Gamma Ray (band)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Gamma Ray | ||
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 Gamma Ray at the end of a show in Barcelona.
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| Background information | ||
| Origin |  Hamburg, Germany |
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| Genre(s) | Power metal, Epic Metal | |
| Years active | 1988 to present | |
| Label(s) | RCA Records FAD Records Noise Records Sanctuary Records |
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| Website | http://www.gamma-ray.com/ | |
| Members | ||
| Kai Hansen Henjo Richter Dirk Schlächter Dan Zimmermann |
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| Former members | ||
| Ralf Scheepers Uwe Wessel Jan Rubach Mathias Burchard Uli Kusch Thomas Nack |
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Gamma Ray is a power metal band from Germany, founded by former Helloween guitarist, singer and songwriter Kai Hansen.
The name was also used briefly by the band Queens Of The Stone Age before changing it after learning that the name was taken.
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[edit] Biography
In 1988, after four years with Helloween, guitarist and songwriter Kai Hansen decided, for reasons that are still the subject of much debate, to leave the band. Hansen claimed that Helloween had become too big for him to handle, although the group's troubles with financical issues and the record company most likely played a part as well. He proceeded to do some studio work with Blind Guardian. Eventually, Hansen decided to form his own project with long-time friend Ralf Scheepers from Tyran Pace. This two-man project grew into a four-man band with the addition of Uwe Wessel (bass) and Mathias Burchard (drums). Thus was Gamma Ray born, bearing a sound understandably close to that of Hansen's former band, Helloween.
The original line-up released the album Heading for Tomorrow in February of 1990, and later that year the Heaven Can Wait EP with new guitarist Dirk Schlächter and new drummer Uli Kusch.
1991 saw the release of their second album, Sigh No More, and in October a 50-date worldwide tour.
The third album, Insanity and Genius, was released in 1993 with two new members: Thomas Nack on the drums and Jan Rubach on bass, replacing Uli and Uwe respectively.
In September, Gamma Ray, along with Rage, Helicon and Conception embarked on the Melodic Metal Strikes Back tour. The tour contributed to the release of the double CD Power of Metal, and the videos Power of Metal and Lust for Live, in December.
More changes in the lineup were to follow. As plans developed for the band's fourth album, Hansen and Schlächter were annoyed by the fact that Scheepers lived such a far way away from Hamburg. This meant that they could only do band rehearsals and such on weekends, and this put a major stopper on things. Since Scheepers had auditioned for the job as vocalist for Judas Priest, and his chances at getting the spot were considered pretty good, Hansen asked him if he really felt that staying with Gamma Ray was the right thing to do. The two decided that it would be for the best if Scheepers left the band, and so, with no hard feelings on either side, Scheepers left Gamma Ray. Hansen then took on the guitar-vocals duties.
In 1995 the fourth album, Land of the Free, the first one featuring Hansen on vocals, was released. Critics around the globe were ecstatic. The following tour, Men on a Tour, brought the recording and release of the live album Alive '95 in 1996.
Soon, both Hansen and Schlächter decided that yet another change was needed. Out went Jan Rubach and Thomas Nack (both leaving for the band they left earlier, Anesthesia), and in came new drummer Dan Zimmerman, also the drummer of the band Freedom Call. Schlächter decided to drop the guitar and pick up the bass duties. Henjo Richter came in to fill the second guitar spot. The ultimate Gamma Ray, and still current, line-up was formed.
Work started for the next full-length album, and 1997 saw the release of Somewhere Out In Space, which started the band's fascination with space. After two years of touring came the album Powerplant, which was a continuity to Somewhere Out In Space's lyrical approach, but a new direction musically. The album was highly acclaimed throughout the world.
The time came for a "Best Of..." album, and Hansen decided to do things differently; the band went back to the studio to re-record old classics. Blast from the Past was the name chosen for the album.
After a break of one year, where Hansen concentrated on his side project Iron Savior, the band was ready for the recording and release of the album No World Order!, with a lot of heavy riffs like classic 80's bands such as Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, just as rumored. Yet again the album was highly praised. The No Order World Tour saw the band visiting dozens of countries throughtout Europe, and a few gigs in Japan. After resting from the tour, the band went on with the Skeletons in the Closet tour. The Skeletons tour saw the band performing songs that they never or rarely played live before. The setlist was voted by the fans on the band's website. Only a few shows were played but two of those were recorded for the live album Skeletons in the Closet, their finest live album to date.
Gamma Ray's latest studio album, "Majestic", was released on September 23, 2005.
Kai Hansen and Henjo Richter also had a participation in the Opera Metal Avantasia, led by Tobias Sammet, lead vocalist of Edguy.
