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Hansi Kürsch


Member

1984-1996 Blind Guardian - vocals, bass  
1996- Blind Guardian - vocals  
1999-2021 Demons & Wizards - vocals  

Guest musician

1995 Gamma Ray - vocals, backing vocals  
1997 Nepal - vocals  
1997 Iron Savior - vocals  
1998 Edguy - vocals  
1999 Grave Digger - backing vocals  
2000 Therion - vocals  
2002 Rage - backing vocals  
2003 Azeroth - vocals  
2004 Angra - vocals  
2007 Aneurysm - vocals  
2007 Nuclear Blast Allstars - vocals  
2008 Van Canto - vocals  
2008 Dreamtone & Iris Mavraki's Neverland - vocals  
2008 Ayreon - vocals  
2009 The Arrow - vocals  
2010 Rage - backing vocals  
2011 Solar Fragment - vocals  
2011 Grave Digger - vocals  
2013 Maegi - vocals  
2013 Heaven Shall Burn - vocals  
2014 Disforia - vocals  
2014 Iced Earth - vocals  
2014 The Unguided - vocals  
2015 Vexillum - vocals  
2016 In Extremo - vocals  
2016 Doro - vocals  
2016 Hansen & Friends - vocals  
2017 Ayreon - vocals  
2017 Tarja - vocals  
2018 Judicator - vocals  
2018 Zix - vocals  
2018 Orphaned Land - vocals  
2018-2019 Avantasia - vocals  
2019 Hämatom - additional vocals  
2021 Númenor - vocals  
2022 Corvus Corax - vocals  
2022 Powerwolf - vocals  
2022 Stranger Vision - vocals  

Personal information

Born on: 10.08.1966

Hans Jürgen Kürsch, better known as Hansi Kürsch (born August 10, 1966 in Lank-Latum, Germany) is the lead vocalist of power metal band Blind Guardian. Together with André Olbrich, he is also the principal songwriter for the band. He was also the bassist in Blind Guardian until the 1998 album Nightfall in Middle-Earth. His more common name, Hansi, is actually a diminutive of Hans Jürgen.

A signature of Kürsch's songwriting is his practice of doubletracking his own voice innumerable times in complex, overlapping harmonies on his recordings, effectively creating the atmosphere of a huge choir. This is very similar to the production techniques employed by Freddie Mercury of Queen, of whom Hansi is a huge fan. His vocal range is formidable - for example, the track "Chant" on the first Demons & Wizards album comprises vocals only, in the style of a traditional Gregorian Chant. Hansi's is the only voice on the song.

Over the years, Hansi has developed his harmonizing and layering techniques more and more, to the point that some fans of Blind Guardian found the vocals to be overwhelming at times (particularly on the 2002 release A Night At The Opera, although that album featured several guest vocalists). However, Blind Guardian's newest release, A Twist In The Myth, has toned the complexity down a bit for the sake of making the songs more suitable for playing live (as stated by the band in the audio interview bonus track on the album).

He is married and has a son named Jonas.

He has stated in an interview that he is a faithful but very critical Christian.

Hansi has also recorded two albums for his side project with Jon Schaffer of Iced Earth, Demons & Wizards.