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Kai Hansen
Kai Michael Hansen (born 17 January 1963) is a German musician who is the founder, lead guitarist and vocalist of power metal band Gamma Ray. He is also one of the co-founders of metal band Helloween, which he rejoined in 2016. He is a prominent figure in power metal and has sold millions of albums worldwide. He is regarded as "the godfather of power metal", having founded two seminal bands in the genre. In 2011, he joined the band Unisonic featuring former Helloween vocalist Michael Kiske. Hansen and Kiske reunited with Helloween in 2017 for a world tour with all current members, celebrating the 30-year anniversary of release of the albums ''Keeper of the Seven Keys'' Parts I and II. Early life Kai Hansen was born in Hamburg in 1963. At the age of ten, Kai got interested in music and started playing wash-drums. His parents however, didn't like the noise and bought him an acoustic guitar instead. He took a six-months course in classical guitar and following it, formed his first ...
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Hamburg
(male), (female) en, Hamburger(s), Hamburgian(s) , timezone1 = Central (CET) , utc_offset1 = +1 , timezone1_DST = Central (CEST) , utc_offset1_DST = +2 , postal_code_type = Postal code(s) , postal_code = 20001–21149, 22001–22769 , area_code_type = Area code(s) , area_code = 040 , registration_plate = , blank_name_sec1 = GRP (nominal) , blank_info_sec1 = €123 billion (2019) , blank1_name_sec1 = GRP per capita , blank1_info_sec1 = €67,000 (2019) , blank1_name_sec2 = HDI (2018) , blank1_info_sec2 = 0.976 · 1st of 16 , iso_code = DE-HH , blank_name_sec2 = NUTS Region , blank_info_sec2 = DE6 , website = , footnotes ...
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Michael Weikath
Michael Ingo Joachim "Weiki" Weikath (born 7 August 1962) is a German musician, best known as a founding member and one of the guitarists of pioneering power metal band Helloween. Biography Weikath was born in Hamburg and was musical from a very early age. As a four to five-year-old, he would lie in the grass, looking at the sky, and come up with melodies in his head. He began taking a serious interest in music in 1971 and spent much of his time as a child at the tube stereo set of his parents, listening to all the stations available at the time. The first album he owned was '' 1962–1966'' by The Beatles. In 1974, Weikath started playing the guitar and later on began rehearsing with his friends. He formed his first band, Powerfool, in 1978. Prior to forming Helloween, he worked for a record mail order company. In 1982, he served heavy social duty as an alternative to military service. The main bands that have had an influence on him are The Beatles, Deep Purple, Scorpions, ...
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Avantasia
Avantasia is a German supergroup metal opera project created by Tobias Sammet, vocalist of the band Edguy. It has been characterized as a rock opera, as it features the contributions of various vocalists and musicians and it consists of concept albums. Conceived in 1999 as studio-only, two-album project, Avantasia has since released seven other studio albums and has toured the world multiple times. It can be divided into four periods of activity. The first, 1999–2002, saw the release of a self-titled single and the full-length albums ''The Metal Opera'' and ''The Metal Opera Part II''. The second, 2006–2011, consists of the EPs '' Lost in Space Part I & II'' and The Wicked Trilogy, composed of the albums '' The Scarecrow'', ''The Wicked Symphony'' and ''Angel of Babylon''. The third, 2013–2016, includes the albums ''The Mystery of Time'' and ''Ghostlights''. The fourth period, 2019–2022, comprises the albums '' Moonglow'' and ''A Paranormal Evening with the Moonflower So ...
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I Want Out (Helloween Song)
"I Want Out" is a song by the German power metal band Helloween from the album ''Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt. 2'', that was released as a single in 1988. It was written by Kai Hansen, who said in an interview that it was a hint of him really wanting "out" of the band. Musically, the song is characterised by a recognisable introduction and Michael Kiske's trademark high pitched singing in the chorus. It is also punk-influenced (especially the rebellious lyrics) in contrast to other Helloween songs, or Hansen's post-Helloween work. The promovideo was shown on MTV and was directed by Storm Thorgerson. It is one of the Helloween's most recognizable songs, and is often performed live by Helloween and both Hansen's and Kiske's current bands Gamma Ray and Unisonic. The song was covered by HammerFall, Sonata Arctica, Avalanch and Skylark. Track listing All songs written by Kai Hansen, except where noted. Credits *Michael Kiske - lead vocals *Kai Hansen - lead and rhythm guitars, ba ...
