Axel Rudi Pell (Born June 27, 1960) is a German guitar player, playing melodic heavy metal. He started off with the band Steeler (1984-1988) before leaving to start his solo career in 1989 with the eponymous band Axel Rudi Pell. During this time, he has played with such drummers as Jörg Michael, Mike Terrana and singers Jeff Scott Soto and Rob Rock. He plays a classic traditional melodic heavy metal, predictably guitar-heavy but less flashy than Yngwie Malmsteen, with an emphasis on softer ballads as evidenced by three separate ballad compilations over the years.

Axel Rudi Pell's latest album is a cover album, Diamonds Unlocked, which was released on September 28, 2007 through SPV Records.

SPV records will release a new Axel Rudi Pell DVD on February 25th, to be titled Live Over Europe, which includes the full performance from the Rock Hard Festival in 2007, and comes with a bonus disc which includes live footage from Pell's own archive.

Band members

Current members

• Axel Rudi Pell - Guitar
• Johnny Gioeli - vocals
• Mike Terrana - drums
• Ferdy Doernberg - keyboards
• Volker Krawczak - Bass

Past members

Vocals

• Charlie Huhn (1989)
• Rob Rock (1991)
• Jeff Scott Soto (1992-1997)

Bass

• Jörg Deisinger (1989)
• Thomas Smuszynski (1989)

Drums

• Jörg Michael (1989-1998)

Keyboards

• Georg Hahn (1989)
• Rüdiger König (1989)
• Kai Raglewski (1991-1992)
• Julie Greaux (1993-1996)
• Christian Wolff (1997)

Discography

With Steeler

• Steeler (1984)
• Rulin' the Earth (1985)
• Strike Back (1986)
• Undercover Animal (1988)

Solo

See also Axel Rudi Pell albums

Albums

• Wild Obsession (1989)
• Nasty Reputation (1991)
• Eternal Prisoner (1992)
• Between the Walls (1994)
• Black Moon Pyramid (1996)
• Magic (1997)
• Oceans of Time (1998)
• The Masquerade Ball (2000)
• Shadow Zone (2002)
• Kings and Queens (2004)
• Mystica (2006)
• Diamonds Unlocked (2007)
• Tales Of The Crown (2008)

Compilations

• The Ballads (1993)
• The Ballads II (1999)
• The Wizard's Chosen Few (2000)
• The Ballads III (2004)

Live

• ''Made in Germany (1995)
• Knights Live (2002)

DVDs

• Knight Treasures (Live and More) (2002)
• Live Over Europe (2008)

Equipment

• Fender Stratocaster
• Custom built ESP guitars
• Marshall 100 Watt and 50 Watt Heads
• Ibanez Tube Screamer
• Cry Baby Wah-Wah Pedals
• Rocktron Intelliflex Multieffects
• Samson UHF Wireless System
• Dean Markley and GHS Strings 009 - 042
• Jim Dunlop Picks, 1.5 mm with ARP logo printed in white
• Peavey Triple XXX Amp

References

External links

• Axel Rudi Pell Official Website
• Axel Rudi Pell at Allmusic.com
• Axel Rudi Pell at Amazon.com
• Axel Rudi Pell in the Encyclopaedia Metallum
• Axel Rudi Pell on Metal Storm
• 'Live over Europe review @ ME Metalhour