AYREON.
New :
Review Star one - Victims of the Modern Age / December 2010.
Interview with Arjen Lucassen/ December 2009.
Arjen Lucassen - keyboards, drums, synthesizers, guitars, vocals and more sounds
(ex-Vengeance). And of course born in the Lowlands.
Actual Fantasy ('96) has a few metal bits and a few floydian links. The Final Experiment is a rock-opera. Both albums are selling well in Japan. In '97 he recorded at the Abbey-road-studios a cover-album with music of the 60-ies: Strange Hobby. In '98 with a stilted album called Into the electric Castle. A space-opera on two ceedees:
Fish,
Anneke van Griesbergen (of the Dutch The Gathering),
Thijs van Leer (ex-Focus),
Clive Nolan,
Ton Scherpenzeel,
Damien Wilson (Landmarq, Threshold),
Sharon den Adel (Within Temptation),
Edwin Balogh,
Jay van Feggelen,
Edward Reekers (also ex-Kayak),
Peter Daltrey,
Ed Warby,
Robby Valentine,
Rene Merkelbach,
Roland Bakker,
Erno Olah,
Taca Kooistra &
Jack Pisters.
On Ajans playlist where standing: Paul McCartney, David Gilmour, Robert Plant and Kate Bush. Who knows?
Universal Migrator part I & II are his new adventures in the summer of 2000. Part one is a bit relax here and there a floydian atmosphere, part 2 is heavier.
Edward Kayak Reekers,
Neil Morse, Spock's Beard,
Damain Wilson (ex-Landmarq and solo),
Jaqueline Govaert (Krezip),
Floor Jansen (After Forever),
Lana Lane,
Eric Norlander,
Clive Nolan,
Damien Wilson,
Keiko Kumagagi (Ars Nova),
Gary Wehrkamp (Shaddow Gallery),
Bruce Dickinson,
Alan Russell,
Ian Parry,
Robert Soetendonvk,
Andi Deris,
Fabio Lion,
Timo Kotipello,
Ed Warby,
M.Romeo &
Oscar Hallema.
Ambeon: Fate of a Dreamer (2001), is a new project from Arjan with the 14 years old Astrid van Veen, who wrote all
the lyrics and sings very good, certainly if you consider her age. An album with a mix from different styles; ambient,
gothic, metal and a little Irish folk with flodian guitar-solo's and nice keyboard work.
Arjen Lucassen:
"Originally I set out to record an ambient instrumental album based on certain electronic patterns, chords and melodies
derived from the recorded tracks of existing Ayreon songs. In the process some new songs evolved, and I figured it would
add a warm human touch to feature female vocals on one or two songs.
At that time I heard a recording of a 14 year young Dutch singer named Astrid van der Veen. This was exactly the voice I
was looking for, and I asked her to write lyrics and melodies to go over some of these re-constructed ambient tracks and
then sing them. This arrangement worked out extremely well. So before I realized it the album had developed from an
instrumental album with two vocal songs to a vocal album with two instrumentals!"
Lana Lane - vocals on one track,
Erik Norlander - synthesizers on one track and
Walter Latupeirissa - a dutch bass-payer (who worked with Snowy White).
A very nice album, Astrid sings really marvelous, like a young Kate Bush.
Astrid did some session for After for Ever; live at the Bospop-festival July 2001
(in the beautiful South of the Netherlands).
Arjen Anthony Lucassen's Star One: Cover, tracklisting and release date have been announced for Space Metal, the first album of Lucassen's Star One project. There will be a limited edition release of the album which will include a bonus disc. ( May '02).
Arjen Anthony Lucassen -
Guitars, bass, Hammond, Mellotron, analog synths, Solina strings,
Ed Warby - Drums, (Gorefest)
Sir Russell Allen (Symphony X),
Damian Wilson, (Landmarq, Threshold),
Dan Swano (Nightingale),
Floor Jansen - Vocals, (After Forever),
Jens Johansson (Stratovarius),
Erik Norlander, (Lana Lane),
Gary Wehrkamp - Additional solos, (Shadow Gallery),
Robert Soeterboek- Backing vocals,
Dave Brock (of Hawkwind) -
Special guest lead and backing vocals on the Hawkwind medley.
