Roland Grapow
Encyclopedia
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
. He is also known for leading the acclaimed power metal-based band Masterplan.
Prior to joining Helloween
, Grapow was a member of the heavy metal band Rampage. He joined the band in roughly 1979, and played on two of their studio albums "Victim Of Rock" in 1980, and "Love Lights Up The Night" in 1982. He left Rampage in roughly 1983. He was then fairly inactive until joining Helloween in 1989.
Roland played on the albums Pink Bubbles Go Ape
, Chameleon, Master of the Rings
, The Time of the Oath
, High Live
, Better Than Raw
, Metal Jukebox
, and The Dark Ride
.
During his time with Helloween Roland also formed a solo project. The first release, The Four Seasons of Life
, featured members of Helloween playing backup, with Roland trying his hand at singing in addition to guitar playing. On the second album, Kaleidoscope
, current and former members of Yngwie Malmsteen's band were utilized.
In 2001, Roland and fellow bandmate Uli Kusch
were fired from Helloween
due to musical and personal differences. They decided to go on with the side project they had been planning and formed the band Masterplan with former Ark and The Snakes
singer Jørn Lande
. After Uli Kusch left the band in 2006, Roland became the leader and main songwriter of Masterplan.
Roland is currently working as a music producer at his own studio in Slovakia
. In 2011 he mixed
the album Motherland
for the Italian
progressive metal
band Daedalus
and played the guitar
solo on the song Underground He also produced Czech
metalcore
band X-Core on their album Life and stuff.
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...
, 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...
is a professional 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 music producer. Roland is best known for his time in 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...
, who he played with for 12 years after replacing founding member 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...
. He is also known for leading the acclaimed power metal-based band Masterplan.
Prior to joining 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...
, Grapow was a member of the heavy metal band Rampage. He joined the band in roughly 1979, and played on two of their studio albums "Victim Of Rock" in 1980, and "Love Lights Up The Night" in 1982. He left Rampage in roughly 1983. He was then fairly inactive until joining Helloween in 1989.
Roland played on the albums Pink Bubbles Go Ape
Pink Bubbles Go Ape
Pink Bubbles Go Ape is the fourth studio album by German power metal band Helloween, released in 1991. It marked the departure of guitarist Kai Hansen, with Roland Grapow replacing him...
, Chameleon, Master of the Rings
Master of the Rings
Master of the Rings is the sixth studio album by German power metal band Helloween, released in 1994. It is the first to feature new members Andi Deris and Uli Kusch....
, The Time of the Oath
The Time of the Oath
*M - 3,4 also appears on The Time of the Oath single.*M - 5,6 also appears on the Power single.*M - 7,8 also appears on the Forever And One single.- Personnel :* Andi Deris - vocals* Michael Weikath - guitar* Roland Grapow - guitar* Markus Grosskopf - bass...
, High Live
High Live
-Disc two:- Credits :* Andi Deris - Vocals* Michael Weikath - Guitars* Roland Grapow - Guitars* Markus Grosskopf - Bass* Uli Kusch - Drums-External links:*...
, Better Than Raw
Better Than Raw
*M - 2 also appears on the I Can single.*M - 3,4 also appears on the Hey Lord! single.-Personnel:*Andi Deris - vocals*Michael Weikath - guitar*Roland Grapow - guitar*Markus Grosskopf - bass*Uli Kusch - drums*Jorn Ellerbrock - keyboards...
, Metal Jukebox
Metal Jukebox
-Personnel:*Andi Deris - vocals*Michael Weikath - guitar*Roland Grapow - guitar*Markus Grosskopf - bass*Uli Kusch - drums...
, and The Dark Ride
The Dark Ride
On copies of The Dark Ride and Rabbit Don't Come Easy the disc has "Mr. Torture" and "All over the Nations" in reverse order so this way "All over the Nations" is track #2...
.
During his time with Helloween Roland also formed a solo project. The first release, The Four Seasons of Life
The Four Seasons of Life
The Four Seasons of Life is the debut solo album released by former Helloween guitarist Roland Grapow. The album is unique compared to its successor, Kaleidoscope due to the fact that Roland sings lead vocals on all tracks....
