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Hans Jurgen KurschGerman rock musician, vocalist, composer
Date of Birth: 10.08.1966
Country:  Germany |
Content:
- Biography of Hansi Kürsch
- Early Career
- Blind Guardian and Songwriting
- Vocal Technique and Evolution
- According to some studies, Kürsch's vocal range spans four octaves.
Biography of Hansi Kürsch
Hansi Kürsch is a German rock musician, vocalist, and composer. He is best known as the lead vocalist and one of the main composers of the German rock band Blind Guardian. He was also the bass guitarist of the band until 1998.
Early Career
Kürsch's first band was Executor/Zero Fault, where he played rhythm guitar. Later, he teamed up with André Olbrich to form the band Lucifer's Heritage, which was soon renamed Blind Guardian, at Kürsch's suggestion.
Blind Guardian and Songwriting
Kürsch writes the majority of the lyrics for Blind Guardian, which are often inspired by fantasy literature, myths, religious parables, and abstract philosophical concepts. Some of his favorite books include "The Neverending Story" by Michael Ende, "Le Morte d'Arthur" by Thomas Malory, "The Lord of the Rings" by J.R.R. Tolkien, and Michael Moorcock's Eternal Champion series.
Vocal Technique and Evolution
Kürsch's vocal technique, known as "vocal cord splitting," was prominent on the band's early albums, allowing him to produce a more piercing and powerful sound. He initially sang with a sharp, raspy voice. According to Kürsch himself, his talents lay in his "incredibly loud scream," although André Olbrich described him as a vocalist singing like Paul Di'Anno (Iron Maiden).
On later albums, Kürsch leaned more towards clean vocals. Starting with the album "Tales from the Twilight World," he began using layered recordings of his own voice as backing vocals, creating a choir effect. This technique, known as overdubbing, was previously used by Freddie Mercury of Queen. However, it makes it challenging to perform the songs live in the same way.
According to some studies, Kürsch's vocal range spans four octaves.
Personal Life and Side ProjectsKürsch is married to Andrea, and they have a son named Jonas, born in 2002. In interviews, he has confessed to believing in God and considering himself a Christian, although he maintains a critical stance towards organized religion and the church.
In 1999, Kürsch almost lost hearing in one ear due to illness. Fortunately, doctors were able to save his hearing and his career.
In the summer of 2009, after a long time, Kürsch decided to cut his hair.
Since 1999, Kürsch has been involved in a side project called Demons & Wizards, a power metal band formed with American guitarist Jon Schaffer from Iced Earth.
