Nikolo Kotzev
Encyclopedia
Nikolo Kotzev (born 1961) is a Bulgaria
n guitarist, violinist, song writer and producer, perhaps most famous for his 2001 rock opera Nostradamus
and his band Brazen Abbot
.
and started taking violin lessons at the age of five. While in his teens he took an interest to rock music, and started playing the guitar.
Nikolo worked as a session musician and played the guitar in a Bulgarian cover band. While touring with the band in Europe in the late 80s, Nikolo met Swedish
singer Björn Lodin
. When Nikolo relocated to Mariehamn
, Åland, Finland
in 1989, he joined Lodin's band Baltimoore
, with whom he recorded two albums: Double Density (1992) and Thought For Food (1994).
Creative differences led to Kotzev's departure in 1994, at which point Nikolo started working on a solo project under the Brazen Abbot moniker. The result was Live and Learn (1995), which featured singers Göran Edman
(ex-Yngwie Malmsteen), Glenn Hughes (ex-Deep Purple
, ex-Trapeze
) and Thomas Vikström
, keyboard player Mic Michaeli
(Europe
), bassist Svante Henryson
and drummer Ian Haugland
(Europe). Kotzev played the guitar, produced, mixed and wrote all the songs for the album.
The follow-up album, Eye of the Storm (1996), featured mostly the same people, with Joe Lynn Turner
(ex-Rainbow
,ex-Deep Purple) replacing Hughes and John Levén
(Europe) replacing Henryson. The same line-up also released Bad Religion (1997).
Brazen Abbot was put on hiatus when Kotzev started working on a rock opera about Nostradamus
. Due to a string of setbacks, including scheduling conflicts and Kotzev's record company, USG Records, going bankrupt, the album wasn't completed until 2000 and was finally released as Nikolo Kotzev's Nostradamus
in 2001 on SPV Records
. The album featured most Brazen Abbot members, in addition to singers Jørn Lande
(Masterplan), Alannah Myles
and Sass Jordan
.
Kotzev resumed work with Brazen Abbot in 2002, releasing Guilty as Sin in 2003. The line-up was mostly the same as for Bad Religion, with Lande replacing Vikström.
Michaeli, Levén and Haugland departed Brazen Abbot to rejoin Europe. Temporary replacements filled in during a short tour in Bulgaria, recordings of which were released on the live album A Decade of Brazen Abbot (2004).
My Resurrection followed in 2005, and featured four singers: Edman, Turner and new members Tony Harnell
(TNT
) and Erik Mårtensson and a new backing band consisting of bassist Wayne Banks (ex-Sabbat
, Blaze), organist Nelko Kolarov
and drummer Mattias Knutas.
In addition to being a recording artist, Kotzev has also produced and mixed albums by other bands, such as Saxon
, Molly Hatchet
, Rose Tattoo
and Messiah's Kiss.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n guitarist, violinist, song writer and producer, perhaps most famous for his 2001 rock opera Nostradamus
Nikolo Kotzev's Nostradamus
Nikolo Kotzev's Nostradamus is a rock opera in three acts written by Nikolo Kotzev about the life and times of Nostradamus. It was released in a 2-CD set in 2001; it has not been performed live, although it remains an ambition of Kotzev's to have the rock opera performed on stage...
and his band Brazen Abbot
Brazen Abbot
Brazen Abbot is a Finnish rock band. Originally a studio project of Bulgarian guitarist, producer and song writer Nikolo Kotzev, who is a Finnish resident, the band has since made several live performances....
.
Biography
Kotzev was born in PazardzhikPazardzhik
Pazardzhik is a city situated along the banks of the Maritsa river, Southern Bulgaria. It is the capital of Pazardzhik Province and centre for the homonymous Pazardzhik Municipality...
and started taking violin lessons at the age of five. While in his teens he took an interest to rock music, and started playing the guitar.
Nikolo worked as a session musician and played the guitar in a Bulgarian cover band. While touring with the band in Europe in the late 80s, Nikolo met Swedish
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....
singer Björn Lodin
Björn Lodin
Björn Lodin is a Swedish singer, song writer and producer, primarily famous for his work with his band Baltimoore.-Biography:...
. When Nikolo relocated to Mariehamn
Mariehamn
Mariehamn is the capital of Åland, an autonomous territory under Finnish sovereignty. Mariehamn is the seat of the Government and Parliament of Åland, and 40% of the population of Åland live in the city...
, Åland, 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...
in 1989, he joined Lodin's band Baltimoore
Baltimoore
Baltimoore is a Swedish rock band, led by Swedish singer Björn Lodin. Lodin was originally approached by Elektra Records in 1987 to record a solo album, but Lodin opted to use the moniker Baltimoore rather than his own name....
