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Gamma Ray (band)
Encyclopedia
Gamma Ray is a 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 from Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
, northern 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...
, founded and fronted by Kai Hansen
Kai Hansen
Kai Michael Hansen is a power metal guitarist and vocalist.Hansen is the founder, lead guitarist, and vocalist of power metal band Gamma Ray, and the co-founder and former member of German metal band Helloween. He is a prominent figure in power metal, and has sold millions of albums worldwide...
after his departure from the German power metal Helloween
Helloween
Helloween is a German power metal band founded in the mid 1980s by members of Iron Fist and Powerfool. The band was a pioneering force in the European Power Metal movement and their second and third studio albums, Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt...
. Hansen is the current lead vocalist, guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
as well as the chief songwriter of Gamma Ray. The band is known as one of the most prominent bands of the German heavy metal scene. Despite having many lineup changes in their early career, the band's lineup has remained stable since 1997.
Formation
In 1988, after four years with the German power metalPower 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 Helloween
Helloween
Helloween is a German power metal band founded in the mid 1980s by members of Iron Fist and Powerfool. The band was a pioneering force in the European Power Metal movement and their second and third studio albums, Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt...
, guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
Kai Hansen
Kai Hansen
Kai Michael Hansen is a power metal guitarist and vocalist.Hansen is the founder, lead guitarist, and vocalist of power metal band Gamma Ray, and the co-founder and former member of German metal band Helloween. He is a prominent figure in power metal, and has sold millions of albums worldwide...
decided, for reasons that are still the subject of much debate, to leave the group. Hansen claimed that Helloween had become too big for him to handle, although the group's troubles with financial issues and their record company, Noise Records
Noise Records
Noise Records was a German record label founded by German music industry personality Karl-Ulrich Walterbach in 1983 as an expansion of his company Modern Music Records. Noise Records specialized in thrash and melodic speed metal. It was sold to the Sanctuary Records Group in 2001 and ceased any...
, most likely played a part as well. He proceeded to do some studio work with German speed metal
Speed metal
Speed metal is a sub-genre of heavy metal music that originated in the late 1970s from NWOBHM and hardcore punk roots. It is described by Allmusic as "extremely fast, abrasive, and technically demanding" music....
band Blind Guardian
Blind Guardian
Blind Guardian is a German power metal band formed in the mid-1980s in Krefeld, West Germany. They are often credited as one of the seminal and most influential bands in the power metal and speed metal subgenres...
and in 1989 decided to form his own project with long-time friend Ralf Scheepers
Ralf Scheepers
Ralf Scheepers is the current vocalist for German power metal outfit Primal Fear. He has a relatively high-pitched tenor-esque singing voice and sometimes uses a shriek reminiscent of Judas Priest's Rob Halford, although it is his baritone lows which give him a near 4 octave range in the modal...
, former vocalist of the band Tyran Pace. This two-man project grew into a four-man band with the addition of Uwe Wessel on bass and Mathias Burchardt on drums. This was the first line-up of Gamma Ray, bearing a sound understandably close to that of Helloween of that period.
The Scheepers era (1989 - 1995)
The original line-up released the album Heading for TomorrowHeading 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...
in February 1990 and later that year the Heaven Can Wait EP, with new guitarist Dirk Schlächter
Dirk Schlächter
Dirk Schlächter is the bassist of the power metal band Gamma Ray.- 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...
and new drummer Uli Kusch
Uli Kusch
Ulrich Kusch, born 11 March 1967, is a heavy metal drummer. He is best known for playing with Helloween, Gamma Ray, and Masterplan. He is known for his technical style of playing, fast-paced speed metal-like rhythm and capable songwriting abilities.-Biography:...
.
In February 1991, the band began rehearsing for the recording of their second album in a small, remote house in Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
. With some brand new songs written, Gamma Ray entered the studio under the supervision of producer Tommy Newton and recorded their second album Sigh No More, which was released in September 1991. The style differed vastly from that of Heading for Tomorrow, featuring darker lyrics inspired by the Persian Gulf War that was raging at the time. A 50-date worldwide tour followed.
