Avantasia

:"For other uses, see Avantasia (disambiguation). Infobox musical artist |
Name = Avantasia

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Img_capt = Avantasia at the Sweden Rock Festival in 2008.
Background = group_or_band
Alias =
Origin = Germany
Genre = Symphonic metal
Power metal
Symphonic rock
Years_active = 1999–present
Label = AFM, Nuclear Blast
Associated_acts = Edguy
URL = [http://www.tobiassammet.com/ tobiassammet.com]
Current_members = Tobias Sammet
See: Avantasia personnel
Past_members =

Avantasia is a symphonic 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". [ [http://wm10.allmusic.com allmusic ] ] 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". [http://www.tobiassammet.com] The album was released on January 25, 2008, and includes special guests such as Rudolf Schenker, Sascha Paeth, drummer Eric Singer, and singers Bob Catley, Jørn Lande, Michael Kiske, Alice Cooper, Roy Khan and Oliver Hartmann. [ [http://www.tobiassammet.com/eng/News.htm Tobias Sammet :: Avantasia :: Official Web ] ]

Members

* Tobias Sammet - Lead vocals, Keyboards, Bass guitar (1999-present)
* Sascha Paeth - Guitars (2007-present)
* Eric Singer - Drums (2002-present)

Discography

*"The Metal Opera" - 2000
*"Avantasia" (Single) - 2001
*"The Metal Opera Part II" - 2002
*"Lost in Space Part I" (EP) - 2007
*"Lost in Space Part II" (EP) - 2007
*"The Scarecrow" - 2008
*"" - 2008

ee also

*Edguy

References

External links

* [http://www.tobiassammet.com Tobias Sammet's official (Edguy & Avantasia) website]