Avantasia
Avantasia 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" ("fantasy")
and describes "a world beyond human imagination" (a quotation
from the booklet). The project consists of a self-titled single,
two full-length albums with the subtitle The Metal Opera, two EPs
called Lost in Space, and Scarecrow trilogy, composed of The Scarecrow,
The Wicked Symphony and Angel of Babylon.
Contents
[show]
[edit] History
[edit] "The Metal Operas" (1999–2002)
In Spring 1999, during Theater of Salvation tour, Tobias Sammet
began to write down his ideas for a metal opera, a concept album
with many guest musicians. When the tour was finished, he carried
this plan out, recruiting well-known metal players like ex-Helloween
singer Michael Kiske, Andre Matos, Kai Hansen, and Rob Rock (ex
Axel Rudi Pell, ex Angelica, ex Warrior, Driver, Impellitteri).
The project was recorded with a core band of four members - Sammet
playing keyboards and arranging orchestration, Henjo Richter playing
guitar, Markus Grosskopf playing bass, and Alex Holzwarth on drums.
In 2001, the self-titled single and the first full-length album,
The Metal Opera, was released. The project was completed in September
2002 with the release of The Metal Opera Part II.
[edit] "The Scarecrow" (2006–08)
At the end of 2006, Sammet confirmed the rumours of a third Avantasia
album, due for release in 2008. On March 24, 2007, the name was
confirmed to be "The Scarecrow".[1] The Scarecrow is a
new story, unrelated to the previous, and tells of a lonely scarecrow
seeking company in friends. The album was released on January 25,
2008, and includes special guests Rudolf Schenker, Sascha Paeth,
drummer Eric Singer, and singers Bob Catley, Jørn Lande, Michael
Kiske, Alice Cooper, Roy Khan, Amanda Somerville and Oliver Hartmann.[1]
[edit] "The Scarecrow World Tour" (2008)
After the release of the The Scarecrow, Tobias Sammet was invited
to do a headling show at Wacken Open Air, to which producer/guitarist
Sascha Paeth contributed in convincing Sammet. That led to 13 shows
between July 5 and August 13. Shows on Masters of Rock and Wacken
Open Air were recorded and a live DVD The Flying Opera based on
the footage was released later in March 2011.
Tourdates[show]
Tour members[show]
Setlist[show]
[edit] "The Wicked Symphony" & "Angel of Babylon"
(2009–10)
In November 2009, Sammet announced the release of two new albums,
The Wicked Symphony and Angel of Babylon, to be released on April
3, 2010.[2] The story is set as a continuation of The Scarecrow
album and these three albums together are often referred to as The
Wicked Trilogy.[3] Some of the special guests include: drummers
Eric Singer, Alex Holzwarth and Felix Bohnke, keyboardist Jens Johansson
of Stratovarius, as well as vocalists Michael Kiske, Bob Catley,
Jørn Lande, Tim "Ripper" Owens, Klaus Meine, Russell Allen,
Andre Matos and Jon Oliva.[4]
[edit] "The Metal Opera Comes to Town Tour" (2010–11)
Avantasia 2010, Kaufbeuren (Germany)
Short (and the first Avantasia-only) tour was done during December
2010, with the exception of one concert at the Wacken Open Air festival
in August 2011. The concerts lasted for almost three hours and many
of them were sold out days before.[5] The ensemble was almost the
same as on The Scarecrow Tour in 2008, with just a minor changes.
Amanda Somerville was the only female vocalist. Cloudy Yang, who
was singing alongside Amanda during the 2008 tour, did not appear
on the stage this time. The second change in the ensemble was missing
Andre Matos, who was replaced by ex-Helloween singer Michael Kiske.
With Kai Hansen also participating on this tour, there was a lot
of moments when two ex-Helloween singers shared the same stage singing
together.
Both tours were closely documented by Amanda Somerville on her
YouTube channel.[6] The videos show various interesting backstage
moments such as rehearsals, cancelled flights, or the ensemble travelling
by a regular train.
