Read Full Bio ↴Edguy is a power metal band from Fulda, Germany that was formed in 1992.
Biography
Demos, AFM years (1992-2003)
Edguy was founded in 1992 by 14-year-old students Tobias Sammet, Jens Ludwig, Dominik Storch and Dirk Sauer. The name "Edguy" was an affectionate epithet for their math teacher at the time. In 1994, the band released two demos, Evil Minded and Children of Steel. These tapes were sent to many record labels, all of whom rejected the band, believing they would be unsuccessful in the music business. Undeterred, they self released their ‘unofficial' debut album, Savage Poetry, in 1995. They signed with AFM Records shortly after, who offered to re-release Savage Poetry with more widespread distribution. The band rejected this proposal in favour of recording a new album, Kingdom of Madness, which was released in 1997, but drummer Dominik Storch left the band shortly after. 1998 saw the release of their second album, Vain Glory Opera, with friend Frank Lindenthal filling in on drums. This album helped expose Edguy to a wider audience, thanks in part to guest appearances from Timo Tolkki (Stratovarius) and Hansi Kürsch (Blind Guardian). The band was joined by new drummer Felix Bohnke and bassist Tobias ‘Eggi' Exxel later that year, allowing Tobias Sammet to solely focus on vocals (he had previously played bass as well handling vocal duties).
In 1999, Theater of Salvation was released. That same year frontman Tobias Sammet conceived the idea for the Avantasia project, a metal opera featuring well known vocalists and musicians from the rock and metal scene. Whilst Tobias focused on Avantasia, the band took the opportunity to re-record Savage Poetry, to make it widely available to newer fans, as the original had become a much sought after rarity.
Following The Savage Poetry re-recording was the band's fifth album, Mandrake, in 2001. The album was accompanied by their first promo video, for the track “All the Clowns”, as well as the Painting on the Wall single. The Mandrake album also led to the band's first headlining tour. Three shows were recorded in Europe and were the basis for Edguy's first live album, Burning Down the Opera. The band's contract with AFM had expired by this point, which led to them signing with Nuclear Blast Records in late 2003.
Nuclear Blast years (2004-present)
Edguy's first release for Nuclear Blast was the King of Fools EP in 2004. This preceded the Hellfire Club album, released shortly after. The song "Lavatory Love Machine" was also released as a single. The band's productivity continued into 2005 with the Superheroes EP and DVD, the latter featuring footage of the band live and in the studio, as well as a making of documentary for the video of the title track. This was followed by the full-length album Rocket Ride in January 2006.
Sammet spent much of 2007 relaunching the Avantasia project. Edguy returned to the studio in 2008 and recorded Tinnitus Sanctus, with a video being shot for the track “Ministry of Saints” in Belgrade, Serbia. After a contract renewal with Nuclear Blast in late 2008, the band released their first live DVD, Fucking with F***, in 2009. This featured live footage of the band shot in São Paulo, Brazil, on their Rocket Ride world tour in 2006. The band supported Scorpions on the German dates of their farewell tour in 2010.
Edguy released their ninth studio album, Age of the Joker, in August 2011. The band toured Europe and South America in support of the record, including dates with Slash and Deep Purple, as well as an appearance on the 70000 Tons of Metal cruise. In a recent interview promoting the latest release from his Avantasia project, Sammet revealed that a new Edguy album will be worked on in the summer of 2013, with a release tentatively scheduled for mid-2014.
On January 28, 2014 Edguy revealed that the album would be titled Space Police - Defenders of the Crown and released on April 18.
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", "The Pride of Creation", "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 progressive metal approach being embraced. The band's album Rocket Ride features even less power metal elements, and is arguably more oriented towards hard rock. Their next album, Tinnitus Sanctus, contains even more hard rock oriented songs; a large reduction of double bass drumming is evident, in contrast to Edguy's older albums such as Vain Glory Opera where there is very fast double bass which is common in the power metal genre.
When asked if the term "happy heavy metal band" applies to the band, Tobias rejected it and added:
We are a heavy metal band. We play angry, powerful, sometimes tongue-in-cheek metal. We are flamboyant and we don't take ourselves too seriously, but that goes for Van Halen too, right? Are they happy rock? No, they have a sense of humor and kick ass! Just like we do...
