Manowar
Manowar |
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Manowar is an American heavy metal band from Auburn, New York, which formed in 1980 . They are known for creating lyrics with a very heavy emphasis on fantastic and mythologic topics.
Biography
Joey DeMaio was working as a bass tech / pyrotechnic for Black Sabbath when he met with guitarist Ross the Boss, playing for a group called Shakin Street, a Black Sabbath support band. They later recruited Eric Adams for vocals and Donny Hamzik for the drums, to create Manowar — a band with an unusual epic sound. Manowar recorded Battle Hymns, their debut album, which featured "Dark Avenger", a slow epic track with narration by Orson Welles. (Welles returned on the Into Glory Ride album and did the narration on another slow track called "Defender." This song was later reworked for the band's Fighting the World album.)
Drummer Scott Columbus joined the band for their second album, Into Glory Ride. Their official biography states that custom stainless steel drum kits had to be built for him because his drumming technique was so "vicious" that it ruined standard kits. [1]
Manowar claims the title of "loudest band in the world", and the Guiness Book of World Records has documented them as the holders of the record for the loudest musical performance, at 129.5 decibels. Custom equipment was built for the band by John "Dawk" Stillwell, which helped achieve the massive sound. [2]
The band performs almost exclusively in and around Europe.
The band is also notable for its ownership of their entire operation. Record recording and distribution, as well as merchandise, are all controlled by the band. Singer Eric Adams has said that the reason for this is that the band has received unfair treatment financially in the past, and also to ensure the highest quality production. [3] The band's label, Magic Circle Music, includes other bands such as Rhapsody of Fire. [4]
Their latest album is Gods of War, for other albums, see the discography.
Members
Current members
- Eric Adams - vocals (since 1980)
- Joey DeMaio - bass guitars / guitars / keyboards / classical guitar - (since 1980)
- Karl Logan - guitars / keyboards / classical guitar - (since 1994)
- Scott Columbus - drums and percussion (1983-1991 and since 1995)
Former members
- Guitars:
- Ross the Boss (1980-1988)
- David Shankle (1989-1993) played for a while in Chicago, IL, before he was chosen from about 150 guitarists to replace Ross The Boss. Eric and Joey met him while recording "Kings Of Metal" in Chicago.
- Drums:
- Carl Canedy (formerly of The Rods) (1980)
- Donny Hamzik (1981-1982)
- Rhino (real name Kenny Earl Edwards) (1992-1995)
- Roadies:
- Alan Feller (Bloodaxe) (2000-2006)
- Dan Head (Headdice) (2004-present)
Discography
Albums
- Battle Hymns (1982)
- Into Glory Ride (1983)
- Hail to England (1984)
- Sign of the Hammer (1984)
- Fighting the World (1987)
- Kings of Metal (1988)
- The Triumph of Steel (1992)
- Louder Than Hell (1996)
- Hell on Wheels (Live, 1997)
- Hell on Stage (Live, 1999)
- Warriors of the World (2002)
- Gods of War (2007)
- Gods of War Live (Live, 2007)
Compilations
- Manowar Kills (1992)
- The Hell of Steel: Best of Manowar (1994)
- Iron and Steel Dick Torture (1995)
- Anthology (1997)
- The Kingdom of Steel (1998)
- Steel Warriors (1998)
Singles/EPs
- "Defender" (1983)
- "All Men Play On Ten" (1984)
- "Blow Your Speakers" (1987)
- "Herz Aus Stahl" (1988)
- "Metal Warriors" (1992)
- "Defender" (1994)
- "Return of the Warlord" (1996)
- "Courage" (1996)
- "Courage Live" (1996)
- "Number 1" (1996)
- "Live in Spain" (1998)
- "Live in Portugal" (1998)
- "Live in France" (1998)
- "Live in Germany" (1998)
- "Warriors of the World United" (2002)
- "Warriors of the World United Part 2" (2002)
- "An American Trilogy/The Fight for Freedom" (2002)
- "Dawn of Battle" (2002)
- "King of Kings" (included in "Hell on Earth Part IV") (2005)
- "The Sons of Odin" (First EP) (2006)
VHS/DVDs
- Secrets of Steel (VHS) (1993)
- Hell on Earth Part I (DVD) (2001)
- Fire and Blood (DVD) (2002)
- Warriors of the World United (Mini DVD/CD) (2002)
- Hell on Earth Part III (DVD) (2003)
- Hell on Earth Part IV (DVD) (2005)
- The Day the Earth Shook - The Absolute Power (DVD) (2006)