After the Japanese tour at the beginning of 1991, Gamma Ray underwent another personnel change: the rhythm section (Wessel and Kusch) left due to a personal disagreement and were replaced by Jan Rubach (bass) and Thomas Nack (drums), both from the Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
band Anesthesia. The band also began to build their own studio, so work on their new album didn't start until 1993. The album 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....
was released in June 1993, with a style which was closer to that of Heading for Tomorrow than Sigh No More. In September 1993 Gamma Ray, along with Rage
Rage (band)
Rage are a German heavy metal band, formed in 1984. They were part of the German heavy/speed/power metal scene to emerge in the early to mid 1980s, along with bands such as Helloween, Running Wild and Blind Guardian.-Background:...
, Helicon and Conception
Conception (band)
Conception is a power/progressive metal band from Raufoss, Norway.-Formation and record label:The band was formed in Norway in 1989 by guitarist Tore Østby, singer Dag Østby, drummer Werner Skogli and bassist Freddy Samsonstuen. In 1990, after a demo tape, Arve Heimdal replaced Werner Skogli and...
, embarked on the Melodic Metal Strikes Back tour. The tour contributed to the release of the double CD The Power of Metal, and the videos Power of Metal and Lust for Live, in December.
Land of the Free and commercial success (1995 - 2006)
More changes in the lineup were to follow for Gamma Ray. Vocalist Ralf Scheepers, who lived far way away from the other band members hometown HamburgHamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
and was attempting to become the new Judas Priest
Judas Priest
Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band from Birmingham, England, formed in 1969. The current line-up consists of lead vocalist Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis. The band has gone through several drummers over the years,...
singer after Rob Halford
Rob Halford
Robert John Arthur "Rob" Halford is an English singer-songwriter, who is best known as the lead vocalist for the Grammy Award-winning heavy metal band Judas Priest. He is nicknamed the "Metal God" as a tribute to his influence on metal, and after the Judas Priest song of the same name from 1980's...
, felt his position in the band strained by the writing collaboration of Hansen and Schlächter in the composition of new songs. Hansen and Scheepers agreed for an amicable departure of the vocalist. After failing to be recruited for Judas Priest, Scheepers started his own band, Primal Fear
Primal Fear (band)
Primal Fear is a German power metal and speed metal band formed in 1997 by Ralf Scheepers and Mat Sinner . Sinner & Scheepers formed the band after Ralf was not hired as Rob Halford's replacement in Judas Priest...
. Hansen then began to search for a new vocalist but, due to demand from friends and fans, took on the guitar-vocal duties himself as he had done for Helloween's first EP
Helloween (album)
-Credits:*Kai Hansen – vocals, Guitar*Michael Weikath – Guitar*Markus Grosskopf – Bass*Ingo Schwichtenberg – drums-Facts:* Recorded January – February, 1985 at Musiclab Studio, Berlin, Germany* Produced by Helloween...
and album
Walls of Jericho (album)
Walls of Jericho is the debut full length studio album by German power metal band Helloween, released in 1985 on LP and had an important development in the power metal giving some influences.In 1988 Walls of Jericho was released on CD...
.
In 1995 the fourth album, 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...
, the first to feature Hansen on vocals, was released. The album was universally praised by critics. The tour following the album, Men on a Tour, brought the recording and release of the live album Alive '95
Alive '95
Alive '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...
in 1996.
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
Dan Zimmermann
Dan Zimmermann
Daniel Hans Erwin Zimmermann is a heavy metal drummer currently playing in Gamma Ray. Dan joined Gamma Ray in 1997.-With Gamma Ray:*Valley of the Kings *Somewhere Out In Space...
. He is also known for being a founding member of the German power metal band Freedom Call
Freedom Call
Freedom Call is a German power metal band formed in 1998.-Biography:Freedom Call was formed in 1998 by old friends Chris Bay and Daniel Zimmermann during an off-period for the latter's main band, Gamma Ray...
. Schlächter, who was originally a bass player as can be seen on the 1990 video Heading for the East
Heading for the East
Heading for the East was recorded in 1990 by the German power metal band Gamma Ray following the release of their album Heading for Tomorrow.*Release Date: 1990 , 2003 *Recorded live: 1990*Cover: Henni Hell...
when he and Wessel switch instruments for a few songs, and Schlächter performs a bass solo, left the second guitar spot and took back his original instrument, beeing repalced on guitar by 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:...
. This lineup survives to this day.
Work started on the next full-length album, and 1997 saw the release of 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...
