Henjo Oliver Richter, (born 24 November 1963 in Hamburg, West Germany) is a guitarist and keyboardist in Gamma Ray, the German power metal band formed by Kai Hansen.

Henjo Richter
Henjo Richter performing live in 2008
Henjo Richter performing live in 2008
Background information
Birth nameHenjo Oliver Richter
Born (1963-11-24) 24 November 1963 (age 60)
Hamburg, West Germany
GenresPower metal, speed metal, heavy metal
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter
Instrument(s)Guitar, keyboard, vocals
Years active1980–present

Biography

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Henjo is a self-taught musician and started playing at the age of 13. He is a veteran of the German heavy metal scene, but Gamma Ray is his first major band. He joined them as a replacement for guitarist Dirk Schlächter (who had switched instrument to bass) on Somewhere Out in Space (1997). However, in the mid-1980s, Henjo was a member of the heavy metal band Rampage, replacing Roland Grapow. Coincidentally, Michael Weikath considered Richter to join Helloween.[1] Had this happened, he would have replaced Grapow just like he did in Rampage.

In 2001, Henjo was hired by Tobias Sammet to be the guitarist of his metal opera project Avantasia .

In 2017, it was announced on Gamma Ray's website that the debut album of 'The Unity', which Richter founded together with Michael Ehré, was to be released in spring 2017.

Injuries

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In 2005, Henjo was forced to miss part of Gamma Ray's tour for their album Majestic after injuring himself falling down a set of stairs on the ferry going between Sweden and Finland.

Kasperi Heikkinen replaced Henjo Richter for shows scheduled in Germany and Czech Republic in March 2010 because Henjo was hospitalized on 16 March 2010 due to retinal detachment.[2]

In 2011, he had a biking accident and broke three ribs and his collarbone.

In 2024, he was ran over[3]

Discography

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With Rampage

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  • Love Lights Up the Night (1983)

With Gamma Ray

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With Avantasia

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With The Unity

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  • The Unity (2017)
  • Rise (2018)

As a guest

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References

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  1. ^ "Helloween interview - Sascha Gerstner and Michael Weikath (part 2)".
  2. ^ "AMBERIAN DAWN Guitarist Kasperi Heikkinen To Assist GAMMA RAY on Upcoming Dates". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. 19 March 2010. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
  3. ^ https://igormiranda.com.br/2024/01/henjo-richter-gamma-ray-the-unity-atropelado/ Guitarrista do Gamma Ray, Henjo Richter é atropelado e desfalca sua outra banda
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