Andy Susemihl is a German guitarist, singer, songwriter and record producer. He began his career in the 1980s and gained international success since 1987 in hard rock bands such as
U.D.O. and
Sinner.
Life and career
Born and raised in Germany, he first learned guitar at the age of 12 and started to play local clubs. As a well-respected guitar player, he was asked to join the hard rock band
Sinner in 1986 to record their 4th album ''Dangerous Charm''. The album was followed by a large European tour. When former
Accept-singer
Udo Dirkschneider
Udo Dirkschneider (born 6 April 1952) is a German singer and songwriter who rose to fame with German Heavy metal music, heavy metal band Accept (band), Accept. After leaving the band in 1987, he formed U.D.O., with which he has also enjoyed com ...
formed his new band
U.D.O., he asked Susemihl to join the band, as well as
Dieter Rubach (formerly of Accept), ''Sinner'' guitarist Mathias Dieth and drummer Thomas Franke, for their ''Animal House'' tour.
They soon started a US-Tour, which also included
Zodiac Mindwarp
Zodiac Mindwarp and the Love Reaction are a British hard rock group, which was formed in 1985.
Zodiac Mindwarp and the Love Reaction play a sleazy style of commercial hard rock featuring big riffs and choruses, as was the trend in the band ...
,
Lita Ford
Lita Rossana Ford (born 19 September 1958) is an English-born American guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter. She was the lead guitarist for the all-female rock band the Runaways in the late 1970s, before embarking on a successful glam metal solo ...
and
Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 1985. When they signed to Geffen Records in 1986, the band comprised vocalist Axl Rose, lead guitarist Slash, rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin, bassist Duff ...
, before they recorded their next album ''Mean Machine''. This album, released in 1989 through BMG/Ariola, was produced by
Mark Dodson
Mark may refer to:
Currency
* Bosnia and Herzegovina convertible mark, the currency of Bosnia and Herzegovina
* East German mark, the currency of the German Democratic Republic
* Estonian mark, the currency of Estonia between 1918 and 1927
* Fin ...
, who also produced
Anthrax
Anthrax is an infection caused by the bacterium '' Bacillus anthracis''. It can occur in four forms: skin, lungs, intestinal, and injection. Symptom onset occurs between one day and more than two months after the infection is contracted. The s ...
and
Suicidal Tendencies
Suicidal Tendencies is an American crossover thrash band formed in 1980 in Venice, Los Angeles, Venice in Los Angeles, California by vocalist Mike Muir. Muir is the only remaining original member of the band. Along with Dirty Rotten Imbeciles, ...
. The album sold 250,000 units worldwide, earning the band the opportunity to play on all the European dates of
Ozzy Osbourne
John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne (born 3 December 1948) is an English singer, songwriter, and television personality. He rose to prominence during the 1970s as the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Black Sabbath, during which period he adop ...
's "
No Rest for the Wicked" tour.
Following that tour, Susemihl felt a wind of change fanning his creativity. In 1990,
Polydor
Polydor Records Ltd. is a German-British record label that operates as part of Universal Music Group. It has a close relationship with Universal's Interscope Geffen A&M Records label, which distributes Polydor's releases in the United States. ...
approached him to lay down two tracks for a compilation CD, titled "Guitar Ballads" and featured respected guitarists
Steve Vai
Steven Siro Vai (; born June 6, 1960) is an American guitarist, composer, songwriter, and producer. A three-time Grammy Award winner and fifteen-time nominee, Vai started his music career in 1978 at the age of eighteen as a transcriptionist f ...
,
Joe Satriani
Joseph Satriani (born July 15, 1956)Prato, Greg"Joe Satriani – Music Biography, Credits and Discography". ''AllMusic''. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved May 28, 2014. is an American guitarist, composer, songwriter, and guitar teacher. Early in his ...
,
Michael Schenker
Michael Schenker (born 10 January 1955) is a German guitarist. He played in the rock band UFO and leads the Michael Schenker Group. He was an early member of the hard rock band Scorpions, a band co-founded by his elder brother Rudolf Schenk ...
