Demons & Wizards

:"For the 1972 album by Uriah Heep, see Demons & Wizards (Uriah Heep album)."Infobox musical artist
Name = Demons & Wizards

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Img_capt = Schaffer & Kürsch
Background = group_or_band
Origin = Germany
United States
Genre = Power metal
Years_active = 1998 - present
Label = SPV
Associated_acts = Blind Guardian
Iced Earth
URL = http://www.demonsandwizards.de
Current_members = Hansi Kürsch
Jon Schaffer

Demons & Wizards is a power metal band conceived as a side-project of the metal bands Blind Guardian and Iced Earth. It is made up of the vocalist for Blind Guardian, Hansi Kürsch, and the guitarist of Iced Earth, Jon Schaffer. Schaffer writes the music and Kürsch writes the lyrics. The band's line-up during the recording of their first album in 2000 also featured Mark Prator, who was the drummer on a few Iced Earth albums, and Jim Morris doing most of the guitar solos, Morris also having worked with Iced Earth in the past.

Biography

Band name

The original goal of the band was to forge the different musical styles of both Iced Earth's dark melodies and Blind Guardian's powerful vocals into one sound. In fact, according to the musicians, the band name is meant to describe the two styles: the self-proclaimed demon-like themes and sounds of Iced Earth and wizard-like themes and sounds of Blind Guardian (the moniker "Demons & Wizards" was inspired by Schaffer's wife always referring to him and Hansi as "Demons and Angels". Hansi always corrected her that it is more properly stated "Demons and Wizards", in reference to Uriah Heep's album of the same name). The band met with a fair deal of commercial success, though not as much as either of their individual bands.

The idea for the band arose in the spring of 1997 when Kürsch and Schaffer wanted to make music together, after being friends for several years.

Album information

The band's first full-length release was in 2000, with the self-titled album "Demons & Wizards". In 2005, the band released their second album entitled "Touched by the Crimson King". "Touched by the Crimson King" is partially based on the "The Dark Tower" series of books written by Stephen King in which the Crimson King is the main antagonist.

Current plans for the band

In recent interviews with Jon Schaffer, it has been noted that sometime in 2008 (when touring for Iced Earth and Blind Guardian's new albums are finished) he would like to do an official US tour and record a live album. This has led many to believe a new Demons and Wizards album will not be seen until at least 2009.

Current lineup

*Hansi Kürsch - vocals
*Jon Schaffer - guitar with:
*Bobby Jarzombek - drums
*Rubin Drake - bass
*Jim Morris - guitar solos

Other members

*Mark Prator - drums (studio)
*Richard Christy - drums (live)
*Howard Helm - backing vocals and piano
*Kathy Helm - backing vocals
*Tori Fuson - backing vocals
*Jesse Morris - backing vocals
*Krystyna Kolaczynski - cello

Discography

*"Demons & Wizards" (2000)
*"Touched by the Crimson King" (SPV 2005)

ee also

*Blind Guardian
*Iced Earth

External links

* [http://www.demonsandwizards.de Demons & Wizards' Official Site]
* [http://spv.de SPV Records]
*last.fm|Demons%2B%2526%2BWizards
*de icon [http://www.stephen-king.de/interviews/demonswizards/hansikuersch.htm Interview dating from 2005]
* [http://www.metalstorm.ee/bands/band.php?band_id=85 Demons & Wizards] at Metal Storm