Edguy

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Edguy
Edguy performing at the Gods of Metal Festival in 2006.
Edguy performing at the Gods of Metal Festival in 2006.
Background information
Origin Fulda, Germany
Genre(s) Power metal
Years active 1992–present
Label(s) AFM Records
The End Records
Nuclear Blast
Associated acts Avantasia
Website edguy.net
Members
Tobias Sammet
Felix Bohnke
Tobias Exxel
Jens Ludwig
Dirk Sauer
Former members
Dominik Storch

Edguy is a power metal band from Fulda, Germany that was formed in 1992.

Contents

[edit] 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. Until 1998, when Tobias Exxel joined the band, they had no bassist; Sammet played the bass lines on a keyboard.

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, the latest being 2006's Rocket Ride.

[edit] 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", "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 latest album, Rocket Ride, features even less symphonic and power metal elements, and is arguably more oriented towards hard rock.

[edit] Line-up

[edit] Current members

[edit] Former members

  • Dominik Storch – drums (1992-97)[2]

[edit] Guest performers

[edit] Discography

[edit] Demos

[edit] Studio albums

[edit] Live albums

[edit] Singles

[edit] EPs

[edit] Compilation albums

[edit] Videos

  • "All the Clowns" (2001)
  • "King of Fools" (2004)
  • "Lavatory Love Machine" (2004)
  • "Superheroes" (2005)

[edit] DVDs

  • "Superheroes DVD" (2005)[3]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Biography at Metal Storm
  2. ^ a b c Metal Storm
  3. ^ Discography at AllMusic

[edit] External links

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Edguy
Tobias Sammet · Jens Ludwig · Dirk Sauer · Tobias Exxel · Felix Bohnke
Studio albums
Live albums
Extended plays
Compilations
DVDs
Superheroes
Singles
Demos
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