,
Gary Moore
Robert William Gary Moore (4 April 19526 February 2011) was a Northern Irish musician. Over the course of his career he played in various groups and performed a range of music including blues, blues rock, hard rock, heavy metal, and jazz ...
and
Steve Stevens
Steve Stevens (born Steven Bruce Schneider; May 5, 1959) is an American guitarist. He is best known as Billy Idol's guitarist and songwriting collaborator, and for his lead guitar work on the theme to ''Top Gun'' – " Top Gun Anthem" – for ...
. On the CD, Susemihl wrote, composed and performed two rock-oriented tracks, "Cloud Nine" and "Alley Cat".
Since 1990, Susemihl has produced, recorded and played with a variety of multifaceted groups and artists, including, ''Lazy'' and ''Angel Heart''. In 1993, he recorded several tracks on Sinner's "No more Alibis" album (
Mausoleum Records
Mausoleum Records was a Belgian-based heavy metal label, once considered by ''Billboard'' as "one of Europe's premier hard rock labels".
Alfie Falckenbach founded the Mausoleum Records label in 1982 (he also founded the Music Avenue label, and ...
/MMS).
Later that year, he recorded the CD, "Fasten Seat Belts" with the band ''Mr. Perfect'' (Long Island Records/On Air), which became a big hit in Japan. Recent noteworthy jams at various trade shows have included performances with
Dann Huff
Dann Lee Huff (born November 15, 1960) is an American record producer and songwriter. For his work as a producer in the country music genre, he has won several awards, including the ''Musician of the Year'' award in 2001, 2004, and 2016 at the Co ...
(a studio musician appearing on albums by
Madonna and
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Dubbed the "King of Pop", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. Over a ...
),
Bonfire
A bonfire is a large and controlled outdoor fire, used either for informal disposal of burnable waste material or as part of a celebration.
Etymology
The earliest recorded uses of the word date back to the late 15th century, with the Cath ...
's Angel Schleifer and
Peter Baltes of Accept.
In 1994, Susemihl relocated to Los Angeles, California, and in early 1995 he recorded "Life among the Roaches" (Voices/Gun Attack). Since his move to L.A., Susemihl was involved in many local as well as international projects. His credits over the last years include studio sessions with artists and producers such as
Richie Kotzen
Richard Dale Kotzen Jr. (born February 3, 1970) is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. As a solo artist, Kotzen has back catalogue of more than 20 album releases. He was a member of glam metal band Poison from 1991 to 1993, Mr. Big f ...
(
Poison
Poison is a chemical substance that has a detrimental effect to life. The term is used in a wide range of scientific fields and industries, where it is often specifically defined. It may also be applied colloquially or figuratively, with a broa ...
/
Mr. Big
Mr. Big may refer to:
Entertainment
In film and literature
* Mister Big (James Bond), a villain in the novel and film ''Live and Let Die''
* ''Mister Big'' (1943 film), a 1943 musical
* ''Mr. Big'' (2007 film), a 2007 documentary
In televisi ...
),
Eddie Kramer
Edwin H. Kramer (born 19 April 1942) is a British recording producer and engineer. He has collaborated with several artists now in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, including Jimi Hendrix, the Beatles, David Bowie, the Rolling Stones, Led Zepp ...
(
Jimi Hendrix) and Shay Baby (Ozzy Osbourne/
Warrant). In 2000 he started to record the 7-9-7 debut ''Get me to the World on Time''. The same titled single was mixed by Rob Jacobs (
Alanis Morissette
Alanis Nadine Morissette ( ; born June 1, 1974) is a Canadian-American singer, songwriter, and actress. Known for her emotive mezzo-soprano voice and confessional songwriting, Morissette began her career in Canada in the early 1990s with two ...
,
U2,
The Eagles
The Eagles are an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1971. With five number-one singles and six number-one albums, six Grammy Awards and five American Music Awards, the Eagles were one of the most successful musical acts of the 1970s ...
