Gamma Ray (band)
Gamma Ray is a
power metal band from
Germany, founded by former
Helloween guitarist,
singer and
songwriter Kai Hansen.
(It is worth noting that
Queens Of The Stone Age briefly went by the name Gamma Ray, even recording a few songs under that moniker, before changing it after learning that there was already a band with that name.)
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 Spaces 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.
The band then proceeded to the recording of its next album, rumored to be classic-sounding like bands such as Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, before taking a year off.
After the break, 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, 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 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.
*
Kai Hansen - Vocals, guitar
*
Henjo Richter - Guitar
*
Dirk Schlächter - Bass
*
Dan Zimmermann - Drums
*
Uwe Wessel - Bass
*
Ralf Scheepers - Vocals
*
Jan Rubach - Bass
*
Mathias Burchard - Drums
*
Uli Kusch - Drums
*
Thomas Nack - Drums
*
Heading for Tomorrow (1990)
**
Heaven Can Wait EP (1990)
*
Sigh No More (1991)
*
Insanity and Genius (1993)
*
Land of the Free (1995)
**
Silent Miracles EP (1996)
*
Alive '95 (1996)
*
Somewhere Out In Space (1997)
**
Valley of the Kings EP (1997)
*
Powerplant (1999)
*
Blast from the Past (2000)
*
No World Order (2001)
*
Skeletons in the Closet (2003)
*
Majestic (2005)
*Gamma Ray has made a cover of the famous
Pet Shop Boys song "It's a sin".
*The characters
Dizzy and
Justice from the video game
Guilty Gear share an Overdrive Attack called Gamma Ray, named after the band.
*
Gamma Ray official website*
Dan Zimmermann's personal website*
Blind Guardian official website*
Iron Savior official website*
Helloween official website