, which marked the beginning of the band's thematic concentration on space. The album featured the hit "Valley of the Kings" and entered in the charts of many European countries. After two years of touring came the album Power Plant, which was a continuation of Somewhere Out in Spaces lyrical approach, but a new direction musically. The album was highly acclaimed throughout the world and gained even more chart success than its predecessor.
For Gamma Ray greatest hits album, Hansen decided to do things differently from the usual compilation of songs. He let the fans decide by voting on their website for their three favorite songs on each album, then the band went back to the studio to re-record the old tracks from the first three albums and made remixed versions for the songs on the later ones. Blast from the Past was the name chosen for this double album.
After a break of one year, when Hansen concentrated on his side project Iron Savior
Iron Savior
Iron Savior is a German power metal band that formed in Hamburg, Germany in 1996. Following a period of several years working behind the scenes in music production, multi-instrumentalist and producer/engineer Piet Sielck joined with former Helloween bandmate Kai Hansen and then-drummer for Blind...
, the band was ready for the recording and release of the album No World Order, which was stylistically similar to NWOBHM bands such as Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
and Judas Priest
Judas Priest
Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band from Birmingham, England, formed in 1969. The current line-up consists of lead vocalist Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis. The band has gone through several drummers over the years,...
. Again the album was highly praised and the No Order World Tour saw the band visiting dozens of European countries and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. After resting from the tour, the band went on with the Skeletons in the Closet tour, which saw the band performing songs that they never or rarely played live before. Once again, the setlist was voted by the fans on the band's website. Only a few shows were played on this tour but two of those were recorded for the live album Skeletons in the Closet.
Kai Hansen
Kai Hansen
Kai Michael Hansen is a power metal guitarist and vocalist.Hansen is the founder, lead guitarist, and vocalist of power metal band Gamma Ray, and the co-founder and former member of German metal band Helloween. He is a prominent figure in power metal, and has sold millions of albums worldwide...
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:...
also participated in Tobias Sammet
Tobias Sammet
Tobias Sammet is the vocalist and primary songwriter of the German Power metal band Edguy, as well as the creator of the metal opera Avantasia and a member of the metal project Final Chapter. He also made guest appearances on the Rob Rock album Holy Hell and the metal opera Aina...
's project Avantasia
Avantasia
Avantasia is a heavy metal project created by Tobias Sammet, vocalist and frontman of the band Edguy. The project's title is a portmanteau of the words "avalon" and "fantasia" and describes "a world beyond human imagination"...
, on both The Metal Opera
The Metal Opera
The Metal Opera is the first full-length album by Tobias Sammet's side project opera, Avantasia. It is a concept album and a rock opera, and further information on the story can be found here.- Track listing :All music and lyrics by Tobias Sammet...
and The Metal Opera Part II
The Metal Opera Part II
The Metal Opera Pt. II is the second full-length album by Tobias Sammet's side project opera, Avantasia. It is a concept album and a rock opera, and further information on the story can be found here. The songs carry on the story begun in The Metal Opera, with the same characters...
, along with various other musicians including Hansen's former bandmates from Helloween
Helloween
Helloween is a German power metal band founded in the mid 1980s by members of Iron Fist and Powerfool. The band was a pioneering force in the European Power Metal movement and their second and third studio albums, Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt...
, Markus Grosskopf
Markus Grosskopf
Markus Großkopf, born 21 September 1965 in Hamburg, Germany, is the bass guitarist, and one of only two remaining original members of the German power metal band Helloween...
and Michael Kiske
Michael Kiske
Michael Kiske is a singer best known as the lead vocalist for the German power metal band Helloween, from 1986 to 1993. From 1996 up to 2009, Kiske recorded four solo albums, participated on various metal and rock related projects, while he also performed with numerous bands as a guest vocalist...
.
A live DVD, Hell Yeah - The Awesome Foursome (And The Finnish Keyboarder Who Didn't Want To Wear His Donald Duck Costume) Live in Montreal
Hell Yeah! The Awesome Foursome
Hell Yeah!!! The Awesome Foursome is a live album from the German power metal band Gamma Ray, released in 2008.-Track listing:Disc 1...
was recorded on May 6, 2006 at Le Medley in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. The setlist contained songs drawn from all of their albums up to Majestic
Majestic (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....
