Biography Wikipedia
Wikipedia:
Dark Sanctuary is a French Neoclassical band which was formed in 1996 in Paris.
History
The band's first official release was a 20 minute single track MCD, Funeral Cry, released in 1997. At that time, the band only consisted of two members, Arkdae on keyboards and Marquise Ermia on vocals.
In 1998, the band added additional members to their line-up: Hylgaryss (Keyboards), Sombre Cÿr (Percussion/Bass) and Eliane (Violins). Together, they recorded their debut album, Royaume Mélancolique. They also held their first concert in September 1998 near Paris.
In November 1999, they signed with Wounded Love Records and after Marguerite (Violins) joined them, they recorded their 2nd album, De Lumière Et d'Obscurité, which was released in November 2000.
Right after their recording sessions, Marquise Ermia left the band to carry on her studies, and a new singer, Dame Pandora, joined the band.
Their 3rd album, L'Être Las - L'envers Du Miroir was recorded in March 2002 and released at the beginning of 2003, few months after the release of a two-track single. This album was a huge success in France and Germany.
After few concerts in France, the band returned to Germany to record their 4th album, Les Mémoires Blessées. This album, which was released in early 2004, confirmed Dark Sanctuary's own style while providing a deeper maturity, as well as new musical horizons.
In 2005, their first compilation album Thoughts: 9 Years In The Sanctuary was released.
Subsequently, they released two albums called Exaudi Vocem Meam - Part 1 and Exaudi Vocem Meam - Part 2, in 2005 and 2006, respectively.
As of 2009, they will be on an indefinite hiatus. They have finished recording, and shall be releasing, a collaborative effort with Victoria Francés entitled Dark Sanctuary.
Victims of illegal copying
German rapper Bushido has been charged with copying 16 songs from Dark Sanctuary. The song "Les Mémoires Blessées" was sampled by Bushido on his single "Janine" (2007) off his 6th and top-selling album Von der Skyline zum Bordstein zurück (2006). On that album Bushido sampled eight musical works of Dark Sanctuary without permission, including the songs "Les Larmes Du Mepris" (used on "Hast du was bist du was") and "L'autre Monde" (used on "Sex in the City").
On 23 March, 2010 he was convicted by German courts to a condemnation and was obliged to stop the sales of the concerned albums, singles and samplers, including Von der Skyline zum Bordstein zurück. In addition to that, he was bound to recall and destroy all unsold copies.
A video leaked by Marzel Becker and Stephan Heller, two German music criticizer, on the internet. In the video they compared Dark Sanctuary's songs to Bushido's songs.
Due their split up on July 2009, the members of the band could no longer sued the rapper after his judgment.
Line-up
Current Members:
Dame Pandora - vocalsArkdae - keyboards/guitarsHylgaryss - keyboards/guitarsSombre Cÿr - bass/percussion (is one of the owners of Kaosthetik Konspiration)Alexis - PercussionFormer Members:
Eliane - violinsMarguerite - violinsMarquise Ermia - vocals