Henjo Richter
Henjo Oliver Richter, (born 24 November 1963 in Hamburg, West Germany) is a guitarist and keyboardist in Gamma Ray, the German power metal band formed by Kai Hansen.
Henjo Richter | |
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Henjo Richter performing live in 2008 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Henjo Oliver Richter |
Born | Hamburg, West Germany | 24 November 1963
Genres | Power metal, heavy metal |
Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter |
Instruments | Guitar, keyboard, vocals |
Years active | 1980–present |
Associated acts | Gamma Ray The Unity Avantasia Rampage |
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 Schlächter (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 be the guitarist of his metal opera project Avantasia .
In 2017, it was announced on Gamma Ray's website that the debut album of 'The Unity', which Richter founded together with Michael Ehré, was to be released in spring 2017.
Injuries
In 2005, Henjo 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.
Kasperi Heikkinen replaced Henjo Richter for shows scheduled in Germany and Czech Republic in March 2010 because Henjo was hospitalized on 16 March 2010 due to retinal detachment.[1]
In 2011, he had a biking accident and broke three ribs and his collarbone.
Discography
With Rampage
- Love Lights Up the Night (1983)
With Gamma Ray
- Somewhere Out in Space (1997)
- Power Plant (1999)
- Blast from the Past (compilation album) (2000)
- No World Order (2001)
- Skeletons in the Closet (live album) (2003)
- Majestic (2005)
- Land of the Free II (2007)
- Hell Yeah! The Awesome Foursome (live album) (2008)
- To the Metal (2010)
- Skeletons & Majesties (EP) (2011)
- Skeletons & Majesties Live (live album) (2012)
- Empire of the Undead (2014)
- The Best (Of) (compilation album) (2015)
With Avantasia
- The Metal Opera (2000)
- The Metal Opera Part II (2002)
With The Unity
- The Unity (2017)
- Rise (2018)
As a guest
- Freedom Call - Taragon (EP) (1999)
- Avantasia - The Scarecrow (2008)
- Avantasia - Angel of Babylon (2010)
- Avantasia - The Flying Opera (live album) (2011)
- War Kabinett - Made in Mexico (2011)
- Neopera - Destined Ways (2014)
References
- "AMBERIAN DAWN Guitarist Kasperi Heikkinen To Assist GAMMA RAY On Upcoming Dates". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. 19 March 2010. Retrieved 30 August 2011.