(excluding Insanity and Genius) and also a cover of the Helloween
Helloween
Helloween is a German power metal band founded in the mid 1980s by members of Iron Fist and Powerfool. The band was a pioneering force in the European Power Metal movement and their second and third studio albums, Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt...
hit "I Want Out
I Want Out
"I Want Out" is a song by the German heavy metal band Helloween from the album Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt. 2, that was released as a single in 1988....
". The DVD finally saw release on November 4, 2008. It entered the German
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...
media control charts at No. 9 and the Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
charts at No. 1, according to the band's official website.
Recent activities
In recent years Gamma Ray have made use of touring keyboard players to fully augment their sound in a live environment. Axel MackenrottAxel Mackenrott
Axel Mackenrott is the keyboard player for the heavy metal band Masterplan.Axel began playing at around 11 years of age with piano lessons, and went on to eventually acquire a bachelor of arts in musical sciences. In his early career he played in many small-time bands and cover bands, before he...
of Masterplan fulfilled these duties in the past and was followed by Eero Kaukomies, a Finn
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
who also plays in a Gamma Ray tribute band
Tribute band
A tribute act is a music group, singer, or musician who specifically plays the music of a well-known music act - sometimes one which has disbanded, ceased touring or is deceased. Probably the largest class of tributes acts are Elvis impersonators, individual performers who mimic the songs and style...
named Guardians of Mankind. His bandmate Kasperi Heikkinen
Kasperi Heikkinen
Kasperi Heikkinen is a guitar player who is best known as a member of Finnish symphonic power metal band Amberian Dawn. He is also the guitarist for Finnish Metal bands Merging Flare as well as Guardians of Mankind which is a Gamma Ray tribute band...
(currently of Amberian Dawn
Amberian Dawn
Amberian Dawn is a Finnish symphonic power metal band, formed in 2006 by Tuomas Seppälä and Tommi Kuri. Their third album End of Eden was released on Spinefarm Records in October 2010.-Atheme One :...
) also played on part of the Majestic tour in 2006 following an injury to 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:...
. On their most recent "To The Metal" tour, Kasperi Heikkinen replaced Henjo Richter once again for shows scheduled in Germany and Czech Republic in March 2010. Richter was hospitalized on March 16, 2010 due to retinal detachment
Retinal detachment
Retinal detachment is a disorder of the eye in which the retina peels away from its underlying layer of support tissue. Initial detachment may be localized, but without rapid treatment the entire retina may detach, leading to vision loss and blindness. It is a medical emergency.The retina is a...
. Heikkinen also shared stage with fellow axemen Hansen and Richter making "a three guitar special" for the encore numbers at the Nosturi club in Helsinki, Finland on March 29, 2010.
Land of the Free II
Land of the Free II
Land 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...
was released in late 2007 as a sequel to the hugely successful Land of the Free album. To promote the album, Gamma Ray were the "very special guest" on Helloween
Helloween
Helloween is a German power metal band founded in the mid 1980s by members of Iron Fist and Powerfool. The band was a pioneering force in the European Power Metal movement and their second and third studio albums, Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt...
's Hellish Rock 2007/2008 World Tour, on some shows along with the band Axxis
Axxis
Axxis is a German power metal band that was founded in 1988. Their debut album, "Kingdom of the Night", became the best-selling debut album ever by a hard rock band in Germany in 1989.-Biography:...
. For the final encores of the evening, Kai and members of Gamma Ray joined Helloween to play a couple of songs from when Kai was in the latter band. Kai would also regularly join Helloween co-founder Michael Weikath
Michael Weikath
Michael Ingo Joachim Weikath is the guitarist of the German Power metal band Helloween."Weiki" was born in Hamburg, Germany. He is one of the Helloween founding members, along with the musicians Kai Hansen , Markus Grosskopf and Ingo Schwichtenberg . Along with Grosskopf he is the only other...
at center stage to the delight of fans of both bands.
To the Metal! is the tenth full length studio album by Gamma Ray. It was released on January 29, 2010.
On May 31, 2011 Gamma Ray released an EP called Skeletons and Majesties. It contains newly recorded, rarely played old songs (Skeletons) and acoustic versions of other older songs (Majesties).
Current members
Band- Kai HansenKai HansenKai Michael Hansen is a power metal guitarist and vocalist.Hansen is the founder, lead guitarist, and vocalist of power metal band Gamma Ray, and the co-founder and former member of German metal band Helloween. He is a prominent figure in power metal, and has sold millions of albums worldwide...
