Stormwitch

Infobox musical artist
Name = Stormwitch
Img_capt = Stormwitch - unknown lineup
Background = group_or_band
Years_active = 1979-2004
Origin = flagicon|Germany Niemcy, Germany
Genre = Heavy metal/power metal
Label = GAMA Records
Scratch Records
Battle Cry Records
Nuclear Blast Records
URL = http://www.stormwitch.de
Current_members = Andy Mück (Andy Aldrian)
Jürgen Wannenwetsch
Past_members =Harald Spengler (Lee Tarot)
Stefan Kauffmann (Steve Merchant)
Ronny Gleisberg (Ronny Pearson)
Peter Langer (Pete Lancer)
Andy Hunter
Joe Gassmann
Damir Uzunovic
Martin Albrecht
Oliver Weislogel
Fabian Schwarz
Martin Winkler
Dominik Schwarz

Stormwitch was a German heavy metal band from the 1980s. They were also known as "The Masters of Black Romantic." The band's song lyrics often focused on fantasy, occult or historical themes, anticipating power metal along with their contemporaries and countrymen Helloween. They performed at Wacken Open Air festival in 2002.

Discography

They formed in the 1980s and released 7 albums in their original spell:
*"Walpurgis Night" (1984)
*"Tales Of Terror" (1985)
*"Stronger Than Heaven" (1986)
*"The Beauty And The Beast" (1988)
*"Live In Budapest" (1989)
*"Eye Of The Storm" (1989)
*"War Of The Wizards" (1992)
*"Shogun" (1994)

They then split up in 1994 but reformed in 2002 and have so far released 2 new albums:
*"Dance With The Witches" (2002)
*"Witchcraft" (2004)
*"Tears Of Rage" (TBA)

Members And Past Members

The vocalist Andy Mück has been the only constant member in the band with numerous line up changes since the formation.The only members of Stormwitch at the moment are Andy Mück (Vocals) and Jürgen Wannenwetsch (Bass).

Vocalist

Andy Mück 1979 - Present

Guitarist

Steve Merchant (Stefan Kauffman) (1979–1989)
Lee Tarot (Harald Spengler) (Tarot's Myst) (1979–1989)
Wolf Schludi (1989)
Damir Uzunovic (The Armada) (1991–1994)
Joe Gassmann (Sanvoisen, ex-Letter X) (1991–1992)
Robert ``Robby`` Balci (Defending the Faith, ex-Death In Action) (1992-1994, live only)
Martin Winkler (2002–2004)
Fabian Schwarz (Runamok, ex-Paradox (Ger), Ritual Spirit, Tyran' Pace)
(2002–2004)Oliver Weislogel

Bass Guitarist

Jürgen Wannenwetsch 2002 - Present
Ronny "Pearson" Gleisberg (1983–1986)
Andy "Hunter" Jäger (1987–1989)
Martin Albrecht (Valley's Eve, Mystic Prophecy, Rough) (1990–1994)
Dominik Schwarz (Runamok) (2002–2004)

Drums

Peter "Lancer" Langer (The Armada, Infinity's Call) (1983–1994)
Marc Oppold (ex-Tyrant (Ger), ex-Death in Action) (2002–2004)
Michael Blechinger

Keyboards
Alex Schmidt (ex-Tyran' Pace) (2002–2004)
Andrew Roussak

Additional Notes

Some of Stormwitch's songs have been covered by Hammerfall (Ravenlord) and White Skull (Tears By The Fire Light).

Formed in 1979 under the name "Lemon Sylvan". The name was changed into Stormwitch in 1981.

The band have performed in a concert known as "Rock-Fabrik Festival '84", extracts from this were then included on an album called "Heavy Metal - Live in Germany, vol.1" which included some other German heavy metal bands who were active at the time such as Restless, Tyran' Pace and Cacumen (now Bonfire)

Stormwitch was the first band to play Iron Maiden style heavy metal in Germany.

External links

* [http://www.stormwitch.de Official Stormwitch website]
* [http://www.metal-archives.com/band.php?id=1113 Metal Archives]