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"ALEX HOLZWARTH and ERIC SINGER on drums:
Avantasia fans surely remember his amazing drumming on Avantasia’s “The Metal Opera” albums, the man who’s been with Rhapsody for years now, who played for progressive heroes Sieges Even and who drummed his guts out on Angra’s legendary debut album “Angels Cry”, that made them literally Heavy Metal superstars in Japan within the blink of an eye: Alex Holzwarth will play on several tracks in addition to KISS drummer Eric Singer.
Tobias: “Eric has played on many tracks, but we have composed some more. Problem was, that now he is busy with KISS, they do a new album and they are on tour, and I couldn’t talk him into quitting KISS and getting his priorities straight, haha. Alex has been a long time friend and he's a superb drummer, very different style. Eric is your Cozy Powell kind of thunderous Rock drummer, Alex’ drum work is more nimble and as the remaining songs were quite fast Alex is a great choice. Both drummers are awesome musicians and great guys. And both are members of my extended family. Depending on the amount of coming material there will be maybe a third drummer on the album, who knows? We got a lot of songs and as long as they are great, we will keep producing, people should expect a 10-Disc collection in 2017, haha."
JORN LANDE on forthcoming Avantasia album:
Besides KISS-drummer Eric Singer and Sieges Even's Alex Holzwarth (who also played for Avantasia's first two albums "The Metal Opera 1 & 2") the third musician can now be announced: Norwegian vocal animal Jorn Lande has been in the studio to sing his parts for the forthcoming Avantasia epic. Lande had already been on last year's Avantasia-chartbreaker "The Scarecrow".
Scorpions singer KLAUS MEINE on Avantasia:
Recently Scorpions vocalist Klaus Meine was in the studio to record a duet with Tobias. The recording session took place at Peppermint Park, Mousse T's prestigious studio in Hannover. About the collaboration Tobias says the following: "We played a couple of shows with the Scorpions here and there and they are not only the biggest and greatest Rock band ever to emerge from Germany, they are also cool Rock-n-Roll people who are aware of what's going on in the world of heavy guitars. Lately we played Bulgaria together, Edguy and the Scorpions, and I watched their full show from onstage. They kicked serious ass! Rudolf (Schenker, Scorpions) did some cool guitar work on the previous record, and now Klaus is on the forthcoming one. He has done a superb job, he opens his mouth and you immediately hear it's that cutting voice that has sung "Rock You Like A Hurricane" and "Blackout"! The track we did together is an anthemic mid-tempo tune, big choir chorus. And I am still speechless thinking of Klaus' performance. He is a real pro and he would still blow away 99% of all us Rock singers with a quarter of his left lung. People, get ready for a monster song!"
Ex-Judas Priest singer TIM "RIPPER" OWENS on Avantasia:
Tim "Ripper" Owens, vocalist of Yngwie Malmsteen's band and former Judas Priest voice has recently been in the studio to sing his parts for the forthcoming Avantasia epic, whose title is yet to be announced. About the collaboration Tobias has to say the following: "I had this pretty heavy riff monster and I remembered a Judas Priest live-album with "the new singer" on vocals. I listened again and when I heard him sing "Metal Gods" and "Painkiller" I knew that this was the voice I so desperately needed for the song. Tim is a cool guy and a scream machine. He makes his voice spit out the most aggressive high notes I have ever heard, while fully controlling it. I am so proud of the heaviest Metal tune I have written so far, and Tim has turned a good Heavy Metal song into the ultimate Heavy Metal Monster!"
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