Citizendia

Blind Guardian
Blind Guardian at Malmö, Sweden, September 21, 2006. L-R: Olbrich, Ehmke, Kürsch, Siepen, Schüren, Holzwarth
Blind Guardian at Malmö, Sweden, September 21, 2006. "Sverige" redirects here For other uses see Sweden (disambiguation and Sverige (disambiguation. L-R: Olbrich, Ehmke, Kürsch, Siepen, Schüren, Holzwarth
Background information
OriginKrefeld, Germany
Genre(s)Speed metal (early)
Power metal
Progressive metal (later)
Years active1984-present
Label(s)No remorse, Virgin, Century Media, Nuclear Blast
Associated actsDemons & Wizards
Iced Earth
Helloween
Gamma Ray
WebsiteOfficial Homepage
Members
Hansi Kürsch
André Olbrich
Marcus Siepen
Frederik Ehmke
Former members
Thomas "Thomen" Stauch
Markus Dörk
Christof Theißen
Hans-Peter Frey

Blind Guardian is a German heavy metal band which is often credited as one of the seminal and most influential bands in power metal and speed metal subgenres. History The origins of the town were in Roman times when the legions founded the military camp of Gelduba (today the borough of Gellep Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other Speed metal is a sub-genre of Heavy metal music originating in the late 1970s and early 1980s that was the direct musical progenitor of Thrash metal. Power metal is a style of Heavy metal music combining characteristics of traditional metal with Thrash metal or Speed metal, often within Progressive metal (often referred to simply as prog metal) is a sub-genre of Heavy metal music which blends the powerful guitar-driven sound of metal with the complex In the Music industry, a record label can be a Brand and a Trademark associated with the Marketing of music recordings and Music No Remorse Records was a German Heavy metal Record label. It was the original record label of heavy metal band Blind Guardian. Virgin Records is a British Record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell Century Media Records (CMR is an independent rock Record label with offices in the United States, Brazil, Germany, Nuclear blast may refer to Nuclear explosion Nuclear Blast, a record label For the 1972 album by Uriah Heep see Demons & Wizards (Uriah Heep album. Iced Earth is an American heavy metal band from Tampa, Florida that combines influences from Thrash metal, Power metal, Helloween is a German power / Speed metal band founded in the early 1980s by members of Iron Fist and Powerfool Gamma Ray is a Power metal band from north Germany, founded by former Helloween Guitarist, singer and Songwriter Kai Hans Jürgen Kürsch, better known as Hansi Kürsch (born August 10, 1966 in Lank-Latum Germany) is the lead vocalist of Power metal André Olbrich (born May 3, 1967, in Düsseldorf, Germany) is the Lead guitarist of the German Power metal band Marcus Siepen (born September 8th 1968 in Krefeld Germany) is one of two guitarists in the Power metal band Blind Guardian. Frederik Ehmke, born June 21 1978 (29 years old in Malsch Germany is the newest member of the Power metal band Blind Guardian, having joined Thomen ("The Omen" Stauch (born March 11, 1970) is a heavy metal drummer, who has worked with various bands in the past Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Power metal is a style of Heavy metal music combining characteristics of traditional metal with Thrash metal or Speed metal, often within Speed metal is a sub-genre of Heavy metal music originating in the late 1970s and early 1980s that was the direct musical progenitor of Thrash metal. [1] [2] [3] It was formed in the mid-1980s in Krefeld, West Germany. History The origins of the town were in Roman times when the legions founded the military camp of Gelduba (today the borough of Gellep West Germany ( Inf German: Westdeutschland or West-Deutschland) was the common English name for the Federal Republic of Germany ( [4]

