On Tour

20.07.2024 Luppolo in Rock Cremona CR [IT] Tickets
07.12.2024 Pott Out Festival Bochum [DE] Tickets
13.12.2024 Rock Out Festival Augsburg [DE] Tickets
14.12.2024 Knock Out Festival Karlsruhe [DE] Tickets

Past Dates

27.08.2020 ISS Dome Düsseldorf [DE]
02. - 03.08.2019 Skogsröjet Festival 2019 Rejmyre [SE]
28.07.2019 Heavy MONTRÉAL Montreal [CA]
11. - 14.07.2019 Masters Of Rock 2019 Vizovice [CZ]
04. - 07.07.2019 Rock Fest Barcelona 2019 Barcelona [ES]
14. - 16.06.2019 Z! Live Rock Fest 2019 Zamora [ES]
07. - 09.06.2019 Rock Hard Festival 2019 Gelsenkirchen [DE]
19.11.2016 Winter Masters Of Rock Zlin [CZ]
09.07.2016 Weekend Beach Festival Torre del Mar [Spain]
07.07.2016 Rockharz Festival Ballenstedt [Germany]
25.06.2016 RockPart Festival 2016 Balatonszemes [Hungary]
10.06.2016 Sweden Rock Festival Sölvesborg [Sweden]
03.06.2016 Estragon Bologna [Italy]
02.06.2016 Gods Of Metal Festival Monza Monza [Italy]
28.03. - 03.04.2016 Full Metal Mountain Tröpolach [Austria]
04. - 08.02.2016 70.000 Tons Of Metal Ft Lauderdale [USA]
19.12.2015 Barona Areena Vantaa [Finland]
15.12.2015 Volta Club Moscow [Russia]
12.12.2015 Klubben Stockholm [Sweden]
11.12.2015 Musikens Hus Gothenburg [Sweden]
09.12.2015 013 Tilburg Tilburg [Netherlands]
08.12.2015 O2 Islington Academy London [United Kingdom]
06.12.2015 Biebob Vosselaar [Belgium]
05.12.2015 Le Trabendo Paris [France]
04.12.2015 Colos-Saal Aschaffenburg [Germany]
27.11.2015 Kaminwerk Memmingen [Germany]
25.11.2015 Z7 Pratteln [Switzerland]
24.11.2015 Ninkasi Kao Lyon [France]
22.11.2015 Razzmatazz Barcelona [Spain]
21.11.2015 San Miguel Madrid [Spain]
20.11.2015 Gamma Murcia [Spain]
18.11.2015 Custom Sevilla [Spain]
17.11.2015 Paradis Garaje Lisbon [Portugal]
15.11.2015 Hard Club Porto [Portugal]
14.11.2015 Capitol Santiago de Compostela Santiago de Compostela [Spain]
13.11.2015 Sala Totem Villava [Spain]
11.11.2015 Mediolanum Forum Milan [Italy]
10.11.2015 Explosiv Graz [Austria]
08.11.2015 Club 202 Budapest [Hungary]
07.11.2015 Sports Hall Lucenec Lucenec [Slovakia]
06.11.2015 KC Semilaso Brno [Czech Republic]
04.11.2015 Meet Factory Prague Prague [Czech Republic]
03.11.2015 Backstage Munich [Germany]
01.11.2015 Zeche Bochum Bochum [Germany]
31.10.2015 C Club Berlin [Germany]
30.10.2015 Markthalle Hamburg [Germany]
28.10.2015 Pumpwerk Wilhelmshaven [Germany]
10.10.2015 Loud Park Festival Saitama Saitama City [Japan]
07.10.2015 Café Iguana Monterrey [Mexico]
06.10.2015 Circo Volador Mexico City [Mexico]
04.10.2015 Carioca Club São Paulo [Brazil]
03.10.2015 Music Hall Belo Horizonte [Brazil]
02.10.2015 Minas Brasilia Brasilia [Brazil]
29.09.2015 Blondie Santiago [Chile]
08.08.2015 Rock Pod Kamenom Snina [Slovakia]
06.08.2015 Leyendes del Rock Villena [Spain]
18.07.2015 Metal For Emergency Festival Cenate Sotto [Italy]
16.07.2015 Dong Open Air Neukirchen-Vluyn [Germany]
12.07.2015 Masters of Rock Vizovice [Czech Republic]
15.11.2014 Metal Hammer Paradise Weissenhäuser Strand [Germany]
25.10.2014 Pumpwerk Wilhelmshaven [Germany]
15.08.2014 Summer Breeze Festival Dinkelsbühl [Germany]
02.08.2014 Skogsröjet Festival Rejmyre [Sweden]
05.07.2014 Rock Fest Barcelona Barcelona [Spain]
28.06.2014 Graspop Metal Meeting Dessel [Belgium]
21.06.2014 Dokk'em Festival Dokkum [Netherlands]
14.06.2014 Umeda Club Quattro Osaka [Japan]
