Babis "Bob" Katsionis ( el, Μπάμπης Κατσιώνης; born February 17, 1977 in Athens, Greece) is the lead guitarist and keyboard player for the heavy metal/ power metal bands Stray Gods,Warrior Path, Outloud, and Serious Black; until recently he was part of Firewind but as of 2020 he has since left due to personal reasons. He is considered to be Greece's most successful rock/metal keyboard player, being the only musician to ever win the same category "Best Keyboardist" in Greek Metal Hammer's Annual Readers' Polls for 5 years in a row (2006–2011). He is founder of Progressive Vision Group, a videoclip making company, which has produced more than 90 videos for rock and metal artists since 2002. In 2014 he started his own records label "Symmetric Records" to help bands and artists he produced/worked with in Sound Symmetry Studio release their works. To date, Symmetric Records has 14 official releases, with Warrior Path's "The Mad King" being the most successful.

Appearances

Katsionis has appeared in various small-time bands over the years (Skyward, Retrospect etc.), most of them projects he developed himself, before gaining more recognition with the likes of Firewind and Outloud. Bob Katsionis 2007

He started playing keyboards when he was 10 years old and, four years later, began learning guitar. Bob cites Kevin Moore, Jens Johansson and

Keith Emerson Keith Noel Emerson (2 November 1944 – 11 March 2016) was an English keyboardist, songwriter, and record producer. He played keyboards in a number of bands before finding his first commercial success with the Nice in the late 1960s. He became ...

as his main keyboard influences. As well as playing keyboards, Bob is also a seven string guitar player and has played both instruments in his various bands. For instance, when Firewind play live, he performs in a dual role as keyboard player or rhythm guitarist (or both), depending on the song. He uses a standard six-string guitar in these circumstances. Bob also has released three instrumental albums with his solo project resembling mostly jazzy neo-classical/ progressive metal. and has also joined his idol's Timo Tolkki (ex-Stratovarius) band Revolution Renaissance for the recording of their album "Trinity" without making any live appearances. He released his 4th solo album titled "Rest In Keys" in December 2012, followed by "Prognosis & Synopsis" (2016) and the experimental album titled "Amadeus Street Warrior" which was a 16-bit fictional game soundtrack. After Bob filled in live for Roland Grapow on their tour with Hammerfall (January–February 2015), Serious Black announced him as a full-time member in February 2015.

Bands currently featuring Bob Katsionis

*Warrior Path *Outloud *Serious Black *Stray Gods

Past bands and/or projects

*Firewind *Revolution Renaissance * Kamelot (as co-writer) * Nightfall * Septic Flesh *Warrior Path *Wonders (ITA) *Validor (GR) *Casus Belli
Suicidal Angels
(as guest, on Torment Payback) *Scar Of The Sun (as guest and co-writer) *Keado Mores (as guest and producer) *Encomium *Fatal Morgana (guest for Rock Of Gods 1996 Festival) *Imaginary * Power Quest (as guest) *

Eldritch Eldritch, a Scottish word used to describe something otherworldly or uncanny, may refer to: * Eldritch (band), an Italian heavy metal band * ''Eldritch'' (video game), a 2013 first-person shooter based on the works of H. P. Lovecraft * Andrew Eld ...

(as guest) *NTX (Greek crossover band Nipto Tas Xeiras) *Battleroar (as guest) *Skyward (later became Retrospect) *Mirage (later became Imaginary) *Eternal Voyager (as guest) *Tragedian (as guest on "Casting Shadows" on the album ''Unholy Divine'')

Discography

Firewind

*'' Forged By Fire'' (2005) *'' Allegiance'' (2006) *'' The Premonition'' (2008) *''

Days of Defiance ''Days of Defiance'' is the sixth studio album by Greek heavy metal band Firewind. It was released on 25 October 2010 in Europe and 26 October in North America. The guitars, bass, keyboards and drums were recorded at Sound Symmetry Studios and ...

'' (2010) *''

Few Against Many ''Few Against Many'' is the seventh studio album by Greek heavy metal band Firewind. It is the first album to feature ex-Nightrage and Meridian Dawn drummer, Johan Nunez. It was released on 21 May 2012 in Europe and 22 May in North America. Thi ...

'' (2012) *'' Immortals'' (2017)

Outloud

*''We'll Rock You To Hell and Back Again'' (2009) * Love Catastrophe (2011) *

More Catastrophe E.P More or Mores may refer to: Computing * MORE (application), outline software for Mac OS * more (command), a shell command * MORE protocol, a routing protocol * Missouri Research and Education Network Music Albums * ''More!'' (album), by Booka ...

(2012) *''Let's Get Serious'' (2014) *''Destination: Overdrive (The Best of Outloud)'' (2017) *''Virtual Hero Society (2018)''

Warrior Path

* Warrior Path (2019) * The Mad KIng (2021)

Stray Gods

* Storm The Walls (2021)

Serious Black

* MirrorWorld (2016) * Magic (2017) * Vengeance Is Mine (2022)

Imaginary

*''

Oceans Divine The ocean (also the sea or the world ocean) is the body of salt water that covers approximately 70.8% of the surface of Earth and contains 97% of Earth's water. An ocean can also refer to any of the large bodies of water into which the worl ...

'' (2001) *''

Long Lost Pride Long may refer to: Measurement * Long, characteristic of something of great duration * Long, characteristic of something of great length * Longitude (abbreviation: long.), a geographic coordinate * Longa (music), note value in early music mensur ...

'' (2005)

Nightfall

*I am Jesus (Black Lotus records) 2002 *'' Lyssa: Rural Gods And Astonishing Punishments'' (2004)

Star Queen

*'' Faithbringer'' (2002)

Bob Katsionis

*'' Turn Of My Century'' (2002) *''

Imaginary Force ''Imaginary Force'' is the second solo album by Greek keyboardist and guitarist Bob Katsionis. It was released June 6, 2004, under the label Lion Music. Track listing # "The Imaginary Force" – 4:11 # "March Of The Spirits" – 3:58 # "Sing Fo ...

'' (2004) *''

Noemon ''Noemon'' is the third solo album by the Greek keyboardist and guitarist Bob Katsionis. It was released on October 14, 2008 under the label Lion Music. Track listing # "Noemon" – 4:03 # "Birth of the Sun" – 3:57 # "Tears of Alice" – 3: ...

'' (2008) *'' Rest in Keys'' (2012) *'' Prognosis & Synopsis'' (2018) *'' Amadeus Street Warrior (2020)

References

External links

Myspace
{{DEFAULTSORT:Katsionis, Bob Firewind members Greek heavy metal keyboardists Black metal musicians Greek heavy metal guitarists Musicians from Athens 1977 births Living people Greek musicians Revolution Renaissance members