Blind Guardian lyrics, written by vocalist Hansi Kürsch, are inspired by the fiction of authors such as J. R. R. Tolkien, Stephen King, and Michael Moorcock, as well as traditional legends and epics. Hans Jürgen Kürsch, better known as Hansi Kürsch (born August 10, 1966 in Lank-Latum Germany) is the lead vocalist of Power metal Stephen Edwin King (born September 21, 1947) is an American Author, Screenwriter, Musician, Columnist, Michael John Moorcock (born 18 December 1939, in London) is an English writer primarily of Science fiction and fantasy who has also A legend ( Latin, legenda, "things to be read" is a Narrative of human actions that are perceived both by teller and listeners to An epic is a lengthy Narrative poem, ordinarily concerning a serious subject containing details of heroic deeds and events significant to a culture or nation [5] Over the years, a running theme has developed associating the band members with traveling bards. Etymology The word is a Loanword from descendant languages of Proto-Celtic *bardos, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *gwerh2

Contents

Biography

The band was formed in the mid 1980's in Krefeld, Germany, by Hansi Kürsch (vocals, bass) and Andre Olbrich (guitar). History The origins of the town were in Roman times when the legions founded the military camp of Gelduba (today the borough of Gellep Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Hans Jürgen Kürsch, better known as Hansi Kürsch (born August 10, 1966 in Lank-Latum Germany) is the lead vocalist of Power metal André Olbrich (born May 3, 1967, in Düsseldorf, Germany) is the Lead guitarist of the German Power metal band Before calling themselves Blind Guardian, the band released two demos under the name Lucifer's Heritage in 1985 and 1986[5]. A demo version or demo of a song (shortened from the word "demonstration" is one recorded for reference rather than for release In the first few years, the band underwent chaotic lineup changes: Markus Dörk (guitar) and Thomen Stauch (drums) were replaced by Christof Theißen and Hans-Peter Frey, respectively. Finally, in 1987 Marcus Siepen joined and Thomen came back to form the lineup which would stay consistent for the next 18 years.

After Lucifer's Heritage signed a contract with No Remorse Records, the band changed its name to Blind Guardian to avoid any speculations about satanism. No Remorse Records was a German Heavy metal Record label. It was the original record label of heavy metal band Blind Guardian. For other uses of the word see Satanism (disambiguation. Satanism can refer to a number of belief systems depending on the user and context They released their debut album Battalions of Fear in 1988, which was essentially a speed metal album heavily influenced by Helloween. Battalions of Fear is the debut album by German metal band Blind Guardian. Speed metal is a sub-genre of Heavy metal music originating in the late 1970s and early 1980s that was the direct musical progenitor of Thrash metal. Helloween is a German power / Speed metal band founded in the early 1980s by members of Iron Fist and Powerfool [6] These two German bands had close ties, and Helloween founder Kai Hansen made a guest appearance on Blind Guardian's second LP, Follow the Blind (1989), where the band began leaning towards power metal. Kai Michael Hansen (born January 17, 1963, in Hamburg, West Germany) is a Power metal Guitarist and Vocalist Follow the Blind is the second full-length album from the German metal band Blind Guardian, released in 1989 Power metal is a style of Heavy metal music combining characteristics of traditional metal with Thrash metal or Speed metal, often within [7] Their third LP, Tales from the Twilight World (1990), had a much more melodic and "epic" feeling, with usage of choir and classical music influence. Tales from the Twilight World is an album that was released in 1990 by Blind Guardian. For the musical composition see Chorale. A choir, chorale, or chorus is a Musical ensemble of Singers Classical music is a broad term that usually refers to mainstream music produced in or rooted in the traditions of Western liturgical and Secular music

Blind Guardian signed with Virgin Records in 1991 and released the album Somewhere Far Beyond (1992), and the live album Tokyo Tales (1993). Virgin Records is a British Record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell Somewhere Far Beyond is the fourth studio-album by German Power/Speed-Metal act Blind Guardian. Tokyo Tales is the first live album by the German metal band Blind Guardian. Flemming Rasmussen, former Metallica producer, began working with Blind Guardian, producing Imaginations from the Other Side (1995) and The Forgotten Tales (1996), an album that contained half covers and half original work. Flemming 'Razz' Rasmussen (born 1958) is a Danish engineer, producer and owner and founder of Sweet Silence Studios in Copenhagen, Denmark Metallica is an American heavy metal band that formed in 1981 in. Imaginations from the Other Side is an album by Blind Guardian that was released in 1995 The Forgotten Tales is a compilation album by Blind Guardian.

