Robby Valentine
Encyclopedia
Robby Valentine is a Dutch singer and multi-instrumentalist who started his professional career in the eighties, and is the frontman of his band Valentine.
). This band released two albums when Robby had already left. In 1989 he joined 'happy metal
' band Zinatra, which enjoyed great popularity in Europe, Asia and South America. This band toured independently, and opened up for David Lee Roth
and Steve Vai
.
In 1990, Valentine signed a solo deal and started working on his first album. Although he produced, sang, and played most of the instruments himself, he also worked together with producer Humberto Gatica
, guitarist Michael Landau
and producer Erwin Musper. The first single, "Over and Over Again" (1991), was released in several European countries and became a big hit in the Netherlands. His selftitled debut album was released on Valentine's Day 1992. By the time his album got released, Robby had already formed a live band and started intensive club touring.
In 1993 a new album, The Magic Infinity, recorded with his live band, was released. Upon hearing this album, Brian May
invited the band to join him on his European tour, which they did. Despite this tour and the release of a compilation album (No Turning Back, 1994) , the band wasn't able to achieve a European breakthrough. In Japan, though, Valentine became increasingly popular, and the record company re-released the first two albums in Japan.
In 1995 Robby sacked his whole band after he had completed his third album, simply called Valentine. The album didn't generate hit singles or satisfying album sales in Europe, and his European contract was terminated, but not his Japanese contract.
Valentine's next albums, 4 - United (1997), No Sugar Added (1998) and Believing Is Seeing (2001), were released in Japan only. He also released two albums with Valensia
: V (1999) and V2 (2002). A third album, Nymphopsychoschizophonic, is as yet unreleased. He also played keyboard on Into the Electric Castle
by Ayreon
and Fata Morgana by Helloise.
In 2004, he completed The Most Beautiful Pain, but the record company put the release on hold. In 2006, it was released in Europe through Frontiers Records
, and several months later in Japan as well. One year later, Valentine's eighth album Falling Down In Misanthropolis was released.
In 2008 Valentine had founded a new band line up consisting of members from (amongst others) After Forever
and Ayreon, and in May returned to the European stages, promoting a retrospective double CD, Androgenious, containing old and new recordings of Valentine classics. This album was released in Japan in the last part of 2008, and in 2009 in the rest of the world. "Save Myself" was released as a single in May 2009, accompanied by a videoclip.
Another side project was KX-3, with fellow keyboard players Keiko Kumagai (Ars Nova, Ayreon), Joost van den Broek
and drummer André Borgman (both members of After Forever).
Biography
After his professional start as the keyboard player in Dutch symphonic rock band Line, he soon moved on to form the melodic hardrock band 1st Avenue in 1987, together with vocalist Peter Struyk (ex-VandenbergVandenberg (band)
Vandenberg was a Dutch hard rock band named after guitarist Ad "Adje" van den Berg -Career:In 1981, Van den Berg worked with vocalist Jos Veldhuizen, bassist Griff "Studly" McGrath, and drummer Bico De Gooijer in a band called Teaser...
). This band released two albums when Robby had already left. In 1989 he joined 'happy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
' band Zinatra, which enjoyed great popularity in Europe, Asia and South America. This band toured independently, and opened up for David Lee Roth
David Lee Roth
David Lee Roth is an American rock vocalist, songwriter, actor, author, and former radio personality. Roth was ranked nineteenth by Hit Parader on their list of the 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Singers of All Time....
and Steve Vai
Steve Vai
Steven Siro "Steve" Vai is a three time Grammy Award-winning American guitarist, songwriter and producer who has sold over 15 million albums. Steve Vai is widely known as a flamboyant guitar virtuoso....
.
In 1990, Valentine signed a solo deal and started working on his first album. Although he produced, sang, and played most of the instruments himself, he also worked together with producer Humberto Gatica
Humberto Gatica
Humberto Gatica is a Chilean-born American record producer, music mixer, audio engineer anda long-time collaborator with producer David Foster....
, guitarist Michael Landau
Michael Landau
Michael Landau is a prolific session musician and guitarist who has played on a large number of albums since the early 1980s with artists as varied as Seal, James Taylor, Helen Watson, Richard Marx, Steve Perry, Pink Floyd and Miles Davis...
and producer Erwin Musper. The first single, "Over and Over Again" (1991), was released in several European countries and became a big hit in the Netherlands. His selftitled debut album was released on Valentine's Day 1992. By the time his album got released, Robby had already formed a live band and started intensive club touring.
