Masterplan

Roland Grapow GuitarsBirthdate: August 30th, 1959 Birthplace: Hamburg, Germany Eye color: Green/grey Hair color: BlondCareer history: I started playing guitar with 12 and had my first gig at school. I did my first 2 records with Rampage in 1979 and 1980. I joined Helloween in 1988 and stayed for 12,5 years. In August 2001, Uli and I founded Masterplan.Musical influences: First "Grand Funk Railroad", Rainbow, Deep Purple, later I loved Toto, Foreigner, Kansas, Styx. In the 80's I liked Judas Priest, Scorpions, MSG, Yngwie Malmsteen and many, many more...First musical instrument: My father gave me an accoustic guitar, which he bought from the former GDR, when I was 11 years old.First concert attended: Grand Funk in Hamburg 1974________________________________________________________ ________ ____________________________________________________________ ____Axel Mackenrott KeyboardsBirthdate: September 6th, 1969 Birthplace: Hamburg, Germany Eye color: Blue Hair color: BlondCareer history: Starting at about 11 years of age with piano-lessons. Bands, bands, bands, (coverbands, own projects & songwriting), studio recordings, bachelor of arts in musical sciences.Musical influences: First: Joe Cocker and Santana (mostly because of the hammond-organ), then Uriah Heep and Deep Purple (deeep impact), Whitesnake, Rainbow, Pink Floyd, a little Blues, Jazz, Beatles and european classic.First musical instrument: My parents bought a home-organ (yikes!) after a year, I sold it and jobbed along to buy a piano, which I knew to be the real thing. (I don't have it anymore, very sad...) Very soon I bought my own first synth: a KORG Polysix.First concert attended: Joe Cocker______________________________________________________ __________ ____________________________________________________________ ____Jorn Lande VocalsBirthdate: May 31st, 1968 Birthplace: Rjukan, Telemark - Norway Eye color: Green Hair color: BlondCareer history: I started singing in a band at the age of 9. Playing concerts, attending music contests and making demo's, always wishing for a proffesional career. My father has also always been a musician, and he inspired me and brought me along with him, introducing me to lots of great music. I have done many different things, but my first real CD came in 1992, and since then I made about 13 albums.Musical influences: Everything that was good on the progressive rock/metal scene in the 60'ies, 70'ies and at the beginning of the 80'ies.First musical instrument: We always had guitars in the house. Also flutes, pianos and others.First concert attended: ABBA Arrival in 1978 :)__________________________________________________________ ______ ____________________________________________________________ ____Jan S. Eckert Bass GuitarBirthdate: December 04th, 1965 Birthplace: Quickborn near Hamburg, Germany Eye color: Blue/grey Hair color: BlondCareer history: I started playing Fanfare with 8 years, I changed to Guitar and Bass at age of 12. With 15 I started singing also. I had some CD released with the bands Gordon, Mydra, Rockship, Iron Savior and Masterplan.Musical influences: Nazareth, Deep Purple, Rainbow, Queen, Black Sabbath and Jeff Beck.First musical instrument: I lent my first Fanfare from friends of my Parents and used the guitar of my Brother.First concert attended: AC/DC Hells Bells Tour________________________________________________________ ________ ____________________________________________________________ ____Uli Kusch DrumsBirthdate: March 11th, 1967 Birthplace: Aachen, Germany Eye color: Blue Hair color: BrownCareer history: I started playing drums 1981 and played in some local bands. 1986 I joined Holy Moses and we did three albums and toured in Europe. 1990 I joined Gamma Ray did one Album and two tours first time also in Japan. 1993 a record with my Band Axe la Chapelle. 1994 I joined Helloween until 2001. In 2001 Roland and I formed Masterplan.Musical influences: Rainbow, Judas Priest, Queensryche, Kiss, Faith no more, Most of the mid 80's Metal bandsFirst musical instrument: 1981 I bought myself my first drumkit from a teacher in my School.First Concert attended: 1983 Judas Priest/Ted Nugent - Forret National/ Brussels-Belgium