In 1998 Blind Guardian released their epic album Nightfall in Middle-Earth. Nightfall in Middle-Earth is a Concept album by Blind Guardian, released in 1998 "Complete with anthemic choruses, spoken word story lines, and plenty of bombastic power metal punctuating every dramatic turn", says All Music Guide's Vincent Jeffries, "Nightfall in Middle-Earth is perhaps Blind Guardian's most triumphant". allmusic (previously All Music Guide) is a Metadata database about music owned by All Media Guide. [8] A concept album based on J. R. R. Tolkien's The Silmarillion, Blind Guardian's music demonstrated some folk rock influence, but also featured heavy use of Queen-style layered backing vocals. In Popular music, a concept album is an Album which is "unified by a theme which can be instrumental compositional narrative or lyrical" The Silmarillion is a collection of J R R Tolkien 's mythopoeic works edited and published posthumously by his son Christopher Tolkien in Folk rock is a musical genre combining elements of Folk music and rock music. Queen were an English rock band formed in 1970 in London by guitarist A backing vocalist or backing singer (or especially in the US It was also the last Blind Guardian album produced by Rasmussen.

A Night at the Opera, named after the eponymous Queen album, was released four years after. A Night at the Opera is a 2002 album by the German Power metal band Blind Guardian. A Night at the Opera is a 1975 album by English rock band Queen. On this album, the band's sound lacked almost all influence of their original speed metal. Power and progressive metal abound, with over the top orchestral backing and a consistent vocal and guitar layering throughout. [9] Though not a true concept album, many of the lyrics dealt with the common themes of religion and relations between human and divine powers. A religion is a set of Tenets and practices often centered upon specific Supernatural and moral claims about Reality, the Cosmos It was followed by a live album in 2003 and a DVD, Imaginations Through the Looking Glass (2004), which was the last recorded Blind Guardian material to feature Thomen Stauch on drums. DVD (also known as " Digital Versatile Disc " or " Digital Video Disc " - see Etymology)is Blind Guardian intended to record a DVD since early 1998, however due to the band's high requirements no existing metal festival had been considered suitable Thomen ("The Omen" Stauch (born March 11, 1970) is a heavy metal drummer, who has worked with various bands in the past He left the band due to musical differences and was replaced by Frederik Ehmke. The first album with Ehmke was A Twist in the Myth, which came out in 2006. A Twist in the Myth is the eighth studio Album by the German Power metal band Blind Guardian.

Blind Guardian recently participated in the soundtrack for the In the Name of the King: a Dungeon Siege Tale fantasy movie, which came out in 2008. In the Name of the King A Dungeon Siege Tale is a Fantasy film based on the Dungeon Siege Video game series which was directed Fantasy films are films with fantastic themes usually involving magic, Supernatural events make-believe creatures or exotic Fantasy worlds [10] Hansi Kursch also announced the band's intention to record a theme song for Sacred 2 RPG video game, the upcoming sequel to Sacred. A video game is a Game that involves interaction with a User interface to generate visual feedback on a video device. "Ancaria" redirects here For the Wasp Genus, see Ancaria (wasp [11] According to recent interviews, the song, titled "Sacred", will not be released until as a bonus track for their next album. Songwriting for their next album has started and at the same time the band is working with the Orchestral Project. It will be decided at a later date wether they release a new album or the Orchestral Project first. However there won't be a new album released before 2010 in any case. For the film see 2010 The Year We Make Contact. For the book see 2010 Odyssey Two. [12]

Musical style

Blind Guardian's first two albums, Battalions of Fear and Follow the Blind, were more in the style of speed metal than their following works. Battalions of Fear is the debut album by German metal band Blind Guardian. Follow the Blind is the second full-length album from the German metal band Blind Guardian, released in 1989 Speed metal is a sub-genre of Heavy metal music originating in the late 1970s and early 1980s that was the direct musical progenitor of Thrash metal. Beginning with their third album Tales from the Twilight World, Blind Guardian gradually turned to a more complicated sound, including vast use of choirs and sometimes orchestral arrangements, heavily influenced by the English rock band Queen. Tales from the Twilight World is an album that was released in 1990 by Blind Guardian. For the musical composition see Chorale. A choir, chorale, or chorus is a Musical ensemble of Singers An orchestra is an instrumental ensemble, usually fairly large with string brass woodwind sections and possibly a percussion section as well Queen were an English rock band formed in 1970 in London by guitarist [13][14]

