Edguy
is a Power metal band from Fulda, Germany that was formed in 1992.
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EDGUY TICKETS
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Biography
Edguy was founded in 1992 by 14-year-old students
Tobias Sammet,
Jens Ludwig,
Dirk Sauer, and
Dominik Storch. The name "Edguy" was an affectionate
epithet for Mr. Edgar Zimmerer, their math teacher at the time.
After two
demos the band received a contract with
AFM Records in 1995. Their first two albums were not very successful, but with
Vain Glory Opera
in 1998 they achieved a breakthrough, thanks in part to production (and additional lead guitar work) by
Timo Tolkki of
Stratovarius, as well as guest vocals by
Hansi Kürsch of
Blind Guardian. After another two albums they received a contract with the German label
Nuclear Blast in 2004.
In 2001, Tobias Sammet released the first album of his side project
Avantasia, a wide-scope
metal opera including the participation of many well-known heavy metal musicians and vocalists.
[1]
Since signing with Nuclear Blast, Edguy has released two full-length albums, followed by their latest,
Tinnitus Sanctus
, and has extended their contract for three more albums.
[2]
Style
Edguy's lyrics are often metaphorical, alluding to metaphysical or social themes: conformity ("The Headless Game", "Mysteria", "King of Fools"), dictation by the
church ("The Kingdom", "The Pride of Creation", "Theater of Salvation"), and dangers of modern civilization ("Navigator", "The Devil and the Savant"). To express such themes, Edguy sometimes use
esoteric and
hermetic expressions. Yet some of their songs are light-hearted or comedic ("Das Reh", "Save Us Now", "Lavatory Love Machine", "Life and Times of a Bonus Track", "Trinidad"). Edguy does not claim to represent any ideology; Tobias Sammet claimed "[the band is] not political and we are not religious; at least there is no key message in our songs telling you what to think in terms of anything". Edguy also employs lengthy and epic sections in almost every album.
Hellfire Club
revealed Edguy's interest in experimenting within music by integrating an
orchestra into the production. The album featured a variation on Edguy's style, with a less grandiose, more traditional
heavy metal approach being embraced. The band's album,
Rocket Ride
, features even less
symphonic and
power metal elements, and is arguably more oriented towards
hard rock. Their latest album,
Tinnitus Sanctus
, contains even more
hard rock oriented songs, as the obvious lack of double bass drumming is evident, much unlike Edguy's old albums such as Vain Glory Opera.
Line-up
Current members
- Tobias Sammet – vocals (1992-present)
- Jens Ludwig – lead guitar (1992-present)
- Dirk Sauer – rhythm guitar (1992-present)
- Tobias Exxel – bass guitar (1998-present)
- Felix Bohnke – drums (1998-present) [3]
Former members
- Dominik Storch – drums (1992-97)
Guest performers
- Frank Lindenthal – drums (session musician) on Vain Glory Opera
- Andy Allendorfer – backing vocals on Vain Glory Opera
- Ralf Zdiarstek – backing vocals on Vain Glory Opera
- Hansi Kürsch – vocals on Vain Glory Opera
- Timo Tolkki – guitar on Vain Glory Opera
- Frank Tischer - piano on The Savage Poetry
- Markus Schmitt - backing vocals on The Savage Poetry
- Mille Petrozza - vocals on Hellfire Club
- Michael Kiske - vocals on Superheroes
Discography
Demos
- Evil Minded
(1994)
- Children of Steel
(1994)
- Savage Poetry
(1995)
Studio albums
| Year
| Album
| DE
| FR
| CH
| AT
| FIN
|
| 1997
| Kingdom of Madness
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|
| 1998
| Vain Glory Opera
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|
| 1999
| Theater of Salvation
[4]
| 50
| —
| —
| —
| —
|
| 2000
| The Savage Poetry
[5]
| 60
| —
| —
| —
| —
|
| 2001
| Mandrake
[6]
| 32
| 47
| —
| —
| —
|
| 2004
| Hellfire Club
[7]
| 6
| 54
| 81
| 68
| 22
|
| 2006
| Rocket Ride
[8]
| 8
| 101
| 50
| 50
| 25
|
| 2008
| Tinnitus Sanctus
[9]
| 28
| 85
| 41
| 50
| —
|
Live albums
- Burning Down the Opera
(2003)
- Fucking With Fire - Live
(2009)
Singles
- "La Marche Des Gendarmes" (Enhanced Cardsleeve, 2001)
- "Painting on the Wall" (2001)
- "Lavatory Love Machine" (2004)
EPs
- King of Fools
(2004)
- Superheroes
(2005)
Compilation albums
- Hall of Flames
(2004)
- The Singles
(2008)
Videos
- "All the Clowns" (2001)
- "King of Fools" (2004)
- "Lavatory Love Machine" (2004)
- "Superheroes" (2005)
- "Ministry of Saints" (2008)
DVDs
- "Superheroes DVD" (2005) [10]
- Fucking With Fire - Live
(2009)
References
- Biography at Metal Storm
- Edguy.net official website
- Metal Storm
- http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?key=18095&cat=a
- http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?key=17823&cat=a
- http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?key=17521&cat=a
- http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?key=4901&cat=a
- http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?key=27002&cat=a
- http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?key=100732&cat=a
- Discography at AllMusic