, with whom he recorded two albums: Double Density (1992) and Thought For Food (1994).
Creative differences led to Kotzev's departure in 1994, at which point Nikolo started working on a solo project under the Brazen Abbot moniker. The result was Live and Learn (1995), which featured singers Göran Edman
Göran Edman
Göran Edman is a Swedish vocalist. He is noted for his session work with many artists through the years but mainly for his early work with guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen...
(ex-Yngwie Malmsteen), Glenn Hughes (ex-Deep Purple
Deep Purple
Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although some band members believe that their music cannot be categorised as belonging to any one genre...
, ex-Trapeze
Trapeze (band)
Trapeze were an English rock band formed in March 1969, by vocalist John Jones and guitarist/keyboardist Terry Rowley , with guitarist Mel Galley, singer/bassist Glenn Hughes, and drummer Dave Holland...
) and Thomas Vikström
Thomas Vikström
Thomas Vikström is a Swedish vocalist best known for working with hard rock and heavy metal bands including doom metal legends Candlemass and power metallers Stormwind. He is the son of opera singer Sven-Erik Vikström...
, keyboard player Mic Michaeli
Mic Michaeli
Gunnar Mathias "Mic" Michaeli is the keyboardist in the Swedish rock band Europe. Like many of the other Europe members he grew up in Stockholm suburb Upplands Väsby...
(Europe
Europe (band)
Europe is a Swedish rock band formed in Upplands Väsby in 1979 under the name Force by vocalist Joey Tempest, guitarist John Norum and drummer Tony Reno. Although widely associated with glam metal, the band's sound incorporates heavy metal and hard rock elements...
), bassist Svante Henryson
Svante Henryson
Svante Henryson is a composer, cellist, electric bassist and double bassist, active within jazz, classical music, and hard rock.-Childhood & Studies:Svante Henryson grew up in Umeå in northern Sweden...
and drummer Ian Haugland
Ian Haugland
Håkan Jan "Ian" Haugland is the drummer in the Swedish rock band Europe. When he was eight months old, he and his family moved to the Swedish suburb Märsta. He joined Europe in the summer of 1984, replacing Tony Reno. Previously Haugland had played in a number of bands, including Trilogy, where...
(Europe). Kotzev played the guitar, produced, mixed and wrote all the songs for the album.
The follow-up album, Eye of the Storm (1996), featured mostly the same people, with Joe Lynn Turner
Joe Lynn Turner
Joe Lynn Turner , is an American rock singer, known for his works with Rainbow, Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force, Deep Purple. From the late 1990s, he continued to perform in a large number of solo albums and other studio projects...
(ex-Rainbow
Rainbow (band)
Rainbow were an English rock band, controlled by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore from 1975 to 1984 and 1994 to 1997. It was originally established with American rock band Elf's members, though over the years Rainbow went through many line-up changes with no two studio albums featuring the same line-up...
,ex-Deep Purple) replacing Hughes and John Levén
John Levén
John Gunnar Levén is the bassist in the Swedish rock band Europe. Levén and vocalist Joey Tempest are the only band members who have performed on all of Europe's studio albums....
(Europe) replacing Henryson. The same line-up also released Bad Religion (1997).
Brazen Abbot was put on hiatus when Kotzev started working on a rock opera about Nostradamus
Nostradamus
Michel de Nostredame , usually Latinised to Nostradamus, was a French apothecary and reputed seer who published collections of prophecies that have since become famous worldwide. He is best known for his book Les Propheties , the first edition of which appeared in 1555...
. Due to a string of setbacks, including scheduling conflicts and Kotzev's record company, USG Records, going bankrupt, the album wasn't completed until 2000 and was finally released as Nikolo Kotzev's Nostradamus
Nikolo Kotzev's Nostradamus
Nikolo Kotzev's Nostradamus is a rock opera in three acts written by Nikolo Kotzev about the life and times of Nostradamus. It was released in a 2-CD set in 2001; it has not been performed live, although it remains an ambition of Kotzev's to have the rock opera performed on stage...
in 2001 on SPV Records
SPV GmbH
SPV GmbH is an independent German record label.Founded on January 1, 1984, it has slowly grown to be one of the largest independent distributors and record labels worldwide....
. The album featured most Brazen Abbot members, in addition to singers Jørn Lande
Jørn Lande
Jørn Lande is a Norwegian hard rock and heavy metal singer who has sold over 2 million records worldwide. He is probably best known for being the lead singer of the power metal band Masterplan.-Biography:...