). The album eventually hit the stores in 2006.
On 2 August 2012 he performed as a special guest on U.D.O.'s show at the
Wacken Open Air
Wacken Open Air (, abbreviated as W:O:A) is a rock music, rock music festival, held annually since 1990 on the first weekend of August in the village of Wacken, Schleswig-Holstein, Wacken in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Almost all styles and su ...
, Germany. Other guests during the show were
Mr. Lordi and
Doro Pesch
Dorothee Pesch (born 3 June 1964), known professionally as Doro Pesch or simply Doro, is a German heavy metal singer and the former frontwoman of heavy metal band Warlock. Dubbed the "Metal Queen", Doro's contributions to music and culture mad ...
.
In 2013, Susemihl released his new solo album and is playing live with his trio "Supermihl & Superfriends" and ex-
Pur member Roland Bless, supporting
Unheilig
Unheilig (German for "Unholy") was a German band that featured a variety of influences, including various pop and electronic styles as well as harder, nihilistic hard rock. The band was founded in 1999 and principally consisted of singer Bern ...
on their open air tour.
Discography
* 1987 –
Sinner – ''Dangerous Charm''
* 1989 –
U.D.O. – ''
Mean Machine''
* 1990 – Mr. Perfect – ''Fasten Seat Belts''
* 1991 –
Sinner – ''No More Alibis''
* 1991 – APE – ''Human Greed''
* 1995 – Andy Susemihl – ''Life Among The Roaches''
* 1996 – Miracle Mile – ''To Burn Together''
* 1997 – Miracle Mile – ''EP''
* 1998 – Miracle Mile – ''From the Journal of Mr. Black''
* 2000 – The Burbanks – ''Ready, Fire, Aim''
* 2000 –
Human Drama – ''The Best of Human Drama...In a Perfect World''
* 2002 – 7-9-7 – ''Get Me to the World On Time''
* 2007 –
Reece
Reece derives from the Welsh name Rhys. It may refer to:
* Recce (filmmaking)
* Reece (name), people with the given name or surname
* A-Reece (born 1997), South African rapper and record producer
* Reece, Kansas, United States
* Mount Reece, in th ...
– ''Universal Language''
* 2008 – Andy Susemihl – ''King & The Giant''
* 2008 – Andy Susemihl – ''Supermihl & Superfriends''
* 2009 – Rock & Rollinger – ''Rollst Du Noch Oder Rockst Du Schon?''
* 2010 – Rock & Rollinger – ''Weihnachtsalbum''
* 2010 –
Bangalore Choir
Bangalore Choir is an American hard rock band formed in 1991. They were formed by the former frontman of Accept, David Reece, and guitarists Curt Mitchell and John Kirk (both formerly of Razor Maid). Joining them from Hericane Alice, was bassi ...
– ''Cadence''
* 2011 – Rock & Rollinger – ''Eloquient Dreiwilds''
* 2012 –
Bangalore Choir
Bangalore Choir is an American hard rock band formed in 1991. They were formed by the former frontman of Accept, David Reece, and guitarists Curt Mitchell and John Kirk (both formerly of Razor Maid). Joining them from Hericane Alice, was bassi ...
– ''Metaphor''
* 2013 – Andy Susemihl – ''Supermihl & Superfriends Vol. 2''
* 2014 - Andy Susemihl - L.A. Sessions '96-'98
* 2014 - Andy Susemihl - L.A. Sessions '98-'02
* 2017 – Andy Susemihl – ''Alles Wird Gut !''
* 2018 - Andy Susemihl - Elevation
* 2020 - Andy Susemhil - Burning Man (EP)
* 2021 - Andy Susemhil - Alienation
* 2022 - Andy Susemhil - Rapture
Others
* 1990 – Guitar Ballads (Polydor Compilation)
References
External links
Andy SusemihlOfficial Site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Susemihl, Andy
German male guitarists
German heavy metal guitarists
Living people
People from Ulm
Sinner (band) members
U.D.O. members
Year of birth missing (living people)