Mindgames
Encyclopedia
Mindgames is a progressive rock
band from Belgium
. The band was founded in 1997 by Eric Vandormael (bass) and Bart Schram (vocals). After a few adds in music magazines they recruit Benny Petak (drums, percussion) and Tom Truyers (piano, keyboards). For almost a year and a half the band consisted of four members. In 1999 they recorded a demo, featuring the songs Mental Argue, Signs From The Sky, and Dreamin' The Circus.
In 2000 Rudy Van Der Veken (guitars) joined, so completing the line-up of the band. At the end of 2002 they released their debut CD International Daylight. On the album you can hear that the band is mostly influenced by Yes
, Jethro Tull
, Genesis
and Frank Zappa
.
Later on, International Daylight was distributed by the French label Musearecords. Thanks to this the band received favourable reviews from all over the world.
After a few gigs, they manage to build up a strong live reputation.
The year 2005 is totally taken up by the composition of new songs.
At the beginning of 2006 Mindgames released their second album Actors In A Play, produced by Frank Van Bogaert. The concept album
is a six-act story, focusing on each of the “actors’ in turn, and finally coming to the inevitable conclusion that the world is just one giant play.
So far the CD has been selling well, especially in Germany
.
Irreconcilable musical differences, which became apparent during the creation of Actors In A Play, resulted in the band ending its cooperation with Eric Vandormael.
After several candidates, Maximilian von Wüllerstorff joined Mindgames as the new bassplayer. On Jan. 1st Mindgames released their third album MMX
.
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
band from Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. The band was founded in 1997 by Eric Vandormael (bass) and Bart Schram (vocals). After a few adds in music magazines they recruit Benny Petak (drums, percussion) and Tom Truyers (piano, keyboards). For almost a year and a half the band consisted of four members. In 1999 they recorded a demo, featuring the songs Mental Argue, Signs From The Sky, and Dreamin' The Circus.
In 2000 Rudy Van Der Veken (guitars) joined, so completing the line-up of the band. At the end of 2002 they released their debut CD International Daylight. On the album you can hear that the band is mostly influenced by Yes
Yes (band)
Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
, Jethro Tull
Jethro Tull (band)
Jethro Tull are a British rock group formed in 1967. Their music is characterised by the vocals, acoustic guitar, and flute playing of Ian Anderson, who has led the band since its founding, and the guitar work of Martin Barre, who has been with the band since 1969.Initially playing blues rock with...
, 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...
and Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
.
Later on, International Daylight was distributed by the French label Musearecords. Thanks to this the band received favourable reviews from all over the world.
After a few gigs, they manage to build up a strong live reputation.
The year 2005 is totally taken up by the composition of new songs.
At the beginning of 2006 Mindgames released their second album Actors In A Play, produced by Frank Van Bogaert. The concept album
Concept album
In music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...
is a six-act story, focusing on each of the “actors’ in turn, and finally coming to the inevitable conclusion that the world is just one giant play.
So far the CD has been selling well, especially in 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...
.
Irreconcilable musical differences, which became apparent during the creation of Actors In A Play, resulted in the band ending its cooperation with Eric Vandormael.
After several candidates, Maximilian von Wüllerstorff joined Mindgames as the new bassplayer. On Jan. 1st Mindgames released their third album MMX
MMX
MMX is a single instruction, multiple data instruction set designed by Intel, introduced in 1996 with their P5-based Pentium line of microprocessors, designated as "Pentium with MMX Technology". It developed out of a similar unit introduced on the Intel i860, and earlier the Intel i750 video pixel...
.
Discography
- Demo (1999)
- International Daylight (2002)
- Actors in a play (2006)
- MMXMMXMMX is a single instruction, multiple data instruction set designed by Intel, introduced in 1996 with their P5-based Pentium line of microprocessors, designated as "Pentium with MMX Technology". It developed out of a similar unit introduced on the Intel i860, and earlier the Intel i750 video pixel...
(2010)
Band members
- Bart Schram - Vocals, acoustic guitar
- Tom Truyers - keyboard, piano
- Rudy Van Der Veken - guitar
- Maximilian von Wüllerstorff - bass
- Benny Petak - drums, percussion
- Eric Vandormael - bass (1997–2006)