Roy Khan
Encyclopedia
Roy Sætre Khantatat is a Norwegian
singer. Commonly known as Roy Khan or simply Khan, he is the former vocalist for the symphonic power metal band Kamelot
. He co-wrote most of Kamelot's songs with the band's guitarist and founder Thomas Youngblood
since he joined the band.
, by a fellow student and was offered to join the student's band. After high school, Roy studied opera
for three years.
Roy is married to Elisabeth Kjærnes. Elisabeth is featured in Kamelot's "March of Mephisto" music video, and has made an appearance on Kamelot's One Cold Winter's Night
live DVD, performing "March of Mephisto", and "Nights of Arabia". Together, Roy and Elisabeth have a son and daughter. Roy wrote the song "Anthem", from Kamelot's Ghost Opera
album, for his son, a few weeks before he was born.
band Conception
. In 2005, Khan reunited with his previous band and played at the 2005 ProgPower USA VI festival on Friday 16 September and Norwegian Scream Magazine's 15 Years & 100 Issues Festival on Saturday 1 October. Khan, guitarist Tore Østby
(also known from the band ARK) and the rest of Conception reunited; at the time it was clarified Khan would continue to support Kamelot.
, and the United States of America. It was announced that Roy had fallen ill, and could not perform. It is believed that Roy suffers from anxiety
and depression, which led to his illness. Since the announcement was made, Roy has not returned to performing with Kamelot
.
In 2011, Kamelot
guitarist, Thomas Youngblood
, announced in an interview that a religious aspect has been involved with Roy not performing with Kamelot
.
On April 22, 2011, Kamelot released a statement saying Khan had elected to leave the band. In the media release, Youngblood wrote that Khan had been given a lot of time to make the decision and the band respected it. Roy himself announced his departure from the band in his blog April 21, 2011.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
singer. Commonly known as Roy Khan or simply Khan, he is the former vocalist for the symphonic power metal band Kamelot
Kamelot
Kamelot is an American symphonic power metal band from Tampa, Florida. The band was formed by Thomas Youngblood and Richard Warner in 1991. Norwegian vocalist Roy Khan joined for the album Siége Perilous, and shared song-writing duties with Youngblood until his departure in April 2011.As of 2010,...
. He co-wrote most of Kamelot's songs with the band's guitarist and founder Thomas Youngblood
Thomas Youngblood
Thomas Youngblood is the guitarist, founding member and one of the main creative forces behind the progressive/symphonic power metal band Kamelot from Tampa, Florida. He began playing guitar at the age of 15 and in 1991 founded Kamelot with Richard Warner...
since he joined the band.
Personal life
Roy began singing at a young age. At the age of 17, while in the shower at school, Roy was caught singing "Alone" by HeartHeart (band)
Heart is an American rock band who first found success in Canada. Throughout several lineup changes, the only two members remaining constant are sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson. The group rose to fame in the 1970s with their music being influenced by hard rock as well as folk music...
, by a fellow student and was offered to join the student's band. After high school, Roy studied opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
for three years.
Roy is married to Elisabeth Kjærnes. Elisabeth is featured in Kamelot's "March of Mephisto" music video, and has made an appearance on Kamelot's One Cold Winter's Night
One Cold Winter's Night
One Cold Winter's Night is a live album released in 2006 by the symphonic power metal band Kamelot. It is the second live album and first live DVD from the band, directed and produced by Patric Ullaeus and was released on November 14, 2006...
live DVD, performing "March of Mephisto", and "Nights of Arabia". Together, Roy and Elisabeth have a son and daughter. Roy wrote the song "Anthem", from Kamelot's Ghost Opera
Ghost Opera
Ghost Opera is the eighth studio album from metal band Kamelot. It was released in 2007 by SPV GmbH/Steamhammer Records, on June 1 in Germany and followed by releases on June 4 in Europe and June 5 in the United States. It is the first studio album by Kamelot to feature keyboardist Oliver...
album, for his son, a few weeks before he was born.
Conception
Before Khan joined Kamelot in 1997, he was in the Norwegian progressive metalProgressive metal
Progressive metal is a subgenre of heavy metal originating in the United Kingdom and North America in the late 1980s...
band 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...
. In 2005, Khan reunited with his previous band and played at the 2005 ProgPower USA VI festival on Friday 16 September and Norwegian Scream Magazine's 15 Years & 100 Issues Festival on Saturday 1 October. Khan, guitarist Tore Østby
Tore Østby
Tore Østby was a founder, songwriter, producer and guitarist for Norwegian progressive metal band Conception from 1989 to 1998. After the band stopped playing on a permanent basis he, along with John Macaluso and Jørn Lande formed progressive metal band Ark.Tore is currently working as a senior...
(also known from the band ARK) and the rest of Conception reunited; at the time it was clarified Khan would continue to support Kamelot.
Departure from Kamelot
In 2010, Kamelot was forced to cancel their North American tour across CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, and the United States of America. It was announced that Roy had fallen ill, and could not perform. It is believed that Roy suffers from anxiety
Anxiety
Anxiety is a psychological and physiological state characterized by somatic, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral components. The root meaning of the word anxiety is 'to vex or trouble'; in either presence or absence of psychological stress, anxiety can create feelings of fear, worry, uneasiness,...
and depression, which led to his illness. Since the announcement was made, Roy has not returned to performing with Kamelot
Kamelot
Kamelot is an American symphonic power metal band from Tampa, Florida. The band was formed by Thomas Youngblood and Richard Warner in 1991. Norwegian vocalist Roy Khan joined for the album Siége Perilous, and shared song-writing duties with Youngblood until his departure in April 2011.As of 2010,...
.
