He joined the Finnish power metal band Sonata Arctica in late 2002 and currently resides in Kemi, Finland, when not on tour....
. He also plays in a band called Sydänpuu (Hearttree), that plays rock music in Finnish. In Sydänpuu, he sings and plays guitars, bass, and keyboards alongside drummer Risto Koskinen.
In October 2007, he was the lead guitarist for metal singer Paul Di'Anno
Paul Di'Anno
Paul Andrews , better known as Paul Di'Anno, is an English singer best known as the first vocalist to record with the iconic heavy metal band Iron Maiden, from 1978 to 1981....
's Finnish tour. Since mid-September 2007, Jani has been working with new band Dream Asylum with Altaria
Altaria
Altaria may refer to:*Altaria , a fictional species of Pokémon*Altaria , a Spanish rail line*Altaria , a Finnish musical group...
singer/song-writer and former band-mate Marko Pukkila. They are yet to make any formal releases but have recorded a few demos.
In April 2009, Jani announced on his MySpace page that he would be playing in a band by the name of Cain's Offering
Cain's Offering
Cain's Offering is a Finnish power metal supergroup that formed in 2009.-History:Cain's Offering was formed by former Sonata Arctica members Jani Liimatainen and Mikko Härkin, Stratovarius singer Timo Kotipelto, Norther and Wintersun bass player Jukka Koskinen and drummer Jani Hurula. Their debut...
. Info about the new lineup was also released in the April issue of Burrn!
Burrn!
Burrn! is a monthly Japanese magazine, published since 1984, for fans of heavy metal music. It is published by Shinko Music in Tokyo. The magazine's content is in Japanese, but the covers are predominantly in English.-References:* Japanavision...
magazine. Timo Kotipelto
Timo Kotipelto
Timo Antero Kotipelto is the vocalist of the Finnish power metal band Stratovarius and is the creator and vocalist of the power metal band Kotipelto...
of Stratovarius
Stratovarius
Stratovarius are a Finnish power metal band that formed in 1984. Since their formation they have released 13 studio albums and one live album. Along with Helloween, Blind Guardian, Rhapsody of Fire and Gamma Ray, Stratovarius are considered one of the leading groups of the power metal and symphonic...
and Mikko Härkin
Mikko Härkin
Mikko Härkin is a Finnish power metal keyboardist, who has performed with Sonata Arctica and Kenziner.-History:...
(ex-Sonata Arctica
Sonata Arctica
Sonata Arctica are a Finnish power metal band from the town of Kemi, originally assembled in 1995. Their later works contain several elements typical of progressive metal.....
) are also a part of the band. Though the band made no live show, Jani and Timo are usual to make some special acoustic gigs in Finland.
Private life
He lives in VaasaVaasa
Vaasa is a city on the west coast of Finland. It received its charter in 1606, during the reign of Charles IX of Sweden and is named after the Royal House of Vasa...
with his girlfriend. As was once stated in Sonata Arctica's website, his favourite animals are cats but he suffers from allergy. He stated also that he drinks very much but smokes occasionally.