12.06.2014 Bottom Line Nagoya [Japan]
11.06.2014 Tsutaya O-East Tokyo [Japan]
10.06.2014 Tsutaya O-East Tokyo [Japan]
25.04.2014 Volta Club Moscow [Russia]
24.04.2014 Zal Ozhidania Club St. Petersburg [Russia]
23.04.2014 Tavastia Helsinki [Finland]
21.04.2014 Klubben Stockholm [Sweden]
20.04.2014 Sticky Fingers Gothenburg [Sweden]
19.04.2014 KB Malmö [Sweden]
17.04.2014 Dock´s Hamburg [Germany]
16.04.2014 Löwensaal Nürnberg [Germany]
15.04.2014 Zeche Bochum Bochum [Germany]
13.04.2014 Essigfabrik Cologne [Germany]
12.04.2014 Kaminwerk Memmingen [Germany]
11.04.2014 Colos-Saal Aschaffenburg [Germany]
09.04.2014 Le Trabendo Paris [France]
08.04.2014 Z7 Pratteln [Switzerland]
07.04.2014 Transbordeur Lyon [France]
05.04.2014 Sala Totem Villava [Spain]
04.04.2014 Sala Shoko Madrid [Spain]
03.04.2014 Sala Apollo Barcelona [Spain]
01.04.2014 Live Club Milano Milan [Italy]
31.03.2014 Orion Rome [Italy]
29.03.2014 Stage Volume 1 Athens [Greece]
28.03.2014 Block 33 Club Thessaloniki [Greece]
27.03.2014 Hristo Botev Hall Sofia [Bulgaria]
25.03.2014 Club 202 Budapest [Hungary]
24.03.2014 Collosseum Club Košice [Slovakia]
22.03.2014 MMC Bratislava [Slovakia]
21.03.2014 Masters of Rock Cafe Zlin [Czech Republic]
20.03.2014 Retro Music Hall Prague [Czech Republic]
08.12.2013 Plaza de la Musica Cordoba [Argentina]
07.12.2013 Groove Buenos Aires [Argentina]
05.12.2013 Polo Prado Montevideo [Uruguay]
03.12.2013 Teatro La Cupula Santiago [Chile]
01.12.2013 Espaço das Américas São Paulo [Brazil]
30.11.2013 Fundicão Progresso Rio de Janeiro [Brazil]
28.11.2013 Downtown Majestic Bogota [Colombia]
26.11.2013 Peppers Club San Jose [Costa Rica]
24.11.2013 Circo Volador Mexico City [Mexico]
23.11.2013 Circo Volador Mexico City [Mexico]
21.11.2013 Escena Monterrey [Mexico]
19.11.2013 Parque de la Industria Guatemala City [Guatemala]
12.06.2013 V-Hall Seoul [Korea (South)]
10.06.2013 ZEPP Nagoya Nagoya [Japan]
09.06.2013 IMP Hall Osaka [Japan]
07.06.2013 Shibuya AX Tokyo [Japan]
06.06.2013 Blitz Yokohama [Japan]
05.06.2013 ZEPP Tokyo Tokyo [Japan]
02.06.2013 Kosmonavt St. Petersburg [Russia]
01.06.2013 Arena Moscow Moscow [Russia]
30.05.2013 Concert Hall Minsk Minsk [Belarus]
28.05.2013 CKM Nau Kiev [Ukraine]
21.04.2013 Oberpfalzhalle Schwandorf [Germany]
20.04.2013 Volksbankmesse Balingen [Germany]
19.04.2013 Music Hall Geiselwind Geiselwind [Germany]
18.04.2013 Dock´s Hamburg [Germany]
16.04.2013 HMV Forum London [United Kingdom]
14.04.2013 PPM Festival Mons [Belgium]
13.04.2013 Ruhrcongress Bochum [Germany]
12.04.2013 All-Karthalle Allgäu Event Center Kaufbeuren [Germany]
10.04.2013 Neue Stadthalle Langen Langen [Germany]
09.04.2013 Garage Saarbrücken [Germany]
08.04.2013 Olympia Paris Paris [France]
06.04.2013 Liseberghallen Gothenburg [Sweden]
05.04.2013 Nöjesfabriken Karlstad [Sweden]
04.04.2013 Arenan Stockholm [Sweden]
02.04.2013 Rockefeller Oslo [Norway]
31.03.2013 Club Teatria Oulu [Finland]
30.03.2013 Pakkahuone Tampere [Finland]
29.03.2013 The Circus Helsinki [Finland]
27.03.2013 Stodola Wasaw [Poland]
26.03.2013 Studio Krakow Krakow [Poland]
24.03.2013 Arena Brezno Brezno [Slovakia]
23.03.2013 Winter Stadium of Ludek Cajka Zlin [Czech Republic]
22.03.2013 Tesla Arena Prague [Czech Republic]
21.03.2013 NTC Aegon Arena Bratislava [Slovakia]