Studio albums
Savage Poetry (1995)
Kingdom of Madness (1997)
Vain Glory Opera (1998)
Theater of Salvation (1999)
The Savage Poetry (2000)
Mandrake (2001)
Hellfire Club (2004)
Rocket Ride (2006)
Tinnitus Sanctus (2008)
Age of the Joker (2011)
Space Police - Defenders of the Crown (2014)
King of Fools
Edguy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How does if feel to accuse and to haze
Now look at me, I'm not one of your kind
And I prefer to stay behind
And walk the wicked way
We don't want to be like you
We don't mind your life is trite
You are the king of fools
We are never gonna be like you
We don't follow, king of fools
You're the blind to lead the blind
And I walk the wicked way
You feel at ease as you flock with the masses
What do you see with your heads in their asses
Keep on railing at what I believe
Call me insane and I am proud to be
And walk the wicked way
We don't want to be like you
Don't you get that king of fools
We don't mind your life is trite
You are the king of fools
We are never gonna be like you
We don't follow, king of fools
You are the blind to lead the blind, oh
We don't want to be like you
Don't you get that king of fools
We don't mind your life is trite
You are the king of fools
We are never gonna be like you
We don't follow, king of fools
You're the blind to lead the blind
You are the king of fools
In "King of Fools," Edguy depicts the singer's aversion to conforming to societal norms and the pressure to fit in with the masses. The song's powerful lyrics challenge the listener to question their own beliefs and values, urging them to avoid blindly following others and instead chart their own course in life. The singer's refusal to be like the "king of fools" is reflective of the band's progressive and individualistic ethos that favors personal freedom and artistic independence.
The first verse of the song admonishes the people who spit on the singer's face and belittle him for his non-conformist attitude. However, he is proud of his personality and opts not to blend in with the crowd. He walks the wicked way, a path less traveled, and creates his own destiny rather than being dictated by others. The chorus encapsulates the message of the song, emphasizing that the singer and his ilk do not aspire to emulate the king of fools or be like him. They do not care about his mundane life and they would never blindly follow the blind.
In the second verse, the singer attacks the king of fools' followers, portraying them as clueless and unaware of their surroundings. They are depicted as being stuck in their ways and are ridiculed for not having an open mindset. They do not understand the singer's beliefs, accusing him of being insane simply because he is different. The song's message is clear: do not blindly follow the masses, do not be a sheep, and do not let others pressure you into being someone you are not.
Line by Line Meaning
What do you think when you spit in my face
What goes through your mind as you disrespect me?
How does it feel to accuse and to haze
What is the satisfaction in condemning and harassing?
Now look at me, I'm not one of your kind
I am different from you, and proud of it.
And I prefer to stay behind
I am content to stay out of the spotlight.
And walk the wicked way
I am unconventional and not afraid to walk my own path.
We don't want to be like you
We reject your way of life.
Don't you get that king of fools
Don't you understand that your behavior is foolish?
We don't mind your life is trite
We don't care that you live an unremarkable life.
You are the king of fools
You are the epitome of foolishness.
We are never gonna be like you
We will never conform to your standards.
We don't follow, king of fools
We do not follow a foolish leader.
You're the blind to lead the blind
You are incapable of leading others due to your lack of vision.
You feel at ease as you flock with the masses
You find comfort in being part of the crowd.
What do you see with your heads in their asses
You are blinded by your obedience to others, unable to see clearly.
Keep on railing at what I believe
Continue to express your disapproval of my beliefs.
Call me insane and I am proud to be
I embrace being considered crazy for thinking differently.
You are the blind to lead the blind, oh
You are too clueless yourself to guide others effectively.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: JENS LUDWIG, TOBIAS SAMMET
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@andreshy17
What do you think when you spit in my face
How does it feel to accuse and to haze
Now look at me, I'm not one of your kind
And I prefer to stay behind
And walk the wicked way
We don't wanna be like you
Don't you get that king of fools
We don't mind your life is trite
You are the king of fools
We are never gonna be like you
We don't follow king of fools
You're the blind to lead the blind
And I walk the wicked way
You feel at ease as you flock with the masses
What do you see with your heads in their asses
Keep on railing at what I believe
Call me insane and I am proud to be
And walk the wicked way
We don't wanna be like you
Don't you get that king of fools
We don't mind your life is trite
You are the king of fools
We are never gonna be like you
We don't follow king of fools
You are the blind to lead the blind, oh
We don't wanna be like you
Don't you get that king of fools
We don't mind your life is trite
You are the king of fools
We are never gonna be like you
We don't follow king of fools
You are the blind to lead the blind
blind to lead the blind
We don't wanna be like you
Don't you get that king of fools
We don't mind your life is trite
We don't mind your life is trite
We are never gonna be like you
We don't follow king of fools
You are the blind to lead the blind
You are the king of fools.
@klarwieklobruhe1715
why songs like this arent so famous..the song/band is sooooooo awesome
@JohnDoe-bt9qp
Not everyone likes good music
@nicoprezio3696
Too many fools in this world I guess.
@Barti194
And it's always the actually good songs 😞
@Nebucanezzer
This band is WAY under appreciated. I friggin' love these guys.
@robturnbull8854
hell yeah!
@astroammar6353
I AGREE
@Rodrigo-wu3xi
Really, man? I think Edguy has vast respect.
@bawnawgwa41
If you are in the USA you don't get the whole picture. They are probably very popular in Europe. However, in the USA, we only allow abominations like Ariana Grande and (insert almost any rapper here) to be popular. So metal bands just never make it big here
@blonderider2650
@Bawnawgwa LOLMFAO @"abominations like Ariana Grande" !!! 😂😂😂