Uli Kusch

Ulrich Kusch, born 11 March 1967, is a heavy metal drummer. He has played most famously with Helloween, Gamma Ray, and Masterplan. He is known for his technical style of playing, fast-paced speed metal-like rhythm and capable songwriting abilities.

Biography

During the 80's, until the early 90's, he used to be a studio musician, and played for a lot of bands, such as Holy Moses, Headhunter (band of Schmier, Destruction's vocalist), among others.

In 1990, after first drummer of Gamma Ray, Mathias Burchardt quit the band, Kai Hansen recruited Uli to perform for his band... In this lineup, in year 1991 the band released their second full-length studio album, labeled Sigh No More and went on the world tour.

However, in 1992, Uli quit Gamma Ray. He later joined Helloween, with whom he released Master of the Rings in 1994, and in 1996 The Time of the Oath. That year Helloween released 2-CD live album High Live, providing a decent demonstration of Uli's skills of performing live. That time Uli himself formed and produced a Rainbow tribute band Catch the Rainbow with Gamma Ray guitarist Henjo Richter, and soon other musicians joined them. Their album with 11 Rainbow songs covered, A Tribute to Rainbow, was released in 1999, featuring other members of Helloween and Gamma Ray as well as other bands. He also played in Markus Grosskopf's side-project Shockmachine for their only album in 1998. Helloween recorded Better Than Raw the same year, followed with the band's cover version album Metal Jukebox'1999...

Uli stayed with Helloween up to 2000's The Dark Ride, developing into a key songwriter for the band. Kusch Also played on Sinner's 2000 album 'The End Of Sanctuary'. In 2001 Uli and fellow bandmember Roland Grapow were fired from Helloween, following an e-mail from Michael Weikath, and the two went on to form Masterplan, something they had originally been planning as a side project.

With Masterplan Kusch recorded two studio albums, one self-named in 2003 and Aeronautics in 2005.

In 2005, Uli formed a new band called Beautiful Sin with help from Masterplan bandmate Axel Mackenrott and members of Pagan's Mind.

Uli departed from Masterplan in October 2006. Beautiful Sin will become his new main priority.^[1]

Uli also co-founded a new progressive power metal project called Ride the Sky which released its debut album New Protection under Nuclear Blast records on 24 August 2007, but the band broke up in April 2008 due to poor media attention and minor support from the record company. He has also rejoined the progressive thrash metal outfit Mekong Delta and has recorded the album Lurking Fear with the band.

References

1. ^ "Former Masterplan drummer explains his departure". Blabbermouth.net. 2006-10-19. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=60552. Retrieved 2006-10-19.