Masterplan
Encyclopedia
Masterplan is a German
power metal
band founded by guitarist Roland Grapow
and drummer Uli Kusch
upon leaving Helloween
in 2001.
and Uli Kusch
, after the two were fired from the power metal
band Helloween
. The first MCD Enlighten Me was released on November 18, 2002.
Their first full-length self-titled album, Masterplan was released in 2003, it was produced by Andy Sneap
. The band then consisted of Grapow and Kusch with Norwegian
, former ARK vocalist, Jørn Lande
. The main part of the keyboard lines on the album were arranged and programmed by Roland and Uli, while Children of Bodom
keyboard player Janne "Warman" Wirman
recorded some sessions for the album, but could not stay on as a full time member due to his commitments to Children of Bodom
. Axel Mackenrott
replaced him on tour and since then as a permanent member. Studio bassist Jürgen Attig (Casanova) helped with some bass lines on the recordings, but Grapow was the main bassist for the album. For tour and subsequent recordings, Jan-Sören Eckert
(Iron Savior
) was hired as a permanent member.
The band received the "European Border Breakers Award
" from the European Commission
in 2004, for the debut album success around Europe.
In January 2005 Masterplan released their second album, Aeronautics
once again produced by Andy Sneap and the band. During the writing of the third album the band parted ways with vocalist Jørn Lande
, citing "musical differences" as the reason for the split. The split was amicable enough that Jørn agreed to perform four previously arranged live appearances before departing although two of these were eventually canceled by the promoters.
On October 4, 2006 Uli Kusch announced his departure from the band in an interview with Darkside.ru. Although not discussing the details of what had happened, he mentioned the democratic principles of making decisions in the band as one of the reasons of his leaving - according to him, it often made getting a consensus nearly impossible.
Three days later, Masterplan announced their new line-up through their official web site: Grapow, Mackenrott, Eckert, with new members Mike DiMeo
(Riot
, The Lizards) and Mike Terrana
(ex-Artension
, ex-Rage
, Metalium
). The band toured with Saxon as an opening act for Saxon's
Inner Sanctum tour.
The band's third album, suitably titled MK II, was released on February 26, 2007. It was produced this time by the band's actual leader, Roland Grapow himself, at his own studio in Slovakia
. The album was recorded in September and October 2006.
On January 11, 2009, Mike DiMeo confirmed on his MySpace page that he had parted ways with Masterplan. On July 25, 2009, the band finally revealed that Jørn Lande has made his return to Masterplan.
On April 16, 2010, a single titled Far From the End of the World was released to precede the band's new fourth album, Time To Be King
, once again produced by Roland Grapow.
On July, 2011, the band has announced in the official website that they're writing songs for a new album, recordings will also start in the German autumn.
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...
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 founded by guitarist Roland Grapow
Roland Grapow
Roland Grapow, born 30 August 1959 in Hamburg, Germany is a professional guitarist and music producer. Roland is best known for his time in the power metal band Helloween, who he played with for 12 years after replacing founding member Kai Hansen...
and 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:...
upon leaving 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...
in 2001.
Biography
Masterplan was formed by Roland GrapowRoland Grapow
Roland Grapow, born 30 August 1959 in Hamburg, Germany is a professional guitarist and music producer. Roland is best known for his time in the power metal band Helloween, who he played with for 12 years after replacing founding member Kai Hansen...
and 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:...
, after the two were fired from 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 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...
. The first MCD Enlighten Me was released on November 18, 2002.
Their first full-length self-titled album, Masterplan was released in 2003, it was produced by Andy Sneap
Andy Sneap
Andy "Undie" Sneap is an English record producer, recording engineer, mixer, guitarist, and songwriter. He is best known for producing and mixing many acclaimed heavy metal albums.-Musician:...
. The band then consisted of Grapow and Kusch with Norwegian
Norwegians
Norwegians constitute both a nation and an ethnic group native to Norway. They share a common culture and speak the Norwegian language. Norwegian people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in United States, Canada and Brazil.-History:Towards the end of the 3rd...
, former ARK vocalist, Jørn Lande
Jørn Lande
Jørn Lande is a Norwegian hard rock and heavy metal singer who has sold over 2 million records worldwide. He is probably best known for being the lead singer of the power metal band Masterplan.-Biography:...
