Freedom Call - Biography
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1999-
Biography
Freedom Call was formed in 1998 by old friends Chris Bay and Daniel Zimmermann during an off-period for the latter's main band, Gamma Ray. They eventually completed a six-song demo Freedom Call with the well-known producer Charlie Bauerfeind, who offered the tape to several record companies.
At the same time, the Freedom Call line up was completed by Ilker Ersin on the bass guitar and Sascha Gerstner on guitar. Chris and Dan saw Sascha in the beginning of 1998, playing in a cover band. Ilker and Chris had played together in a band called Moon Doc for some years.
The debut album, Stairway To Fairyland was released in early 1999, and on 25 May Freedom Call made their official live debut during a France tour as support band of Angra and Edguy. At the end of August Freedom Call started recording the 5-track mini LP called Taragon, with new songs, a cover version of Ultravox' "Dancing With Tears In My Eyes", a new-sung version of the Stairway To Fairyland a Japanese bonus track called "Kingdom Come" and a new version of "Tears Of Taragon" with Biff Byford, singer of Saxon narrating the "Tale Of Taragon" on it. By the end of 1999, Freedom Call had entered the studio again to record the second album called Crystal Empire, which was released in late 2000.
In March 2001 Sascha Gerstner left Freedom Call. He was eventually replaced by Cédric "Cede" Dupont, the Swiss guitarist of Symphorce.
In the middle of January 2002 the new formation of the band began recording their new album called Eternity. Dan and Chris produced the album on their own this time as Charlie Bauerfeind was not available at the time. He was, however, responsible for the drum recordings and the final mix. Later that year, they were invited on tour with Blind Guardian. During this tour they recorded the live album, Live Invasion together with Charlie Bauerfeind in Düsseldorf, Stuttgart and Munich. The keyboard player used on this tour, Nils Neumann, was soon invited to become the fifth member of the band. After an extended break, the next album The Circle Of Life was recorded at Hansen Studio, Hamburg and FC Studios, Nuremberg from August to October 2004, and released in March 2005.
Shortly after the release, both Cédric "Cede" Dupont and Ilker Ersin decided to leave Freedom Call. Replacements were eventually announced in the respective form of the unknown Lars Rettkowitz and Armin Donderer, formerly of Paradox.
A new album with the title Dimensions was released on 23 April 2007 and, according to Dan Zimmermann, sounds closer to the Eternity album than its more experimental successor. The songs "The Wanderer" and "Dimensions" were also used in the online rhythm game Flash Flash Revolution.
In March 2009, the band announced that they were putting the finishing touches to a new album, Legend Of The Shadowking and that they had parted ways with bassist Armin Donderer, who would be replaced by Samy Saemann. Also Dan Zimmerman announced that he would be replaced by Klaus Sperling for the 2010 touring cycle as he would be on the road with Gamma Ray during this period. It has later been confirmed on the bands homepage that Zimmermann officially has left the band. He is currently listed as a former member.
Chris Bay has announced that the band is working on another album to be released sometime in February 2012. It was announced in September 2011, that the title of the upcoming album is Land Of The Crimson Dawn. The album was released 24 February 2012.
The band announced on September 15, 2013 that they are working on a new album, Beyond with a new lineup. Ilker Ersin returned to the band to resume bass duties after some years away and a new drummer has been welcomed, Ramy Ali. A new music video will be filmed on 15 December 2013 for the song "Union Of The Strong".
At the same time, the Freedom Call line up was completed by Ilker Ersin on the bass guitar and Sascha Gerstner on guitar. Chris and Dan saw Sascha in the beginning of 1998, playing in a cover band. Ilker and Chris had played together in a band called Moon Doc for some years.
The debut album, Stairway To Fairyland was released in early 1999, and on 25 May Freedom Call made their official live debut during a France tour as support band of Angra and Edguy. At the end of August Freedom Call started recording the 5-track mini LP called Taragon, with new songs, a cover version of Ultravox' "Dancing With Tears In My Eyes", a new-sung version of the Stairway To Fairyland a Japanese bonus track called "Kingdom Come" and a new version of "Tears Of Taragon" with Biff Byford, singer of Saxon narrating the "Tale Of Taragon" on it. By the end of 1999, Freedom Call had entered the studio again to record the second album called Crystal Empire, which was released in late 2000.
In March 2001 Sascha Gerstner left Freedom Call. He was eventually replaced by Cédric "Cede" Dupont, the Swiss guitarist of Symphorce.
In the middle of January 2002 the new formation of the band began recording their new album called Eternity. Dan and Chris produced the album on their own this time as Charlie Bauerfeind was not available at the time. He was, however, responsible for the drum recordings and the final mix. Later that year, they were invited on tour with Blind Guardian. During this tour they recorded the live album, Live Invasion together with Charlie Bauerfeind in Düsseldorf, Stuttgart and Munich. The keyboard player used on this tour, Nils Neumann, was soon invited to become the fifth member of the band. After an extended break, the next album The Circle Of Life was recorded at Hansen Studio, Hamburg and FC Studios, Nuremberg from August to October 2004, and released in March 2005.
Shortly after the release, both Cédric "Cede" Dupont and Ilker Ersin decided to leave Freedom Call. Replacements were eventually announced in the respective form of the unknown Lars Rettkowitz and Armin Donderer, formerly of Paradox.
A new album with the title Dimensions was released on 23 April 2007 and, according to Dan Zimmermann, sounds closer to the Eternity album than its more experimental successor. The songs "The Wanderer" and "Dimensions" were also used in the online rhythm game Flash Flash Revolution.
In March 2009, the band announced that they were putting the finishing touches to a new album, Legend Of The Shadowking and that they had parted ways with bassist Armin Donderer, who would be replaced by Samy Saemann. Also Dan Zimmerman announced that he would be replaced by Klaus Sperling for the 2010 touring cycle as he would be on the road with Gamma Ray during this period. It has later been confirmed on the bands homepage that Zimmermann officially has left the band. He is currently listed as a former member.
Chris Bay has announced that the band is working on another album to be released sometime in February 2012. It was announced in September 2011, that the title of the upcoming album is Land Of The Crimson Dawn. The album was released 24 February 2012.
The band announced on September 15, 2013 that they are working on a new album, Beyond with a new lineup. Ilker Ersin returned to the band to resume bass duties after some years away and a new drummer has been welcomed, Ramy Ali. A new music video will be filmed on 15 December 2013 for the song "Union Of The Strong".