Andy Kuntz
Encyclopedia
Andy Kuntz is a German
Progressive Metal
singer best known for his work with the band Vanden Plas
. Not only has he worked with Vanden Plas but he has also participated in a production of the musical
Jesus Christ Superstar
.
, Germany
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
, Thin Lizzy
, Van Halen
, Genesis
, Magnum
, and Sting
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 (Vanden Plas
), and they thought that it would be an interesting band name.
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
Progressive Metal
Progressive metal
Progressive metal is a subgenre of heavy metal originating in the United Kingdom and North America in the late 1980s...
singer best known for his work with the band Vanden Plas
Vanden Plas (band)
Vanden Plas is a German progressive metal band, based in Kaiserslautern and founded in the mid 1980s. In 1991, they recorded the song "Keep On Running" as an anthem for the local national league football club FC Kaiserslautern, and did the same in 1994 with "Das Ist Für Euch"...
. Not only has he worked with Vanden Plas but he has also participated in a production of the musical
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with lyrics by Tim Rice. The musical started off as a rock opera concept recording before its first staging on Broadway in 1971...
.
Background
Andy Kuntz was born on November 20, 1962 in KaiserslauternKaiserslautern
Kaiserslautern is a city in southwest Germany, located in the Bundesland of Rhineland-Palatinate at the edge of the Palatinate forest . The historic centre dates to the 9th century. It is from Paris, from Frankfurt am Main, and from Luxembourg.Kaiserslautern is home to 99,469 people...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
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
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band called Rock Zock. He has said his main influences are Kansas
Kansas (band)
Kansas is an American rock band that became popular in the 1970s initially on Album-Oriented Rock charts, and later with hit singles such as "Carry On Wayward Son" and "Dust in the Wind"...
, Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy are an Irish hard rock band formed in Dublin in 1969. Two of the founding members, drummer Brian Downey and bass guitarist/vocalist Phil Lynott met while still in school. Lynott assumed the role of frontman and led them throughout their recording career of thirteen studio albums...
, Van Halen
Van Halen
Van Halen is an American hard rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. The band has enjoyed success since the release of its debut album, Van Halen, . As of 2007 Van Halen has sold 80 million albums worldwide and has had the most #1 hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart...
, Genesis
Genesis (band)
Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...
, Magnum
Magnum (band)
Magnum are a British progressive rock band from Birmingham, England. Formed as a four piece by Tony Clarkin , Bob Catley , Kex Gorin and Bob Doyle in order to appear as the resident band at The Rum Runner night club Birmingham...
, and Sting
Formation of Vanden Plas
When Kuntz was in school, drummer Andreas LillAndreas 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 started learning drums and the instrument stuck with...
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 (Vanden Plas
Vanden Plas
Vanden Plas is the name of a company 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 various subsidiaries of British Leyland and the Rover Group.-Belgium:It originated in Belgium in...
), and they thought that it would be an interesting band name.
With Vanden Plas
- Colour TempleColour TempleColour Temple is the first studio album by the German progressive metal band Vanden Plas.-Track listing:# "Father" - 5:38# "Push" - 4:15# "When the Wind Blows" - 7:10# "My Crying" - 5:25# "Soul Survives" - 9:05# "Anytime" - 7:06# "Judas" - 6:01...
-(1994) - AcCultAcCultAcCult is an acoustic EP by the German progressive metal band Vanden Plas.-Track listing:# "Pelekanos" – 0:34# "My Crying" – 4:54# Theme from "Pseudo Silk Kimono" – 0:41# "Kayleigh" – 4:56# "Father" – 5:03...
-(1996, acoustic EP) - The God ThingThe God ThingThe God Thing is the second full-length studio album by the German progressive metal band Vanden Plas.-Track listing:# "Fire Blossom" - 2:55# "Rainmaker" - 6:39# "Garden of Stones" - 7:47# "In You: I Believe" - 4:29# "Day I Die" - 6:04...
-(1997) - Far Off GraceFar Off GraceFar Off Grace is the third full-length album by the progressive metal band Vanden Plas.-Track listing:# I Can See # Far Off Grace # Into the Sun # Where's the Man # Inside of Your Head # Don't Miss You...
-(1999) - Spirit of LiveSpirit of LiveSpirit of Live is the first live album by the progressive metal band Vanden Plas. The song "Kiss of Death" features Don Dokken as guest on lead vocals and "Rainmaker" features Patrick Rondat as guest on lead guitar.-Track listing:# "I Can See" - 4:26...
-(2000, live album) - Beyond DaylightBeyond DaylightBeyond Daylight is the fourth full-length studio album by the progressive metal band Vanden Plas. It was released on January 28, 2002 by InsideOut/SPV Records.-Track listing:# "Nightwalker" – 7:33# "Cold Wind" – 5:15# "Scarlet Flower Fields" – 5:39...
-(2002) - Christ 0Christ 0Christ 0 is the fifth full-length studio album by the progressive metal band Vanden Plas, released on March 31, 2006 by InsideOut Music. This concept album interprets the novel The Count of Monte Cristo, exploring the story of a man imprisoned for a crime he didn't commit and following his chain of...
-(2006) - The Seraphic ClockworkThe Seraphic ClockworkThe Seraphic Clockwork is the sixth full-length album by the German progressive metal band Vanden Plas released through Frontiers Records.-Track listing:# "Frequency" – 6:16# "Holes in the Sky" – 5:26# "Scar of an Angel" – 7:27...
-(2010)
With Abydos
- Abydos: The Little Boy’s Heavy Mental Shadow Opera About The Inhabitants Of His Diary -(2004)