. The main part of the keyboard lines on the album were arranged and programmed by Roland and Uli, while Children of Bodom
Children of Bodom
Children of Bodom is a Finnish heavy metal band from Espoo. Formed in 1993, the group currently consists of Alexi Laiho , Roope Latvala , Janne Wirman , Henkka Seppälä , and Jaska Raatikainen...
keyboard player Janne "Warman" Wirman
Janne Wirman
Janne Viljami "Warman" Wirman is a Finnish musician; he is the keyboardist for the bands Children of Bodom and Warmen.-Biography:Born in the town of Espoo, Finland, Janne Wirman began playing the piano at the age of five...
recorded some sessions for the album, but could not stay on as a full time member due to his commitments to Children of Bodom
Children of Bodom
Children of Bodom is a Finnish heavy metal band from Espoo. Formed in 1993, the group currently consists of Alexi Laiho , Roope Latvala , Janne Wirman , Henkka Seppälä , and Jaska Raatikainen...
. Axel Mackenrott
Axel 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...
replaced him on tour and since then as a permanent member. Studio bassist Jürgen Attig (Casanova) helped with some bass lines on the recordings, but Grapow was the main bassist for the album. For tour and subsequent recordings, Jan-Sören Eckert
Jan-Sören Eckert
Jan-Sören Eckert, born 4 December 1965 in Quickborn, Germany, is a heavy metal bass guitarist who has previously played with Charon, Running Wild and is currently playing for the melodic power metal bands Masterplan and Iron Savior....
(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...
) was hired as a permanent member.
The band received the "European Border Breakers Award
European Border Breakers Award
-Organization:The EBBA Awards were launched by the European Commission and are a European Union award. Selection and the award ceremony of the EBBA Awards are organized by Noorderslag Foundation, which has the mission to encourage the circulation of European pop music.-Partners:*European...
" from the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
in 2004, for the debut album success around Europe.
In January 2005 Masterplan released their second album, Aeronautics
Aeronautics (album)
Aeronautics is the second album by the German power metal band Masterplan. It's the first album to feature playing and songwriting by members Axel Mackenrott and former Iron Savior bassist Jan S...
once again produced by Andy Sneap and the band. During the writing of the third album the band parted ways with vocalist Jørn Lande
Jørn Lande
Jørn Lande is a Norwegian hard rock and heavy metal singer who has sold over 2 million records worldwide. He is probably best known for being the lead singer of the power metal band Masterplan.-Biography:...
, citing "musical differences" as the reason for the split. The split was amicable enough that Jørn agreed to perform four previously arranged live appearances before departing although two of these were eventually canceled by the promoters.
On October 4, 2006 Uli Kusch announced his departure from the band in an interview with Darkside.ru. Although not discussing the details of what had happened, he mentioned the democratic principles of making decisions in the band as one of the reasons of his leaving - according to him, it often made getting a consensus nearly impossible.
Three days later, Masterplan announced their new line-up through their official web site: Grapow, Mackenrott, Eckert, with new members Mike DiMeo
Mike DiMeo
Mike DiMeo, born November 29 1968 in New York, U.S., is a hard rock/heavy metal vocalist, best known for his work in the band Riot, which he left in late 2006...
(Riot
Riot (band)
Riot is an American heavy metal band founded in New York City in 1975 by guitarist Mark Reale. Reaching a peak in popularity in the early 80s, the band has continued a long-running successful career....
, The Lizards) and Mike Terrana
Mike Terrana
Mike 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...
(ex-Artension
Artension
Artension was a North American neo-classical progressive metal band, founded in 1993 by keyboardist Vitalij Kuprij.-History:It was sometime in '92/'93, when Vitalij Kuprij, who was studying classical music in Switzerland at that time, met Roger Staffelbach, a Swiss guitarist who was also studying...
, ex-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:...
, Metalium
Metalium
Metalium was a power metal band from Hamburg, Germany. Their style of music was that of the traditional power metal sound which was pioneered in Hamburg by bands such as Helloween and Blind Guardian...
). The band toured with Saxon as an opening act for Saxon's
Saxon (band)
Saxon are an English heavy metal band, formed in 1976 in Barnsley, Yorkshire. As front-runners of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, they had 8 UK Top 40 albums in the 1980s including 4 UK Top 10 albums. Saxon also had numerous singles in the Top 20 singles chart...
Inner Sanctum tour.
The band's third album, suitably titled MK II, was released on February 26, 2007. It was produced this time by the band's actual leader, Roland Grapow himself, at his own studio in Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
. The album was recorded in September and October 2006.
