Henjo Richter
Encyclopedia
Henjo Oliver Richter, in Hamburg
, West Germany
, is a guitarist
and keyboardist
in Gamma Ray
, the German power metal
band formed by Kai Hansen
.
(who had switched instrument to bass
) on Somewhere Out In Space
(1997). However, in the mid-1980s, Henjo was a member of the heavy metal band Rampage
, replacing Roland Grapow
.
In 2001 Henjo was hired by Tobias Sammet
to play guitar on his Avantasia
project. He is also rumoured to have offered his services to Hansen's former band Helloween
for their album Rabbit Don't Come Easy
following the departure of their guitarist Roland Grapow
.
In 2005 he was forced to miss part of Gamma Ray's tour for their album Majestic
after injuring himself falling down a set of stairs on the ferry going between Sweden
and Finland
.
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
, West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
, is a guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
and keyboardist
Keyboardist
A keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. Until the early 1960s musicians who played keyboards were generally classified as either pianists or organists. Since the mid-1960s, a plethora of new musical instruments with keyboards have come into common usage, requiring a more...
in Gamma Ray
Gamma Ray (band)
Gamma Ray is a power metal band from Hamburg, northern Germany, founded and fronted by Kai Hansen after his departure from the German power metal Helloween. Hansen is the current lead vocalist, guitarist as well as the chief songwriter of Gamma Ray. The band is known as one of the most prominent...
, the German power metal
Power metal
Power metal is a style of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional metal with speed metal, often within symphonic context. The term refers to two different but related styles: the first pioneered and largely practiced in North America with a harder sound similar to speed metal, and a...
band formed by Kai Hansen
Kai Hansen
Kai Michael Hansen is a power metal guitarist and vocalist.Hansen is the founder, lead guitarist, and vocalist of power metal band Gamma Ray, and the co-founder and former member of German metal band Helloween. He is a prominent figure in power metal, and has sold millions of albums worldwide...
.
Biography
Henjo is a self-taught musician and started playing at the age of 13. He is a veteran of the German heavy metal scene, but Gamma Ray is his first major band. He joined them as a replacement for guitarist Dirk SchlächterDirk Schlächter
Dirk Schlächter is the bassist of the power metal band Gamma Ray.- History :Dirk got in touch with music for the first time joining a music school at the age of 8. At the age of 11 he got his first acoustic guitar followed by an electric guitar at the age of 15. At the age of 19 he turned to bass...
(who had switched instrument to bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
) on Somewhere Out In Space
Somewhere Out In Space
Somewhere Out in Space is an album by German power metal band, Gamma Ray. It was released on August 25, 1997 and is the band's fifth studio album. Continuing in the tradition of the previous four albums, it contained yet another different lineup, but would also be the first album to feature the...
(1997). However, in the mid-1980s, Henjo was a member of the heavy metal band Rampage
Rampage
Rampage may refer to:* Rampage , an American rapper* Dodge Rampage, a subcompact, unibody pickup truck* Rampage , a video game series....
, replacing Roland Grapow
Roland Grapow
Roland Grapow, born 30 August 1959 in Hamburg, Germany is a professional guitarist and music producer. Roland is best known for his time in the power metal band Helloween, who he played with for 12 years after replacing founding member Kai Hansen...
.
In 2001 Henjo was hired by Tobias Sammet
Tobias Sammet
Tobias Sammet is the vocalist and primary songwriter of the German Power metal band Edguy, as well as the creator of the metal opera Avantasia and a member of the metal project Final Chapter. He also made guest appearances on the Rob Rock album Holy Hell and the metal opera Aina...
to play guitar on his Avantasia
Avantasia
Avantasia is a heavy metal project created by Tobias Sammet, vocalist and frontman of the band Edguy. The project's title is a portmanteau of the words "avalon" and "fantasia" and describes "a world beyond human imagination"...
project. He is also rumoured to have offered his services to Hansen's former band Helloween
Helloween
Helloween is a German power metal band founded in the mid 1980s by members of Iron Fist and Powerfool. The band was a pioneering force in the European Power Metal movement and their second and third studio albums, Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt...
