Ayreon (from Arjen Anthony Lucassen)

One of my favourite artists/bands/projects!

Ayreon is the main project from Dutch multi-instrumentalist Arjen Anthony Lucassen. He makes rock operas, often concept albums with science fiction stories which feature many guest vocalists, both male and female, but also guest instrumentalists. He himself writes all the music, plays guitars, bass, keyboards and organs.

Some of the guest vocalists over the years:

Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden)
James LaBrie (Dream Theater)
Andi Deris (Helloween)
Mikael Akerfeldt (Opeth)
Hansi Kürsch (Blind Guardian)
Tom Englund (Evergrey)
Jörn Lande (Masterplan)
Barry Hay (Golden Earring)
Russell Allen (Symphony X)
Floor Janssen (After Forever)
Sharon Den Adel (Within Temptation)
Fish (Marillion)
Daniel Gildenlöw (Pain of Salvation)
Damien Wilson (Threshold)
Devin Townsend (o.a. Strapping Young Lad)
Johan Edlund (Tiamat)
Anneke van Giersbergen (The Gathering)
Jonas Renkse (Katatonia)
Neal Morse (Spock's Beard)
Ralf Scheepers (Primal Fear)
Simone Simons (Epica)
Steve Lee (Gotthard)
Bob Catley (Magnum)
Timo Kotipelto (Stratovarius)

Albums:

The Final Experiment (1995)
Actual Fantasy (1996)
Into the Electric Castle (1998)
The Universal Migrator part 1: The Dream Sequencer (2000)
The Universal Migrator part 2: Flight of the Migrator (2000)
The Human Equation (2004)
01011001 (2008)


Some songs:

Ayreon - Day 16: Loser (feat. Devin Townsend a.o.)



Ayreon - Day 11: Love (feat. Mikael Akerfeldt, James LaBrie a.o.)



from the album: The Human Equation


Ayreon - The Sixth Extinction (feat. Jorn Lande, Hansi Kürsch, Steve Lee, Bob Catley, Daniël Gildenlow a.o.)



from the album: 01011001


Ayreon - Sail Away to Avalon (feat. Barry Hay (Golden Earring))



from the album: The Final Experiment


Ayreon - Across the Rainbow Bridge



from the album: Into the Electric Castle


Ayreon - Into the Black Hole (feat. Bruce Dickinson, Iron Maiden)



From the album: The Universal Migrator part 2: Flight of the Migrator

This must be the best post on the whole forum. THANKS! I will dive into this band later!

I have to admit that I copied the post from an earlier post on some other forum, but there it was also posted by me.

Johan wrote:I have to admit that I copied the post from an earlier post on some other forum, but there it was also posted by me.

Well, it earned you some credits or whatever they are called on this forum

I will make some more of these kind of topics of other bands I really like later!

Johan wrote:I will make some more of these kind of topics of other bands I really like later!

That just earned you more points!

After 5 years, there is a new album. In my humble and totally unbiased opinion, it's is great!

The Theory of Everything:







Vocalists:

Tommy Karevik (Kamelot / Seventh Wonder)
Cristina Scabbia (Lacuna Coil)
Michael Mills (Toehider)
Marco Hietala (Nightwish)
JB Christoffersson (Grand Magus)
John Wetton (King Crimson / Asia)
Sara Squadrani (Ancient Bards)

Instrumentalists:

Rick Wakeman (Yes)
Keith Emerson (Emerson, Lake and Palmer)
Jordan Ruddess (Dream Theater)
Steve Hackett (Genesis)
Troy Donockley (Nightwish)
Ed Warby on drums (Ayreon, Gorefest, Hail of Bullets)
and more.

Most lead guitars, rhythm guitars, bass guitars, synthesizers, hammonds, lyrics, vocal melodies, concept:

Arjen Lucassen