On January 11, 2009, Mike DiMeo confirmed on his MySpace page that he had parted ways with Masterplan. On July 25, 2009, the band finally revealed that Jørn Lande has made his return to Masterplan.
On April 16, 2010, a single titled Far From the End of the World was released to precede the band's new fourth album, Time To Be King
Time to Be King
Time To Be King is the fourth studio album by the multinational power metal band Masterplan. This album marks the return of the band's original singer Jørn Lande. He left the band in 2006, citing musical differences as the reason...
, once again produced by Roland Grapow.
On July, 2011, the band has announced in the official website that they're writing songs for a new album, recordings will also start in the German autumn.
Current members
- Jørn LandeJørn LandeJørn Lande is a Norwegian hard rock and heavy metal singer who has sold over 2 million records worldwide. He is probably best known for being the lead singer of the power metal band Masterplan.-Biography:...
- lead vocals (2001–2006, 2009–present ) - Roland GrapowRoland GrapowRoland Grapow, born 30 August 1959 in Hamburg, Germany is a professional guitarist and music producer. Roland is best known for his time in the power metal band Helloween, who he played with for 12 years after replacing founding member Kai Hansen...
- guitarsGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
(2001–present), bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(2001-2002) - Jan S. EckertJan-Sören EckertJan-Sören Eckert, born 4 December 1965 in Quickborn, Germany, is a heavy metal bass guitarist who has previously played with Charon, Running Wild and is currently playing for the melodic power metal bands Masterplan and Iron Savior....
- bass, backing vocals (2003–present) - 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 (2003–present) - 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 (2006–present)
Former members
- 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 (2001–2006) - Mike DiMeoMike DiMeoMike DiMeo, born November 29 1968 in New York, U.S., is a hard rock/heavy metal vocalist, best known for his work in the band Riot, which he left in late 2006...
- lead vocals (2006–2009)
Guest and session musicians
- Janne WirmanJanne WirmanJanne Viljami "Warman" Wirman is a Finnish musician; he is the keyboardist for the bands Children of Bodom and Warmen.-Biography:Born in the town of Espoo, Finland, Janne Wirman began playing the piano at the age of five...
- session keyboards (2002) - Jürgen Attig - session bass (2002)
- 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 on "Heroes" on Masterplan (2003) - Ferdy DoernbergFerdy DoernbergFerdy Doernberg is an English-German heavy metal musician. He is the last original member of Rough Silk, which he founded in 1989. He has also performed with Helloween and Holy Moses. Since 1997, he has been the keyboardist for Axel Rudi Pell's band...
- keyboards on "Into the Light" on Masterplan (2003) - Russell AllenRussell AllenRussell Allen is the singer of the American progressive metal band Symphony X.-Biography:Before working with a rock band, he was a jouster at a Medieval Times Dinner Theater. He was introduced to the band Symphony X by former singer Rod Tyler...
- vocals on demos (2001)
Studio albums
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CH | CZE | FRA | GER | JAP | SWE | ||||||||||||
| 2003 | "Masterplan" | - | - | 114 | 42 | 26 | - | ||||||||||
| 2005 | "Aeronautics Aeronautics (album) Aeronautics is the second album by the German power metal band Masterplan. It's the first album to feature playing and songwriting by members Axel Mackenrott and former Iron Savior bassist Jan S... " |
- | - | - | 39 | 43 | 14 | ||||||||||
| 2007 | "MK II" | 89 | - | - | 41 | - | 32 | ||||||||||
| 2010 | "Time to Be King Time to Be King Time To Be King is the fourth studio album by the multinational power metal band Masterplan. This album marks the return of the band's original singer Jørn Lande. He left the band in 2006, citing musical differences as the reason... " |
45 | 34 | - | 31 | 66 | 15 | ||||||||||
Singles/EPs
- Enlighten Me (2002)
- Back For My LifeBack for My LifeBack For My Life is an EP by the German power metal band Masterplan. It also contains a multimedia section.-Track listing:# "Back For My Life" # "Crimson Rider" # "Love Is A Rock"...
(2004) - Lost and GoneLost and GoneLost and Gone is an EP by the German power metal band Masterplan. Along with the songs, it comes with a video interview with the band, including new members Mike DiMeo and Mike Terrana.-Track listing:# "The Master's Voice"...
(2007) - Far From the End of the World (2010)