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GenreMetal
Rank−
Albums28
Songs243
AboutOriginary from Germany and located at Gladbeck, North Rhine-Westphalia Grave Digger is a Speed Metal (early), Heavy/Power Metal (later) band and formed in 1980 (November), founded by Chris Boltendahl and Peter Masson.
They have years active with different names as it follows
Years active:
1980-1986, 1986-1987 (as Digger),
1988-1991 (as Hawaii),
1991-present
After three albums, in 1986 Grave Digger decided to change their name into Digger and commercialize their sound. Boltendahl later admitted that their main motivation for this change was to make more money; this failed and the band split up in 1987. Later after Digger's commercial flop the band Hawaii was founded by Boltendahl and Uwe Lulis. Hawaii released a demo called Bottles and Four Coconuts in 1989 before renaming themselves in 1991 to Grave Digger again.
Ballads of a Hangman is the first (and, to date, the only) Grave Digger album with two guitars, with Thilo Hermann joining the band in 2007. After releasing the album and ending an European tour, the band parted ways with Hermann in February 2009 after deciding they were not comfortable with the new six-piece arrangement.
Only a few months after these events, the remaining guitarist Manni Schmidt also left due to disputes with Boltendahl over the running of the band. Axel "Ironfinger" Ritt covered as a touring musician for a few months before joining permanently the next year.
Grave Digger appeared on the A Tribute to Accept album (1999, Nuclear Blast) with the cover song of "Starlight".
Compilation Appearances
- "Violence" and "2000 Light Years From Home" on Rock From Hell: German Metal Attack (Noise, 1983)
- "Shine On" and "Tears of Blood" on Metal Attack Vol. 1 (Noise, 1985)
- "Heavy Metal Breakdown" on Banzai Axe (Banzai, 1985)
Current Lineup
Chris Boltendahl Bass (1980-1982, 1985), Vocals (1980-1986, 1991-present)
Jens Becker Bass (1998-present)
Axel "Ironfinger" Ritt Guitars (2009-present)
Marcus Kniep Keyboards (2014-present), Drums (2018-present)
They have years active with different names as it follows
Years active:
1980-1986, 1986-1987 (as Digger),
1988-1991 (as Hawaii),
1991-present
After three albums, in 1986 Grave Digger decided to change their name into Digger and commercialize their sound. Boltendahl later admitted that their main motivation for this change was to make more money; this failed and the band split up in 1987. Later after Digger's commercial flop the band Hawaii was founded by Boltendahl and Uwe Lulis. Hawaii released a demo called Bottles and Four Coconuts in 1989 before renaming themselves in 1991 to Grave Digger again.
Ballads of a Hangman is the first (and, to date, the only) Grave Digger album with two guitars, with Thilo Hermann joining the band in 2007. After releasing the album and ending an European tour, the band parted ways with Hermann in February 2009 after deciding they were not comfortable with the new six-piece arrangement.
Only a few months after these events, the remaining guitarist Manni Schmidt also left due to disputes with Boltendahl over the running of the band. Axel "Ironfinger" Ritt covered as a touring musician for a few months before joining permanently the next year.
Grave Digger appeared on the A Tribute to Accept album (1999, Nuclear Blast) with the cover song of "Starlight".
Compilation Appearances
- "Violence" and "2000 Light Years From Home" on Rock From Hell: German Metal Attack (Noise, 1983)
- "Shine On" and "Tears of Blood" on Metal Attack Vol. 1 (Noise, 1985)
- "Heavy Metal Breakdown" on Banzai Axe (Banzai, 1985)
Current Lineup
Chris Boltendahl Bass (1980-1982, 1985), Vocals (1980-1986, 1991-present)
Jens Becker Bass (1998-present)
Axel "Ironfinger" Ritt Guitars (2009-present)
Marcus Kniep Keyboards (2014-present), Drums (2018-present)
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