Dirk Schlächter
| Dirk Schlächter | |
|---|---|
Dirk Schlächter performing live in 2008
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Dirk Schlächter |
| Born |
15 February 1965 Bad Nauheim, Germany |
| Genres | Power metal, speed metal, heavy metal |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Guitar, bass, vocals, keyboards, piano |
| Years active | 1985–present |
| Labels | Sanctuary |
| Associated acts | Gamma Ray, Neopera |
Dirk Schlächter (born 15 February 1965, in Bad Nauheim, Germany) is the bassist of the power metal band Gamma Ray.
Dirk got in touch with music for the first time joining a music school at the age of 8. At the age of 11 he got his first acoustic guitar followed by an electric guitar at the age of 15. At the age of 19 he turned to bass guitar. During this time he played in bands called Blue Life, Sold Out, Louis Glover House Band and Drivin' Force.
Dirk appeared as a guest musician on Gamma Ray's first album, Heading For Tomorrow, playing bass on the track "Money" and parts of the track "The Silence". The rest of the bass-parts on the album were recorded by Uwe Wessel. Schlächter was hired to play bass with Gamma Ray for their first tour, but as Uwe Wessel's former band split up at this point Wessel replaced him. Schlächter was then offered the job of second guitarist.
From this point on Schlächter became Gamma Ray's permanent second guitarist. He played guitar on the albums Sigh No More, Insanity and Genius and Land of the Free. After the Land of the Free album Schlächter was supposed to swap positions with bassist Jan Rubach, but instead Rubach quit the band. Schlächter took over the position of bassist and Henjo Richter became the band's new guitarist. The release of the album Somewhere Out In Space marked Schlächter's return to playing bass, a job he has had ever since.
Schlächter is also the producer of Gamma Ray albums since Insanity and Genius, along with the band's mainman Kai Hansen.
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