In 1993 a new album, The Magic Infinity, recorded with his live band, was released. Upon hearing this album, Brian May
Brian May
Brian Harold May, CBE is an English musician and astrophysicist most widely known as the guitarist and a songwriter of the rock band Queen...
invited the band to join him on his European tour, which they did. Despite this tour and the release of a compilation album (No Turning Back, 1994) , the band wasn't able to achieve a European breakthrough. In Japan, though, Valentine became increasingly popular, and the record company re-released the first two albums in Japan.
In 1995 Robby sacked his whole band after he had completed his third album, simply called Valentine. The album didn't generate hit singles or satisfying album sales in Europe, and his European contract was terminated, but not his Japanese contract.
Valentine's next albums, 4 - United (1997), No Sugar Added (1998) and Believing Is Seeing (2001), were released in Japan only. He also released two albums with Valensia
Valensia
Aldous Byron Valensia Clarkson , better known as simply Valensia, is a Dutch singer, composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist.-Early life:...
: V (1999) and V2 (2002). A third album, Nymphopsychoschizophonic, is as yet unreleased. He also played keyboard on Into the Electric Castle
Into the Electric Castle
Into the Electric Castle is a progressive metal two-disc album released in 1998 by Dutch multi-instrumentalist Arjen A. Lucassen. It is the third album of his Ayreon project....
by Ayreon
Ayreon
Ayreon is a project by Dutch composer and musician Arjen Anthony Lucassen.Ayreon's musical style derives mostly from heavy metal and progressive rock, but combines them with genres like folk, classical and electronica...
and Fata Morgana by Helloise.
In 2004, he completed The Most Beautiful Pain, but the record company put the release on hold. In 2006, it was released in Europe through Frontiers Records
Frontiers Records
Frontiers Records is an Italian record label, predominantly producing melodic rock. It was formed in 1996 by Serafino Perugino and is based in Naples, Italy.-History:...
, and several months later in Japan as well. One year later, Valentine's eighth album Falling Down In Misanthropolis was released.
In 2008 Valentine had founded a new band line up consisting of members from (amongst others) After Forever
After Forever
After Forever was a Dutch symphonic metal band with strong progressive metal influences. The band relied on the use of both soprano vocals and death grunts. In February 2009, it was announced that After Forever had disbanded.-Biography:...
and Ayreon, and in May returned to the European stages, promoting a retrospective double CD, Androgenious, containing old and new recordings of Valentine classics. This album was released in Japan in the last part of 2008, and in 2009 in the rest of the world. "Save Myself" was released as a single in May 2009, accompanied by a videoclip.
Other projects
In 2008, Valentine joined Aniday, playing guitar and keyboards. Their debut album Born 2 Die was to be released in 2009.Another side project was KX-3, with fellow keyboard players Keiko Kumagai (Ars Nova, Ayreon), Joost van den Broek
Joost van den Broek
Joost van den Broek was a keyboardist in the metal band After Forever. On the album After Forever, Joost had the opportunity to collaborate on the composition and production of the album alongside other band members. Van den Broek will appear on the Sinbreed album When Worlds Collide...
and drummer André Borgman (both members of After Forever).
Albums
- 1992 - Robby Valentine
- 1993 - The Magic Infinity
- 1994 - Live & Demos (Japan only)
- 1994 - Robby Valentine (Japanese release, containing bonus tracks)
- 1994 - The Magic Infinity (Japanese release, containing bonus tracks)
- 1994 - No Turning Back (compilation album for European release)
- 1995 - Valentine (the Japanese edition contains a bonus track)
- 1997 - Valentine 4 – United
- 1997 - Christmas In Heaven (mini album with amongst other songs two classical pieces)
- 1998 - No Sugar Added
- 1999 - V (with Valensia)
- 2000 - Believing is Seeing
- 2002 - V2 (with Valensia)
- 2006 - The Most Beautiful Pain (the Japanese edition has three bonus tracks)
- 2007 - Falling Down In Misanthropolis (the Japanese edition has two bonus tracks)
- 2008 - Androgenious (double cd - Japanese edition)
- 2009 - Androgenious (double cd - European edition with two bonus tracks; only available at [www.robbyvalentine.com] and at concerts)
Singles
- 1991 - Over And Over Again
- 1992 - Love Takes Me Higher
- 1992 - I Believe In You
- 1993 - Don't Make Me Wait Forever
- 1993 - Megaman (two versions were released, containing either Valentine's Overture Part I or Valentine's Overture Part II)
- 1994 - Angel Of My Heart
- 1993 - No Turning Back
- 1994 - Only Your Love (Japan only)
- 1995 - Hand In Hand (Japan only)
- 1995 - Where Do We Go From Here
- 1996 - God (Japan only)
- 1996 - Take My Hand
- 1997 - I Believe In Music (Japan Only)
- 2009 - Save Myself (contains two previously unreleased tracks)