Tourdates[show]
Tour members[show]
Setlist[show]
[edit] Members
[edit] Current members/The Wicked Trilogy
Tobias Sammet
Lead vocals (1999–present)
Bass guitar (2007–present)
Keyboards (1999–2002)
Sascha Paeth
Guitars (2006–present)
Producer (2006–present)
Eric Singer
Drums (2002, 2006–present)
Vocals (2007)
Miro
Keyboards (2006–present)
Orchestration (2006–present)
[edit] The Metal Opera members
Henjo Richter - Guitars (2000–02, 2007–08, 2010)
Markus Grosskopf - Bass guitar (2000–02)
Alex Holzwarth - Drums (2000–02, 2009–10)
[edit] The Scarecrow World Tour (2008)
Tobias Sammet - vocals
Andre Matos - vocals
Jørn Lande - vocals
Kai Hansen - vocals (only shows in Europe)
Bob Catley - vocals (only shows in Europe and Asia)
Oliver Hartmann - vocals & guitars
Amanda Somerville - vocals & backing vocals
Cloudy Yang - backing vocals
Sascha Paeth - guitars
Robert Hunecke-Rizzo - bass
Miro - keyboards
Felix Bohnke - drums
[edit] The Metal Opera Comes to Town Tour (2010)
Avantasia 2010, Stockholm (Sweden)
Tobias Sammet - vocals
Michael Kiske - vocals
Jørn Lande - vocals
Bob Catley - vocals
Kai Hansen - vocals & guitars
Oliver Hartmann - vocals & guitars
Amanda Somerville - vocals
Sascha Paeth - guitars
Miro - keyboards
Robert Hunecke-Rizzo - bass
Felix Bohnke - drums
[edit] Vocalists
Vocalist Associated bands Avantasia The Metal Opera The Metal Opera
Part II Lost in Space Part I Lost in Space Part II The Scarecrow
The Wicked Symphony Angel of Babylon
Tobias Sammet Edguy all tracks all tracks all tracks all tracks
all tracks all tracks all tracks all tracks, except track 8 (Symphony
of Life)
Michael Kiske Helloween, Place Vendome, Kiske/Somerville Reach Out
for the Light Reach Out for the Light, Breaking Away, Farewell,
Avantasia, The Tower The Seven Angels, No Return Promised Land,
Lost in Space The Scarecrow, Shelter from the Rain, What Kind of
Love Wastelands, Runaway Train Stargazers
David DeFeis Virgin Steele Final Sacrifice Serpents in Paradise,
The Tower The Seven Angels, The Final Sacrifice
Ralf Zdiarstek Malleus Maleficarum, The Glory of Rome Memory Black
Wings
Sharon den Adel Within Temptation Farewell Into the Unknown
Rob Rock ex-Axel Rudi Pell, ex-Angelica, ex-Warrior, Driver, Impellitteri
The Glory of Rome The Seven Angels, Neverland
Oliver Hartmann At Vance The Glory of Rome, Sign of the Cross, The
Tower The Seven Angels I Don't Believe in Your Love Stargazers
Andre Matos ex-Shaaman, ex-Angra, ex-Viper, Symfonia Inside, Sign
of the Cross, The Tower The Seven Angels, No Return, Chalice of
Agony Blizzard On a Broken Mirror
Kai Hansen Gamma Ray, Helloween Inside, Sign of the Cross The Seven
Angels, Chalice of Agony
Timo Tolkki Stratovarius, Revolution Renaissance, Symfonia The Tower
The Seven Angels
Bob Catley Magnum The Looking Glass, In Quest for The Story Ain't
Over Shelter from the Rain, Cry Just a Little Runaway Train Journey
to Arcadia
Jørn Lande Masterplan, Ark, Jorn Another Angel Down Promised Land
The Scarecrow, Another Angel Down, Devil in the Belfry The Wicked