In 2011, Kamelot
Kamelot
Kamelot is an American symphonic power metal band from Tampa, Florida. The band was formed by Thomas Youngblood and Richard Warner in 1991. Norwegian vocalist Roy Khan joined for the album Siége Perilous, and shared song-writing duties with Youngblood until his departure in April 2011.As of 2010,...
guitarist, Thomas Youngblood
Thomas Youngblood
Thomas Youngblood is the guitarist, founding member and one of the main creative forces behind the progressive/symphonic power metal band Kamelot from Tampa, Florida. He began playing guitar at the age of 15 and in 1991 founded Kamelot with Richard Warner...
, announced in an interview that a religious aspect has been involved with Roy not performing with Kamelot
Kamelot
Kamelot is an American symphonic power metal band from Tampa, Florida. The band was formed by Thomas Youngblood and Richard Warner in 1991. Norwegian vocalist Roy Khan joined for the album Siége Perilous, and shared song-writing duties with Youngblood until his departure in April 2011.As of 2010,...
.
On April 22, 2011, Kamelot released a statement saying Khan had elected to leave the band. In the media release, Youngblood wrote that Khan had been given a lot of time to make the decision and the band respected it. Roy himself announced his departure from the band in his blog April 21, 2011.
Albums
- The Last SunsetThe Last Sunset (album)The Last Sunset is the first full-length album released by the power metal/progressive metal band, Conception. The Last Sunset was originally recorded in 1991 under Conception's own record label CSF Records...
(1991) - Parallel MindsParallel MindsParallel Minds is the second full-length album by the Norwegian power metal/progressive metal band, Conception.-Track listing:# "Water Confines" - 4:17# "Roll the Fire" - 4:32# "And I Close My Eyes" - 4:11# "Silent Crying" - 3:16...
(1993) - In Your MultitudeIn Your MultitudeIn Your Multitude is the third full-length album by the Norwegian progressive metal/power metal band, Conception.-Track listing:# "Under A Mourning Star" − 5:10# "Missionary Man" − 3:40# "Retrospect" − 3:12# "Guilt" − 3:47# "Sanctuary" − 2:57...
(1995) - FlowFlow (Conception album)Flow is the fourth full-length album by the Norwegian power metal/progressive metal band, Conception. Flow was released on April 1, 1997 by Noise Records.-Track listing:# "Gethsemane" - 5:02# "Angel " - 4:23...
(1997)
Albums
- Siége PerilousSiege PerilousIn Arthurian legend, the Siege Perilous is a vacant seat at the Round Table reserved by Merlin for the knight who would one day be successful in the quest for the Holy Grail. This knight is either Perceval or Sir Galahad, depending on the version of the story...
(1998) - The Fourth LegacyThe Fourth LegacyThe Fourth Legacy is the fourth full-length album by symphonic power metal band Kamelot. It was released in 1999 by Noise Records/Modern Music...
(1999) - Karma (2001)
- EpicaEpica (album)Epica is the sixth full-length album by metal band Kamelot. It was released on January 13, 2003 through Noise Records. It was the first concept album by Kamelot. Most of the lyrics were written before the actual music was composed. This album, along with its sequel The Black Halo, is loosely based...
(2003) - The Black HaloThe Black HaloThere is also a short hidden track in the pregap. Rewinding from "March of Mephisto" on some CD players reveal a couple entering a theatre and being told that they have "just made it to the second act", referring to The Black Halo as the second album in a two-part concept.- March of Mephisto :In...
(2005) - Ghost OperaGhost OperaGhost Opera is the eighth studio album from metal band Kamelot. It was released in 2007 by SPV GmbH/Steamhammer Records, on June 1 in Germany and followed by releases on June 4 in Europe and June 5 in the United States. It is the first studio album by Kamelot to feature keyboardist Oliver...
(2007) - Poetry for the PoisonedPoetry for the PoisonedPoetry for the Poisoned is the ninth studio album from metal band Kamelot. It was released on the earMUSIC label, a subdivision of Edel, on September 10, 2010 in Europe, and four days later in North America by the band's own label, KMG Recordings. It was the last release to feature longtime...
(2010)
Live albums
- The ExpeditionThe ExpeditionThe Expedition is the first live album by the metal band Kamelot. It was released in October 2000 through Noise Records. The last three tracks are not live - "We Three Kings" and "One Day" are additional material from the Siege Perilous sessions, and "We Are Not Separate" is a re-recorded version...
(2000) - One Cold Winter's NightOne Cold Winter's NightOne Cold Winter's Night is a live album released in 2006 by the symphonic power metal band Kamelot. It is the second live album and first live DVD from the band, directed and produced by Patric Ullaeus and was released on November 14, 2006...
(2006) - Ghost Opera: The Second Coming (2008)
Guest appearances
- Victory - Voiceprint (1996) in "The Hunter"
- Crest Of Darkness - The Ogress (1999) in "Reference" and in "Sweet Scent Of Death"
- EpicaEpica (band)Epica is a Dutch symphonic metal band founded by guitarist and vocalist Mark Jansen subsequent to his departure from After Forever. They are known for their symphonic sound and the use of female vocals and male growls performed by Simone Simons and Mark Jansen, respectively. All six members write...
- Consign to OblivionConsign to OblivionConsign to Oblivion is the second studio-album by Dutch symphonic metal band Epica, and was released in April 2005. "Trois Vierges" features a guest appearance by Kamelot vocalist Roy Khan. The album's lyrics are heavily influenced by Mayan Civilization. The CD was released with copy control on it....
(2005) in "Trois Vierges" - AvantasiaAvantasiaAvantasia 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"...
- The Scarecrow (2008) in "Twisted Mind"