for their album Rabbit Don't Come Easy
Rabbit Don't Come Easy
Rabbit Don't Come Easy is the tenth album by the German power metal/heavy metal band Helloween. It is something of a return to the roots for the band. Rabbit Don't Come Easy combines many old classic Helloween elements with newer sounds and a modern production.No drummer is listed in the band...
following the departure of their guitarist Roland Grapow
Roland Grapow
Roland Grapow, born 30 August 1959 in Hamburg, Germany is a professional guitarist and music producer. Roland is best known for his time in the power metal band Helloween, who he played with for 12 years after replacing founding member Kai Hansen...
.
In 2005 he was forced to miss part of Gamma Ray's tour for their album Majestic
Majestic (album)
Majestic is the eighth full-length studio album from the German power metal band Gamma Ray, released in 2005. The band also released an LP version through their website to complement the supporting tour, limited to 1500 copies worldwide....
after injuring himself falling down a set of stairs on the ferry going between Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
.
With Gamma Ray
- Somewhere Out in SpaceSomewhere Out In SpaceSomewhere Out in Space is an album by German power metal band, Gamma Ray. It was released on August 25, 1997 and is the band's fifth studio album. Continuing in the tradition of the previous four albums, it contained yet another different lineup, but would also be the first album to feature the...
(1997) - Power Plant (1999)
- Blast from the Past (2000)
- No World Order (2001)
- Skeletons in the Closet (live album) (2003)
- MajesticMajestic (album)Majestic is the eighth full-length studio album from the German power metal band Gamma Ray, released in 2005. The band also released an LP version through their website to complement the supporting tour, limited to 1500 copies worldwide....
(2005) - Land of the Free IILand of the Free IILand of the Free II is the ninth full length studio album by Gamma Ray. It was released on November 16, 2007 in Germany, November 19 in Europe, November 21 in Japan and January 15, 2008 for North America. To promote Land of the Free II, Gamma Ray joined Helloween on the 2007/08 Hellish Rock Tour...
(2007) - Hell Yeah! The Awesome FoursomeHell Yeah! The Awesome FoursomeHell Yeah!!! The Awesome Foursome is a live album from the German power metal band Gamma Ray, released in 2008.-Track listing:Disc 1...
(live album) (2008) - To the MetalTo the Metal-Album versions:# Regular jewel case CD# Limited edition featuring an additional DVD # Red vinyl in gatefold packaging# Collectors’ edition featuring CD and 7” vinyl with 2 unreleased tracks, completely hand-signed-Critical reception:...
(2010)
With Avantasia
- The Metal OperaThe Metal OperaThe Metal Opera is the first full-length album by Tobias Sammet's side project opera, Avantasia. It is a concept album and a rock opera, and further information on the story can be found here.- Track listing :All music and lyrics by Tobias Sammet...
(2000) - The Metal Opera Part IIThe Metal Opera Part IIThe Metal Opera Pt. II is the second full-length album by Tobias Sammet's side project opera, Avantasia. It is a concept album and a rock opera, and further information on the story can be found here. The songs carry on the story begun in The Metal Opera, with the same characters...
(2002) - The ScarecrowThe Scarecrow (album)-Personnel:* Tobias Sammet – Vocal, Bass guitar, Additional Keyboards* Sascha Paeth – Guitars,* Miro – Keyboards, Orchestration* Eric Singer – Drums-Guest vocalists:* Roy Khan * Jørn Lande...
(2008) - guest - Angel of BabylonAngel of BabylonAngel of Babylon is the fifth full-length Avantasia album by German power metal vocalist Tobias Sammet, released on April 3, 2010 along with The Wicked Symphony...
(2010) - guest - The Flying OperaThe Flying OperaThe Flying Opera is the first Avantasia live album by German power metal vocalist Tobias Sammet, released in March 2011. It was recorded during their first world tour in 2008, in support of the album The Scarecrow.-Tracklist:DVDDisc 1...
(live album) (2011) - guest