Symphony, Runaway Train, Crestfallen, Forever is a Long Time Stargazers,
Angel of Babylon, Rat Race, Down in the Dark, Alone I Remember,
Promised Land, Journey to Arcadia
Amanda Somerville Aina, Kiske/Somerville Lost in Space, The Story
Ain't Over Lost in Space, Lost in Space What Kind of Love, Lost
in Space
Roy Khan Conception, Kamelot Twisted Mind
Alice Cooper The Toy Master
Eric Singer KISS, Black Sabbath, Alice Cooper Ride the Sky
Russell Allen Symphony X The Wicked Symphony, States of Matter Stargazers,
Journey to Arcadia
Jon Oliva Savatage, Jon Oliva's Pain Death is Just a Feeling
Klaus Meine Scorpions Dying for an Angel
Tim "Ripper" Owens Yngwie Malmsteen, ex-Judas Priest,
ex-Iced Earth Scales of Justice
Cloudy Yang Symphony of Life
[edit] Musicians
Musician Associated bands Avantasia The Metal Opera The Metal Opera
Part II Lost in Space Part I Lost in Space Part II The Scarecrow
The Wicked Symphony Angel of Babylon
Tobias Sammet Edguy Keyboards (all) Keyboards (all) Keyboards (all)
Bass (10) Bass (all) Bass (all) Bass (all) Bass (all) Bass (all)
Henjo Richter Gamma Ray Guitars (all) Guitars (all) Guitars (all)
Lead guitar (3) Lead guitar (2, 3, 4) Lead guitar (2, 3, 6, 7, 8)
Lead guitar (10)
Markus Grosskopf Helloween Bass (all) Bass (all) Bass (all)
Eddy Wrapiprou Edguy Keyboards (all)
Alex Holzwarth Rhapsody of Fire, Angra Drums (all) Drums (all) Drums
(all) Drums (3, 7, 8, 10) Drums (1, 2, 3, 11)
Jens Ludwig Edguy Lead guitar (12, 13) Lead guitar (5, 9)
Norman Meiritz Acoustic guitar (6) Rhythm guitar (10)
Frank Tischer Piano (11) Piano (1, 4, 7)
Timo Tolkki Stratovarius, Revolution Renaissance, Symfonia Lead
guitar (1, 10)
Sascha Paeth Aina, Heavens Gate, Kamelot Guitars (all) Guitars (all)
Guitars (all) Guitars (all) Guitars (all)
Eric Singer KISS, Black Sabbath, Alice Cooper Drums (10) Drums (all)
Drums (all) Drums (all) Drums (2, 4, 6) Drums (5, 7, 9, 10)
Michael "Miro" Rodenberg Aina, Kamelot Keyboards (all)
Keyboards (all) Keyboards (all) Keyboards (all) Keyboards (all)
Kai Hansen Gamma Ray, Helloween Lead guitar (3)
Rudolph Schenker Scorpions Lead guitar (10)
Jens Johansson Stratovarius, Yngwie Malmsteen Keyboards (2)
Bruce Kulick Kiss Lead guitar (6, 11) Lead guitar (5, 9, 11)
Oliver Hartmann At Vance Lead guitar (2, 8) Lead guitar (1, 2, 3)
Felix Bohnke Edguy Drums (1, 5, 9 11) Drums (4, 6, 8)
Simon Oberender Organ (11) Organ (9)
[edit] Discography
[edit] Studio albums
The Metal Opera:
Part I: The Metal Opera Part I - 2001
Part II: The Metal Opera Part II - 2002
The Wicked Trilogy:
Part I: The Scarecrow - 2008
Part II: The Wicked Symphony - 2010
Part III: Angel of Babylon - 2010
[edit] Live albums
The Flying Opera - 2011
[edit] EPs
Lost in Space Part I - 2007
Lost in Space Part II - 2007
[edit] Singles
Avantasia - 2000
Lost in Space (Promo Single) - 2007
Carry me Over (Promo Single) - 2007
[edit] Compilations
The Metal Opera: Pt 1 & 2 – Gold Edition - 2008
Lost in Space Part I & II - 2008
