Avantasia

Avantasia (pronounced ) is a symphonic metal/power metal project created by Tobias Sammet, vocalist and frontman of the power metal group Edguy. The project's title is a portmanteau of the words "avalon" and "fantasia" ("fantasy") and describes "a world beyond human imagination" (a quotation from the booklet). The project consists of a self-titled single, two full-length albums with the subtitle The Metal Opera, two EPs called Lost in Space, and the recently released album The Scarecrow.

Development

In Spring 1999, during Edguy's Theater of Salvation tour, Tobias Sammet began to write down his ideas for a metal opera, a concept album with many guest musicians. When the tour was finished, he carried this plan out, recruiting well-known metal players like Kai Hansen and the ex-Helloween singer Michael Kiske. The project was recorded with a core band of four members - Sammet playing keyboards and arranging orchestration, Henjo Richter playing guitar, Markus Grosskopf playing bass, and Alex Holzwarth on drums. In 2001, the self-titled single and the first full-length album, The Metal Opera, were released. The project was completed in September 2002 with the release of The Metal Opera Part II. At the end of 2006, Sammet confirmed the rumours of a third Avantasia album, due for release in 2008. On March 24, 2007, the name was confirmed to be "The Scarecrow". The album was released on January 25, 2008, and includes special guests Rudolf Schenker, Sascha Paeth, drummer Eric Singer, and singers Bob Catley, J?rn Lande, Michael Kiske, Alice Cooper, Roy Khan, Amanda Somerville and Oliver Hartmann.

Tobias Sammet announced that a new album will be released by the end of 2009. Some of the special guests have been announced: drummers Eric Singer, Alex Holzwarth, and Felix Bohnke, as well as vocalists Michael Kiske, Bob Catley, J?rn Lande, Tim "Ripper" Owens, and Klaus Meine.

Members

Tobias Sammet - Lead vocals, Keyboards, Bass guitar (1999-present)
Sascha Paeth - Guitars (2007-present)
Eric Singer - Drums (2002-present)
Vocalists
Vocalist
Associated bands
Avantasia
The Metal Opera
The Metal Opera Part II
Lost in Space Part I
Lost in Space Part II
The Scarecrow
Tobias Sammet
Edguy
all tracks
all tracks
all tracks
all tracks
all tracks
all tracks
Michael Kiske
Helloween
2
2, 5, 6, 9, 13
1, 2
2
2, 3, 5
David DeFeis
Virgin Steele
3
3, 13
1, 5
Ralf Zdiarstek
4, 7
9
Sharon den Adel
Within Temptation
6
10
Rob Rock
Impellitteri
7
1, 6
Oliver Hartmann
At Vance
7, 12, 13
1
10
Andre Matos
Shaman, Angra, Viper
11, 12, 13
1, 2, 8
Kai Hansen
Gamma Ray, Helloween
11, 12
1, 8
Timo Tolkki
Stratovarius
13
1
Bob Catley
Magnum
3, 4
4
3, 9
J?rn Lande
Masterplan, ARK
3
2
2, 6, 8
Amanda Somerville
Aina
1, 4
1, 6
5, 11
Roy Khan
Kamelot
1
Alice Cooper
7
Eric Singer
KISS, Black Sabbath, Alice Cooper
6
Musicians
Musician
Associated bands
Avantasia
The Metal Opera
The Metal Opera Part II
Lost in Space Part I
Lost in Space Part II
The Scarecrow
Tobias Sammet
Edguy
Keyboards (all)
Keyboards (all)
Keyboards (all)

Bass (10)
Bass (all)
Bass (all)
Bass (all)
Henjo Richter
Gamma Ray
Guitars (all)
Guitars (all)
Guitars (all)
Lead guitar (3)
Lead guitar (2, 3, 4)
Lead guitar (2, 3, 6, 7, 8)
Markus Grosskopf
Helloween
Bass (all)
Bass (all)
Bass (all)
Alex Holzwarth
Rhapsody of Fire, Angra
Drums (all)
Drums (all)
Drums (all)
Jens Ludwig
Edguy
Lead guitar (12, 13)
Lead guitar (5, 9)
Norman Meiritz
Acoustic guitar (6)
Rhythm guitar (10)
Frank Tischer
Piano (11)
Piano (1, 4, 7)
Timo Tolkki
Stratovarius
Lead guitar (1, 10)
Sascha Paeth
Aina, Heaven's Gate, Kamelot
Guitars (all)
Guitars (all)
Guitars (all)
Eric Singer
KISS, Black Sabbath, Alice Cooper
Drums (10)
Drums (all)
Drums (all)
Drums (all)
Michael "Miro" Rodenberg
Aina, Kamelot
Keyboards (all)
Keyboards (all)
Keyboards (1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 9, 11)
Kai Hansen
Gamma Ray, Helloween
Lead guitar (3)
Rudolph Schenker
Scorpions
Lead guitar (10)

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Original Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avantasia