Avenger (band)

Rage
Rage in 1992 - From Left to Right: Peavy, Chris, Manni
Background information
Also known as	Avenger
Origin	Herne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Genres	Heavy metal, speed metal, power metal, progressive metal, symphonic metal
Years active	1984–present
Labels	Noise, Nuclear Blast, SPV, GUN
Associated acts	Lingua Mortis Orchestra, Refuge, Blind Guardian, Stratovarius, Grave Digger, Savage Circus, Silent Force, Axxis, Sub7even, Axel Rudi Pell, Mind Odyssey, Tri State Corner, Sounchaser, Almanac
Website	www.rage-official.com
Members	Peavy Wagner Marcos Rodriguez Vassilios Maniatopoulos
Past members	See: Former members section

Rage is a German heavy metal band, formed in 1984 founded by Peter "Peavy" Wagner. They were part of the German heavy/speed/power metal scene to emerge in the early to mid-1980s, along with bands such as Helloween, Running Wild, Blind Guardian and Grave Digger.

Rage was formed in 1984 under the name Avenger. After releasing their debut album Prayers of Steel and their Depraved to Black EP in 1985, the band changed their name to Rage because there was another band in England that also had the same name. Originally the new name was meant to be Furious Rage but it was eventually shortened to "Rage".

Thirteen musicians have been part of Rage over the years, been the most successful line up the one knows nowadays as the Refuge Years, with Manni Schmidt and Chris Efthimiadis. The second notable line-up was the one formed with Mike Terrana and Victor Smolski.

Through the years, Rage established themselves as a notable successful band and as pioneers of the Power Metal scene, including in their music elements of Progressive Metal and Classical Music. in 1996 Rage was really the first Metal Band to write and record an album with a full symphonic orchestra Lingua Mortis followed by the album XIII, considered one of the greatest Rock & Metal Albums of all times.

Rage released 22 Albums (23 if counting the "Avenger era") in 30 years (in total more than 50 releases counting DVDs, EPs, Japan Editions, VHS (in the early years), a remarkable international success with more than five million records sold and been in more than 40 chart entries.