, featured members of Helloween playing backup, with Roland trying his hand at singing in addition to guitar playing. On the second album, Kaleidoscope
Kaleidoscope (Roland Grapow album)
Kaleidoscope is the second solo album released by former Helloween guitarist Roland Grapow.-Track listing:All songs written by Roland Grapow except where noted# "Walk On Fire" – 4:30# "Under the Same Sun" – 5:23...
, current and former members of Yngwie Malmsteen's band were utilized.
In 2001, Roland and fellow bandmate 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:...
were fired 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...
due to musical and personal differences. They decided to go on with the side project they had been planning and formed the band Masterplan with former Ark and The Snakes
The Snakes
The Snakes were a British-Norwegian hard rock band, formed by former Whitesnake members Bernie Marsden and Micky Moody in 1997. The line-up consisted of guitarists Marsden and Moody with Norwegian musicians, vocalist Jørn Lande, bassist Sid Ringsby, who later joined the Norwegian band TNT, and...
singer 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:...
. After Uli Kusch left the band in 2006, Roland became the leader and main songwriter of Masterplan.
Roland is currently working as a music producer 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...
. In 2011 he mixed
Audio mixing (recorded music)
In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
the album Motherland
Motherland (Daedalus album)
-Credits:*Davide Merletto - vocals*Andrea Torretta - guitar*Fabio Gremo - bass*Davide La Rosa - drums-External links:* * * *...
for the Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
progressive metal
Progressive metal
Progressive metal is a subgenre of heavy metal originating in the United Kingdom and North America in the late 1980s...
band Daedalus
Daedalus (band)
Daedalus is an Italian progressive metal band.Their music contains influences from different musical genres, among them rock, progressive rock, heavy metal, classical music, jazz, electronic music, ambient.- History :...
and played the guitar
Guitar
The 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...
solo on the song Underground He also produced Czech
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
metalcore
Metalcore
Metalcore is a subgenre of heavy metal combining various elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk. The name is a portmanteau of the names of the two genres. The term took on its current meaning in the mid-1990s, describing bands such as Earth Crisis, Deadguy and Integrity...
band X-Core on their album Life and stuff.
Discography
| Year of Release | Artist | Title | Label |
| 1980 | Rampage | Victim of Rock | Independent Independent record label An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:... |
| 1982 | Rampage | Love Lights Up The Night | Independent |
| 1991 | 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... |
Pink Bubbles Go Ape Pink Bubbles Go Ape Pink Bubbles Go Ape is the fourth studio album by German power metal band Helloween, released in 1991. It marked the departure of guitarist Kai Hansen, with Roland Grapow replacing him... |
EMI EMI The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major... |
| 1993 | Helloween | Chameleon | EMI EMI The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major... |
| 1994 | Helloween | Master of the Rings Master of the Rings Master of the Rings is the sixth studio album by German power metal band Helloween, released in 1994. It is the first to feature new members Andi Deris and Uli Kusch.... |
Castle Communications Castle Communications Castle Communications was a British independent record label founded in 1983 by Terry Shand, Cliff Dane and Jon Beecher. The company was acquired by the American music distributor Alliance Entertainment in 1994 and in 2000 it was absorbed into Sanctuary Records Group... |
| 1996 | Helloween | The Time of the Oath The Time of the Oath *M - 3,4 also appears on The Time of the Oath single.*M - 5,6 also appears on the Power single.*M - 7,8 also appears on the Forever And One single.- Personnel :* Andi Deris - vocals* Michael Weikath - guitar* Roland Grapow - guitar* Markus Grosskopf - bass... |
Castle Communications Castle Communications Castle Communications was a British independent record label founded in 1983 by Terry Shand, Cliff Dane and Jon Beecher. The company was acquired by the American music distributor Alliance Entertainment in 1994 and in 2000 it was absorbed into Sanctuary Records Group... |
