Biography Wikipedia
Wikipedia:
For other uses, see Avantasia (disambiguation).Avantasia is a heavy metal/power metal supergroup 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.
History
"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.
"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.
"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.
TourdatesJune 5, 2008 Rocksound Festival SWITZERLAND June 7, 2008 Sweden Rock Festival SWEDEN June 10, 2008 Moscow - DK Gorbunova RUSSIA June 13, 2008 Tokyo - Shinagawa Prince Stellar JAPAN June 15, 2008 Mexico City - Circo Volador MEXICO June 18, 2008 Buenos Aires - Obras ARGENTINA June 20, 2008 Santiago - Caupolican CHILE June 22, 2008 Sao Paulo - Credicard Hall BRAZIL July 10, 2008 Masters of Rock CZECH REPUBLIC July 24, 2008 Tirgu Mures - Felsziget Festival ROMANIA July 26, 2008 Rockin Field Festival ITALY August 1, 2008 Wacken Open Air GERMANY August 13, 2008 Sziget Festival HUNGARY
Tour membersTobias Sammet - vocalsAndre Matos - vocalsJørn Lande - vocalsKai Hansen - vocals (only shows in Europe)Bob Catley - vocals (only shows in Europe and Asia)Oliver Hartmann - vocals & guitarsAmanda Somerville - vocals & backing vocalsCloudy Yang - backing vocalsSascha Paeth - guitarsRobert Hunecke-Rizzo - bassMiro - keyboardsFelix Bohnke - drumsSetlistTwisted MindThe Scarecrow (Jorn Lande)Another Angel Down (Jorn Lande)Prelude/Reach out for the Light (Andre Matos)Inside (Andre Matos)No Return (Andre Matos)The Story Ain't Over (Bob Catley)Shelter from the Rain (Andre Matos, Bob Catley)Lost in Space (Amanda Sommerville)I Don't Believe in Your Love (Olli Hartmann)AvantasiaSerpents in Paradise (Jorn Lande)Promised Land (Jorn Lande)The Toy Master (Kai Hansen)Farewell (Amanda Sommerville)Sign of the Cross/The Seven Angels (Andre, Jorn, Catley, Amanda, Olli)"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. The story is set as a continuation of The Scarecrow album and these three albums together are often referred to as The Wicked Trilogy. 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.
"The Metal Opera Comes to Town Tour" (2010–11)
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. 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. The videos show various interesting backstage moments such as rehearsals, cancelled flights, or the ensemble travelling by a regular train.
TourdatesNovember 30, 2010 - Z7, Pratteln, SwitzerlandDecember 1, 2010 - Z7, Pratteln, SwitzerlandDecember 3, 2010 - Stadthalle, Lichtenfels, GermanyDecember 4, 2010 - All Karthalle, Kaufbeuren, GermanyDecember 5, 2010 - Arenan, Stockholm, SwedenDecember 8, 2010 - Shinagawa Stellar Ball, Tokyo, JapanDecember 10, 2010 - Circo Volador, Mexico City, MexicoDecember 13, 2010 - CTN, São Paulo, BrazilDecember 15, 2010 - El Teatro, Buenos Aires, ArgentinaDecember 18, 2010 - Esperantohalle, Fulda, GermanyDecember 19, 2010 - Grugahalle, Essen, GermanyAugust 6, 2011 - Wacken Open Air, Wacken, GermanyTour membersTobias Sammet - vocalsMichael Kiske - vocalsJørn Lande - vocalsBob Catley - vocalsKai Hansen - vocals, guitarsOliver Hartmann - vocals, backing vocals, guitarsAmanda Somerville - vocals, backing vocalsSascha Paeth - guitars, backing vocalsMiro - keyboards, backing vocalsRobert Hunecke-Rizzo - bass, backing vocalsFelix Bohnke - drumsSetlistTwisted Mind (vocals: Tobias SammetThe Scarecrow (vocals: Tobias Sammet, Jørn Lande)Promised Land (vocals: Tobias Sammet, Jørn Lande)Serpents in Paradise (vocals: Tobias Sammet, Jørn Lande)The Story Ain't Over (vocals: Tobias Sammet, Bob Catley)PreludeReach Out for the Light (vocals: Tobias Sammet, Michael Kiske)The Tower (vocals: Tobias Sammet, Michael Kiske)Death Is Just a Feeling (vocals: Tobias Sammet, Kai Hansen)Lost in Space (vocals: Tobias Sammet, Amanda Somerville)In Quest For (vocals: Tobias Sammet, Bob Catley)Runaway Train (vocals: Tobias Sammet, Bob Catley, Jørn Lande)Dying for an Angel (vocals: Tobias Sammet, Michael Kiske)Stargazers (vocals: Oliver Hartmann, Jørn Lande, Michael Kiske)Farewell (vocals: Tobias Sammet, Amanda Somerville)The Wicked Symphony (vocals: Tobias Sammet, Jørn Lande, Oliver Hartmann)Encore:
The Toy Master (vocals: Tobias Sammet, Kai Hansen)Shelter From the Rain (vocals: Tobias Sammet, Michael Kiske, 3rd guitar Kai Hansen)Avantasia (vocals: Tobias Sammet, Michael Kiske, 3rd guitar Kai Hansen)Medley: Sign of the Cross/The Seven Angels (vocals: complete ensemble, 3rd guitar Kai Hansen)
