Gamma Ray (band)
Gamma Ray (English " gamma ray ") is a German Speed-/Power-Metal-Band. It was founded in 1988/89 by Kai Hansen after he left Helloween.
- 4.1 albums
- 4.2 Live albums and best- ofs
- 4.3 Singles and EPs
History
After spending four years with Helloween, , guitarist and songwriter Kai Hansen in 1988 the band. Then he made some studio work with Blind Guardian. Finally, he decided to raise its own project off the ground. To this end, he recruited his longtime friend Ralf Scheepers (vocals), Uwe Wessel (bass) and Mathias Burchardt (drums) and founded Gamma Ray with them. The name of the band goes back to the biggest hit of Gamma Ray Birth Control. The title is included on the 1993 album Insanity and Genius.
With this line-up they released the album " Heading For Tomorrow" in February 1990. Shortly thereafter, Matthias Burchardt left the band again. For the song " Space Eater " is the first video clip of the band's history has been turned. This is the first time Dirk butcher as second guitarist and Tammo Vollmer as a temporary drummer, who also played on the album ( in the song " Heaven Can Wait" ) to see. In the same year was issued as a new official drummer, EP " Heaven Can Wait" with Dirk butcher and Uli Kusch. The song " Heaven Can Wait" was re-recorded for this EP with the new line again. 1991 their second album " Sigh No More " was released. In addition, as of October was a world tour with 50 dates on the program.
The third album " Insanity and Genius " was re- released in 1993 with two new members; Thomas Nack on drums and Jan Rubach on bass, in turn, Uli Kusch and Uwe Wessel replaced. From September Gamma Ray went along with Rage, Helicon and Conception on the " Melodic Metal Strikes Back " tour.
Scheepers left the band during the planning for the fourth album, Hansen took over the guitar and the vocals.
Finally, in 1995 was the fourth album " Land of the Free " was published - the first with Hansen as a singer. On the following tour, " Men on a Tour ", the first live album Gamma Rays was "Alive '95" recorded in 1996 and finally published.
After January Rubach and Thomas Nack left the band and Dan Zimmermann came as the new drummer so. Butcher decided to get back to playing bass and Henjo judge stepped in as a second guitarist.
In 1997 the next album " Somewhere Out in Space " on the market. After two years of touring followed "Power Plant". This was a continuation of the textual approach of " Somewhere Out in Space", but musically a new direction.
In 2000, the band released the " best of " album Blast From The Past. For this purpose, especially the older classics have been completely re-recorded in the studio.
After a one year break, in which Hansen took care of his side project Iron Savior, the band recorded " No World Order " on. The textual background of the album came from a conspiracy theory book " Seven: The true world order," which was written by a fan of the band, Mark Brauneis. The CD rose in the German album charts at # 23. It was followed by the "No Order World Tour", the band toured on the numerous countries across Europe, as well as gave some gigs in Japan.
After a pause band finally went to the "Skeletons in the Closet " tour. On this tour were songs for the performance, which had previously been played rarely if ever live. To this end, the band let you choose the set list on their website their fans. Of the few performances were recorded two for the next live album " Skeletons in the Closet". The last tour the band did as an opener for the first 10 performances from Iron Maiden European Tour section. Gamma Ray called this tour " Rayzin ' Hell With The Beast".
On 23 September 2005, the eighth studio album " Majestic" was published. Gamma Ray put on this CD continues the substance of the texts of the " No World Order " CD, with some songs sound even america critical tones. On 7 October 2005, the CD increases in the German album charts at # 39. Also in Finland, Italy, Czech Republic, France and Sweden, the CD comes in the official sales charts. In October, a European tour was completed.
On 16 November 2007, the album was " Land of the Free - Part 2 " released as a sequel to the hit album of 1995. In addition, in 2008 a Live-CD/DVD published with the title " Hell Yeah The Awesome Foursome -! Live in Montreal" under the " Hellish Rock" tour. The DVD contains the full concert will also feature a bonus DVD with live footage from Wacken Open Air 2003/ 06 and music videos.
On 29 January 2010 Gamma Ray's tenth studio album was released under the title "To the Metal". This was followed by several months of touring Europe.
Before Wacken Open Air 2012 Daniel Zimmermann left after 15 years of activity band Gamma Ray and was replaced by Michael Ehré, the drummer of the 2011 resolution power metal band Metalium. This had already been sitting since 2011 in some appearances as a temp on drums.
Empire Of The Undead, the new studio album, will appear on March 28, 2014.
Current members
Kai Hansen ( guitar and vocals)
See Kai Hansen.
Henjo Richter ( guitar)
Henjo judge in 1996 to Gamma Ray and is not only the lead guitarist, but also takes part the keyboard. Furthermore, judges itself is also significantly involved in the production of individual songs. So he wrote among other things the song "Send Me a Sign" and worked on all three albums of the Avantasia project with. He was also responsible for the layout of the last gamma -ray output. In addition to Gamma Ray Henjo still plays in the Uriah Heep - cover band "Easy Livin ' ".
Dirk Butcher (Bass)
Dirk butcher learned Kai Hansen during his music studies to know. On the first Gamma Ray album he was used as a session musician before assuming the position of second guitarist. However, since "Somewhere out in space" album he played the bass again and gave the guitar to the then newcomer Henjo judge. Butcher also plays the piano and composing even longer piano passages of some gamma -ray songs.
Michael Ehré (drums)
Michael Ehré came in 2012 for Daniel Zimmermann in the band, which after 15 years of his post at Gamma Ray gave up. Previously, Michael was a drummer with Firewind and Metalium.