Grave Digger
Grave Digger is a German heavy metal band formed in 1980 by vocalist Chris Boltendahl and guitarist Peter Masson. The band emerged from the German heavy, power, and speed metal scene of the 1980s and is often associated with bands such as Helloween, Rage, and Running Wild.
After appearing at smaller festivals, the band contributed two songs to the compilation album "Rock from Hell" in 1983. In 1984, the lineup of Chris Boltendahl, Peter Masson, Willi Lackmann, and Albert Eckardt released the debut album "Heavy Metal Breakdown".
In 1985, following the departure of bassist Willi Lackmann, the band recorded and released their second album, "Witch Hunter". Bassist C.F. Brank joined after the album's completion. Grave Digger subsequently toured with Helloween and released their third album, "War Games", in January 1986. A tour with Celtic Frost and Helloween followed. Peter Masson later left the band and was replaced by Uwe Lulis. In 1987, the band changed its name to Digger and released the album "Stronger Than Ever". The album was commercially unsuccessful, and the band disbanded later that year. In 1988, Boltendahl and Lulis continued performing under the name Hawaii.
Grave Digger reformed in 1991 with Chris Boltendahl, Uwe Lulis, bassist Tomi Göttlich, and drummer Jörg Michael. The band released the comeback album "The Reaper" in 1993. The compilation album "The Best of the Eighties" was also released that year. In 1994, the band released the EP "Symphony of Death" and toured Germany as the opening act for Manowar. Frank Ullrich became the band's drummer during this period. The album "Heart of Darkness" followed in 1995.
In 1996, Stefan Arnold joined as drummer, and the band released the concept album "Tunes of War", which focused on Scottish history. The album became the first part of what later became known as the "Middle Ages Trilogy". The second installment, "Knights of the Cross", released in 1998 with bassist Jens Becker, centered on the Knights Templar. The trilogy concluded with "Excalibur" in 1999, which explored the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Keyboardist Hans-Peter Katzenburg joined the touring lineup shortly afterward and later became a permanent member.
In 2000, Grave Digger celebrated its 20th anniversary with a concert at the Zeche venue in Bochum. Shortly before the concert, guitarist Uwe Lulis left the band for personal and business reasons and later formed the band Rebellion. Former Rage guitarist Manni Schmidt joined as his replacement. In 2001, Grave Digger released "The Grave Digger" through Nuclear Blast. The album was inspired by the works of Edgar Allan Poe. In 2002, the band released the live album and DVD "Tunes of Wacken". The following studio album, "Rheingold", was released in 2003 and was based on Richard Wagner's "Der Ring des Nibelungen". The band toured in support of the album through early 2004.
"The Last Supper" was released on 17 January 2005. Although not a concept album, several songs addressed themes related to the final days of Jesus Christ. In October 2005, Grave Digger released the live DVD "25 to Live", recorded in São Paulo to commemorate the band's 25th anniversary.
The album "Liberty or Death" was released in January 2007, followed by a co-headlining tour with Therion. The band also performed at Wacken Open Air that year.
In 2008, Grave Digger began work on its thirteenth studio album, "Ballads of a Hangman", which was released on 9 January 2009 through Napalm Records. Additional guitarist Thilo Hermann participated in the recording sessions, making it the band's first album to feature twin guitars. Hermann left the band in February 2009. Later that year, Manni Schmidt departed due to disagreements with Chris Boltendahl.
In January 2010, Axel Ritt joined the band as guitarist. Later that year, Grave Digger released "The Clans Will Rise Again", described by the band as a thematic successor to "Tunes of War". In 2012, the EP "Home at Last" and the studio album "Clash of the Gods" were released, followed by touring activity in Europe and Brazil.
The album "Return of the Reaper" was released in July 2014. Later that year, longtime keyboardist H.P. Katzenburg left the band and was replaced by Marcus Kniep, who performed under the stage name "The Reaper".
In 2015, Grave Digger released "Exhumation - The Early Years", featuring re-recorded versions of songs from the band's early period. The album "Healed by Metal" followed in January 2017. The band subsequently toured North America as a support act for Blind Guardian.
In 2018, Grave Digger recorded its nineteenth studio album, "The Living Dead", which was released in September of that year. Drummer Stefan Arnold left the band in June 2018 and was replaced by Marcus Kniep.
The band's twentieth studio album, "Fields of Blood", was released on 29 May 2020 to mark the band's 40th anniversary. "Symbol of Eternity" followed in August 2022. In September 2023, guitarist Axel Ritt left the band and was replaced by former Orden Ogan guitarist Tobias Kersting.
Grave Digger released its twenty-second studio album, "Bone Collector", on 17 January 2025 in celebration of the band's 45th anniversary. A music video for the single "Kingdom of Skulls" was released in October 2024. In June 2025, the band released the standalone single "Bark to Hell".
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grave_Digger_(band)
Studio albums
Heavy Metal Breakdown (1984)
Witch Hunter (1985)
Stronger Than Ever (1986)
War Games (1986)
The Reaper (1993)
Heart of Darkness (1995)
Tunes of War (1996)
Knights of the Cross (1998)
Excalibur (1999)
The Grave Digger (2001)
Rheingold (2003)
The Last Supper (2005)
Liberty or Death (2007)
Ballads of a Hangman (2009)
The Clans Will Rise Again (2010)
Clash of the Gods (2012)
Return of the Reaper (2014)
Healed by Metal (2017)
The Living Dead (2018)
Fields of Blood (2020)
Symbol of Eternity (2022)
Bone Collector (2025)
After appearing at smaller festivals, the band contributed two songs to the compilation album "Rock from Hell" in 1983. In 1984, the lineup of Chris Boltendahl, Peter Masson, Willi Lackmann, and Albert Eckardt released the debut album "Heavy Metal Breakdown".
