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Logos1997-
1992-1996
Biography
EDGUY is a German Power Metal outfit hailing from the small principal of Fulda in Hessen that has elevated itself into the major league in Europe through a succession of strong albums blessed with inventive riffing, some supreme Euro-melodies and, on occasion, frontman Tobias Sammet's unique brand of oddball humour. The group, taking their name after a school tutor named Edgar, had been forged during 1992 by young teens pursuing their love of Heavy Metal. Although at first operating as a covers act by 1994 the fledgling band had enough original material for a brace of demnos 'Evil Minded' and 'Children Of Steel'. However, with no real label interest forthcoming EDGUY self-financed their opening album 'Savage Poetry' in 1995. The AFM label would then pick the band up to craft a quickfire follow up, 'Kingdom Of Madness', and promptly re-issued 'Savage Poetry'.
After the re-release of the debut drummer Dominik Storch departed. Sessions for the 1998 album 'Vain Glory Opera' were fulfilled by BLUES POWER man Frank Lindenhall although a permanent drummer was found in Felix Bohnke, a former member of EXILED and - quite unbelievably - MERCILESS GNOM. For 'Vain Glory Opera' STRATOVARIUS's Timo Tolkki guests on guitar whilst BLIND GUARDIAN's Hansi Kürsch and WARRIOR's Ralf Zdiarstek also put in an appearance.
EDGUY frontman Tobias Sammet would guest on SQUEALER's 1998 album 'The Prophecy' and the same year would see this connection strengthened as SQUEALER bassist Tobias Exxel jump ship to join EDGUY.
'Theater Of Salvation' maintained the momentum in 1999, scoring chart entries in both Germany and Sweden. Novelly EDGUY gave 'Savage Poetry' a third lease of life, re-recording all the original songs. Released as a special edition double CD, one disc of the revised versions and the other hosting the 1995 originals, the new look 'Savage Poetry' broke into the charts across Europe. With EDGUY rapidly going from strength to strength in Europe Tobias Sammet made space to assemble a mammoth cast for his ambitious AVANTASIA project of 2000. The eponymous album, which also featured EDGUY guitarist Jens Ludwig, saw guests from acts as diverse as GAMMA RAY, HELLOWEEN, RHAPSODY, STRATOVARIUS, AT VANCE, WITHIN TEMPTATION and VIRGIN STEELE.
Not to be outdone, bassist Tobias Exxel would also conceive a solo project entitled TARAXACUM. The resulting 'Spirit Of Freedom' album, released by MTM Metal records, would find Exxel's vision drawing in the talents of STEEL PROPHET vocalist Rick Mythiasin, ROUGH SILK keyboard player Fredy Doernberg, his EDGUY colleague Felix Bohnke on drums and erstwhile SQUEALER man Frank Wolf also on drums.
A new album 'Mandrake', was recorded at Rhön Studios in Fulda, engineered by Norman Meiritz then mixed and mastered in the Finnvox Studios by Mikko Karmila and Mikka Jussila. The record, boasting a guest vocal spot from ROB ROCK, was launched in September preceded by a taster CD single 'Painting On The Wall'. The release confirmed the still ascendant status of the band as it garnered valuable national chart placings in Germany, Sweden and France. EDGUY got into the spirit of live action with an anonymous appearance at the Paris Dunois venue on October 7th. The band, cheekily billed as 'MANDRAKE', opened the show for HEAVENLY who were using the event as a release party for their 'Sign Of The Winner' album.
The band shifted from the AFM label to the Nuclear Blast concern in mid 2003, marking this manouevre with a 2004 EP 'King Of Fools'. A new full length album, the Norman Meiritz and Sascha Paeth produced 'Hellfire Club', included collaborations with the Babelsberg film orchestra. Initial editions of the album added two exclusive bonus tracks in a re-worked ''Children Of Steel', originally included on the band's 1994 demo, and another version of 'Mysteria', featuring KREATOR vocalist Mille Petrozza on vocals. This new material would be debuted to a national audience in January when a private concert at the 250 capacity Underground club in Cologne was aired live on the prestigious 'Rockpalast' WDR TV show. Bowing in at no. 89 on the national charts in Brazil 'Hellfire Club' marked the first time a Nuclear Blast recording artist had appeared on the Brazilian chart. It would land at no. 26 in their homeland and a worthy no. 6 in Sweden.
The band united with BRAINSTORM for a lengthy run of German shows commencing in April of 2004 before partnering with NOCTURNAL RITES and TAD MOROSE for Scandinavian dates in May. The single and video to back these shows, 'Lavatory Love Machine', would amply illustrate the band's unique sense of humour. An extra track on the CD single would be a surprising acoustic workout of EUROPE's 'I'll Cry For You'. Rounding off the year, EDGUY issued a double compilation album entitled 'Hall Of Flames', this remastered set including some previously unheard songs. Tobias Sammet also took time out of the EDGUY schedule to lend guest vocals to ROB ROCK's 'Holy Hell' album.
The band, alongside DORO, BONFIRE, SAXON, CRYSTAL BALL and IN EXTREMO would be among acts participating in the 27th January 2005 'Rock for Asia' festival held at the Saturn Arena in Ingolstadt, Germany to benefit the victims of the December Indian Ocean tsunami disaster.
Working with Sascha Paeth as producer, EDGUY entered Gate Studio in Wolfsburg to cut an EP entitled 'Superheroes' during May, this featuring a cover version of MAGNUM's 'The Spirit'. Former HELLOWEEN frontman MICHAEL KISKE guested. EDGUY partnered with HAMMERFALL and Canadians INTO ETERNITY for US Summer tour dates.
The album 'Rocket Ride' emerged in January 2006. Japanese versions on the Avalon Marquee label hosted an additional three tracks. European touring in February 2006 across Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, France, Sweden and Germany found DRAGONFORCE supporting. For shows in the UK, the roles were reversed, with EDGUY as the opening act. Japanese gigs in March had SAVAGE CIRCUS as support. EDGUY filmed a live DVD on November 3rd 2006 at the Credicard Hall in São Paulo, Brazil.
On November 18th the band appeared at the Monterrey Metal Fest event at the at the Coca Cola Auditorium in Mexico alongside BLIND GUARDIAN, CATHEDRAL, U.D.O., BLUDGEON, OBITUARY, DEICIDE, LEAVES' EYES, SADUS, VAINGLORY, HYDROGYN and JOE STUMP'S REIGN OF TERROR. In December Tobias Sammet revealed work had commenced on a third AVANTASIA album.
EDGUY frontman Tobias Sammet underwent appendix surgery in 2007, temporarily putting band activities on hold. The band was back in action on US soil in September, performing tour dates alongside INTO ETERNITY and LIGHT THIS CITY. Meantime, Tobias Exxel covered bass duties for one evening with BLIND GUARDIAN on October 13th 2007 in Pretoria, South Africa.
The most recemt EDGUY album, 'Tinnitus Sanctus', was released in November 2008. |
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