Blind Guardian is a speed metal/power metal band from Krefeld / Meerbusch, Germany, that is credited as one of most influential artists of its genres. While early Blind Guardian's work belong to speed metal style, in latest releases the band moved towards epic power metal.

Before calling themselves Blind Guardian, the band released two demos under the name Lucifer's Heritage in 1985 and 1986.

Blind Guardian has always been inspired by the fictional worlds of fantasy writers such as J.R.R. Tolkien, Michael Moorcock, Margaret Weis, Tracy Hickman, Stephen King as well as traditional legends and epics. Stephen King's Dark Tower series has also been an influence on the band, evident in "Somewhere Far Beyond". Over the years, a running theme has developed associating the band members with migrant workers.

The line-up has been the same since 1988, but in 2005 the drummer, Thomas Stauch, left the band due to the direction the band was taking in their last studio albums, "Nightfall In Middle-Earth" and "A Night at the Opera". He was replaced by Frederik Ehmke.

For more infos: www.blind-guardian.com

Line-Up: Hansi Kürsch - Vocals (and Bass on the Studio-Albums and live before 1998)

André Olbrich - Lead Guitar

Marcus Siepen - Rhythm Guitar

Frederik Ehmke - Drums - He plays the Drums, Percussion,