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| Background information | |
| Origin | Krefeld, Germany |
| Genre(s) | Speed metal (early) Power metal Symphonic metal (later) |
| Years active | 1984-present |
| Label(s) | No remorse Virgin Century Media Nuclear Blast |
| Associated acts |
Demons & Wizards Iced Earth |
| Website | Official Homepage |
| Members | |
| Hansi Kürsch André Olbrich Marcus Siepen Frederik Ehmke |
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| Former members | |
| Thomas "Thomen" Stauch Markus Dörk Christof Theissen Hans-Peter Frey |
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Blind Guardian is a power metal band which formed in the mid-1980s in Krefeld, Germany.[1] Before calling themselves Blind Guardian, the band released two demos under the name Lucifer's Heritage in 1985 and 1986.[2] From the beginning, Blind Guardian has been inspired by the fiction of authors such as J. R. R. Tolkien, Stephen King, and Michael Moorcock, as well as traditional legends and epics.[2] Over the years, a running theme has developed associating the band members with traveling bards.
Contents |
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. Beginning with their third album Tales from the Twilight World, Blind Guardian gradually turned to a more sophisticated sound, including vast use of choirs and sometimes orchestral arrangements, heavily influenced by the English rock band Queen.[3][4] 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. 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
Together with Jon Schaffer (the leader and founder of Iced Earth) Kürsch is the lead singer of a side project called Demons & Wizards. Hansi has 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 album will be released in 2008, and 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[5] and Andre.[6]
Line-up
Band members
- Hansi Kürsch — Vocals (1984–), Bass (1984–1996)
- André Olbrich — Lead Guitar (1984–)
- Marcus Siepen — Rhythm Guitar (1987–)
- Frederik Ehmke — Drums, Percussion, Flute, Bagpipes (2005–)
Former members
- Thomas "Thomen" Stauch — Drums (1984–1985, 1987–2005)
- Markus Dörk — Rhythm & Lead Guitar (Lucifer's Heritage) (1984–1985)
- Christof Bilgeria — Lead & Rhythm Guitar (Lucifer's Heritage) (1986)
- Hans-Peter Frey — Drums (Lucifer's Heritage) (1986)
- Thomas Kelleners — Vocals (Lucifer's Heritage) (1984)
Guest musicians
- Oliver Holzwarth — Bass (touring/studio) (1997–)
- Alex Holzwarth — Drums (live) (2002–2003)
- Mathias Wiesner — Keyboards (studio) (1989–)
- Michael Schüren — Keyboards (live) & Grand Piano (studio) (1997–)
- Kai Hansen — Vocals & Guitar Solos (1989–1992)
- Rolf Köhler, Thomas Hackmann — backing vocals (1989–)
- Olaf Senkbeil, Billy King — backing vocals (1990–)
Discography
Studio albums
- Battalions of Fear (1988)
- Follow the Blind (1989)
- Tales from the Twilight World (1990)
- Somewhere Far Beyond (1992)
- Imaginations from the Other Side (1995)
- Nightfall in Middle-Earth (1998)
- A Night at the Opera (2002)
- A Twist in the Myth (2006)
References
- ^ Blind Guardian. Band: How it started... (English). Retrieved on 2007-07-15.
- ^ a b Nuclear Blast. Blind Guardian: Bio (English). Retrieved on 2007-07-15.
- ^ Queen influence 'Night at the Opera', The Metal Observer, <http://www.metal-observer.com/articles.php?lid=1&sid=4&id=4487>
- ^ Queen influence, Blind Guardian official site, <http://www.blind-guardian.com/new_version/band_members.php3>
- ^ "A New Twist in the Blind Guardian Legacy" by Kenneth Morton
- ^ Andre Olbrich phone interview; April 08, 2006
External links
- Blind Guardian Official Homepage
- Blind Guardian at MySpace
- Blind Guardian discography at MusicBrainz
- Blind Guardian French Homepage
| Blind Guardian |
|---|
| Hansi Kürsch | André Olbrich | Marcus Siepen | Frederik Ehmke |
| Thomen Stauch | Markus Dörk | Christoph Theissen | Hans-Peter Frey |
| Discography |
| Demo albums as Lucifer's Heritage: Symphonies of Doom | Battalions of Fear |
| Studio albums: Battalions of Fear | Follow the Blind | Tales from the Twilight World | Somewhere Far Beyond | Imaginations from the Other Side | Nightfall in Middle-Earth | A Night at the Opera | A Twist in the Myth |
| Live albums: Tokyo Tales | Live |
| Compilations: The Forgotten Tales |
| Singles: "A Past and Future Secret" | "Bright Eyes" | "Mr. Sandman" | "Mirror Mirror" | "And Then There Was Silence" | "The Bard's Song (In the Forest)" | "Fly" | "Another Stranger Me" |
| Videography |
| DVDs: Imaginations Through the Looking Glass |
