Hansi Kürsch

Hans Jürgen "Hansi" Kürsch (born 10 August 1966) is a German singer, songwriter, record producer and former bass guitarist, best known as a member of the power metal band Blind Guardian. One of the founders of the band, he has been its lead vocalist since its creation in 1984, and also acted as the band's bass guitarist until 1996.

Hansi Kürsch
Kürsch at Rockharz Open Air 2017
Background information
Birth name	Hans Jürgen Kürsch
Born	10 August 1966 Lank-Latum, Germany
Genres	Heavy metal power metal speed metal progressive metal
Occupation(s)	Singer, songwriter
Years active	1984–present
Labels	No Remorse Virgin Century Media Nuclear Blast SPV
Associated acts	Blind Guardian Demons & Wizards

He is also the former lead vocalist of Demons & Wizards, a side-project with Iced Earth guitarist Jon Schaffer until his departure from the project in 2021.[1] Additionally, he worked prominently as a guest with other artists, including Angra, Edguy, Iced Earth, and Therion; he notably played characters in the Ayreon albums 01011001 and The Source.

History

A signature of Kürsch's songwriting is his practice of overdubbing his own voice multiple times in complex, overlapping harmonies on his recordings, creating the atmosphere of a huge choir. The track "Chant" on the first Demons & Wizards album is vocal only, in the style of a traditional Gregorian chant; Kürsch's is the only voice on the song.

Kürsch's lyrics revolve around various themes prevalent in the power metal genre, including medieval fantasy, J. R. R. Tolkien, religious/mythological tales, and legends/stories, both his own and from the literary world. His lyrics in the first Demons & Wizards album tackle even various themes, whereas "Touched by the Crimson King" was based primarily off different fantasy novels.[2]

Kürsch had also recorded three albums for his side project with Jon Schaffer of Iced Earth, Demons & Wizards until his departure in 2021.

• Demons & Wizards – Demons & Wizards (2000)
• Demons & Wizards – Touched by the Crimson King (2005)
• Demons & Wizards – III (2020)

Although mostly known for being a clean singer nowadays, Kürsch's early technique made use of a harsher, "screaming" technique. He can be heard using similar, more aggressive, technique while singing guest vocals for Heaven Shall Burn's cover of "Valhalla".

Guest appearances

Kürsch in 2007

Provided lead vocals, unless stated otherwise.

• Gamma Ray: Land of the Free – "Farewell" (1995)
• Grave Digger: Tunes of War – backing vocals on all tracks (1996)
• Nepal: Manifiesto – "Besando La Tierra", "Estadio Chico" (1997)
• Iron Savior: Iron Savior – "For the World" (1997)
• Edguy: Vain Glory Opera – "Out of Control", "Vain Glory Opera" (1998)
• Grave Digger: Excalibur – backing vocals on all tracks (1999)
• Therion: Deggial (2000) – "Flesh of the Gods" (2000)
• Rage: Unity – backing vocals on all tracks (2002)
• Angra: Temple of Shadows – "Winds of Destination" (2004)
• Nuclear Blast: Nuclear Blast All-Stars: Into the Light – "Slaves to the Desert" (2007)
• Ayreon: 01011001 – portrayed as Forever (represented by a Celtic cross symbol) in "Age of Shadows", "Beneath the Waves", "Newborn Race", "The Fifth Extinction", "Unnatural Selection", "River of Time", "The Sixth Extinction" (2008)
• Dreamtone & Iris Mavraki's Neverland: Reversing Time – "To Lose the Sun" (2008)
• Van Canto: Hero – "Take to the Sky" (2008)
• Aneurysm: Shades – "Reflection" (2008)
• The Arrow: Lady Nite – "Never Say Never" (2009)
• Rage: Strings to a Web Bonus DVD (Live at Wacken Open Air 2009) – "Set This World on Fire", All I Want", "Invisible Horizons" (2010)
• Solar Fragment: In Our Hands – Inside the Circle (2011)
• Grave Digger: The Ballad of Mary – Rebellion 2010 (2011, EP)
• Grave Digger: The Clans Are Still Marching (2011) – "Rebellion (The Clans Are Marching)" (2011, live album)
• Heaven Shall Burn: Veto – "Valhalla" (2013)
• Maegi: Skies Fall – "Those We've Left Behind" (2013)
• Iced Earth: Plagues of Babylon – "Among the Living Dead" (2014)
• The Unguided: Fragile Immortality – "Deathwalker" (2014)
• Doro: The 30th Anniversary Show in Duesseldorf – "Rock Till Death" (2014, live album)
• Disforia: The Age of Ether – "The Dying Firmament" (2014)
• Vexillum: Unum – "The Sentenced: Fire and Blood" (2015)
• In Extremo: Quid Pro Quo – "Roter Stern" (2016)
• Hansen & Friends: XXX-Three Decades in Metal – "Follow the Sun" (2016)
• The Dwarves OST: "Children of the Smith" (2016)
• Ayreon: The Source – portrayed The Astronomer in "The Day That the World Breaks Down", "Everybody Dies", "Star of Sirrah", "Run! Apocalypse! Run!", "Aquatic Race", "Into the Ocean", "Planet Y Is Alive!", "Journey to Forever", "The Human Compulsion" (2017)[3]
• Orphaned Land: Unsung Prophets & Dead Messiahs – "Like Orpheus" (2017)
• Judicator: The Last Emperor – "Spiritual Treason" (2018)
• Ayreon: Ayreon Universe – The Best of Ayreon Live – "River of Time", "Star of Sirrah", "Age of Shadows", "Everybody Dies", "The Eye of Ra" (2018, live album)
• ZiX: Rise from your Ashes your Grave – "Rise from your Ashes your Grave" (2018)
• Avantasia: Moonglow – "Book of Shallows", "The Raven Child" (2019)
• Hämatom: "I Want It All" (single, 2019)
• Diamond Kobra: The Arrival – narrator of Intro & Outro (2019)

References

1. "JON SCHAFFER's Longtime Friend And Bandmate HANSI KÜRSCH Officially Quits DEMONS & WIZARDS Project". Blabbermouth.net. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
2. "Interview Blind Guardian3". Metalcovenant.com. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
3. "Guest Musicians". New Ayreon Album. Retrieved 29 December 2016.

External links

• Interview with Hansi at Nocturnal Horde (16 July 2005)
• Blind Guardian website
• Demons & Wizards website