Andy Kuntz (born 20 November 1962) is a

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

progressive metal Progressive metal (sometimes shortened to prog metal) is a broad :Fusion music genres, fusion music genre melding heavy metal music, heavy metal and progressive rock, combining the loud "aggression" and amplified electric guitar, guitar-driven s ...

singer best known for his work with the band

Vanden Plas Vanden Plas is the name of coachbuilders who produced bodies for specialist and up-market automobile manufacturers. Latterly the name became a top-end luxury model designation for cars from subsidiaries of British Leyland and the Rover Group, ...

. He has also participated in a production of the musical

Jesus Christ Superstar ''Jesus Christ Superstar'' is a sung-through rock opera with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice. Loosely based on the Gospels' accounts of the Passion, the work interprets the psychology of Jesus and other characters, with ...

Background

Kuntz was born in

Kaiserslautern Kaiserslautern (; Palatinate German: ''Lautre'') is a city in southwest Germany, located in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate at the edge of the Palatinate Forest. The historic centre dates to the 9th century. It is from Paris, from Frankfur ...

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

. Since age 14, he has been interested in singing and he always wanted to be a "big rock star". When he was a teenager, he was in a garage punk rock band called Rock Zock. He has said his main influences are

Kansas Kansas () is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its capital is Topeka, and its largest city is Wichita. Kansas is a landlocked state bordered by Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; Oklahoma to the south; and Colorado to the ...

Thin Lizzy Thin Lizzy are an Irish hard rock band formed in Dublin in 1969. Their music reflects a wide range of influences, including blues, soul music, psychedelic rock and traditional Irish folk music, but is generally classified as hard rock or some ...

Van Halen Van Halen ( ) was an American rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. Credited with "restoring hard rock to the forefront of the music scene", Van Halen was known for its energetic live shows and for the virtuosity of its lead gu ...

Genesis Genesis may refer to: Bible * Book of Genesis, the first book of the biblical scriptures of both Judaism and Christianity, describing the creation of the Earth and of mankind * Genesis creation narrative, the first several chapters of the Book of ...

, Magnum, and

Sting Sting may refer to: * Stinger or sting, a structure of an animal to inject venom, or the injury produced by a stinger * Irritating hairs or prickles of a stinging plant, or the plant itself Fictional characters and entities * Sting (Middle-eart ...

. Kuntz is a first cousin of former German national association football player

Stefan Kuntz Stefan Kuntz (born 30 October 1962) is a German professional Manager (association football), football manager and former Football player, player who played as a Forward (association football), striker. He is the head coach of the Turkey national ...

Formation of Vanden Plas

When Kuntz was in school, drummer

Andreas Lill Andreas Lill is a German Progressive metal drummer. He is best known for his work as the drummer for the band Vanden Plas. Background Andreas Lill was born November 3, 1965. As an early teenager he tried to learn to play bass guitar, but at 15 he ...

heard Kuntz singing in his punk band, Rock Zock. Kuntz didn't like the kind of music that Rock Zock was playing, and Lill asked him to sing for his band, which was called Exodus at the time. When the question of a new name came up, they were inspired by a car maker they saw (

), and they thought that it would be an interesting band name.

Discography

With Vanden Plas

* ''Colour Temple'' (1994) *''AcCult'' (1996, acoustic EP) * ''The God Thing'' (1997) * ''Far Off Grace'' (1999) * ''Spirit of Live'' (2000, live album) * ''Beyond Daylight'' (2002) * ''Christ 0'' (2006) * ''The Seraphic Clockwork'' (2010) * ''The Chronicles of the Immortals: Netherworld (Path I)'' (2014) * ''The Chronicles of the Immortals: Netherworld (Path II)'' (2015)

With Abydos

*''Abydos: The Little Boy's Heavy Mental Shadow Opera About the Inhabitants of His Diary'' (2004)

With Missa Mercuria

* ''Missa Mercuria'' (2002)

References

External links

Vanden Plas official website
German heavy metal singers German male singers Living people 1962 births People from Kaiserslautern {{Germany-singer-stub