Live at the end of 2002 with a space trip and the astronauts were:
Russell Allan,
Damian Wilson,
Robert Soetenboek,
Floor & Irene Jansen - all vocals,
Joost van der Broek - toetsen (= dutch for keyboards)(also in After Forever,
Peter Vink - bas (= dutch for bass),
Ed Warby - drums (= i believe you english call this a violin ;-),
Arjan Lucassen - guitar (yes indeed a guitar).
The new splendid album is called (May '04):
The Human Equation, with a lot, i mean a lot, of guests;
Devon Graves (Dead Soul Tribe),
Devin Townsend (Syl),
Eric Clayton (Saviour Machine),
Mikael Åkerfeldt (Opeth, connected with Steve Wilson / Porcupine Tree),
Magnus Ekwall (from the swedish hardrock band The Quill),
Heather Findlay (is the female singer of the British band
Mostly Autumn, she has
written one song for this new album),
James LaBrie (Dream Theater),
Marcela Bovio (Elfonia / Mexico),
Mike Baker (Shadow Gallery),
Irene Jansen (Karma) and
Arjen Lucassen - vocals
Ed Warby - Drums (ex-Gorefest),
Oliver Wakeman,
Joost van den Broek (Suncaged)(After Forever),
Martin Orford (IQ,
Jadis) - Keyboards,
Ken Hensley (Uriah Heep) - Hammond,
John McManus - Low-flute, tin-whistle,
Jeroen Goossens - Flute and various windinstruments,
Robert Baba - Violins,
Marieke van der Heyden,
Excellent Artwork has been created by Jef Bertels and Mattias Norén.
The Human Equation is a rock opera featuring a who’s who of modern-day artists in a
mammoth production spread over a hundred minutes and two CDs. The story is about a man
who has an unexplainable auto wreck and is comatose in hospital, while his wife and best
friend keep a bedside vigil. There is nothing physically wrong with the victim (shades of
Tommy?) but he has to fight his way back to consciousness by working through many memories,
including the recent events that built up to the accident. The story’s ending may be
predictable to some, but the whole thing is quite fun – and infinitely better than those
improbable space stories that defined most of Lucassen previous work.
A very beautiful special edition; two ceedees, one dvd and a wonderful package /
booklet.
The New Single Day Eleven - Love is out now:
Day Eleven - Love (radio edit) with with vocals of Heather and other,
Day Two - Iolation (album track), again with Heather and others,
No Quarter (Jones/Page/Plant) (non album track) &
Space Oddity (Bowie) (non album track).
The album called The Human Equation will follow 24th May.
Prerelease party was held in Utrecht op 18 April, with Heather (Stairway To Heaven cafe).
Another single is already released, with; How You Gonna See Me Now (Alice Cooper cover by
Mike Baker & Arjen Lucassen) and Into the Black Hole (live at the 'Stairway to Heaven'
Pre-release party 18 April, 2004).
The third single from Ayreon's 2004 album The Human Equation will be released on June 16th 2005. It is called
Come Back to Me, and is a slightly extended and newly mixed version of the song Day 7:
Hope. Other tracks include:
August Fire. Originally written for The Human Equation, features Mostly Autumn's Heather Findlay
on vocals (she played the character 'Love' on the Human Equation).
Heather also wrote lyrics, vocal melodies and played the Bodhran.
When I'm 64. A Beatles cover song that Arjen recorded 15 years ago as a demo with keyboardist
Cleem Determeijer, who has played on various Ayreon albums.
Back 2 Me. A special remix by Two Maniacs (Joost van den Broek).
A videoclip for the song was shot during the summer of 2004 and is featured on the single together
with a 'making of' video.
Then it became time foir another project Stream of Passion.
The first vocalist who will star on the new Ayreon is Magali Luyten (Virus IV and Beautiful Sin).
Simone Simons (from the dutch gothic band Epica) is the second confirmed vocalist for the
upcoming Ayreon project.
Other singers are: Bob Catley, Anneke van Griesbergen, Jonas P. Renkse, Tom Englund, Liselotte Hegt, Ty Tabor....
AYREON: The artwork of the new Ayreon album 01011001 has been revealed (click above for larger version).
The cover artwork is once again done by Belgian painter Jef Bertels
, who also did the covers for Into The Electric Castle, The Dream Sequencer and The Human Equation.
