Hansi Kürsch

Infobox musical artist
Name = Hansi Kürsch


Img_capt =
Img_size =
Landscape =
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Hans Jürgen Kürsch
Alias =
Born = Birth date and age|1966|8|10|
Died =
Origin = Lank-Latum, Germany
Instrument = Vocals
Bass
Genre = Heavy metal
Power metal
Speed metal Progressive metal
Occupation =
Years_active = 1984 - present
Label = No Remorse Records
Virgin
Century Media
Nuclear Blast
Steamhammer
Associated_acts = Blind Guardian
Demons & Wizards
URL =
Current_members =
Past_members =
Notable_instruments =

Hans Jürgen Kürsch, better known as Hansi Kürsch (born August 10, 1966 in Lank-Latum, Germany) is the lead vocalist of power metal band Blind Guardian. Together with André Olbrich, he is also the principal songwriter for the band. He was also the bassist in Blind Guardian until the 1998 album "Nightfall in Middle-Earth". His more common name, Hansi, is actually a diminutive of Hans Jürgen.

A signature of Kürsch's songwriting is his practice of doubletracking his own voice innumerable times in complex, overlapping harmonies on his recordings, effectively creating the atmosphere of a huge choir. This is very similar to the production techniques employed by Freddie Mercury of Queen, of whom Hansi is a huge fan. His vocal range is formidable - for example, the track "Chant" on the first Demons & Wizards album comprises vocals only, in the style of a traditional Gregorian Chant. Hansi's is the only voice on the song. His vocal range is approximately four octaves. [cite web |url=http://youtube.com/watch?v=Wjm17n6SyEE |title=Samples of Vocal work |accessdate=2008-06-01]

Over the years, Hansi has developed his harmonizing and layering techniques more and more, to the point that some fans of Blind Guardian found the vocals to be overwhelming at times (particularly on the 2002 release "A Night At The Opera", although that album featured several guest vocalists). However, Blind Guardian's newest release, "A Twist In The Myth", has toned the complexity down a bit for the sake of making the songs more suitable for playing live (as stated by the band in the audio interview bonus track on the album).

He is married and has a son named Jonas.

He has stated in an interview that he is a faithful but very critical Christian. [cite web |url= http://www.blind-guardian.ch/dt/band/interviews/interview3.htm |title= Blind Guardian Interviews |accessdate= 2007-09-27 |author= |date=2005 |work= Blind-guardian.ch |publisher= Open Publishing |pages= |language= |doi= |quote=I am a faithful but very critical Christian (Kürsch)]

Hansi has also recorded two albums for his side project with Jon Schaffer of Iced Earth, Demons & Wizards.

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

Guest Appearances

Hansi has done guest vocals on the following albums, in the following songs (listed chronologically):

*Gamma Ray - "Land of the Free" - "Farewell" (1994)
*Grave Digger - "Tunes of War" (1996, backing vocals only)
*Nepal - Manifiesto - Besando La Tierra, Estadio Chico (1997)
*Iron Savior - "Iron Savior" - "For The World" (1997)
*Edguy - "Vain Glory Opera" - Out of Control, Vain Glory Opera (1998)
*Grave Digger - "Excalibur" (1999, backing vocals only)
*Therion - "Deggial" - Flesh of the Gods (2000)
*Rage - "Unity" (2002, backing vocals only)
*Angra - "Temple of Shadows" - Winds of Destination (2004)
*The Arrow - "Lady Nite" - Never Say Never
*Ljósálfar - "Ljósálfar" - Forevermoor
*Nuclear Blast All-Stars - - Slaves To The Desert
*Ayreon - 01011001 (2008) - Age Of Shadows, Beneath The Waves, Newborn Race, The Fifth Extinction, Unnatural Selection, River of Time, The Sixth Extinction
*Dreamtone & Iris Mavraki's Neverland - "Reversing Time" - To Lose The Sun
*Van Canto - "Hero (2008)" - Take to the Sky
*Aneurysm - TBA

References

External links

* [http://www.nocturnalhorde.com/interview50.html Interview with Hansi at Nocturnal Horde] (July 16, 2005)
* [http://www.blind-guardian.com/ Blind Guardian Official Homepage]
* [http://www.demonsandwizards.de/ Demons & Wizards Official Homepage]