Dirk Schlächter (born 15 February 1965, in Bad Nauheim, Germany) is the

bassist A bassist (also known as a bass player or bass guitarist) is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass (upright bass, contrabass, wood bass), bass guitar (electric bass, acoustic bass), synthbass, keyboard bass or a low bra ...

of the

power metal Power metal is a subgenre of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional heavy metal with speed metal, often within symphonic context. Generally, power metal is characterized by a faster, lighter, and more uplifting sound, in contra ...

band

Gamma Ray A gamma ray, also known as gamma radiation (symbol γ or \gamma), is a penetrating form of electromagnetic radiation arising from the radioactive decay of atomic nucleus, atomic nuclei. It consists of the shortest wavelength electromagnetic wav ...

and

Avalanch Avalanch is a Spanish heavy metal band formed in Asturias in 1993. Led by composer, producer and guitar player Alberto Rionda, the band has released nine studio albums, plus a handful of compilations, DVDs and English versions of their works ...

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

's first album,

Heading For Tomorrow ''Heading for Tomorrow'' is the first studio album released by German metal band Gamma Ray on 26 February 1990 by Noise Records. In 2002 it was re-released with a different cover as part of the Ultimate Collection box-set. This re-released vers ...

, 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

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

's permanent second guitarist. He played guitar on the albums Sigh No More,

Insanity and Genius ''Insanity and Genius'' is the third studio album by Gamma Ray and final album with Ralf Scheepers on vocals. Kai Hansen sings on the song "Heal Me", Dirk Schlächter sings on the song "Your Tørn Is Over". Continuing a trend that would conclud ...

and Land of the Free. After the Land of the Free album Schlächter was supposed to swap positions with bassist Jan Rubach, but instead Rubach quit the band. Schlächter took over the position of bassist and Henjo Richter became the band's new guitarist. The release of the album

Somewhere Out In Space ''Somewhere Out in Space'' is an album by German power metal band, Gamma Ray. It was released on 25 August 1997 and is the band's fifth studio album. Continuing in the tradition of the previous four albums, it contained yet another different lin ...

marked Schlächter's return to playing bass, a job he has had ever since. Schlächter is also the producer of Gamma Ray albums since

, along with the band's mainman

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 ...

. In 2013, he joined German symphonic metal band

Neopera Neopera is a German band which combines symphonic metal music with light electronic music, operatic (male/female) vocals and death growls. The band was formed in 2011 in Hamburg. History Jörn Schubert ( Dark Age) always wanted to combine ...

. From 2018 he is the bassist of the spanish band

Discography

Gamma Ray

Studio albums

* ''

Heading for Tomorrow ''Heading for Tomorrow'' is the first studio album released by German metal band Gamma Ray on 26 February 1990 by Noise Records. In 2002 it was re-released with a different cover as part of the Ultimate Collection box-set. This re-released vers ...

'' (1990) (as a guest musician, playing bass on two tracks) * '' Sigh No More'' (1991) * ''

'' (1993) * '' Land of the Free'' (1995) * ''

Somewhere Out in Space ''Somewhere Out in Space'' is an album by German power metal band, Gamma Ray. It was released on 25 August 1997 and is the band's fifth studio album. Continuing in the tradition of the previous four albums, it contained yet another different lin ...

'' (1997) * ''

Power Plant A power station, also referred to as a power plant and sometimes generating station or generating plant, is an industrial facility for the generation of electric power. Power stations are generally connected to an electrical grid. Many p ...

'' (1999) * '' No World Order'' (2001) * '' Majestic'' (2005) * '' Land of the Free II'' (2007) * '' To The Metal'' (2010) * '' Empire Of The Undead'' (2014)

Live albums

* ''

Alive '95 ''Alive '95'' was the first live album by Kai Hansen's Gamma Ray. It was released in May 1996, following the live concerts in Milano, Paris, Madrid, Pamplona and Erlangen, during the band's "Men on a Tour" European tour. Track listing CD1 # "Lan ...

'' (1996) * '' Skeletons in the Closet'' (2003) * '' Hell Yeah! The Awesome Foursome'' (2008) * ''

Skeletons & Majesties Live ''Skeletons & Majesties Live'' is the fourth live album of the metal band Gamma Ray. The album was recorded during Gamma Ray's 2011 concert in Pratteln (Switzerland) and contains acoustic renditions of the songs ''Rebellion in Dreamland'' and ''Se ...

'' (2012)

Extended plays (EPs)

* ''

Heaven Can Wait Heaven Can Wait may refer to: * ''Heaven Can Wait'' (1943 film), a comedy based on the stage play ''Birthday'' by Leslie Bush-Fekete * ''Heaven Can Wait'' (1978 film), an American football comedy starring Warren Beatty; a remake of the 1941 film ...

'' (1990) * '' Who Do You Think You Are?'' (1990) * '' Future Madhouse'' (1993) * '' Rebellion In Dreamland'' (1995) * '' Silent Miracles'' (1996) * ''

Valley of the Kings The Valley of the Kings ( ar, وادي الملوك ; Late Coptic: ), also known as the Valley of the Gates of the Kings ( ar, وادي أبوا الملوك ), is a valley in Egypt where, for a period of nearly 500 years from the 16th to 11th ...

'' (1997) * '' Heaven Or Hell'' (2001) * '' Master of Confusion'' (2013)

Compilation albums

* '' The Karaoke Album'' (1997) * '' Hansen Worx'' (1998) * '' Blast from the Past'' (2000) * '' Alright! 20 Years Of Universe'' (2010) * '' The Best (Of)'' (2015)

Videos and DVDs

* ''Heading for the East'' (1990) * ''Lust for Live'' (1993) * '' Hell Yeah! The Awesome Foursome'' (2008) * ''

'' (2012)

Neopera

Studio albums

* ''Destined Ways'' (2014)

Singles

* ''The Marvel of Chimera'' (2013)

Avalanch

- ''The Secret'' (2019) *

- ''El Secreto'' (2019)

As a guest

* Heavens Gate - ''Hell for Sale!'' (1992) * Angra - '' Angels Cry'' (1993) * Lanzer - ''Under a Different Sun'' (1995) * Iron Savior - '' Iron Savior'' (1997) *

Freedom Call Freedom Call is a German power metal band formed in 1998. The band tours regularly and the current line-up includes two original members including lead vocalist and songwriter, Chris Bay. Freedom Call has released 12 albums in total, nine ...

- ''Taragon (EP)'' (1999) * Brainstorm - ''

Ambiguity Ambiguity is the type of meaning in which a phrase, statement or resolution is not explicitly defined, making several interpretations plausible. A common aspect of ambiguity is uncertainty. It is thus an attribute of any idea or statement w ...

'' (2000) * Stormwarrior - ''Stormwarrior'' (2002) * Stormwarrior - ''Heavy Metal Fire (EP)'' (2003) * Bassinvaders - '' Hellbassbeaters'' (2008) * Flashback of Anger - ''Splinters of Life'' (2009) * Black Hawk - ''Straight to Hell'' (2010) * In Arkadia - ''Wasteland Chronicles'' (2010)

External links

Official Gamma Ray homepage

{{DEFAULTSORT:Schlachter, Dirk 1965 births Living people German heavy metal bass guitarists Male bass guitarists Gamma Ray (band) members German male guitarists