Roland Grapow
| Roland Grapow | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Background information | |
| Born |
30 August 1959 Hamburg, Germany |
| Genres | Power metal |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments |
Guitar Vocals |
| Years active | 1980–present |
| Associated acts | Masterplan, Helloween |
Roland Grapow (born 30 August 1959 in Hamburg, Germany) is a professional guitarist and music producer. Grapow is best known for his time in the leading power metal band Helloween, who he played with for 12 years after replacing founding member Kai Hansen. He is also known for leading the acclaimed power metal-based band Masterplan.
Grapow started playing guitar at age 12. His father bought him a guitar and had him to take guitar lessons, but Grapow couldn't stand the theory part and his teacher told his father that Grapow didn't have any talent for guitar playing.
Prior to joining Helloween, Grapow was a member of the heavy metal band Rampage. He joined the band in roughly 1979, and played on two of their studio albums "Victim Of Rock" in 1980, and "Love Lights Up The Night" in 1982. He left Rampage in roughly 1983. He was then fairly inactive until joining Helloween in 1989. Grapow played on the albums Pink Bubbles Go Ape, Chameleon, Master of the Rings, The Time of the Oath, High Live, Better Than Raw, Metal Jukebox, and The Dark Ride.
During his time with Helloween Grapow also formed a solo project. The first release, The Four Seasons of Life, featured members of Helloween playing backup, with Grapow trying his hand at singing in addition to guitar playing. On the second album, Kaleidoscope, current and former members of Yngwie Malmsteen's band were utilized.
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