Tore Ostby

Born in 1972 in Norway. Founder of, songwriter and guitarist in, and producer for Norwegian experimental metal band Conception, 1989-1998. The band achieved great success in Japan, Germany and central Europe and quickly became one of few Norwegian acts to succeed abroad. Though they are not playing on a permanent basis anymore, they have been known to do shows on request in the US and Norway. The band released four albums, and the singer Roy Khan is now frontman in the American band Kamelot.After Conception Østby founded the band ARK together with John Macaluso, former drummer with TNT, Yngwie Malmsteen and featuring in the motion picture Wild at Heart. Singer in ARK was Jørn Lande from The Snakes, Vagabond and Masterplan. With ARK Østby took the experimental music further, the band released two albums and toured mainly in the US and Europe enjoying their greatest success in central and southern Europe, maybe mostly because of the Latin influences apparent especially in Østby´s guitar playing. For the second album bass player Randy Coven joined, former bass player for Yngwie Malmsteen, Steve Vai and Lesley West. At the same time Swedish keyboard player Mats Olausson from Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force was recruited. ARK split up in 2003.Apart from Conception and ARK Østby also played with American singer DC Cooper from Danish hardrockers Royal Hunt. Østby contributed to Cooper’s solo album in 1998 and toured Japan, Brazil and France. The same year Østby appeared on South African hard rock band Frankie´s Playground´s first album.After ARK split up Østby has kept a low profile until 2005 when recruited to record with Norwegian hardrock band Street Legal, the band is to release their second album in 2008. Østby is now putting together a new exciting project tba.Østby´s guitar playing may best be described as soulful with a personal expression, technically advanced with outstanding melodies and rhythms. Østby´s influences are foremost Al Di Meola, David Gilmore, Jeff Beck and Dimebag.DiscographyConception:1991– The Last Sunset 1993 – Parallell Minds 1995 – In Your Multitude 1997 – FlowARK:1999 – ARK 2001 – Burn the sun DC Cooper:1998 – DC CooperFrankie’s Playground:1999 – Frankie’s Playground+ various guest performances