Gamma Ray
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Hamburg, Germany (1989 – present)
Founded in 1989 by Kai Hansen in Hamburg, Germany after leaving Helloween, Gamma Ray borrowed straight from the Helloween classics, and continued to pioneer Hansen’s style of power metal.
After four years with Helloween, Kai Hansen decided to leave the band at the height of their career. He then went on to do some studio work with Blind Guardian.
Kai and his friend Ralf Scheepers from Tyran’ Pace decided to start a project. They recruited bassist Uwe Wessel and drummer Mathias Burchard. The resulting sound was very close to Helloween’s power metal style.
The first album Heading For Tomorrow was released in 1990. Two lineup changes resulted in Uli Kusch (who would later join Helloween) becoming the bands second drummer and Dirk Schlachter becoming a new guitarist. The new lineup released the Heaven Can Wait EP.
In 1991 the band released Sigh No More, which resulted in a 50 date world tour.
In 1993 Uli Kusch left the band and was replaced with Thomas Nack and Jan Rubach who replaced Uwe Wessel as the new bassist. The resulting cd was Insanity and Genius. Later that year, along with Rage, Helicon and Conception the band played on a tour called “Melodic Metal Strikes Back”. This resulted in a double CD release and video called Power of Metal. They also released Lust For Live which did not feature the other bands.
After four years with Helloween, Kai Hansen decided to leave the band at the height of their career. He then went on to do some studio work with Blind Guardian.
Kai and his friend Ralf Scheepers from Tyran’ Pace decided to start a project. They recruited bassist Uwe Wessel and drummer Mathias Burchard. The resulting sound was very close to Helloween’s power metal style.
The first album Heading For Tomorrow was released in 1990. Two lineup changes resulted in Uli Kusch (who would later join Helloween) becoming the bands second drummer and Dirk Schlachter becoming a new guitarist. The new lineup released the Heaven Can Wait EP.
In 1991 the band released Sigh No More, which resulted in a 50 date world tour.
In 1993 Uli Kusch left the band and was replaced with Thomas Nack and Jan Rubach who replaced Uwe Wessel as the new bassist. The resulting cd was Insanity and Genius. Later that year, along with Rage, Helicon and Conception the band played on a tour called “Melodic Metal Strikes Back”. This resulted in a double CD release and video called Power of Metal. They also released Lust For Live which did not feature the other bands.
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Top Albums
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Land Of The Free
Gamma Ray
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No World Order
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Majestic
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Heading For Tomorrow
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Shoutbox
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cashmerestylz wrote:
cashmerestylz > all gamma ray fans
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Paiuz wrote:
The best Power Metal Band! "no wonder why Kai Hansen is called "The Father of Power Metal"[3]
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MetalMeghier wrote:
The best Power Metal Band! "no wonder why Kai Hansen is called "The Father of Power Metal"[2]
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Tebymetal1 wrote:
Amazing band, no wonder why Kai Hansen is called "The Father of Power Metal".
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cashmerestylz wrote:
I’ve heard of stingrays, x rays, microwaves but none of these silly gamma rays...?
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cashmerestylz wrote:
[-1]
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cashmerestylz wrote:
[-1]
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MrWaagh wrote:
No Need to Cry is amazing. [2] It took a little while before I was able to appreciate it, but now I LOVE it.
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TheJudasMaster wrote:
No Need to Cry is amazing.
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stanbys wrote:
Heavy Metal Universe ;-)
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MetalMeghier wrote:
Kai Hansen is GOD!
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Rakzoman_666 wrote:
Beyond The Black Hole *-*
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Shimaonari wrote:
Hell Is Thy Home! \o.
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B-eatchSkin wrote:
Someone that wanna help change the awful chards in this group? http://www.lastfm.se/group/Holli+Would
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MrWaagh wrote:
Kai is God! [2]
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BeIieve wrote:
the world lies dying
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MrWaagh wrote:
Tiiiiiiime has coooome...
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ElHuevas1428574 wrote:
⌠↑ಠ_ಠ ←:D→ ಥ_ಥ↓⌡
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Lionheartattack wrote:
V I never liked it that much at first. I was like "lol unicorns..." :D Then I heard the Skeletons in the Closet version. O_________O It's like fucking Painkiller! Intense as shit! Heavy Metal at its very heavymetaliest! o/ @hammerstrikebg - It's possible I'd come see that tour. Yeah. The whole tour. Every gig in every country. :D
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krumbknob wrote:
The Heart Of The Unicorn
Videos
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Play
Empathy (Bonus Video)
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Play
Rise (Bonus Video)
6 shouts
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Play
"To The Metal" (new videoclip)
2 shouts
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Play
Hear Me Calling
Events
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Jun
2
Scorpions
Amphithéatre Déléage, Faculté de Lettres, Nancy, France
2 going
- Jun 2 Nancy on the Rocks Amphithéâtre de Plein Air, Nancy, France
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Jun
6
Sweden Rock Festival 2012
Norje, Sölvesborg, Sweden
75 going
16 shouts
News
Upcoming Dates & Upcoming Festivals 2012
18 Nov 2011 | from www.gammaray.org/index.php/component/content/frontpage.html
Only 45 minutes after the
pre-sale for the Wacken Open Air Festival 2012 had started, the
first 10.000 tickets have been sold.
One of the steadiest bands of the W:O:A Festival of course is
…
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Henjo in Hospital
4 Oct 2011 | from www.gammaray.org/index.php/component/content/frontpage.html -
Gamma Ray live with Bullet und Crucified Barbara
7 Sep 2011 | from www.gammaray.org/index.php/component/content/frontpage.html -
Metal Liga 2011
29 Jul 2011 | from www.gammaray.org/index.php/component/content/frontpage.html
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Groups (310)
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Michael Weikath
70 members
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Kai Hansen
135 members
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German Metal Groups
148 members
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Ingo Schwichtenberg
53 members
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Gamma Ray
516 members
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