19.03.2013 Pecsa Music Hall Budapest [Hungary]
18.03.2013 Media Park Club Ljublijana [Slovenia]
16.03.2013 Arenele Romane Bucharest [Romania]
15.03.2013 Arena Armeec Sofia [Bulgaria]
12.03.2013 Refresh the Venue Istanbul [Turkey]
10.03.2013 Principal Thessaloniki [Greece]
09.03.2013 Fuzz Club Athens [Greece]
06.03.2013 Estragon Bologna [Italy]
05.03.2013 Alcatraz Milan [Italy]
04.03.2013 Z7 Pratteln [Switzerland]
02.03.2013 Santana 27 Bilbao [Spain]
01.03.2013 La Riviera Madrid [Spain]
28.02.2013 Razzmatazz Barcelona [Spain]
03.02.2011 Reggie Rock Club Chicago [USA]
01.02.2011 Key Club Los Angeles, CA [USA]
30.01.2011 Imperial de Quebec Quebec City [Canada]
29.01.2011 Cafe Campus Montreal [Canada]
28.01.2011 Gramercy Theatre New York [USA]
24. - 27.01.2011 70.000 Tons Of Metal Miami [USA]
10.09.2010 Fezen Székesfehérvár [Hungary]
09.05.2010 Santana Hall São Paulo [Brazil]
07.05.2010 The End Buenos Aires [Argentina]
05.05.2010 Teatro Novedades Santiago [Chile]
03.05.2010 Discoteca Voce Lima [Peru]
01.05.2010 El Aguijon Quito [Ecuador]
30.04.2010 Teatro Metropol Bogota [Colombia]
28.04.2010 Teatro Municipal de Valencia Valencia [Venezuela]
25.04.2010 Circo Volador Mexico City [Mexico]
24.04.2010 Centro Cultural Miguel Angel Asturias Guatemala City [Guatemala]
22.04.2010 Armed Forces Cultural Center Taipei [Taiwan]
21.04.2010 Mao Live House Beijing Beijing [China]
20.04.2010 V-Hall Seoul [Korea (South)]
17.04.2010 Bottom Line Nagoya [Japan]
16.04.2010 Shibuya O-East Tokyo [Japan]
15.04.2010 Shibuya O-East Tokyo [Japan]
13.04.2010 Big Cat Osaka [Japan]
10.04.2010 DK Lensoveta St. Petersburg [Russia]
08.04.2010 B1 Maximum Club Moscow [Russia]
30.03.2010 Club Teatria Oulu [Finland]
29.03.2010 Nosturi Helsinki [Finland]
27.03.2010 Klubben Stockholm [Sweden]
26.03.2010 Brew House Stena Arena Gothenburg [Sweden]
25.03.2010 KB Malmö [Sweden]
23.03.2010 Garage Saarbrücken [Germany]
22.03.2010 Stadthalle Langen Langen [Germany]
20.03.2010 KD Vitavska Prague [Czech Republic]
19.03.2010 Stadthalle Lichtenfels Lichtenfels [Germany]
18.03.2010 Stadthalle Langen Langen [Germany]
16.03.2010 Garage Saarbrücken [Germany]
14.03.2010 Z7 Pratteln [Switzerland]
13.03.2010 Kaminwerk Memmingen [Germany]
12.03.2010 H20 die Halle Reichenbach [Germany]
28.02.2010 PKO Bratislava Bratislava [Slovakia]
27.02.2010 MSK Centrum Ziar nad Hronom [Slovakia]
26.02.2010 Sport Hall Presov Presov [Slovakia]
24.02.2010 Boogaloo Zagreb [Croatia]
23.02.2010 skc - Studentski Kulturni Centar Belgrad [Serbia]
21.02.2010 Blue Box Club Sofia [Bulgaria]
20.02.2010 Block 33 Club Thessaloniki [Greece]
19.02.2010 Fuzz Club Athens [Greece]
16.02.2010 Magazzini Generali Milan [Italy]
14.02.2010 Sala Apollo Barcelona [Spain]
13.02.2010 La Riviera Madrid [Spain]
12.02.2010 Sala Totem Villava [Spain]
10.02.2010 Le Trabendo Paris [France]
09.02.2010 Zeche Bochum Bochum [Germany]
07.02.2010 Biebob Vosselaar [Belgium]
06.02.2010 Dock´s Hamburg [Germany]
11.10.2008 Teatro Estudio Cavaret Guadalajara [Mexico]
10.10.2008 Country San Manuel Puebla [Mexico]
08.10.2008 Camel Rock Casino Santa Fe [USA]
06.10.2008 House of Blues Hollywood Hollywood [USA]
05.10.2008 The Fillmore San Francisco San Francisco [USA]
03.10.2008 El Corazon Seattle [USA]
01.10.2008 MacEwan Ballroom Calgary [Canada]
28.09.2008 Station 4 St. Paul [USA]
