08.08.2010

AVANTASIA - THE METAL OPERA COMES TO TOWN

"It's gonna be a once-in-a-lifetime affair!" said Avantasia mainman Tobias Sammet when the allstar project set off on a world tour a few years ago. And although it seemed to be impossible to bring the project onto the stage after an extensive preparatory time Avantasia headlined some of the biggest summer festivals in 2008. To this day many fans recall the Avantasia live shows a magical once-in-a-lifetime concert experience.

Actually Tobias didn't see a chance to bring Avantasia on stage again, but they will do it again: "There has always been the desire to do it again, but of course there is always a risk. It requires a huge amount of time and energy, there are no figures based on experience, because I don't anybody who has taken an allstar Metal Opera on the road to play indoor venues. The stage production is abnormally expensive and you must not forget the many people who are involved and who come from different parts of the world. It requires a good timing. At some point we sat together and checked if and how we could possibly do it once again and we soon found out, that December 2010 would be the right period to do a real tour. I admit that four weeks are not really a long time frame, but it's better to do a short tour than no tour at all. And if we hadn't taken that chance, it would have never happened because we will come with a lot of musicians and vocalists and it's a nightmare to mind all our individual schedules with our main bands."

Unlike during Avantasia's festival tour in 2008 the band will seize the fact that it's their own tour and their own shows and play a lot longer on their winter tour: "It was great to play Wacken or Sweden Rock Festival but playing a festival you only have so much time. You play ten songs and people have a party and everybody's got fun. But doing our own tour we can really create an atmosphere, we can play a lot longer and take people on a journey through the history of Avantasia. We can actually take people to the world of Avantasia itself. Fans can expect a bombastic concert experience. Many so called "Metal Operas" have been released on albums recently, but Avantasia will bring it on stage and take fans around the globe with them.

"You can't compare a normal band to what we are going to do. If all your favourite singers appear on one stage at the same night to take you on a musical journey, then this isn't just great, it's über-great!"

Tour dates will be announced soon. Register at the backstage area and subscribe to the news letter to be informed as soon as tickets are available.

08.08.2010

AVANTASIA HEADLINING WACKEN 2011

The first headliner of Wacken Open Air 2011 has been confirmed. Avantasia will play a best-of set.

08.06.2010

AVANTASIA STILL IN THE CHARTS

Ten weeks after its release the new Avantasia double album "The Wicked Symphony / Angel Of Babylon" is still in the German album charts. Having been a sensational NUMBER TWO hit record in Germany the double album marks the biggest worldwide success in the career of Tobias so far. Upon its release the album entered the charts in the following countries:

Germany #2, Hungary #5, Czech Republic #6, Switzerland #7, Austria #9, Slovenia #7, Sweden #1 (Rock-charts, national #14), Finland #18, Norway # 22, England #26 (Indie), Holland #27 (Indie), Spain #32, France #74 and Japan #89.

Official Avantasia merchandise for the new album can be found here!

08.06.2010

MESSAGE FROM TOBIAS

"Hey fellas, how's it hanging? I just came back from the Edguy tour with the Scorpions, it's been great fun having been invited by one of the biggest bands in the history of rock to be their special guest. The second leg of the tour will kick off in November, check edguy.net for tourdates. Life is exciting these days. You know, I have been so busy, that I almost forgot to thank you for your great support. I mean, I have spent a lot of work on those new albums, and I always brag about how I don't compromise. Let's face it: It is you who have made these two new pieces of music a real big success. It is you who make them important cornerstones in my career. I am truly blessed because we seem to be alike, we all seem to appreciate honesty and that makes it really easy to play honest music. I thought I should let you know!

By the way, last week I went to Hamburg to see my friend Eric Singer with KISS. Eric has played on three Avantasia albums and although I am allergic to cats I love him! He also gave me an excerpt of an Avantasia article in Metal Hammer, UK. Click here to view the article!


Have a great week!

Faithfully yours and always humble - the god of Heavy Metal, Tobias ;-)"

17.05.2010

RONNIE JAMES DIO – REST IN PEACE

Yesterday I have been informed about the sad news of Ronnie James Dio’s passing on Sunday, May 16th, 7:45AM. It is impossible to find any words for what went through my head and what Ronnie means for me as a vocalist, and as a fanboy too. He gave us so much enchanting music, poetic lyrics and great vocals. To me he was the epitome of the perfect Heavy Metal vocalist. With Edguy we have had the chance to share the stage with Ronnie on several occasions and so I’ve been given the opportunity to meet him about ten years ago. He was a very nice person with a tremendous charisma who made you feel very appreciated in his environment. I wanted to have him on several Avantasia albums but the schedule never allowed it, he was always busy, always had many things on his schedule, a real workaholic and full of visions and enthusiam. Ronnie, you will always be remembered as one of the biggest vocalists in the history of music! Rock’n’Roll will never forget you - Rest In Peace!"