Dirk Schlächter
Encyclopedia
Dirk Schlächter is the bassist
of the power metal
band Gamma Ray
.
Dirk appeared as a guest musician on Gamma Ray
's first album, Heading For Tomorrow
, 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 Gamma Ray
for their first tour, but as Uwe Wessel's former band split up at this point Wessel replaced him. Schlächter was then offered the job of second guitarist.
From this point on Schlächter became Gamma Ray
's permanent guitarist. He played guitar on the albums Sigh No More, Insanity and Genius
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
marked Schlächter's return to playing bass, a job he has had ever since.
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
of the power metal
Power metal
Power metal is a style of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional metal with speed metal, often within symphonic context. The term refers to two different but related styles: the first pioneered and largely practiced in North America with a harder sound similar to speed metal, and a...
band Gamma Ray
Gamma Ray (band)
Gamma Ray is a power metal band from Hamburg, northern Germany, founded and fronted by Kai Hansen after his departure from the German power metal Helloween. Hansen is the current lead vocalist, guitarist as well as the chief songwriter of Gamma Ray. The band is known as one of the most prominent...
.
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 Gamma Ray
Gamma Ray (band)
Gamma Ray is a power metal band from Hamburg, northern Germany, founded and fronted by Kai Hansen after his departure from the German power metal Helloween. Hansen is the current lead vocalist, guitarist as well as the chief songwriter of Gamma Ray. The band is known as one of the most prominent...
's first album, Heading For Tomorrow
Heading for Tomorrow
Heading for Tomorrow is the first studio album released by German power metal band, Gamma Ray on 19 February 1990 by Noise Records. In 2002 it was re-released with a different cover as part of the Ultimate Collection box-set...
, 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 Gamma Ray
Gamma Ray (band)
Gamma Ray is a power metal band from Hamburg, northern Germany, founded and fronted by Kai Hansen after his departure from the German power metal Helloween. Hansen is the current lead vocalist, guitarist as well as the chief songwriter of Gamma Ray. The band is known as one of the most prominent...
for their first tour, but as Uwe Wessel's former band split up at this point Wessel replaced him. Schlächter was then offered the job of second guitarist.
From this point on Schlächter became Gamma Ray
Gamma Ray (band)
Gamma Ray is a power metal band from Hamburg, northern Germany, founded and fronted by Kai Hansen after his departure from the German power metal Helloween. Hansen is the current lead vocalist, guitarist as well as the chief songwriter of Gamma Ray. The band is known as one of the most prominent...
's permanent guitarist. He played guitar on the albums Sigh No More, Insanity and Genius
Insanity and Genius
Japanese release2002 re-release"Heroes" also appears on the 2002 re-release of Gamma Ray's 1991 album Sigh No More and is an alternative version of the song "Changes" from that album....
and Land of the Free
Land of the Free (album)
Land of the Free is the fourth studio album by German power metal band Gamma Ray, released in 1995. Continuing a trend that would conclude with the band's fifth studio release, the lineup for the album was different from the previous one, as Land of the Free was the first Gamma Ray album to be...
. After the Land of the Free
Land of the Free (album)
Land of the Free is the fourth studio album by German power metal band Gamma Ray, released in 1995. Continuing a trend that would conclude with the band's fifth studio release, the lineup for the album was different from the previous one, as Land of the Free was the first Gamma Ray album to be...
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
Henjo Richter
Henjo Oliver Richter, in Hamburg, West Germany, is a guitarist and keyboardist in Gamma Ray, the German power metal band formed by Kai Hansen.-Biography:...
became the band's new guitarist. The release of the album Somewhere Out In Space
Somewhere Out In Space
Somewhere Out in Space is an album by German power metal band, Gamma Ray. It was released on August 25, 1997 and is the band's fifth studio album. Continuing in the tradition of the previous four albums, it contained yet another different lineup, but would also be the first album to feature the...
marked Schlächter's return to playing bass, a job he has had ever since.
Studio albums
- Heading for TomorrowHeading for TomorrowHeading for Tomorrow is the first studio album released by German power metal band, Gamma Ray on 19 February 1990 by Noise Records. In 2002 it was re-released with a different cover as part of the Ultimate Collection box-set...
(1990) (as a guest musician, playing bass on two tracks) - Sigh No More (1991)
- Insanity and GeniusInsanity and GeniusJapanese release2002 re-release"Heroes" also appears on the 2002 re-release of Gamma Ray's 1991 album Sigh No More and is an alternative version of the song "Changes" from that album....
(1993) - Land of the FreeLand of the Free (album)Land of the Free is the fourth studio album by German power metal band Gamma Ray, released in 1995. Continuing a trend that would conclude with the band's fifth studio release, the lineup for the album was different from the previous one, as Land of the Free was the first Gamma Ray album to be...
(1995) - Somewhere Out in SpaceSomewhere Out In SpaceSomewhere Out in Space is an album by German power metal band, Gamma Ray. It was released on August 25, 1997 and is the band's fifth studio album. Continuing in the tradition of the previous four albums, it contained yet another different lineup, but would also be the first album to feature the...
(1997) - Power Plant (1999)
- No World Order (2001)
- MajesticMajestic (album)Majestic is the eighth full-length studio album from the German power metal band Gamma Ray, released in 2005. The band also released an LP version through their website to complement the supporting tour, limited to 1500 copies worldwide....
(2005) - Land of the Free IILand of the Free IILand of the Free II is the ninth full length studio album by Gamma Ray. It was released on November 16, 2007 in Germany, November 19 in Europe, November 21 in Japan and January 15, 2008 for North America. To promote Land of the Free II, Gamma Ray joined Helloween on the 2007/08 Hellish Rock Tour...
(2007) - To The MetalTo the Metal-Album versions:# Regular jewel case CD# Limited edition featuring an additional DVD # Red vinyl in gatefold packaging# Collectors’ edition featuring CD and 7” vinyl with 2 unreleased tracks, completely hand-signed-Critical reception:...
(2010)
Live albums
- Alive '95Alive '95Alive '95 was the first live album by Kai Hansen's Gamma Ray. It was released on 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...
(1996) - Skeletons in the Closet (2003)
- Hell Yeah! The Awesome FoursomeHell Yeah! The Awesome FoursomeHell Yeah!!! The Awesome Foursome is a live album from the German power metal band Gamma Ray, released in 2008.-Track listing:Disc 1...
(2008)
Extended plays (EPs)
- Heaven Can Wait (1990)
- Silent MiraclesSilent Miracles (EP)Silent Miracles was an EP released in 1996 by the German power metal band Gamma Ray following the release of their album Land of the Free.-Track listing:# "Miracle" # "Farewell"...
(1996) - Valley of the KingsValley of the Kings (EP)Valley of the Kings was an EP released in 1997 by the German power metal band Gamma Ray prior to the release of their album Somewhere Out in Space...
(1997)
Compilation albums
- The Karaoke Album (1997)
- Blast from the Past (2000)
Videos and DVDs
- Heading for the East (1990)
- Lust for Live (1993)
- Hell Yeah! The Awesome FoursomeHell Yeah! The Awesome FoursomeHell Yeah!!! The Awesome Foursome is a live album from the German power metal band Gamma Ray, released in 2008.-Track listing:Disc 1...
(2008)