Oliver Hartmann

Oliver Hartmann
Background information
Born	1970 Rüsselsheim, Germany
Genres	Heavy metal, Hard rock
Occupations	Singer-songwriter, musician
Instruments	Vocals, guitar, keyboards
Years active	1997–present
Associated acts	Hartmann At Vance Avantasia Empty Tremor Centers
Website	http://www.oliverhartmann.com

Oliver Hartmann (born 1970, Rüsselsheim) is a German metal vocalist, guitarist, songwriter, and producer who performed in various acts, either as guitarist, solo or choir singer. He is best known for his role as founder of the band At Vance (together with Olaf Lenk), his actual band Hartmann and his guest appearances on albums of several prominent metal bands, including Freedom Call, Edguy, Rhapsody, Genius rock opera, Aina's metal opera Days of Rising Doom and the metal opera Avantasia where he participated as a vocalist in 4 albums and also as a guitarist of the live and studio line up.

Hartmann began his career as guitarist in several local bands but since the age of 18 concentrated more on his singing. Among others he played in bands as Hanz Damf, Tuned, and Centers, the latter with which he made his first international appearances. He reached his first success with At Vance, in which he sang from 1999 to 2002. Since leaving At Vance on personal reasons he concentrated mostly on his solo career and on studio recording. So far he has recorded four solo albums, Out in the Cold, which was released in 2005 on the Italian Frontiers Records label, on which he also plays guitars, Home, which was released in early 2007, the live acoustic DVD/CD Handmade and the latest release 3 in late 2009. Hartmann currently also sings in Italian band Empty Tremor, which was a support act for Dream Theater during a 2004 tour in Italy.^[1] With his band Hartmann he also supported TOTO during their European tour 2006, House of Lords and The Hooters in 2007, and now Uriah Heep in early 2010.

Discography

Solo

• Out in the Cold (2005)
• Home (2007)
• Handmade (2008)
• 3 (2009)

At Vance

• No Escape (1999)
• Heart of Steel (2000)
• Dragonchaser (2001)
• Only Human (2002)

Empty Tremor

• The Alien Inside (2004)

Avantasia

• The Metal Opera (2001)
• The Metal Opera Part II (2002)
• The Scarecrow (2008)
• The Wicked Symphony (2010)
• Angel of Babylon (2010)
• The Flying Opera (live album) (2011)

Centers

• Centers (1997)
• Fortuneteller (1998)
• Early Works (2001)

Other appearances

• Edguy - Mandrake (2001)
• Genius - Episode I (2002)
• Rhapsody - Rain of a Thousand Flames (2002)
• Rhapsody - Power of the Dragonflame (2002)
• Squealer - Under the Cross (2002)
• Aina - Days of Rising Doom (2003)
• Freedom Call - The Circle of Life (2002)
• Freedom Call - Eternity (2005)
• Edguy - Hellfire Club (2004)
• Genius - Episode II: In Search Of The Little Prince (2004)
• Helloween - Keeper of the Seven Keys - The Legacy (2005)
• Edguy - Rocket Ride (2006)
• Lunatica - The Edge of Infinity (2006)
• Edguy - Tinnitus Sanctus (2008)
• Magic Kingdom - Metallic Tragedy (2004)
• Iron Mask - Hordes of the Brave (2005)
• Heavenly - Carpe Diem (2009)
• Iron Mask - Shadow of the Red Baron (2010)

References

1. ^ Dream Theater tour archive

External links

• official homepage
• metal archives entry

Persondata
Name	Hartmann, Oliver
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1970
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death