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HammerFall
HammerFall is a Swedish power metal band from Gothenburg. The band was formed in 1993 by ex-Ceremonial Oath guitarist Oscar Dronjak. History Early days (1993–1996) HammerFall was formed when rhythm guitarist Oscar Dronjak quit Ceremonial Oath and invited Jesper Strömblad (from Ceremonial Oath and In Flames) to join him as a drummer in a new musical project he had been contemplating for some time. Dronjak had already composed the song "Steel Meets Steel," which was later included on HammerFall's debut album. Dronjak and Strömblad were later joined by lead guitarist Niklas Sundin, bassist Johan Larsson, and vocalist Mikael Stanne. When Niklas Sundin and Johan Larsson left HammerFall the following year, Glenn Ljungström (then guitarist of In Flames) and Fredrik Larsson (bassist of the former Swedish death metal band Dispatched), replaced them. All five members played in other bands at the time. Dronjak and Larsson played in ''Crystal Age''; Strömblad and Ljungström pl ...
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Instant Clarity
'' Instant Clarity'' is the first solo album of vocalist Michael Kiske, formerly of Helloween. The album was released 1996 and features guest appearances by Kai Hansen, formerly of Helloween, Adrian Smith of Iron Maiden, and compositions with Ciriaco Taraxes. A music video was produced and filmed in New York City for the song ''Always'', which was dedicated to Ingo Schwichtenberg; the former Helloween drummer who committed suicide in 1995. "The Calling" was released as a single-EP in Japan, and "Always" was released instead in the UK. Both EPs have the same bonus tracks not available on the album. These tracks were "Rock'N'Roll Is Dead" and "When You're Down On Your Knees That's When You're Closest To Heaven". The album was reissued in 2006 containing four bonus tracks recorded in the sessions for his solo album "Kiske" released 2006.. Background Kiske said about the album 2013: ''"I think the 'Instant Clarity' record was rather easy because there was good money support, e ...
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Temple Of Shadows
''Temple of Shadows'' is the fifth studio and a concept album by the power metal band Angra and was released in 2004 by Paradoxx Music in Brazil and SPV label Steamhammer in the rest of the world. SPV also released a limited edition containing a bonus DVD with the complete video material of the concert that was previously released on their album '' Rebirth World Tour – Live in São Paulo''. The record was classified as the 21st best power metal album of all time by the metal magazine Loudwire. Track listing Story The 13 tracks tell a story written by guitarist Rafael Bittencourt about the life of a crusader in the 11th century - known as The Shadow Hunter - questioning the ideals of the Catholic Church. * "Deus Le Volt!", ''Spread Your Fire'': The story starts as a man, later named the Shadow Hunter, is chosen by God as a Jewish Rabbi tells him his fate. * "Angels and Demons": As he accepts his destiny, the Shadow Hunter goes off to spread a new belief, against the teach ...
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Angels Cry (album)
''Angels Cry'' is the debut album of Brazilian metal band Angra. It was released in 1993 and recorded in Germany at Kai Hansen's studios in Hamburg. The opening track is a short rendition of the first movement of Franz Schubert's " Symphony No. 8", commonly known as his "Unfinished Symphony". In addition, the title track features a brief arrangement of " Caprice no. 24" by Niccolò Paganini, whereas "Evil Warning" features a brief arrangement of "Winter" by Antonio Vivaldi. The opening of the track "Never Understand" features a brief arrangement of the song "Asa Branca" by Luiz Gonzaga. The opening section of the closing track "Lasting Child", entitled "The Parting Words", is an adaptation of the theme of Felix Mendelssohn's "Variations sérieuses", Op. 54. Production and recording When commenting on the production and recording of the album, vocalist Andre Matos said that recording the album was difficult due to the inexperience of him and his bandmates, and also due to the d ...
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Angra (band)
Angra is a Brazilian power metal band formed in 1991. They have released nine regular studio albums, five EPs, and three live CD/DVDs to date. Led by Rafael Bittencourt, the band has gained a degree of popularity in Japan and Europe. History Formation Angra was formed in November 1991 by Santa Marcelina Music College students vocalist Andre Matos and guitarists Rafael Bittencourt and André Linhares. They were joined by Bittencourt's former bandmate Marcos Antunes (drums) and bassist Luís Mariutti (ex-Firebox). This line-up composed a number of the earliest songs, with Rafael Bittencourt and Andre Matos emerging as the main songwriters. Two of the first songs written were "Time" and "Angels Cry", which both featured on the band's first album''.'' The song "Queen of the Night", composed by Matos and Bittencourt, was originally titled "Rainha" ("Queen") and had been one of the songs from Bittencourt and Antunes previous band. The song "Carry On" was composed by Andre Matos and ...
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Dirk Schlächter
Dirk Schlächter (born 15 February 1965, in Bad Nauheim, Germany) is the bassist of the power metal band Gamma Ray and Avalanch from 2018. History Dirk got in touch with music for the first time joining a music school at the age of 8. At the age of 11 he got his first acoustic guitar followed by an electric guitar at the age of 15. At the age of 19 he turned to bass guitar. During this time he played in bands called Blue Life, Sold Out, Louis Glover House Band and Drivin' Force. Dirk appeared as a guest musician on Gamma Ray's first album, Heading For Tomorrow, playing bass on the track "Money" and parts of the track "The Silence". The rest of the bass-parts on the album were recorded by Uwe Wessel. Schlächter was hired to play bass with Gamma Ray for their first tour, but as Uwe Wessel's former band split up at this point Schlächter replaced him. Schlächter was then offered the job of second guitarist. From this point on Schlächter became Gamma Ray's permanent second gu ...
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Tales From The Twilight World
''Tales from the Twilight World'' is the third studio album by German power metal band Blind Guardian, released on 2 October 1990. Track listing :a. Lyrical references * "Traveler in Time" is based on Frank Herbert's ''Dune'' * "Welcome to Dying" is based on Peter Straub's '' Floating Dragon'' * "Lord of the Rings" is based on J. R. R. Tolkien's ''The Lord of the Rings'' * "Tommyknockers" and "Altair 4" are based on Stephen King's ''The Tommyknockers'' * "Goodbye My Friend" is inspired by the film ''E.T.'' * "Lost in the Twilight Hall" is about the time spent "between worlds" by the wizard Gandalf the Grey after defeating the Balrog of Moria before his reincarnation as Gandalf the White. * "The Last Candle" talks about places and events of Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman's Dragonlance universe, specially from the "Chronicles" and "Legends" trilogies. Personnel Blind Guardian * Hansi Kürsch – vocals, bass * André Olbrich – lead guitar, backing vocals * Marcus Si ...
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Follow The Blind
''Follow the Blind'' is the second full-length album by German power metal band Blind Guardian. It was released in 1989 and is more in the vein of speed metal, compared to the style that would later define the band's unique sound. Guitarist Marcus Siepen stated that they were "listening to a lot of thrash metal bands like Testament or Forbidden, and that's why ''Follow the Blind'' was a bit heavier". The album was remastered, remixed and re-released on 15 June 2007, with the whole second demo tape, ''Battalions of Fear'', of the band (at the time called Lucifer's Heritage) as part of the bonus tracks. The album was again re-released as part of the '' A Traveler's Guide to Space and Time'' boxset with minor adjustments to the mixing and with new mastering. " Banish from Sanctuary" was released as a single to promote this album. In 2017, ''Loudwire'' ranked ''Follow the Blind'' as the 12th-best power metal album of all time. Track listing Lyrical references * "Inquisiti ...
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