For the lay-out artwork (the images inside the booklet) Arjen has called in the talents of Colombian graphics artist
Felipe Machado Franco. You can check out his website at
this location.
The album will be available in three different formats: the regular edition double disc, a special edition double album
with bonus DVD and a limited deluxe edition double album with bonus DVD. The album will be released through Inside Out
at the end of January (25th for Germany, Austria and Switzerland, 28th for the rest of Europe and 29th for US and Canada).
Ayreon Released his cd called 01011001 in 2008.
More news, videos, teasers etc etc on his website (click on the banner).
vocalist:
Hansi Kursch Blind Guardian
Daniel Gildenlöw Pain of Salvation
Tom S. Englund Evergrey
Jonas Renkse Katatonia
Jorn Lande
Anneke van Giersbergen Agua de Annique (ex-Gathering)
Steve Lee Gotthard
Bob Catley Magnum
Floor Jansen After Forever
Magali Luyten Virus IV
Simone Simons Epica
Phideaux Xavier Phideaux
Wudstik
Marjan Welman Elister
Liselotte Hegt Dial
Arjen Lucassen
Ty Tabor King's X
Arjen Lucassen Guitar, keyboards, synths, bass guitar, programming
Ed Warby (Gorefest) Drums
Lori Linstruth Guitar solo
Michael Romeo Guitar solo
Derek Sherinian (Planet X) Keyboard solo
Tomas Bodin (The Flower Kings) Keyboard solo
Joost van den Broek (After Forever) Keyboard solo and piano
Jeroen Goossens (Flairck) Flutes
Ben Mathot (Dis) Violin
GUILT MACHINE ('09).
Arjen Lucassen: instruments, backing vocals
Jasper Steverlinck (Arid): vocals
Chris Maitland (ex Porcupine Tree): drums
Lori Linstruth (ex Stream of Passion): lead guitar.
As Ayreon fans have come to expect from Arjen, the music of Guilt Machine ranges from dark and heavy to atmospheric and melancholic. But Guilt Machine introduces some new twists as well, particularly when it comes to the vocals. Rather than putting together an ensemble cast of vocalists from the prog, rock and metal scene, Arjen has enlisted the talents of a single alternative rock vocalist, Jasper Steverlinck.
The art for the cover and booklet was created by Christophe Dessaigne, a talented new artist whom we discovered (quite by chance) while browsing Flickr. Coincidentally, it turned out that Chris is an Ayreon fan, and was thrilled beyond belief when we asked him to do the artwork. The Guilt Machine logo and packaging layout were created by Thomas Ewerhard.
Didn't had time to listen to disc 2... but i'm impressed by the regular disc. And althrough i'm not a big fan of all his previous work, i really enjoyd the songs
on this cd.
Some smooth rock songs with a nice dept of sounds. A few songs are really moody and are full of Beatlesques harmonies and others have a
more metal approach.
Some great solo's from Lori, who was responsible for all the lyrics (well done Lori).
Nice structures with layers as we are used from Arjen.
And yeah the drums from Chris are powerful where it is needed and sweet and gentle on the other points (it reminded me to the Blackfield albms).
So yes this worthed a buy.
8+ out of 10 points.
With STAR ONE:
Victims of the Modern Age ( 2010 )
Vocalists:
Russell Allen (Symphony X)
Damian Wilson (Headspace, Threshold)
Floor Jansen (ex-After Forever, ReVamp)
Dan Swanö (Nightingale, Second Sky, ex-Edge of Sanity)
Guest Vocalists:
Tony Martin (Ex-Black Sabbath)
Mike Andersson (Cloudscape, Full Force, Silent Memorial)
Rodney Blaze
Instrumentalists:
Arjen Lucassen - Guitars, keyboards
Ed Warby - Drums (Ayreon, Hail of Bullets, Gorefest)
Peter Vink - bass
Joost van den Broek - keyboard solos (Ex-After Forever)
Gary Wehrkamp - guitar solos (Shadow Gallery)
Cia Backman: achtergrondzang
Stefan Fandén: basgitaar, fretloze basgitaar, e-bow, gitaar
Carl Westholm: toetsen
Mikael Wikman: drums
Cia Backman: achtergrondzang
Stefan Fandén: basgitaar, fretloze basgitaar, e-bow, gitaar
Carl Westholm: toetsen
Mikael Wikman: drums.
