In 1997, Mäenpää had to put his musical career on hold to take part in Finland's compulsory military service.

In an interview, Mäenpää admitted he disliked the time he spent in the military and suspects it's where he acquired tuberculosis.

[2] Jari was also a member of the band Arthemesia, and participated in Kimmo Miettinen's side project Lost Alone.

It just happens, I guess.Jari's style of guitar playing utilizes tremolo-picked melodies and phrases and the heavy use of extremely fast sweep-picking solos and breaks as heard on most of the songs.

The speed of Wintersun's music is due in part to the use of blast beats and quick, spacey keyboard lines.