- guitars (1989–present), vocals (1994–present) - Henjo RichterHenjo RichterHenjo Oliver Richter, in Hamburg, West Germany, is a guitarist and keyboardist in Gamma Ray, the German power metal band formed by Kai Hansen.-Biography:...
- guitars, keyboards (1997–present) - Dirk SchlächterDirk SchlächterDirk Schlächter is the bassist of the power metal band Gamma Ray.- 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...
- bass (1997–present), guitars (1990–1997) - Dan Zimmerman - drums (1997–present)
Live musician
- Alessio Gori - keyboards (2007-present)
Drums
- Mathias Burchard - drums (1989–1990)
- Uli KuschUli KuschUlrich Kusch, born 11 March 1967, is a heavy metal drummer. He is best known for playing with Helloween, Gamma Ray, and Masterplan. He is known for his technical style of playing, fast-paced speed metal-like rhythm and capable songwriting abilities.-Biography:...
- drums (1990–1992) - Thomas Nack - drums (1993–1997)
Guest studio musicians
- Michael KiskeMichael KiskeMichael Kiske is a singer best known as the lead vocalist for the German power metal band Helloween, from 1986 to 1993. From 1996 up to 2009, Kiske recorded four solo albums, participated on various metal and rock related projects, while he also performed with numerous bands as a guest vocalist...
- vocals (1995) on Time to Break Free and Land of the Free, (2010) in All you need to know. - Hansi KürschHansi KürschHans Jürgen Kürsch, better known as Hansi Kürsch is a German musician, the lead vocalist and lyricist of power metal band Blind Guardian. Together with André Olbrich, he is also the principal songwriter for the band. He was also the bassist in Blind Guardian until the 1998 album Nightfall in...
- vocals (1995) on Farewell and Land of the Free. - Tommy Newton - guitars (1989, 1990, 1991)
- Tommy Hansen - keyboards (1991)
- Piet SielckPiet SielckPiet Sielck is a power metal guitarist and vocalist. He is member of the power/speed metal bands Iron Savior and Savage Circus, as well as owner of the studio Powerhouse in Hamburg.-Early years:...
- vocals, keyboards, guitars (1989, 1990, 1991, 1997) - Tammo Vollmers - drums (1989)
- Mischa Gerlach - keyboards (1989)
- Sascha PaethSascha PaethSascha Paeth is a German guitarist, bassist, musical producer, and mixer known for working with heavy metal bands such as Avantasia, Edguy, Angra, Shaaman, Rhapsody of Fire, Kamelot, After Forever, Epica, et al...
- keyboards (1993, 1995) - Thomas Stauch - drums (1997)
- Axel MackenrottAxel MackenrottAxel Mackenrott is the keyboard player for the heavy metal band Masterplan.Axel began playing at around 11 years of age with piano lessons, and went on to eventually acquire a bachelor of arts in musical sciences. In his early career he played in many small-time bands and cover bands, before he...
- keyboards (2005)
Guest live musicians
- Henning Basse - vocals (2008)
- Jorn Ellerbrock - keyboards (1990)
- Mike TerranaMike TerranaMike Terrana is an American hard rock and heavy metal drummer. His first professional work was in 1984 with the MCA band Hanover Fist from Toronto, after which he recorded and toured with other bands, playing many styles of music in Western New York state...
- drums (1998) - Dan Olding - keyboards (2001)
- Axel MackenrottAxel MackenrottAxel Mackenrott is the keyboard player for the heavy metal band Masterplan.Axel began playing at around 11 years of age with piano lessons, and went on to eventually acquire a bachelor of arts in musical sciences. In his early career he played in many small-time bands and cover bands, before he...
- keyboards (2004) - Kasperi HeikkinenKasperi HeikkinenKasperi Heikkinen is a guitar player who is best known as a member of Finnish symphonic power metal band Amberian Dawn. He is also the guitarist for Finnish Metal bands Merging Flare as well as Guardians of Mankind which is a Gamma Ray tribute band...
- guitars (2006, 2010) - Eero Kaukomies - keyboards (2006, 2007)
- Michael KiskeMichael KiskeMichael Kiske is a singer best known as the lead vocalist for the German power metal band Helloween, from 1986 to 1993. From 1996 up to 2009, Kiske recorded four solo albums, participated on various metal and rock related projects, while he also performed with numerous bands as a guest vocalist...
