Discography: "Blind Guardian"
Biography: "Blind Guardian"
Blind Guardian is a German power metal band which formed in the mid-1980s in Krefeld, Germany. Before calling themselves Blind Guardian, the band released two demos under the name Lucifer's Heritage in 1985 and 1986.
From the beginning, Blind Guardian has been inspired by the fiction of authors such as J. R. R. Tolkien, Stephen King, and Michael Moorcock, as well as traditional legends and epics. Over the years, a running theme has developed associating the band members with traveling bards.
Forming in the small German town of Krefeld, Blind Guardian perfected a fusion of Gothic- and fantasy-tinged European power metal with the velocity and technical precision of speed metal. Members Hansi Kürsch (vocals, bass), Marcus Siepen (guitar), André Olbrich (guitar), and Thomas Stauch (drums) initially called themselves Lucifer's Heritage, but elected to change when a 1986 demo tape began to achieve underground popularity. They signed with the No Remorse label and issued Battalions of Fear in 1988, following it with Follow the Blind a year later, which helped make a name for the band in Japan. 1990's Tales from the Twilight World became an underground hit in Germany and led to a deal with that country's division of Virgin Records; their major-label debut, Somewhere Far Beyond, was released in 1992. After 1993's live Tokyo Tales, Blind Guardian hooked up with former Metallica producer Flemming Rasmussen for 1995's Imaginations from the Other Side. 1996's The Forgotten Tales was a collection of covers and alternate versions, setting the stage for 1998's Nightfall in Middle-Earth, a Tolkien-inspired concept album which finally became the band's first American release a year later. Century Media began reissuing portions of the band's back catalog in the U.S. the same year. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide
Band members
Hansi Kürsch — Vocals (1984–), Bass (1984–1996)
André Olbrich — Lead Guitar (1984–)
Marcus Siepen — Rhythm Guitar (1987–)
Frederik Ehmke — Drums, Percussion, Flute, Bagpipes (2005–)
Former members
Thomas "Thomen" Stauch — Drums (1984–1985, 1987–2005)
Markus Dörk — Rhythm & Lead Guitar (Lucifer's Heritage) (1984–1985)
Christof Theissen — Lead & Rhythm Guitar (Lucifer's Heritage) (1986)
Hans-Peter Frey — Drums (Lucifer's Heritage) (1986)
Thomas Kelleners — Vocals (Lucifer's Heritage) (1984)
Guest musicians
Oliver Holzwarth — Bass (touring/studio) (1997–)
Alex Holzwarth — Drums (live) (2002–2003)
Mathias Wiesner — Keyboards (studio) (1989–)
Michael Schüren — Keyboards (live) & Grand Piano (studio) (1997–)
Kai Hansen — Vocals & Guitar Solos (1989–1992)
Rolf Köhler, Thomas Hackmann — backing vocals (1989–)
Olaf Senkbeil, Billy King — backing vocals (1990–)
Musical Style
Blind Guardian's first two albums, Battalions of Fear and Follow the Blind, were more in the style of speed metal than their following works. Beginning with their third album Tales from the Twilight World, Blind Guardian gradually turned to a more sophisticated sound, including vast use of choirs and sometimes orchestral arrangements, heavily influenced by the English rock band Queen.
Band members: "Blind Guardian"
No information on the composition of the group "Blind Guardian" at the momet
Videography: "Blind Guardian"
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