Victory (band)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Victory


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Origin = Hannover, Germany
Genre = Hard rock
Years_active = 1984 - present
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URL = http://www.victory-music.com
Current_members = Vocals: Jioti Parcharidis (since 2005)
Guitar: Tommy Newton (since 1984)
Guitar: Herman Frank (1986-1995, since 2002)
Bass guitar: Fargo-Peter Knorn (since 1984)
Drums: Achim Keller (since 2006)
Past_members = Pedro Schemm (vocals, 1984)
Ted Pulit (vocals, 1984)
Charlie Huhn (vocals, 1984-1988, 2003-2005)
Fernando Garcia (vocals, 1988-1996)
John Lockton (guitar, 1984-1986)
Jake Paland (guitar,1996)
Bernie Van Der Graf (drums, 1984-1985)
Matthias Liebetruth (drums, 1996)
Fritz Randow (drums, 1985-1995, 2002-2006)

Victory is a German hard rock band from Hannover, most successful in the 1980s. With extensive tours and radio airplay, the band also made a breakthrough in North America.

History

Emergence

Victory was formed in 1984 from the remnants of the band "Fargo". Bassist Peter Knorn, the two guitarists Tommy Newton and John Lockton and drummer Bernie Van de Graaf had all previously worked together in that band. After originally working with singer Pedro Schemm, and later Thunderhead-frontman Ted Pullit, former Gary Moore- and Ted Nugent-singer Charlie Huhn became the band's singer. Recommended by Scorpions' guitarist Rudolph Schenker, the band sign a management deal with David Kreb (who managed, among others, Scorpions and Aerosmith).

Taking Place

A self-titled album appeared in 1985 on CBS Records to mild controversy because of the cover art: a scantily-dressed woman lying on her back with her legs spread, forming a V. The hype worked and the album made the charts. But before the first US tour, drummer Van de Graaf was replaced by Fritz Randow (ex-Eloy). Apart from playing 60 concerts, the band was also in the two largest festivals of the country, "Day In The Green" in Oakland before 60,000 and the "Texxas Jam" before over 80,000 spectators. After his return to Germany, John Lockton was replaced by the former Accept guitarist, Herman Frank.

With their second album "Don't Get Mad... Get Even" the band again toured through Europe and America and the single "Check's In The Mail" gave them a radio hit in the USA. The third album "Hungry Hearts" came out in 1987 leading to yet more European and North American live work. A concert in Hamburg was recorded for a live album, which appeared in 1988 under the title "That's Live". After its release, Huhn left the band, in order to join Humble Pie Featuring Jerry Shirley. His replacement was the 22-year-old Swiss, Fernando Garcia.

The fourth album "Culture Killed The Native" achieved #19 in the German charts and also entered the charts in the USA again. A Europe tour as support for Gary Moore followed, before Victory started their first headline tour through America, as well as their first concert in Canada. Both Singles "Never Satisfied" and "Don't Tell No Lies" again received airplay on Radio and MTV. By 1990 a second studio album with Garcia was released: "Temples Of Gold" appeared in the top 20 in Germany and the first edition of it added a six song live EP, of recordings made in Los Angeles. An additional US-Tour followed, before 1992 the Album "You Bought It You Name It" was released.

Victory now ranked alongside Scorpions, Accept and Helloween as the most successful German band but announced their split in 1994 with the double live album " live LINE ". But two years later they returned with the new album "Voiceprint". Frank was replaced by the new guitarist Jake Paland, and Randow by Matthias Liebetruth (who some years later would play for Running Wild). This new album made little commercial impression and resulted in the final dissolution for the band.

The time afterwards

Newton made a name as a producer (he worked on Helloween's "Keeper Of The Seven Keys") and became manager (with Knorn) of Uli Jon Roth, Glenn Hughes and Michael Schenker. Huhn joined (in 2000) Foghat and Garcia (from 2004) sang for Swiss metal band Godiva (Band). Randow played in the meantime for Saxon.

Reunification in the new Millennium

In 2002, rumours of a reunification of Victory started. Garcia declined to participate, which it made it all the more surprising that in 2003, the album "Instinct" appeared with the lineup of Huhn, Newton, Frank, Knorn and Randow. Victory played some concerts in Russia and Bulgaria as well as Wacken Open Air - a festival in northern Germany. Since Huhn was living in America, tour activities were difficult. Huhn was finally replaced with Jioti Parcharidis, the singer of Human Fortress.

With Parcharidis, the band released the album "Fuel To The Fire", containing re-recordings of their best known songs in January 2006. Thereafter another line-up change followed. Randow left Victory and was replaced by former Sanvoisen drummer Achim Keller. Appearances followed at Bang Your Head and Sweden Rock-festival as well as a European tour in support of Metal Church in May and June.

Discography

tudio Albums

* 1985 Victory
* 1986 Don't Get Mad... Get Even
* 1987 Hungry Hearts
* 1989 Culture Killed The Native
* 1990 Temples Of Gold
* 1992 You Bought It - You Name It
* 1996 Voiceprint
* 2003 Instinct
* 2006 Fuel To The Fire "(Rerecordings of older songs)"

Live albums & Compilations

* 1988 That's Live "(Live)"
* 1992 The Very Best Of - Rock'N'Roll Kids Forever "(Best Of)"
* 1994 Liveline "(Live)"

ingles & EPs

* 1986 Check's In The Mail
* 1987 Feel The Fire
* 1989 Never Satisfied
* 1989 Don't Tell No Lies
* 1990 Rock'N'Roll Kids Forever
* 1992 Rock-O-Matic
* 1992 Lost In The Night
* 1996 Deep Inside The World
* 1996 Cyberia

Videos & DVDs

* 1990 The Videos "(VHS)"

External links

* [http://www.victory-music.com Official Website]
* [http://www.rockdetector.com/artist,9855.sm Biography]
* [http://www.hermanfrank.com/ Herman Frank's website]