Blind Guardian's music features the staccato guitars and double bass drumming characteristic of power metal, as well as the use of overdubs to create a dense, "epic" sound. In Musical notation, the Italian word staccato (literally detached, plural staccatos or staccati) indicates that notes An electric guitar is a type of Guitar that uses pickups to convert the vibration of its steel-cored strings into an electrical current which is made louder A bass drum is a large Drum that produces a note of low definite or indefinite pitch. Overdubbing (the process of making an overdub, or overdubs is a technique used by Recording studios to add a supplementary recorded sound to a previously recorded This technique, especially notable in the guitar and vocal tracks, creates the impression of a vast army of musicians playing in unison and singing in harmony.

Side projects

Along with Jon Schaffer (the leader and founder of Iced Earth), Kürsch is a member of Demons & Wizards, where he is the lead singer. Jon Ryan Schaffer (born March 15, 1968 in Franklin Indiana) is a heavy metal Guitarist and Songwriter. Iced Earth is an American heavy metal band from Tampa, Florida that combines influences from Thrash metal, Power metal, For the 1972 album by Uriah Heep see Demons & Wizards (Uriah Heep album. He also appeared on Therion's album Deggial, contributing vocals to the song "Flesh of the Gods", on the Angra album, Temple of Shadows, singing "Winds of Destination", on the Edguy album Vain Glory Opera, performing the songs "Out Of Control" and "Vain Glory Opera" with Tobias Sammet, and on the latest Ayreon album 01011001, performing as one of the race "Forever". For the Islamic eschatological figure see Dajjal. Deggial is an album released by Swedish Symphonic metal Angra is a heavy metal band from São Paulo, Brazil known for its use of symphonic interludes highly technical guitar playing and regional elements Temple of Shadows is a Concept album by the Power metal band Angra and was released in 2004 by Paradoxx Music in Brazil Edguy is a Power metal band from Fulda, Germany that was formed in 1992. Vain Glory Opera, released in 1998, is the third Album by German Power metal band Edguy. Ayreon ( is a project by Dutch composer and musician Arjen Anthony Lucassen.

The band have been working on and off for 8 years on an orchestral project writing music about The Lord of the Rings (negotiations failed to be included on the famous The Lord of the Rings film trilogy as the soundtrack). The Lord of the Rings film trilogy consists of three Live action Fantasy Epic films The Fellowship of the Ring ( 2001 Although it will not be a power metal album (meaning that there won't be any drums or electric guitars and bass), it will be published under the name of Blind Guardian because it matches the theme of the band's lyrics, according to Hansi[15] and André. [16]

