RPWL
Encyclopedia
RPWL is a German
progressive rock
band. Their music is distributed by Inside Out Music.
The band was formed in 1997 in Freising
, Germany as a Pink Floyd
cover band. The band's name comes from the first letters of the original four members; Phil Paul Rissettio, Chris Postl, Karlheinz Wallner, and Yogi Lang.
After three years they started to make their own music based on their influences from their cover band era. Their debut CD, "God Has Failed
" was met with international enthusiasm, praise and excellent reviews in all the major progressive rock
music magazines.
2002 brought "Trying To Kiss The Sun" which saw the band developing more their own sound and not relying so heavily on their influences. Their 3rd studio album, "Stock" was released in 2003. It was formed of the tracks that didn't make it onto their previous two albums, plus a cover of Syd Barrett
's Opel
, which the band used at shows as a soundcheck
.
In 2005 they released their 4th studio album "World Through My Eyes". This was received well by fans, and off it their first single, "Roses", was taken. This tune also featured the ex-Genesis
and Stiltskin
singer Ray Wilson
on lead vocals. The special edition of the album was also mixed by Lang in 5.1 and was released as an SACD
hybrid disc.
Later that year, the band released their 1st live album "Live: Start the Fire". The double disc album contains the whole of the band's Rockpalast
concert, again featuring Ray Wilson on lead vocals for Roses and one other track, Not About Us. Ray recorded this song with Genesis in 1997 for their Calling All Stations
album. This was a way for the band to pay tribute to Genesis, the other main band that had influenced them greatly apart from Pink Floyd.
On September 9, 2007 (9/9/2007), an album called "9" was released. "9" is a compilation including five previously unreleased live songs and four brand new solo songs by Yogi Lang, Chris Postl, Manni Müller and Kalle Wallner, recorded together by the band. The studio tracks are representative of the different influences within the band. "9" was released in a limited edition of 999 CDs and was only available from their website.
In February 2008, they released an album called "The RPWL Experience".
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
band. Their music is distributed by Inside Out Music.
The band was formed in 1997 in Freising
Freising
Freising is a town in Bavaria, Germany, and capital of the district Freising. Total population 48,500.The city is located north of Munich at the Isar river, near the Munich International Airport...
, Germany as a Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
cover band. The band's name comes from the first letters of the original four members; Phil Paul Rissettio, Chris Postl, Karlheinz Wallner, and Yogi Lang.
After three years they started to make their own music based on their influences from their cover band era. Their debut CD, "God Has Failed
God Has Failed
God Has Failed is a studio album by the German progressive rock band RPWL, released in 2000. It was the band's debut studio album.-Track listing:# Hole In Sky - #*Part 1: Fly*#*Part 2: Crawl To You*# Who Do You Think We Are -...
" was met with international enthusiasm, praise and excellent reviews in all the major progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
music magazines.
2002 brought "Trying To Kiss The Sun" which saw the band developing more their own sound and not relying so heavily on their influences. Their 3rd studio album, "Stock" was released in 2003. It was formed of the tracks that didn't make it onto their previous two albums, plus a cover of Syd Barrett
Syd Barrett
Syd Barrett , born Roger Keith Barrett, was an English singer-songwriter, guitarist, and painter, best remembered as a founding member of the band Pink Floyd. He was the lead vocalist, guitarist and primary songwriter during the band's psychedelic years, providing major musical and stylistic...
's Opel
Opel (album)
Opel is an album released in 1988, compiled from recordings made by former Pink Floyd frontman Syd Barrett between 1968 and 1970. It consists of 8 previously unreleased songs and 6 alternate versions of already released ones....
, which the band used at shows as a soundcheck
Soundcheck
A soundcheck is the preparation that takes place before a concert, speech, or similar performance, when the performer and the sound crew run through a small portion of the upcoming show on the venue's sound system to make sure that the sound in the venue's "Front Of House" and stage monitor sound...
.
In 2005 they released their 4th studio album "World Through My Eyes". This was received well by fans, and off it their first single, "Roses", was taken. This tune also featured the ex-Genesis
Genesis (band)
Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...
and Stiltskin
Stiltskin
Stiltskin is a Scottish post-grunge/rock band, who first achieved widespread popularity in the mid 1990s. Currently, Stiltskin's only original member is vocalist Ray Wilson...
singer Ray Wilson
Ray Wilson (musician)
Ray Wilson is a Scottish musician, best known as vocalist in the post-grunge band Stiltskin, and in Genesis between 1996 and 1998.Wilson started off in a band called Guaranteed Pure in the early 1990s...
on lead vocals. The special edition of the album was also mixed by Lang in 5.1 and was released as an SACD
SACD
SACD, founded as Société des Auteurs et Compositeurs Dramatiques on 7 March 1829, is a French collecting society, undertaking collective rights management for authors...
hybrid disc.
Later that year, the band released their 1st live album "Live: Start the Fire". The double disc album contains the whole of the band's Rockpalast
Rockpalast
Rockpalast is a German music television show that broadcasts live on German television station Westdeutscher Rundfunk . Rockpalast started in 1974 and continues to this day. Hundreds of rock and jazz bands have performed on Rockpalast...
concert, again featuring Ray Wilson on lead vocals for Roses and one other track, Not About Us. Ray recorded this song with Genesis in 1997 for their Calling All Stations
Calling All Stations
Calling All Stations, is the 15th studio album by rock band Genesis. It was recorded following Phil Collins's departure from the band in 1996, and was released in 1997...
album. This was a way for the band to pay tribute to Genesis, the other main band that had influenced them greatly apart from Pink Floyd.
On September 9, 2007 (9/9/2007), an album called "9" was released. "9" is a compilation including five previously unreleased live songs and four brand new solo songs by Yogi Lang, Chris Postl, Manni Müller and Kalle Wallner, recorded together by the band. The studio tracks are representative of the different influences within the band. "9" was released in a limited edition of 999 CDs and was only available from their website.
In February 2008, they released an album called "The RPWL Experience".
Discography
- God Has FailedGod Has FailedGod Has Failed is a studio album by the German progressive rock band RPWL, released in 2000. It was the band's debut studio album.-Track listing:# Hole In Sky - #*Part 1: Fly*#*Part 2: Crawl To You*# Who Do You Think We Are -...
(2000) - Trying To Kiss The SunTrying To Kiss The SunTrying to kiss the sun is a studio album by the German progressive rock band RPWL, released in 2002. It is the band's second studio album.-Track listing:# Trying to Kiss the Sun Lang, Rissettio, Wallner...
(2002) [ Allmusic.com: Album Review] - Stock (2003) [ Allmusic.com: Album Review]
- World Through My Eyes (2005) [ Allmusic.com: Album Review]
- Live: Start the Fire (2005)
- 9 (2007)
- The RPWL Experience (2008) [ Allmusic.com: Album Review]
- The RPWL Live Experience (2009)
- The Gentle Art of Music (2010)
External links
- Billboard.com: Discography
- [ Allmusic.com]
- Official website of RPWL
- Dutch fansite of RPWL