27.09.2008 The Pearl Room Mokena [USA]
25.09.2008 Center Stage Atlanta [USA]
23.09.2008 Rams Head Live Baltimore [USA]
21.09.2008 BB King Blues Club New York, NY [USA]
20.09.2008 The Palladium Worcester [USA]
19.09.2008 Medley Montreal [Canada]
18.09.2008 Salle Albert Rousseau Quebec City [Canada]
08.09.2008 Prem´era Krasnodar [Russia]
07.09.2008 B1 Maximum Club Moscow [Russia]
06.09.2008 DK Lensoveta St. Petersburg [Russia]
21.06.2008 Hellfest Clisson [France]
20.06.2008 Kobetasonik Festival Bilbao [Spain]
11.05.2008 Circo Volador Mexico City [Mexico]
10.05.2008 Circo Volador Mexico City [Mexico]
08.05.2008 Arena Santa Lucia C.R.O.C. Monterrey [Mexico]
05.05.2008 Gimnasio Rodrigo Quevedo Chihuahua [Mexico]
04.05.2008 Teatro Estudio Cavaret Guadalajara [Mexico]
02.05.2008 Feria Internacional San Salvador [El Salvador]
30.04.2008 Anfiteatro del Parque de la Exposicion Lima [Peru]
27.04.2008 Chevrolet Hall Recife Recife [Brazil]
26.04.2008 Arena Fortaleza Fortaleza [Brazil]
24.04.2008 Arena Amadeu Teixeira Manaus [Brazil]
22.04.2008 Pepsi On Stage Porto Alegre [Brazil]
20.04.2008 Credicard Hall São Paulo [Brazil]
18.04.2008 Chevrolet Hall Belo Horizonte Belo Horizonte [Brazil]
17.04.2008 Citibank Hall Rio Rio de Janeiro [Brazil]
15.04.2008 Hellooch Curitiba [Brazil]
13.04.2008 Teatro Caupolican Santiago [Chile]
11.04.2008 Estadio Obras Buenos Aires [Argentina]
17.02.2008 Kintex Seoul [Korea (South)]
15.02.2008 Kosei Nenkin Hall Tokyo [Japan]
14.02.2008 Kosei Nenkin Hall Tokyo [Japan]
12.02.2008 Diamond Hall Nagoya [Japan]
11.02.2008 Namba Hatch Osaka [Japan]
09.02.2008 Club Quattro Hiroshima Hiroshima [Japan]
08.02.2008 Drum Logos Fukuoka [Japan]
20.01.2008 La Riviera Madrid [Spain]
18.01.2008 Rockstar Live Bilbao [Spain]
15.01.2008 Razzmatazz Barcelona [Spain]
13.01.2008 Turbinenhalle Oberhausen [Germany]
12.01.2008 Knockout Festival Karlsruhe [Germany]
11.01.2008 Alte Festhalle Tuttlingen [Germany]
10.01.2008 Hof Ter Lo Antwerpen [Belgium]
08.01.2008 The Forum London [United Kingdom]
07.01.2008 013 Tilburg Tilburg [Netherlands]
06.01.2008 Elysee Montmartre Paris [France]
22.12.2007 All-Karthalle Allgäu Event Center Kaufbeuren [Germany]
21.12.2007 Stadthalle Langen Langen [Germany]
19.12.2007 PKO Bratislava Bratislava [Slovakia]
18.12.2007 Cassosport Sport Hall Kosice [Slovakia]
16.12.2007 CEZ Arena Pardubice [Czech Republic]
15.12.2007 Novesta Zlin [Czech Republic]
14.12.2007 Hala Lokomotiva Plzen [Czech Republic]
11.12.2007 Kaapelitehdas Helsinki [Finland]
10.12.2007 Pakkahuone Tampere [Finland]
08.12.2007 Arenan Stockholm [Sweden]
07.12.2007 Mejeriet Lund [Sweden]
06.12.2007 Rockefeller Oslo [Norway]
04.12.2007 Liseberghallen Gothenburg [Sweden]
02.12.2007 Aladin Bremen [Germany]
01.12.2007 Stadthalle Lichtenfels Lichtenfels [Germany]
29.11.2007 Stadthalle Dietikon Dietikon [Switzerland]
27.11.2007 Tendastrisce Rome [Italy]
24.11.2007 Cultural Center Hellinikos Kosmos Athens [Greece]
23.11.2007 Principal Thessaloniki [Greece]
21.11.2007 Yeni Melek Istanbul [Turkey]
19.11.2007 Agronomia Sport Hall Bucharest [Romania]
18.11.2007 Winter Palace of Sports Sofia [Bulgaria]
17.11.2007 Halla Sportova Belgrad [Serbia]
16.11.2007 Petöfi Hall Budapest [Hungary]
03.12.2005 Club Junk Box Nagano [Japan]
02.12.2005 Shibuya O-East Tokyo [Japan]
01.12.2005 Shibuya O-East Tokyo [Japan]
29.11.2005 Bottom Line Nagoya [Japan]
28.11.2005 Club Quattro Osaka Osaka [Japan]
24.11.2005 Hard Rock Live Mexico Mexico City [Mexico]
23.11.2005 Hard Rock Live Guadalajara Guadalajara [Mexico]
20.11.2005 Teatro Caupolican Santiago [Chile]
19.11.2005 Olympia São Paulo [Brazil]
18.11.2005 Lapa Belo Horizonte [Brazil]
16.11.2005 Master Hall Curitiba [Brazil]
15.11.2005 Opinão Porto Alegre [Brazil]
07.12.2003 Vat Kru Monterrey [Mexico]
06.12.2003 Circo Volador Mexico City [Mexico]
04.12.2003 Planet Mall San Jose [Costa Rica]
01.12.2003 Canecão Rio de Janeiro [Brazil]
29.11.2003 Via Funchal São Paulo [Brazil]
27.11.2003 Round Ponta Grossa [Brazil]
26.11.2003 Moinho São Roque Curitiba [Brazil]
25.11.2003 Opinão Porto Alegre [Brazil]
22.11.2003 Estadio Chile Santiago [Chile]
21.11.2003 Hangar Buenos Aires [Argentina]
09.05.1999 Jam Bergara [Spain]
08.05.1999 Zeleste Barcelona [Spain]
06.05.1999 Quattro Aviles [Spain]
04.05.1999 Podeum Hadenberg [Netherlands]
03.05.1999 Getaway Solingen [Germany]
02.05.1999 Markthalle Hamburg [Germany]
01.05.1999 Schützenhaus Markneukirchen [Germany]
30.04.1999 Works Osnabrück [Germany]
28.04.1999 Rockfabrik Ludwigsburg Ludwigsburg [Germany]
27.04.1999 Z7 Pratteln [Switzerland]
26.04.1999 Rainbow Milan [Italy]
25.04.1999 Templo Bologna [Italy]
24.04.1999 Palacisalfa Rome [Italy]
23.04.1999 Babylonia Biella [Italy]
21.04.1999 Rockhouse Salzburg Salzburg [Austria]
20.04.1999 Hirsch Nürnberg [Germany]
18.04.1999 Tivoli Freiberg Freiberg [Germany]
17.04.1999 Kalle Werk Bad Salzungen [Germany]
16.04.1999 Hafenbahn Offenbach [Germany]
15.04.1999 Zeche Bochum Bochum [Germany]
12.10.1997 Rodon Club Athens [Greece]
11.10.1997 Milos Thessaloniki [Greece]
09.10.1997 Baroeg Rotterdam [Netherlands]
08.10.1997 Locomotive Paris [France]
05.10.1997 Festival Oseixal [Portugal]
04.10.1997 Gares Puente de la Reina [Spain]
03.10.1997 Canciller Madrid [Spain]
02.10.1997 Garatge Barcelona [Spain]
30.09.1997 Z7 Pratteln [Switzerland]
29.09.1997 Rainbow Milan [Italy]
28.09.1997 Horus Rome [Italy]
27.09.1997 Auditorium Flog Florenz [Italy]
26.09.1997 Rössli Wattenwill [Switzerland]
24.09.1997 Rockfabrik Augsburg Augsburg [Germany]
23.09.1997 Hirsch Nürnberg [Germany]
21.09.1997 MTW Offenbach [Germany]
20.09.1997 Tor 3 Cologne [Germany]
19.09.1997 Schützenhaus Markneukirchen [Germany]
17.09.1997 Markthalle Hamburg [Germany]
15.09.1997 Zeche Bochum Bochum [Germany]
14.09.1997 Rockfabrik Halford Berlin [Germany]
13.09.1997 Stefan Hartmann Hall Tübingen [Germany]
12.09.1997 Kulturhaus Dorndorf Dorndorf [Germany]
11.11.1995 Gares Puente de la Reina [Spain]
10.11.1995 Canciller Madrid [Spain]
08.11.1995 E.N.T.P.E. Lyon [France]
07.11.1995 Locomotive Paris [France]
06.11.1995 Zeche Bochum Bochum [Germany]
04.11.1995 Hafenbahn Offenbach [Germany]
03.11.1995 E-Werk Erlangen Erlangen [Germany]
02.11.1995 Club Cobra Solingen [Germany]
31.10.1995 Tivoli Bremen Bremen [Germany]
30.10.1995 Hyde Park Osnabrück [Germany]
29.10.1995 Rockfabrik Halford Berlin [Germany]
28.10.1995 Werra Röhn Halle Merkers [Germany]
27.10.1995 Anker Leipzig [Germany]
25.10.1995 Rockfabrik Ludwigsburg Ludwigsburg [Germany]
24.10.1995 New Zimba Milan [Italy]
23.10.1995 Feierwerk Munich [Germany]
21.10.1995 Rockhaus Vienna [Austria]
20.10.1995 Musikmesse Graz [Austria]
  • |

In 1988, after spending four years with Helloween, guitarist and songwriter Kai Hansen decided to leave the band due to, as officially announced, the enormous touring activities of the band. Eventually, Hansen decided to form his own project, with long-time friend Ralf Scheepers (vocals), Uwe Wessel (bass) and Mathias Burchard (drums). In the beginning of the project Kai did not have the intention to form a new band but as the recordings with the studio-musicians went so well sourrounded by a relaxed atmosphere among the musicians it soon became obvious: Gamma Ray was born.
In January 1990 that line-up released the album Heading for Tomorrow, which has reached huge success especially in Germany and in Japan. While Helloween changed their style of music a bit finding its creative climax in their album Chameleon, Kai together with his new band Gamma Ray sticked to the kind of music that made Helloween famous that time: melodic and bombastic power metal with positive and critical lyrics, fantastic guitar work and wonderful vocals.

It took some time until Gamma Ray entered the world's stages for the first time because right after the recordings drummer Mathias Burchardt decided to quit as he wanted to concentrate on his studying completely. Finally, a new drummer was found in the person of Uli Kusch (ex-Holy Moses, ex-Helloween, now Masterplan). With him, the line-up of Gamma Ray live world premiere was completed: Ralf Scheepers (vocals), Dirk Schlächter (guitar), Uwe Wessel (bass), Uli Kusch (drums) and of course mastermind Kai Hansen (guitars, vocals). Right in time with the tour a new EP called Heaven can wait was released in September 1990, including - beside a re-recorded version of the titletrack - one brand new song called Who do you think you are? and three songs that were left from the Heading for tomorrow recording session. The tour was a big success especially in Japan. As a documentary a live video called Heading for the East was shot during the Tokyo show.

In February 1991 the band is rehearsing for the recordings of the second album in a small remoted house in Denmark. With some brand new songs in their bags Gamma Ray enter the studio under the control of producer Tommy Newton who did a fantastic job on the album called Sigh no more which has been released in September 1991. The style vastly differs from Heading's one, and the lyrics are completely depressive as a result of the Gulf War raging that time. A 50-date worlwide tour followed.

After the japanese tour in the beginning of 1992, Gamma Ray were in the media again. But this time with no good news for the fans: The rhythm section (Uli & Uwe) left because of personnel disagreemant and was replaced by a pretty young rhythm section of one of Hamburgs demobands called Anesthesia, Jan Rubach (bass) and Thomas Nack (drums). Besides, the band began to build their own studio which took quite a while so that the band didn't start the recordings for their new album before 1993. The album called Insanity & Genius finally was released in June 1993. The album's style comes closer to Heading's one again as Kai seemed to realize that the best music he is able to compose is that bombastic speed metal. Insanity & Genius was presented to the fans live on the socalled Melodic Metal strikes back festivals, all in all four shows presenting Helicon, Conception and Rage and Gamma Ray as co-headliners. A second live video titled Lust for Live was shot during the show in Hamburg which also has been released as a live CD called The Power of Metal in December.

And then a big change! As plans for the band's fourth album came along, Hansen and Schlächter were annoyed by the fact that Scheepers lived such a far way away from Hamburg. This meant that they could only do band rehearsals and such on weekends, and this put a major stopper on things. Since Scheepers had auditioned for the job as vocalist for Judas Priest, and his chances at getting the spot were considered pretty good (in the end he was among the last three candidates), Hansen asked him if he really felt that staying with Gamma Ray was the right thing to do. The two decided that it would be for the best if Scheepers left the band, and so, with no hard feelings on either side, Scheepers (today Primal Fear) left Gamma Ray. Hansen then took on the guitar-vocals duties.

In May 1995 a masterpiece of melodic metal was released: The concept album Land of the Free as a mixture of the bombast of Heading for Tomorrow and the aggressiveness and heavyness of Walls of Jericho. On this album there was again a cooperation with vocalist Michael Kiske who did the vocals for one complete song called Time to break free and the chorus of the title track. Critics around the globe were extatic. Kai and Dirk entrench themselves in their studio again in August to record the EP "Silent Miracles", an EP of four wonderful ballads. Fans say that Kai did his best ever vocal effort on A While in Dreamland, a beautiful ballad with only piano and Kai's voice. As the EP's final mix couldn't be done before the upcoming tour, the release of Silent Miracles was delayed to February 1996. As said, the band left for a long and excessive european tour (Men on a tour) in September turning the venues into party shacks. This was passed on in form of a live CD called Alive '95 released in May 1996.

In September 1996 the band haunted Spain again to please the fans with some more gigs together with Stratovarius and Rage. But right before the rehearsals for this tour Jan and Thomas decided to leave the band. Jan did so because Dirk wanted to return to bass (originally he was a bass player) by all means. There were thoughts that Jan could change to guitar as he himself always wanted to play the guitar in a band. But somehow he didn't dare and left. So did Thomas because he completely wanted to concentrate himself on another music project he was running for quite a while. It was kind of Thomas still to drum the spanish tour in contrast to Jan who had to be replaced by guitarist Henjo Richter.

The songwriting for the new album began in late 1996 with just Dirk and Kai in the band and it took them until February 1997 to find two new members: In the person of Daniel Zimmermann they found the best drummer they ever had. Henjo Richter was engaged as guitarist, a job he had already done very well on the spanish tour the year before. The ultimate Gamma Ray, and still current, line-up was formed.

With the new line-up completed again the band started the recordings for the new album in March 1997. The EP Valley of The Kings was released in May and Somewhere Out In Space, which started the band's facination with space, was released end of August . After two years of touring (Support Hammerfall & Jag Panzer) came the album Power Plant, which was a continuity to Somewhere Out In Space's lyrical approach, but a new direction musically. The album was highly acclaimed throughout the world.

The time came for a "Best Of..." album, and Hansen decided to do things differently; The band went back to the studio to re-record old classics. Blast from the Past was the name chosen for the album.

The band then proceeded to the recording of its next album, rumored to be classic-sounded like bands such as Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, before taking a year off.

After the break the band was ready for the recording and release of the album No World Order, with a lot of heavy riffs like classic 80's band, just as rumored. Yet again the album was highly praised. The No Order World Tour saw the band visiting dozens of countries throughtout Europe, and a few gigs in Japan. After resting from the tour, the band went on with the Skeleton in the Closet tour which saw the band performing songs that they never or rarely played live before. The setlist was voted by the fans on the band's website. Only a few shows were played but two of those (Barcelona and Strasbourg) were recorded for the live album Skeletons in the Closet, their finest live album to date. Axel Mackenrott (Masterplan) was hired for this tour as keyboard-player.

The band's latest tour featured them as openers for the first 10 gigs of Iron Maiden's European leg. Gamma Ray named that leg Rayzin' Hell With The Beast, and it gave them even much exposure to new fans.

In early 2004 the band started composing demo material for the new album and finally found itself back in the studio in September to start the recordings of 11 songs, that in contrast to the last two albums, show more complexity and bombast again. The work on Majestic finally was completed in May 2005 and its release was scheduled for September, 23th 2005. In between the band showed up on three summer festivals (Bang Your Head, Tuska and Monsters Of Rock) to show the public that they are still alive. A regular european tour will follow seeing Nocturnal Rites & Powerwolf as support-acts.

Line-up

  • Kai Hansen - Vocals/Guitars
  • Frank Beck - Vocals
  • Henjo Richter - Guitars
  • Dirk Schlaechter - Bass
  • Michael Ehré - Drums

Discography

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