A live DVD, called "Hell Yeah - The Awesome Foursome (And The Finnish Keyboarder Who Didn't Want To Wear His Donald Duck Costume) Live in Montreal" was recorded on May 6th, 2006 in Montreal, Quebec. Also the title for the next album is revealed, it will be titled Land Of The Free Part II and is planned to be released in late 2007.
In recent years Gamma Ray have made use of touring keyboard players to fully augment their sound in a live environment. Axel Mackenrott of Masterplan has fulfilled these duties in the past, and the role is currently occupied by Eero Kaukomies, a Finn who plays in a Gamma Ray tribute band. His bandmate, guitarist Kasperi Heikkinen, also played on part of the Majestic tour in 2006 following an injury to Henjo Richter.
[edit] Members
[edit] Current Members
- Kai Hansen - Vocals, Guitars (1988-Present)
- Henjo Richter - Guitars (1997-Present)
- Dirk Schlächter - Guitars (1990-1997), Bass (1997-Present)
- Dan Zimmermann - Drums (1997-Present)
[edit] Former Members
[edit] Vocals
- Ralf Scheepers - Vocals (1989-1995)
[edit] Bass
- Uwe Wessel - Bass (1988-1993)
- Jan Rubach - Bass (1993-1997)
[edit] Drums
- Mathias Burchard - Drums (1989-1990)
- Uli Kusch - Drums (1990-1993)
- Thomas Nack - Drums (1993-1997)
[edit] Guest Musicians
- Tommy Newton - Guitars (1990)
- Tammo Vollmers - Drums (1990)
- Mischa Gerlach - Keyboards (1990)
- Hansi Kürsch - Vocals (1995)
- Michael Kiske - Vocals (1995)
- Sascha Paeth - Keyboards (1995)
- Mike Terrana - Drums (1998, live)
- Jörg Schrör - Bass (2000, live)
- Axel Mackenrott - Keyboards (2004, live)
- Kasperi Heikkinen - Guitars (2006, live)
- Eero Kaukomies - Keyboards (2006, live)
[edit] Discography
[edit] Studio Albums
- Heading for Tomorrow (1990)
- Sigh No More (1991)
- Insanity and Genius (1993)
- Land of the Free (1995)
- Somewhere Out In Space (1997)
- Powerplant (1999)
- No World Order (2001)
- Majestic (2005)
- Land of the Free II (2007) (unreleased)
[edit] Extended Plays (EPs)
- Heaven Can Wait EP (1990)
- Silent Miracles EP (1996)
- Valley of the Kings EP (1997)
[edit] Compilation Albums
- The Karaoke Album (1998)
- Blast from the Past (2000)
[edit] Live Albums
- Alive '95 (1996)
- Skeletons in the Closet (2003)
[edit] Videos and DVDs
- Heading for the East (1990)
- Lust for Live (1993)
- Hell Yeah - The Awesome Foursome (And The Finnish Keyboarder Who Didn't Want To Wear His Donald Duck Costume) Live in Montreal (2006)
[edit] Singles
- Heaven Can Wait/Mr. Outlaw (1989)
- Space Eater (1989)
- Who Do You Think You Are? (1990)
- The Spirit (1991)
- Werbegeschenk (1991)
- Future Madhouse (1993)
- Rebellion in Dreamland (1995)
- Valley of the Kings (1997)
- It's a Sin (1999)
- Heaven or Hell (2001)
[edit] Trivia
- Gamma Ray covered the Pet Shop Boys song "It's a Sin" on their 1999 album Powerplant.
- The characters Dizzy and Justice from the video game Guilty Gear share an Overdrive Attack called Gamma Ray, named after the band. Ky Kiske's name is a reference to Kai Hansen, as well as Michael Kiske.
[edit] External links
- Gamma Ray official website
- Dan Zimmermann's personal website
- Blind Guardian official website
- Iron Savior official website
- Helloween official website
[edit] Gamma Ray at online databases
- Gamma Ray at MusicBrainz
- Gamma Ray at Last.fm
- Gamma Ray at Discogs
- Gamma Ray at Encyclopaedia Metallum
- Gamma Ray at Metal Storm
| Gamma Ray | ||
| Kai Hansen | Henjo Richter | Dirk Schlächter | Dan Zimmermann | ||
| Ralf Scheepers | Uwe Wessel | Jan Rubach | Mathias Burchard | Uli Kusch | Thomas Nack | ||
| Discography | ||
|---|---|---|
| Studio Albums: Heading for Tomorrow | Sigh No More | Insanity and Genius | Land of the Free | Somewhere Out In Space | Powerplant | No World Order | Majestic | ||
| Extended Plays: Heaven Can Wait | Silent Miracles | Valley of the Kings | ||
| Live Albums: Alive '95 | Skeletons in the Closet | ||
| Compilation Albums: Blast from the Past | ||
| Related articles | ||
| Helloween | Iron Savior | Blind Guardian | Avantasia | Masterplan | Angra | Freedom Call | ||