2012:
Arjen is working on a new album. The naration will be done by Blade Runner Rutger Houwer!
video.
The Theory of Everything Oct 2013.
with:
Vocalists:
(in order of appearance)
JB (Grand Magus) as The Teacher
Sara Squadrani (Ancient Bards) as The Girl
Michael Mills (Toehider) as The Father
Cristina Scabbia (Lacuna Coil) as The Mother
Tommy Karevik (Kamelot, Seventh Wonder) as The Prodigy
Marco Hietala (Nightwish, Tarot) as The Rival
John Wetton (Asia, King Crimson) as The Psychiatrist
Instrumentalists
Ed Warby (Hail of Bullets, Gorefest) – drums
Rick Wakeman (Yes) – keyboards
Keith Emerson (Emerson Lake and Palmer) – keyboards
Jordan Rudess (Dream Theater) – keyboards
Steve Hackett (Genesis) – lead guitar
Troy Donockley (Nightwish) – Whistles, Uilleann pipes
Ben Mathot (Dis) –violin
Maaike Peterse (Kingfisher Sky) – cello
Jeroen Goossens (Flairck) – flute , bass flute, piccolo, bamboo flute and contrabass flute
Siddharta Barnhoorn – orchestrations
Michael Mills (Toehider) – Irish Bouzouki
Wilmer Waarbroek – backing vocals
Arjen Anthony Lucassen – electric and acoustic guitars, bass guitar, mandolin, analog synthesizers,
Hammond, Solina Strings
SESSION:
Pythagoras - After the Silence (1981), a Dutch symfo band.
Alex Bollard - Pink Floyd Songbook (1994),
Arjen sings on Arnold Layne, See Emily Play, If, A Pillow of Winds and Take it Back.
Ian Parry ('93-'95-'99).
Helloise - A Time And Place For Everything (1998)
Block Busters - Powder to the People (1999),
Arjen does vocals and plays lead guitars on 'Jean Genie'.
Peter Daltrey - Candy (1999).
Within Temptation - Mother Earth (2000),
Arjen plays a guitar solo on 'Dark Wings'.
Glass Hammer - Chronometree (2000),
Arjen plays additional lead guitars.
After Forever - Emphasis (single) (2002).
Lana Lane
(on a studio-album ('00) and live in '02).
Wicked Sensation - Reflected (2002),
Arjen wrote lyrics, sang backing vocals and recorded the vocals of Robert Soeterboek and Damian Wilson.
Jabberwockey, with Oliver Wakeman.
He did some mixing for the Dutch band; Sun Caged with keyboard player Joost van der Broek.
Guest keyboards on Once And Future King ('03) a Rock Opera written by
Glen Hughes.
Ars Nova - Biogenesis (2003),
Arjen plays guitar on the tracks Biogenesis - Meltdown, Escape and Trust to the Future.
Nightingale - Alive Again (2003),
Arjen plays the end guitar solo on the song Falling.
Amadeus' Spell (2004).
Space Mirrors - The Darker Side of Art (2004),
The debut album of the international space rock band
Space Mirrors "The Darker Side of Art" (featuring
Arjen A. Lucassen) was released through Dead
Earnest.
ProgAID ('05). He did 3 amazing guitar solo's for this great Project.
Shadow Gallery ('05)
SHAKARY: Two cd's realease problably June '06:
Arjen Lucassen - lead Guitar
Gabriele Ferro - rhythm guitars
Gabriele Martini - flute
Giorgio Borghini - percussions
Giovanni Galfetti - keyboards
Ilario Garbani - bagpipes
Lele Hofmann - lead guitars
Mario Krag - rhythm and lead guitars
Noel McCalla - vocals (Mike Rutherford's Small Creep's Day, Manfred Mann's Earth Band)
Scandy - bass guitars
Steve Rothery - lead guitar
Walter Calloni - drums (ex-PFM).
Stream of Passion.
Agua de Annique ('09).
Roswell Six, Terra Incognita - a Line in the Sand ('10).
19-12-2003 - Studio Report - Heather Findlay
(vocals)
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By: Yvette
Mostly Autumn vocalist
Heather Findlay had her recording session at the Electric
Castle coincide with the two Mostly Autumn performances in the
Netherlands early December. Check out images and read all
about the experience of this recording session in Arjen's own
words.