In 1985, following the departure of bassist Willi Lackmann, the band recorded and released their second album, "Witch Hunter". Bassist C.F. Brank joined after the album's completion. Grave Digger subsequently toured with Helloween and released their third album, "War Games", in January 1986. A tour with Celtic Frost and Helloween followed. Peter Masson later left the band and was replaced by Uwe Lulis. In 1987, the band changed its name to Digger and released the album "Stronger Than Ever". The album was commercially unsuccessful, and the band disbanded later that year. In 1988, Boltendahl and Lulis continued performing under the name Hawaii.
Grave Digger reformed in 1991 with Chris Boltendahl, Uwe Lulis, bassist Tomi Göttlich, and drummer Jörg Michael. The band released the comeback album "The Reaper" in 1993. The compilation album "The Best of the Eighties" was also released that year. In 1994, the band released the EP "Symphony of Death" and toured Germany as the opening act for Manowar. Frank Ullrich became the band's drummer during this period. The album "Heart of Darkness" followed in 1995.
In 1996, Stefan Arnold joined as drummer, and the band released the concept album "Tunes of War", which focused on Scottish history. The album became the first part of what later became known as the "Middle Ages Trilogy". The second installment, "Knights of the Cross", released in 1998 with bassist Jens Becker, centered on the Knights Templar. The trilogy concluded with "Excalibur" in 1999, which explored the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Keyboardist Hans-Peter Katzenburg joined the touring lineup shortly afterward and later became a permanent member.
In 2000, Grave Digger celebrated its 20th anniversary with a concert at the Zeche venue in Bochum. Shortly before the concert, guitarist Uwe Lulis left the band for personal and business reasons and later formed the band Rebellion. Former Rage guitarist Manni Schmidt joined as his replacement. In 2001, Grave Digger released "The Grave Digger" through Nuclear Blast. The album was inspired by the works of Edgar Allan Poe. In 2002, the band released the live album and DVD "Tunes of Wacken". The following studio album, "Rheingold", was released in 2003 and was based on Richard Wagner's "Der Ring des Nibelungen". The band toured in support of the album through early 2004.
"The Last Supper" was released on 17 January 2005. Although not a concept album, several songs addressed themes related to the final days of Jesus Christ. In October 2005, Grave Digger released the live DVD "25 to Live", recorded in São Paulo to commemorate the band's 25th anniversary.
The album "Liberty or Death" was released in January 2007, followed by a co-headlining tour with Therion. The band also performed at Wacken Open Air that year.
In 2008, Grave Digger began work on its thirteenth studio album, "Ballads of a Hangman", which was released on 9 January 2009 through Napalm Records. Additional guitarist Thilo Hermann participated in the recording sessions, making it the band's first album to feature twin guitars. Hermann left the band in February 2009. Later that year, Manni Schmidt departed due to disagreements with Chris Boltendahl.
In January 2010, Axel Ritt joined the band as guitarist. Later that year, Grave Digger released "The Clans Will Rise Again", described by the band as a thematic successor to "Tunes of War". In 2012, the EP "Home at Last" and the studio album "Clash of the Gods" were released, followed by touring activity in Europe and Brazil.
The album "Return of the Reaper" was released in July 2014. Later that year, longtime keyboardist H.P. Katzenburg left the band and was replaced by Marcus Kniep, who performed under the stage name "The Reaper".
In 2015, Grave Digger released "Exhumation - The Early Years", featuring re-recorded versions of songs from the band's early period. The album "Healed by Metal" followed in January 2017. The band subsequently toured North America as a support act for Blind Guardian.
In 2018, Grave Digger recorded its nineteenth studio album, "The Living Dead", which was released in September of that year. Drummer Stefan Arnold left the band in June 2018 and was replaced by Marcus Kniep.
The band's twentieth studio album, "Fields of Blood", was released on 29 May 2020 to mark the band's 40th anniversary. "Symbol of Eternity" followed in August 2022. In September 2023, guitarist Axel Ritt left the band and was replaced by former Orden Ogan guitarist Tobias Kersting.
Grave Digger released its twenty-second studio album, "Bone Collector", on 17 January 2025 in celebration of the band's 45th anniversary. A music video for the single "Kingdom of Skulls" was released in October 2024. In June 2025, the band released the standalone single "Bark to Hell".
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grave_Digger_(band)
Studio albums
Heavy Metal Breakdown (1984)
Witch Hunter (1985)
Stronger Than Ever (1986)
War Games (1986)
The Reaper (1993)
Heart of Darkness (1995)
Tunes of War (1996)
Knights of the Cross (1998)
Excalibur (1999)
The Grave Digger (2001)
Rheingold (2003)
The Last Supper (2005)
Liberty or Death (2007)
Ballads of a Hangman (2009)
The Clans Will Rise Again (2010)
Clash of the Gods (2012)
Return of the Reaper (2014)
Healed by Metal (2017)
The Living Dead (2018)
Fields of Blood (2020)
Symbol of Eternity (2022)
Bone Collector (2025)