- vocals (2011)
Discography
- 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) - 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) - Powerplant (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 Metal! (2010)
Covers
Gamma Ray have covered numerous bands and musicians during their career, including, but not limited to:- HelloweenHelloweenHelloween is a German power metal band founded in the mid 1980s by members of Iron Fist and Powerfool. The band was a pioneering force in the European Power Metal movement and their second and third studio albums, Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt...
- the former band of Kai Hansen. Some of their songs, written by Kai, are often performed by Gamma Ray live, such as "Ride the Sky," "I Want OutI Want Out"I Want Out" is a song by the German heavy metal band Helloween from the album Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt. 2, that was released as a single in 1988....
," "Save Us," "Victim of Fate" or "Future World." - The song "Heavy Metal Mania" by the band Holocaust was covered one time in studio and many times live.
- Gamma Ray have covered Judas PriestJudas PriestJudas Priest are an English heavy metal band from Birmingham, England, formed in 1969. The current line-up consists of lead vocalist Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis. The band has gone through several drummers over the years,...
's "Victim of Changes" with Kai on vocals and "Exciter" with Ralf. It has been stated in various interviews, that Judas Priest is one of Kai Hansen's favourite bands. They are also a favourite of Scheepers, as he left Gamma Ray during the tryouts for the new Judas Priest vocalist. He ultimately lost to Tim "Ripper" Owens. Additionally, Gamma Ray's song "Wings of Destiny" (where it is being sang "..on sad wings of destiny..") could be linked to Judas Priest's Sad Wings of DestinySad Wings of Destiny-CD Track listing:The 1995 CD reissue by Repertoire Records had track 3 labeled as "Dream Deceiver" rather than "Dreamer Deceiver", this was later changed back to its original title on the 1998 release by Snapper Music. None of the reissues of Sad Wings of Destiny are endorsed by Judas Priest. -...
, the album from which "Victim of Changes" originates. - They also covered two Uriah HeepUriah Heep (band)Uriah Heep are an English rock band formed in London in 1969 and regarded as a seminal classic hard rock act of the 1970s. Uriah Heep's progressive/art rock/heavy metal fusion's distinctive features have always been massive keyboards sound, strong vocal harmonies and David Byron's operatic vocals...
songs: "Look at YourselfLook at YourselfLook at Yourself is the third album released by British rock band Uriah Heep.It is Uriah Heep's most straight ahead "hard rock" album, with one notable foray into progressive territory on "July Morning"...
" on the 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...
CD with Scheepers on vocals, and "Return to Fantasy," sung by Hansen, featured on 2003 release of 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...
. - Gamma Ray covered the Pet Shop BoysPet Shop BoysPet Shop Boys are an English electronic dance music duo, consisting of Neil Tennant, who provides main vocals, keyboards and occasional guitar, and Chris Lowe on keyboards....
song "It's a SinIt's a Sin"It's a Sin" is a song recorded by Pet Shop Boys which reached number one on the UK Singles Chart for three weeks in 1987.-Background and writing:...
" on their 1999 album Power Plant. - RainbowRainbow (band)Rainbow were an English rock band, controlled by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore from 1975 to 1984 and 1994 to 1997. It was originally established with American rock band Elf's members, though over the years Rainbow went through many line-up changes with no two studio albums featuring the same line-up...
's Long Live Rock 'N' RollLong Live Rock 'n' Roll-Personnel:*Ritchie Blackmore – guitars, bass*Ronnie James Dio – lead vocals*Cozy Powell – drums, percussion*David Stone – keyboards on "Gates of Babylon", "Kill the King", "The Shed". Piano outro on "L.A...
, recorded by Gamma Ray was featured on the 2003 release of the Power Plant album. - Gamma Ray covered the Thin LizzyThin LizzyThin 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...
song "Angel of Death" on their 2001 single Heaven or Hell, which was released in Japan only. - Gamma Ray have covered "Gamma ray," off the album Hoodoo Man, by Birth ControlBirth Control (band)Birth Control is a German rock band known for their progressive hard rock sound and provocative album covers.Birth Control formed in the middle of 1968 in Berlin from two other bands, the Earls and the Gents...
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