- What made you choose Heather for this Ayreon
project?
Arjen: A couple of years ago
I went to a Blackmore's Night concert in Germany, and an
amazing female singer was supporting them. I was really
impressed, but at the time I didn't know who she was and only
found out later it was Heather when she told me she supported
Blackmore's Night. Later I got emails from fans telling me to
check out Mostly Autumn, so I bought one of their albums.
Needless to say that I really liked her warm voice, and the
folky floydy music. Later on I also visited one of their gigs.
- How did you get in touch with Heather?
Arjen: One day she came over to my house with Damian, and I
asked her if in principle she would be interested to sing on
Ayreon (I hadn't even started working on the Human Equation
then) and she really liked the idea. When I was ready writing
the music for this album and I had a part that would fit her
voice perfectly I rang her up, and she was really excited!
- Describe the recording
session in three words.
Arjen: Beautiful, relaxed and fun.
- How would you describe Heather voice?
Arjen: A warm and full voice with a nice deep vibrato, and
we found out that she can really 'go for it' as well!
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- What was the most memorable moment?
Arjen: In the car she told me that she could really sound
like Kate Bush (my favorite female singer) if she wants to,
and I didn't believe her. She sang the first song in my
studio, and when we were done with the song she
asked me if I would like to hear her sing this song in 'Kate
Bush style'. She did it just for fun, and it was amazing!
- What was something you
absolutely didn't expect?
Arjen: I didn't expect her voice to be so versatile, and
(because of her age I guess) I didn't expect her to like all
those classic rock bands from the 70's that I grew up
listening to. She is very open minded and she likes many
different styles of music, a very good quality I think.
- What was something Heather did not
expect?
Arjen: She didn't expect that I would have her sing in so
many different ways. And she didn't expect that she could do
it, she surprised herself various times!
- Heather has the unique ability to...
- Describe the end result of the session.
Arjen: Heather is a very warm and funny person, she did an
amazing job and I couldn't have chosen a better singer for
this part. She's got it all; the musicality, the voice and the
looks, no doubt we will be hearing more and more about her in
the future!
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New Dec '09:
Interview with Arjen Lucassen.
Another interview by me with Arjen:
interview May 2004.
See for more News
www.arjenlucassen.com.
Or look at www.mostly-autumn.com
for another interview by Thijs.
Arjen did an interview with
David Gilmour.
Other related Artists:
Liselotte Hegt *Lilo*
:
VALENTINE. Liselott, Robby Valentine (keys, vox, guitar), Andre Borgman (drums), Cyril Whistler (guitar), Johan Willems (keys, backing vox).
DIAL. Other members are: Kristoffer Gildenlow (bass guitar, vox, guitar, keys), Dirk Bruinenberg (drums) and Rommert van der Meer (guitar, vox).
ALBUM/EP - RECORDINGS:
Dial - in recordingphase
Samual Arkan's Origins - in recordingphase
Valentine - Androgenius (guest vocals - release 21st May 2009)
Ayreon – ..01011001' (guest vocals - 2008)
Project Sleepwalk - not released yet
Dial - ..Synchronized' (2007)
Cirrha Niva - ..Liaison de la Morte' (2001), - Enter The Future Exit (EP,1999), No More Psychosis (EP, 1998), The Mirror World Dimension (1997), Moving Closer (EP, 1997).
LIVE-STUFF:
Valentine - 2008 - till the future
Ayreon releaseparty - 2008 (as a guest vocalist)
Dial - 2007 - till the future
Kamelot - 2006 (as a guest vocalist)
Cirrha Niva - 1995-2003
Kristoffer Gildenlöw Born 1978 in Eskilstuna, Sweden.
Pain of Salvation (After recording six full albums and one DVD thet went separate ways (early 2006)).
Lana Lane (US), Erik Norlander (US), Dark Suns (D) and Rocket Scientists (US), Ian Parry (NL), Damian Wilson (UK) and done additional
recordings for bands such as Arkan's Origin (BE), Arcana (S), Chirra Niva (NL), Harmony (S) and Implosion (Gr).
DIAL released its debut album- synchronized- in May 2007.
Symfo-Index.
Please be so free and sign my guestbook.
Updated December 2009 by Nick.
Arjen and Lori thanks!
Shine On!
www.mostlypink.net