Their first full-length self-titled album Masterplan was released in 2003, produced by Andy Sneap. The band then consisted of Grapow and Kusch with Jørn Lande. The main part of the keyboard lines on the album were arranged and programmed by Roland and Uli. Keyboardist Janne "Warman" Wirman recorded some sessions for the album, but could not stay on as a full-time member due to his commitments to Children of Bodom. Axel Mackenrott replaced him on tour and soon after as a permanent member. Studio bassist Jürgen Attig (Casanova) helped with some bass lines on the recordings, but Grapow was the main bassist for the album. For tour and subsequent recordings, Jan-Sören Eckert was hired as a permanent member. The band received the "European Border Breakers Award" from the European Commission in 2004, for the debut album success around Europe.
In January 2005, Masterplan released their second album, Aeronautics once again produced by Andy Sneap and the band. After two successful albums and their respective tours, during the writing of the third album the band parted ways with vocalist Jørn Lande, citing "musical differences" as the reason for the split. The split was amicable enough that Jørn agreed to perform four previously arranged live appearances before departing although two of these were eventually cancelled by the promoters.
On 4 October 2006, Uli Kusch announced his departure from the band in an interview with Darkside.ru. Although not discussing the details of what had happened, he mentioned the democratic principles of making decisions in the band as one of the reasons of his leaving – according to him, it often made getting a consensus nearly impossible. Three days later, Masterplan announced their new line-up through their official web site: Grapow, Mackenrott, Eckert, with new members Mike DiMeo (Riot, The Lizards) and Mike Terrana (ex-Artension, ex-Rage, Metalium, ex-Axel Rudi Pell). The band toured with Saxon as an opening act for Saxon's Inner Sanctum tour.
The band's third album, suitably titled MK II, was released on 26 February 2007. It was produced this time by the band's actual leader, Roland Grapow himself, at his own studio in Slovakia. It was recorded in September and October 2006.
On 11 January 2009, Mike DiMeo confirmed on his MySpace page that he had parted ways with Masterplan. On 25 July 2009, the band finally revealed that Jørn Lande has made his return to Masterplan. On 16 April 2010, a single titled Far From the End of the World was released to precede the band's new fourth album, Time to Be King, once again produced by Roland Grapow. On 13 July 2011, the band announced on their official website that they were writing songs for a new album. The album was set to be released in March 2013.
In July 2012, it was announced that Martin Marthus Skaroupka (Cradle of Filth drummer) will play on the new Masterplan album. In early November, it was announced that Rick Altzi and Jari Kainulainen would replace Jorn Lande and Jan Eckert on the upcoming album. In November 2012, during an interview with Metal Shock Finland's Chief Editor, Mohsen Fayyazi, when talking about Jorn's departure from the band, Roland stated the following: "Everybody always expects something special from Jorn, but it's a very unstable situation. To keep happy it's not easy and to be honest I've not heard from him for 2 years. Don't get me wrong, we're still friends but we just don't have much contact."
On 21 February 2013, the new album was announced. The title of the album is Novum Initium and it was released on 14 June 2013 through German record label AFM Records.
In an interview made in Italy, on 16 September 2016, Roland Grapow confirmed the addition of At Vance member Kevin Kott as the drummer of the band replacing Martin Marthus Škaroupka whose commitments with his other band Cradle of Filth prevented him for playing shows with Masterplan.
They also announced the release of a new album consisting of re-recordings of Helloween songs written by Roland Grapow from the time he was in the band. The album, PumpKings, was released on 28 July 2017. Grapow stated that the album was not any kind of revenge for being fired from Helloween, or not being invited to their Pumpkins United World Tour in 2017: [fans] all thought it was kind of a revenge or something... now I remember. To me, it's just a relaxing situation [...] I never had this in my mind. It's just a bit coincidental because I delayed this album for two years and it came out at the same time when the reunion tour came.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masterplan_(band)
Studio albums
Masterplan (2003)
Aeronautics (2005)
MK II (2007)
Time to Be King (2010)
Novum Initium (2013)
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In the 1970s, a soul combo called Masterplan recorded "Clinton Park" and other tunes on the De-Lite label.
Crimson Rider
Masterplan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sharp dressed fools
With their crazy rules here
And blinding advice from all my friends
Preaching for perfection
I take off in the night
It won't be long I'll be fighting there
When dawn is breaking
Holy fire, I'm not scared of you
I'll take you to burn
Watch out for your enemy
Death can be seconds away
Live for now like there's no tomorrow
And forward we ride
In this warlike machine
There'll be no returning
Holy fire, I'm not scared of you
I'll take you to burn, oh yeah
Crimson rider
I am the baron of the sky
Come feel the wind turn
Holy fire, I'm not scared of you
I'll take you to burn
Crimson rider
I am the baron of the sky
Come feel the wind turn
And when life is evil
I'll fly my wings across the sky
Is it our destiny
Killing our brothers
The lyrics of Masterplan's "Crimson Rider" describe a world filled with people who believe they know everything and impose their views upon others. These people are described as "sharp dressed fools" who give "blinding advice." In the face of this, the singer of the song chooses to break free from the norm and take off in the night to fight. The singer is not afraid of what may come, even holy fire. Death may be seconds away in this world, but that should not stop anyone from living for now and riding forward in their "warlike machine." The Crimson Rider, or the singer, is described as the baron of the sky, and is willing to fly their wings across the sky even in the face of evil.
Line by Line Meaning
As far as the eye can see
Looking all around, in every direction possible
Sharp dressed fools
People who are dressed up nicely but are foolish and ignorant
With their crazy rules here
Establishing strict and irrational guidelines
And blinding advice from all my friends
Being misled by misguided advice from friends
Preaching for perfection
Urging for excellence and flawlessness
I take off in the night
Leaving during the nighttime
It won't be long I'll be fighting there
Preparing for battle and knowing it's imminent
When dawn is breaking
As the day is starting and the sun is rising
Holy fire, I'm not scared of you
Addressing something powerful, but not fearing it
I'll take you to burn
Defeat or overpower it with ease
Watch out for your enemy
Being wary of those who oppose you
Death can be seconds away
Realizing mortality, and how quickly it can happen
Live for now like there's no tomorrow
Living in the present moment and embracing it
And forward we ride
Moving ahead and pushing through
In this warlike machine
Being a part of an aggressive or powerful team
There'll be no returning
No possibility of turning back or undoing actions
Crimson rider
The persona the singer has taken on - a fierce and strong hero
I am the baron of the sky
The singer is in control and dominant, particularly in the atmosphere
Come feel the wind turn
Experiencing power or intensity as the singer exerts their control
And when life is evil
When things are bad or difficult
I'll fly my wings across the sky
The singer will find a way to rise above and overcome challenges
Is it our destiny
Questioning if it's fate or predetermined
Killing our brothers
Combatting against those who are still connected to them, as if familial
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JORN LANDE, ROLAND GRAPOW, ULRICH KUSCH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind