Henjo Oliver Richter (born 24 November 1963) is a German guitarist and keyboardist best known as a member of the
power metal
Power metal is a subgenre of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional heavy metal with speed metal, often within a symphonic context. Generally, power metal is characterized by a faster, lighter, and more uplifting sound, in co ...
band
Gamma Ray
A gamma ray, also known as gamma radiation (symbol ), is a penetrating form of electromagnetic radiation arising from high energy interactions like the radioactive decay of atomic nuclei or astronomical events like solar flares. It consists o ...
.
Biography
Richter is a self-taught musician and started playing at the age of 13. He is a veteran of the German heavy metal scene, but Gamma Ray is his first major band. He joined them as a replacement for guitarist
Dirk Schlächter (who had switched instrument to bass) on ''
Somewhere Out in Space'' (1997). However, in the mid-1980s, Henjo was a member of the heavy metal band Rampage, replacing
Roland Grapow. Coincidentally,
Michael Weikath considered Richter to join
Helloween
Helloween is a German power metal band founded in 1984 in Hamburg by members of bands Iron Fist, Gentry, Second Hell and Powerfool. The band has at times been called one of the most influential European heavy metal bands of the 1980s. Its first ...
. Had this happened, he would have replaced Grapow just like he did in Rampage.
In 2001, Richter was hired by
Tobias Sammet to be the guitarist of his metal opera project
Avantasia
Avantasia is a German Supergroup (music), supergroup rock opera, metal opera project created by Tobias Sammet, vocalist of the band Edguy. It has been characterized as a rock opera, as it features the contributions of various vocalists and music ...
.
In 2005, Richter was forced to miss part of Gamma Ray's tour for their album ''
Majestic'' after injuring himself falling down a set of stairs on the ferry going between Sweden and Finland. In March 2010,
Kasperi Heikkinen replaced Richter for shows in Germany and Czech Republic because Henjo was hospitalized on 16 March 2010 due to
retinal detachment.
In 2017, it was announced on Gamma Ray's website that the debut album of The Unity, which Richter founded together with Michael Ehré, was to be released in spring 2017.
Discography
With Rampage
*''Love Lights Up the Night'' (1983)
With Gamma Ray
*''
Somewhere Out in Space'' (1997)
*''
Power Plant
A power station, also referred to as a power plant and sometimes generating station or generating plant, is an industrial facility for the electricity generation, generation of electric power. Power stations are generally connected to an electr ...
'' (1999)
*''
Blast from the Past'' (compilation album) (2000)
*''
No World Order'' (2001)
*''
Skeletons in the Closet'' (live album) (2003)
*''
Majestic'' (2005)
*''
Land of the Free II'' (2007)
*''
Hell Yeah! The Awesome Foursome'' (live album) (2008)
*''
To the Metal'' (2010)
*''
Skeletons & Majesties'' (EP) (2011)
*''
Skeletons & Majesties Live'' (live album) (2012)
*''
Empire of the Undead'' (2014)
*''
The Best (Of)'' (compilation album) (2015)
With Avantasia
*''
The Metal Opera
''The Metal Opera'' is the first full-length album by Tobias Sammet's German supergroup (music), supergroup project, Avantasia. It is a concept album and a Symphonic metal, metal opera. The album is followed by the sequel ''The Metal Opera Part II ...
'' (2000)
*''
The Metal Opera Part II
''The Metal Opera Pt. II'' is the second full-length album by Tobias Sammet's German Supergroup (music), supergroup project, Avantasia. It is a concept album and a Symphonic metal, metal opera. The songs carry on the story begun in ''The Metal Ope ...
'' (2002)
With The Unity
*''The Unity'' (2017)
*''Rise'' (2018)
As a guest
*
Freedom Call
Freedom Call is a German power metal band formed in 1998. The band tours regularly and the current line-up includes one original member, lead vocalist and songwriter, Chris Bay. Freedom Call has released 14 albums in total, eleven of these ...
– ''Taragon'' (EP) (1999)
* Avantasia – ''
The Scarecrow'' (2008)
* Avantasia – ''
Angel of Babylon'' (2010)
* Avantasia – ''
The Flying Opera'' (live album) (2011)
* War Kabinett – ''Made in Mexico'' (2011)
*
Neopera – ''Destined Ways'' (2014)
References
External links
Profile on official Gamma Ray website(archive)
German heavy metal guitarists
German male guitarists
1963 births
Living people
Musicians from Hamburg
Gamma Ray (band) members
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