(Masterplan), Alannah Myles
Alannah Myles
Alannah Myles is a Canadian singer-songwriter, the daughter of Canadian broadcast pioneer William Douglas Byles. In 1989, she released her eponymous debut album...
and Sass Jordan
Sass Jordan
Sarah "Sass" Jordan is a Canadian, Juno Award winning, rock singer/songwriter who grew up in Montreal.- Biography :...
.
Kotzev resumed work with Brazen Abbot in 2002, releasing Guilty as Sin in 2003. The line-up was mostly the same as for Bad Religion, with Lande replacing Vikström.
Michaeli, Levén and Haugland departed Brazen Abbot to rejoin Europe. Temporary replacements filled in during a short tour in Bulgaria, recordings of which were released on the live album A Decade of Brazen Abbot (2004).
My Resurrection followed in 2005, and featured four singers: Edman, Turner and new members Tony Harnell
Tony Harnell
Antony "Tony" Harnell is an American hard rock singer, best known for his work with the Norwegian hard rock band TNT....
(TNT
TNT (band)
TNT is a Norwegian hard rock/glam metal band from Trondheim, formed in 1982. The band has released twelve studio albums, three EPs and two live albums while going through numerous line-up changes since its formation...
) and Erik Mårtensson and a new backing band consisting of bassist Wayne Banks (ex-Sabbat
Sabbat (band)
Sabbat are a thrash metal band from Nottingham, England, currently consisting of Martin Walkyier , Andy Sneap , Simon Jones , Gizz Butt and Simon Negus . Over the years Sabbat have released three studio albums, four demos, two split singles/compilation albums, two singles and a live VHS...
, Blaze), organist Nelko Kolarov
Nelko Kolarov
Nelko Kolarov is a Bulgarian composer, conductor and musician. Outside of Bulgaria, Kolarov is perhaps best known for his collaborations with Nikolo Kotzev and his solo album Day of wrath.- Biography :Nelko Kolarov was born in Varna...
and drummer Mattias Knutas.
In addition to being a recording artist, Kotzev has also produced and mixed albums by other bands, such as Saxon
Saxon (band)
Saxon are an English heavy metal band, formed in 1976 in Barnsley, Yorkshire. As front-runners of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, they had 8 UK Top 40 albums in the 1980s including 4 UK Top 10 albums. Saxon also had numerous singles in the Top 20 singles chart...
, Molly Hatchet
Molly Hatchet
Molly Hatchet is an American southern rock band formed in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1975. They are widely known for their hit song "Flirtin' with Disaster" from the album of the same title. The band, founded by Dave Hlubek and Steve Holland, took its name from a prostitute who allegedly mutilated...
, Rose Tattoo
Rose Tattoo
Rose Tattoo is an Australian rock and roll band, now led by Angry Anderson, that was formed in Sydney in 1976. Their sound is hard rock mixed with blues rock influences, with songs including "Bad Boy for Love", "Rock 'n' Roll Outlaw", "Nice Boys", "We Can't Be Beaten" and "Scarred for Life"...
and Messiah's Kiss.
Discography
- Baltimoore - Double Density (1992)
- Baltimoore - Thought For Food (1994)
- Brazen Abbot - Live and Learn (1995)
- Brazen Abbot - Eye of the Storm (1996)
- Brazen Abbot - Bad Religion (1997)
- Nikolo Kotzev - NostradamusNikolo Kotzev's NostradamusNikolo Kotzev's Nostradamus is a rock opera in three acts written by Nikolo Kotzev about the life and times of Nostradamus. It was released in a 2-CD set in 2001; it has not been performed live, although it remains an ambition of Kotzev's to have the rock opera performed on stage...
(2001) - Brazen Abbot - Guilty as Sin (2003)
- Brazen Abbot - A Decade of Brazen Abbot (2004)
- Brazen Abbot - My Resurrection (2005)
See also
- Brazen AbbotBrazen AbbotBrazen Abbot is a Finnish rock band. Originally a studio project of Bulgarian guitarist, producer and song writer Nikolo Kotzev, who is a Finnish resident, the band has since made several live performances....
- EuropeEurope (band)Europe is a Swedish rock band formed in Upplands Väsby in 1979 under the name Force by vocalist Joey Tempest, guitarist John Norum and drummer Tony Reno. Although widely associated with glam metal, the band's sound incorporates heavy metal and hard rock elements...
- Deep PurpleDeep PurpleDeep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although some band members believe that their music cannot be categorised as belonging to any one genre...
- RainbowRainbow (band)Rainbow were an English rock band, controlled by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore from 1975 to 1984 and 1994 to 1997. It was originally established with American rock band Elf's members, though over the years Rainbow went through many line-up changes with no two studio albums featuring the same line-up...