Line-up

Band members

Former members

Guest musicians

Discography

Main article: Blind Guardian discography

Studio albums

References

  1. ^ No Life Till Metal
  2. ^ Nuclear Blast: Blind Guardian
  3. ^ Rock Hard Magazine
  4. ^ Blind Guardian. Hans Jürgen Kürsch, better known as Hansi Kürsch (born August 10, 1966 in Lank-Latum Germany) is the lead vocalist of Power metal Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, which is often contrasted with Speech. The electric bass guitar (also called electric bass, or simply bass; ˈbeɪs as in "base" is a Stringed instrument played primarily with the André Olbrich (born May 3, 1967, in Düsseldorf, Germany) is the Lead guitarist of the German Power metal band Lead guitar refers to the use of a Guitar to perform Melody lines instrumental fill passages, and Guitar solos within a song structure Marcus Siepen (born September 8th 1968 in Krefeld Germany) is one of two guitarists in the Power metal band Blind Guardian. Rhythm guitar is the use of a Guitar to provide Rhythmic chordal Accompaniment for a singer or other instruments in a Musical ensemble Frederik Ehmke, born June 21 1978 (29 years old in Malsch Germany is the newest member of the Power metal band Blind Guardian, having joined A drum kit (also drum set or trap set) is a collection of Drums Cymbals and sometimes other Percussion instruments such as cowbells The flute is a Musical instrument of the Woodwind family Unlike other woodwind instruments a flute is a Reedless wind instrument that produces its Bagpipes are a class of Musical instrument, Aerophones using enclosed reeds fed from a constant reservoir of air in the form of a bag Thomen ("The Omen" Stauch (born March 11, 1970) is a heavy metal drummer, who has worked with various bands in the past In rock and other related genres bands often have multiple electric and/or Acoustic guitar players to perform the different musical parts such as instrumental In rock and other related genres bands often have multiple electric and/or Acoustic guitar players to perform the different musical parts such as instrumental Oliver Holzwarth has been the live/studio bass player for Blind Guardian since 1998 Alex Holzwarth was born on 4 October, 1968 in Landshut, Germany and is a professional Drummer. A keyboard instrument is any musical instrument played using a Musical keyboard. Kai Michael Hansen (born January 17, 1963, in Hamburg, West Germany) is a Power metal Guitarist and Vocalist Guitar solos are a melodic passage section or entire piece of music written for an Electric guitar or an Acoustic guitar. The discography for the Power metal band Blind Guardian. Albums/singles Demo albums as Lucifer's Heritage Studio albums Battalions of Fear is the debut album by German metal band Blind Guardian. Follow the Blind is the second full-length album from the German metal band Blind Guardian, released in 1989 Tales from the Twilight World is an album that was released in 1990 by Blind Guardian. Somewhere Far Beyond is the fourth studio-album by German Power/Speed-Metal act Blind Guardian. Imaginations from the Other Side is an album by Blind Guardian that was released in 1995 Nightfall in Middle-Earth is a Concept album by Blind Guardian, released in 1998 A Night at the Opera is a 2002 album by the German Power metal band Blind Guardian. A Twist in the Myth is the eighth studio Album by the German Power metal band Blind Guardian. Band: How it started... (English). Retrieved on 2007-07-15. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1099 - First Crusade: Christian soldiers take the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem after the final
  5. ^ a b Nuclear Blast. Nuclear blast may refer to Nuclear explosion Nuclear Blast, a record label Blind Guardian: Bio (English). Retrieved on 2007-07-15. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1099 - First Crusade: Christian soldiers take the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem after the final
  6. ^ Battlions of Fear Review. Retrieved on 2008-02-17. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1500 - Battle of Hemmingstedt. 1600 - Philosopher Giordano Bruno is burned alive at Campo de' Fiori
  7. ^ Follow the Blind Review. Retrieved on 2008-02-17. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1500 - Battle of Hemmingstedt. 1600 - Philosopher Giordano Bruno is burned alive at Campo de' Fiori
  8. ^ Nightfall in Middle-Earth Review. Retrieved on 2008-02-17. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1500 - Battle of Hemmingstedt. 1600 - Philosopher Giordano Bruno is burned alive at Campo de' Fiori
  9. ^ A Night at the Opera Review. Retrieved on 2008-02-17. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1500 - Battle of Hemmingstedt. 1600 - Philosopher Giordano Bruno is burned alive at Campo de' Fiori
  10. ^ Various Artists – In the Name of the King. Soundtrack review
  11. ^ Hansi's letter to "the Following" fan site
  12. ^ Interview with the band
  13. ^ Queen influence 'Night at the Opera', The Metal Observer, <http://www.metal-observer.com/articles.php?lid=1&sid=4&id=4487> 
  14. ^ Queen influence, Blind Guardian official site, <http://www.blind-guardian.com/new_version/band_members.php3> 
  15. ^ "A New Twist in the Blind Guardian Legacy" by Kenneth Morton
  16. ^ Andre Olbrich phone interview; April 08, 2006

External links

MySpace is a popular social networking Website offering an interactive user-submitted network of friends personal profiles blogs groups photos music and MusicBrainz is a project that aims to create an Open content Music database
© 2009 citizendia.org; parts available under the terms of GNU Free Documentation License, from http://en.wikipedia.org
 Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic