Blind Guardian is a German power metal band formed in 1984 in Krefeld, West… Read Full Bio ↴Blind Guardian is a German power metal band formed in 1984 in Krefeld, West Germany. They are often credited as one of the seminal and most influential bands in the power metal and speed metal subgenres. Nine musicians have been a part of the band's lineup in its history, which currently consists of singer Hansi Kürsch, guitarists André Olbrich and Marcus Siepen, and, since 2005, drummer Frederik Ehmke.
Blind Guardian is a part of the German heavy metal scene that emerged in the mid-1980s. The band was formed in 1984 as Lucifer's Heritage by Kürsch (then also bassist), Olbrich, other guitarist Markus Dörk, and drummer Thomas Stauch. Dörk and Stauch both left the following year and were replaced by Christof Theißen and Hans-Peter Frey, respectively, who left as well before the end of the year. In 1987, Siepen joined, and Stauch returned; under this lineup, which lasted 18 years (the longest in the band's history), the band changed their name to Blind Guardian and released their first album, Battalions of Fear, in 1988. They have since released ten more studio albums, including an orchestral album that was released under the name Blind Guardian Twilight Orchestra.
Over the releases, Blind Guardian established themselves as a notably successful band and as pioneers of the power metal movement. In 1996, Kürsch stopped acting as the band's bassist to focus on vocals. Various session members replaced him, mainly Oliver Holzwarth. However, in 2005, Stauch left the band, disapproving of Blind Guardian's transition into a more complex progressive sound with a heavy use of backing vocals, and was replaced by Ehmke.
Most of Blind Guardian's albums were well received by fans and critics alike: Somewhere Far Beyond (1992), Imaginations from the Other Side (1995), and Nightfall in Middle-Earth (1998), are especially seen as influential works. The music is mostly composed by Kürsch and Olbrich together, and the lyrics, written by Kürsch, are mostly inspired by the fiction of fantasy authors such as J. R. R. Tolkien, Michael Moorcock, Stephen King, George R. R. Martin, and Robert Jordan, as well as traditional legends and epics. Over the years, a theme has developed which personifies the band members as traveling storytellers, leading fans to refer to the band affectionately as "The Bards." Blind Guardian has been referred to in one article as one of power metal "big four" bands, along with Helloween, Sabaton, and DragonForce.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blind_Guardian
Discography
Battalions of Fear (1988)
Follow the Blind (1989)
Tales from the Twilight World (1990)
Somewhere Far Beyond (1992)
Imaginations from the Other Side (1995)
Nightfall in Middle-Earth (1998)
A Night at the Opera (2002)
A Twist in the Myth (2006)
At the Edge of Time (2010)
Beyond the Red Mirror (2015)
Legacy of the Dark Lands (2019)
The God Machine (2022)
Blind Guardian is a part of the German heavy metal scene that emerged in the mid-1980s. The band was formed in 1984 as Lucifer's Heritage by Kürsch (then also bassist), Olbrich, other guitarist Markus Dörk, and drummer Thomas Stauch. Dörk and Stauch both left the following year and were replaced by Christof Theißen and Hans-Peter Frey, respectively, who left as well before the end of the year. In 1987, Siepen joined, and Stauch returned; under this lineup, which lasted 18 years (the longest in the band's history), the band changed their name to Blind Guardian and released their first album, Battalions of Fear, in 1988. They have since released ten more studio albums, including an orchestral album that was released under the name Blind Guardian Twilight Orchestra.
Over the releases, Blind Guardian established themselves as a notably successful band and as pioneers of the power metal movement. In 1996, Kürsch stopped acting as the band's bassist to focus on vocals. Various session members replaced him, mainly Oliver Holzwarth. However, in 2005, Stauch left the band, disapproving of Blind Guardian's transition into a more complex progressive sound with a heavy use of backing vocals, and was replaced by Ehmke.
Most of Blind Guardian's albums were well received by fans and critics alike: Somewhere Far Beyond (1992), Imaginations from the Other Side (1995), and Nightfall in Middle-Earth (1998), are especially seen as influential works. The music is mostly composed by Kürsch and Olbrich together, and the lyrics, written by Kürsch, are mostly inspired by the fiction of fantasy authors such as J. R. R. Tolkien, Michael Moorcock, Stephen King, George R. R. Martin, and Robert Jordan, as well as traditional legends and epics. Over the years, a theme has developed which personifies the band members as traveling storytellers, leading fans to refer to the band affectionately as "The Bards." Blind Guardian has been referred to in one article as one of power metal "big four" bands, along with Helloween, Sabaton, and DragonForce.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blind_Guardian
Discography
Battalions of Fear (1988)
Follow the Blind (1989)
Tales from the Twilight World (1990)
Somewhere Far Beyond (1992)
Imaginations from the Other Side (1995)
Nightfall in Middle-Earth (1998)
A Night at the Opera (2002)
A Twist in the Myth (2006)
At the Edge of Time (2010)
Beyond the Red Mirror (2015)
Legacy of the Dark Lands (2019)
The God Machine (2022)
Lucifer's Heritage
Blind Guardian Lyrics
Instrumental
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Bobathan Rex
These are some seriously entertaining convos. I like seeing how respectful the band is to former members. I dig the hell out of those Lucifer's Heritage demos. Symphonies of DOOOOOOOOOOM!!
Thomas Walters
Jungs ohne euch wäre mein Leben anders verlaufen. Somewhere far beyond war die Kreuzung in meinem Leben in der ich richtig abgebogen bin. Danke für alles Blind Guardian!!!!!!!!
aaronstallard
A pleasure to hear the bards talking about their musical journey \m/
aaronstallard
Glad the interviewers have some reasonable questions and its provoking good tales. To many interviewers still just asking boring questions
antoniusmetal
Well, this is heartwarming as fuck!
I'd like to be there having a drink with these people.
Oskar Toledo
One of my all time fav bands. Love the bards 🤘🤘🤘
Peter Reed
Great documentary. Love Blind Guardian!
The Modern Hermeticist
Just love these guys!
True Glory Metal Channel
Amazing, Best band
Emily Rattini
I stayed up till 5 watching these interviews a couple weeks ago...best conceivable way to lose sleep.