Jörg Michael Explained

Jörg Michael
Birth Date:	27 March 1963
Birth Place:	Dortmund, West Germany
Genre:	Power metal, thrash metal, heavy metal
Occupations:	Drummer
Years Active:	1984–present
Associated Acts:	Stratovarius, Mekong Delta, Rage, Saxon, X-Mas Project, Tom Angelripper, Axel Rudi Pell, Headhunter, Grave Digger, Beto Vázquez Infinity, Running Wild, Kaledon, Heavatar

Jörg Michael (born 27 March 1963) is a German drummer who is known for playing with numerous groups, including the power metal band Stratovarius, with whom he played from 1995 to 2011 and Saxon (2004-2005).^[1] He has also been a member of Mekong Delta, Rage, and many more heavy metal bands.

Biography

Michael left Stratovarius in 2011 for "personal reasons".^[2] Around the same time he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer,^[3] from which he later made a full recovery.^[4]

He is currently a member of Heavatar, a German power metal band founded in 2013.^[5]

Michael is considered to be one of the most important and influential power metal drummers.

Discography

Avenger

• Prayers of Steel (1985)
• Depraved to Black (EP, 1985)

Rage

• Reign of Fear (1986)
• Execution Guaranteed (1987)
• 10 Years in Rage (1994)

Der Riss

• They All Do What Their Image Says (EP, 1986)

100 Names

• 100 Names (1986)

The Raymen

• Going Down to Death Valley (1986)
• The Rebel Years (best-of) (1995)

Metal Sword

• Metal Sword (1986)

Mekong Delta

• Mekong Delta (1986)
• The Music of Erich Zann (1988)
• Toccata (1989)
• The Principle of Doubt (1989)
• Dances of Death (and Other Walking Shadows) (1990)
• Classics (1993)

X-Mas Project

• X-Mas Project (1986)

Tom Angelripper

• Ein Schöner Tag (1995)

Axel Rudi Pell

• Wild Obsession (1989)
• Nasty Reputation (1991)
• Eternal Prisoner (1992)
• The Ballads (1993)
• Between the Walls (1994)
• Black Moon Pyramid (1996)
• Magic (1997)
• Oceans of Time (1998)
• The Ballads II (1999)

Laos

• Laos (1989)
• We Want It (EP, 1990)
• More than a Feeling (EP, 1993)
• Come Tomorrow (EP, 1993)

Headhunter

• Parody of Life (1990)
• A Bizarre Gardening Accident (1993)
• Rebirth (1994)
• Parasite Of Society (2008)

Schwarzarbeit

• Third Album' (1990)

Grave Digger

• The Reaper (1993)
• Symphony of Death (EP, 1994)

Running Wild

• Black Hand Inn (1994)
• Masquerade (1995)
• The Rivalry (1998)

Glenmore

• For the Sake of Truth (1994)

House of Spirits

• Turn of the Tide (1994)
• Psychosphere (1999)

Unleashed Power

• Mindfailure (1997)
• Absorbed (EP, 1999)

Andreas Butler

• Achterbahn Fahrn (1995)

Stratovarius

• Episode (1996)
• Visions (1997)
• Live! Visions of Europe (1998)
• Destiny (1998)
• The Chosen Ones (1999)
• Infinite (2000)
• Intermission (2001)
• Elements Pt. 1 (2002)
• Elements Pt. 2 (2003)
• Stratovarius (2005)
• (2006)
• Polaris (2009)
• Elysium (2011)
• (2018)

Avec Avalon

• Mystic Places (1997)

Die Herzensbrecher

• Seid Glücklich Und Mehret Euch (1998)

Andy & The Traceelords

• Pussy! (1998)

Beto Vázquez Infinity

• Beto Vázquez Infinity (2001)

Saxon

• Lionheart (2004)

Kaledon

• Chapter 3: The Way of the light (2005)

Devil's Train

• Devil's Train (2012)
• Devil's Train 2 (2015)

Heavatar

• All My Kingdoms (2013)
• The Annihilation (2018)

Notes and References

1. Web site: Metalship . Jörg Michael Biography . 18 August 2018.
2. Web site: Drummer Jörg Michael Leaves Stratovarius . Metalunderground.com . en . 24 August 2018.
3. Web site: Stratovarius' Drummer Issues Update About His Battle With Cancer . Noisecreep . 5 January 2011 . en . 24 August 2018.
4. Web site: Stratovarius: por onde anda o ex-baterista Jorg Michael? . pt-br . 24 August 2018.
5. Web site: Heavatar . Laut.de . 24 February 2013.