| 1996 | Helloween | High Live High Live -Disc two:- Credits :* Andi Deris - Vocals* Michael Weikath - Guitars* Roland Grapow - Guitars* Markus Grosskopf - Bass* Uli Kusch - Drums-External links:*... |
Castle Communications Castle Communications Castle Communications was a British independent record label founded in 1983 by Terry Shand, Cliff Dane and Jon Beecher. The company was acquired by the American music distributor Alliance Entertainment in 1994 and in 2000 it was absorbed into Sanctuary Records Group... |
| 1997 | Roland Grapow | The Four Seasons of Life The Four Seasons of Life The Four Seasons of Life is the debut solo album released by former Helloween guitarist Roland Grapow. The album is unique compared to its successor, Kaleidoscope due to the fact that Roland sings lead vocals on all tracks.... |
Snapper Music Snapper Music Snapper Music is an independent record label founded in 1996 by former head of Castle Communications Jon Beecher, Dougie Dudgeon and funded by the late Mark Levinson from Palan Music Publishing. In 1999 Snapper broke away from its parent company in an MBO in association with ACT and CAI venture... |
| 1998 | 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... |
Better Than Raw Better Than Raw *M - 2 also appears on the I Can single.*M - 3,4 also appears on the Hey Lord! single.-Personnel:*Andi Deris - vocals*Michael Weikath - guitar*Roland Grapow - guitar*Markus Grosskopf - bass*Uli Kusch - drums*Jorn Ellerbrock - keyboards... |
Castle Communications Castle Communications Castle Communications was a British independent record label founded in 1983 by Terry Shand, Cliff Dane and Jon Beecher. The company was acquired by the American music distributor Alliance Entertainment in 1994 and in 2000 it was absorbed into Sanctuary Records Group... |
| 1999 | Roland Grapow | Kaleidoscope Kaleidoscope (Roland Grapow album) Kaleidoscope is the second solo album released by former Helloween guitarist Roland Grapow.-Track listing:All songs written by Roland Grapow except where noted# "Walk On Fire" – 4:30# "Under the Same Sun" – 5:23... |
SPV SPV GmbH SPV GmbH is an independent German record label.Founded on January 1, 1984, it has slowly grown to be one of the largest independent distributors and record labels worldwide.... /Steamhammer |
| 1999 | 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... |
Metal Jukebox Metal Jukebox -Personnel:*Andi Deris - vocals*Michael Weikath - guitar*Roland Grapow - guitar*Markus Grosskopf - bass*Uli Kusch - drums... |
Castle Communications Castle Communications Castle Communications was a British independent record label founded in 1983 by Terry Shand, Cliff Dane and Jon Beecher. The company was acquired by the American music distributor Alliance Entertainment in 1994 and in 2000 it was absorbed into Sanctuary Records Group... |
| 2000 | Helloween | The Dark Ride The Dark Ride On copies of The Dark Ride and Rabbit Don't Come Easy the disc has "Mr. Torture" and "All over the Nations" in reverse order so this way "All over the Nations" is track #2... |
Nuclear Blast Nuclear Blast Nuclear Blast is an independent record label and mail order record distributor with subsidiaries in Germany, the United States and Brazil. The record label was founded in 1987 by Markus Staiger in Germany. Originally releasing hardcore punk records, the label moved on to releasing albums by melodic... |
| 2003 | Masterplan | Masterplan | AFM Records AFM Records AFM-Records GmbH is a music label based in Schwalmstadt, Germany. They focus on the heavy metal musical genre, signing bands such as U.D.O., Doro, Kotipelto, Masterplan, Nostradameus, and Annihilator.... |
| 2005 | Masterplan | 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... |
AFM Records AFM Records AFM-Records GmbH is a music label based in Schwalmstadt, Germany. They focus on the heavy metal musical genre, signing bands such as U.D.O., Doro, Kotipelto, Masterplan, Nostradameus, and Annihilator.... |
| 2007 | Masterplan | MK II | AFM Records AFM Records AFM-Records GmbH is a music label based in Schwalmstadt, Germany. They focus on the heavy metal musical genre, signing bands such as U.D.O., Doro, Kotipelto, Masterplan, Nostradameus, and Annihilator.... |
| 2010 | Masterplan | 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... |
AFM Records AFM Records AFM-Records GmbH is a music label based in Schwalmstadt, Germany. They focus on the heavy metal musical genre, signing bands such as U.D.O., Doro, Kotipelto, Masterplan, Nostradameus, and Annihilator.... |