Robby Valentine

Robby Valentine (December 4th, 1968, Leusden, the Netherlands) is a Dutch singer and multi-instrumentalist who started his professional career in the eighties. His biggest musical influences are Queen, The Beatles, John Waite, Placebo, Marilyn Manson and 30 Seconds to Mars.

Biography

After his professional start as the keyboard player in Dutch symphonic rock band Line, he soon moved on to form the melodic hardrock band 1st Avenue in 1987, together with vocalist Peter Struyk (ex-Vandenberg). In 1989 he joined 'happy metal' band Zinatra that enjoyed great popularity in Europe, Asia and South America. This band toured both in their own right and as the opening act for artists like David Lee Roth and Steve Vai.

In 1990, Robby signed a solo deal and started working on his first album. Although he produced, sang, and played most of the instruments himself, he also worked together with the likes of producer Humberto Gatica, guitarist Michael Landau and producer Erwin Musper. The first single " Over and Over Again", released in 1991, became a monster hit in Robby's native country and several other European countries. His selftitled debut album was released on Valentine's Day 1992. The music on this album can be best described as melodic heavy rock, with symphonic influences, reminiscent of Queen, Europe and Toto.By the time his album got released, Robby had already formed a live band and started intensive club touring.

In 1993 a new album, "The Magic Infinity" hit the market. Robby had recorded this album with his live band. When Brian May (Queen) heard this album, he asked the band to join him on his European tour, which they happily accepted. Despite the fact that Valentine had the opportunity to present themselves to bigger audiences, this tour didn't lead to a real European breakthrough. In Japan though, Valentine became increasingly popular. The record company decided to release the first two albums over there and a new star was born.

In 1995 Robby sacked his whole band after he had completed his third album, simply called "Valentine". This album, that showed much more classical and pop influences than its two predecessors, didn't generate hit singles or satisfying album sales in Europe. For this reason the record company decided to end Robby's European contract. Robby's Japanese deal however stood strong since he still was immensely popular over there.

Only Japan sees the releases of Valentine's next albums "4 - United" (1997), "No Sugar Added" (1998) and "Believing Is Seeing" (2001). Valentine also releases two albums with his musical brother Valensia: "V" (1999) and "V2" (2002).

The only things that can be heard from Valentine in other territories in those years are his keyboard contributions for "Into the Electric Castle" by Ayreon and "Fata Morgana" by Dutch heavy rock act Helloise.

In 2004, Robby completes his album "The Most Beautiful Pain". However, his record company decides to put the release on hold. Two years later Robby manages to get the album released in Europe through an Italian record company, recommended to him by his friend Lanvall (Edenbridge). Several months later, the album also hits the market in Japan.

One year later, Valentine's eighth album "Falling Down In Misanthropolis" gets published. This album shows us a different Valentine: the music is darker and heavier than ever before. New influences like gothic, metal and industrial can be heard, beside the Valentine trademark sound of course.

In 2008 Robby has founded a new band line up consisting of members from (amongst others) After Forever and Ayreon. In May an eager Valentine returned live after twelve years of absence on the stages. Reason for this all will be a retrospective double cd called "Androgenious" that contains both old and new recordings of Valentine classics. This album and the new single "Save Myself" will be released in the last part of 2008.

One of the side projects Robby is working on is "KX-3", together with fellow keyboard players Keiko Kumagai (Ars Nova, Ayreon) and Joost van den Broek (After Forever). It's supposed to be their answer to Joe Satriani's guitar driven G3.

Discography

Albums

* 1992 - Robby Valentine
* 1993 - The Magic Infinity
* 1994 - Live & Demos (Japan only)
* 1994 - Robby Valentine (Japanese release, containing bonus tracks)
* 1994 - The Magic Infinity (Japanese release, containing bonus tracks)
* 1995 - Valentine (the Japanese edition contains a bonus track)
* 1997 - Valentine 4 – United
* 1997 - Christmas In Heaven (mini album with amongst other songs two classical pieces)
* 1998 - No Sugar Added
* 1999 - V (with Valensia)
* 2000 - Believing is Seeing
* 2002 - V2 (with Valensia)
* 2006 - The Most Beautiful Pain (the Japanese edition has three bonus tracks)
* 2007 - Falling Down In Misanthropolis (the Japanese edition has two bonus tracks)
* 2008 - Androgenious (t.b.r.)

ingles

* 1991 - Over And Over Again
* 1992 - Love Takes Me Higher
* 1992 - I Believe In You
* 1993 - Don't Make Me Wait Forever
* 1993 - Megaman (two versions were released, containing either "Valentine's Overture Part I" or "Valentine's Overture Part II")
* 1994 - Angel Of My Heart
* 1993 - No Turning Back
* 1994 - Only Your Love (Japan only)
* 1995 - Hand In Hand (Japan only)
* 1995 - Where Do We Go From Here
* 1996 - God (Japan only)
* 1996 - Take My Hand
* 1997 - I Believe In Music (Japan Only)
* 2008 - Save Myself (t.b.r.)

External links

* [http://www.robbyvalentine.com Official site]
* [http://www.myspace.com/valentinerobert Valentines MySpace]