For a number of years now, it seems that only bands from the USA or Britain could write rock history. But that's in the past now that Switzerland is attracting international attention. This small Alpine nation has produced one of the most impressive, top class and outstanding candidates with GOTTHARD. They set the ultimate standard now for content, music and power, redefining the term "Rock".
This exceptional group is taking things a step further – defining Rock in a new way. They are attracting attention from no less a personage than Canadian producer Rich Chycki (Aerosmith, Rush), who phoned the GOTTHARD management and declared that he thought the group was great and that he really would like to work with them. A few days after hearing them, he travelled to Tessin to start collaboration with them on their new songs.
With more than two million records sold, it's clear that GOTTHARD know how to rock – but they never rest on their laurels! Three times triple platinum, four times double platinum, four times platinum, one gold single and the official anthem for the Swiss Olympic team in the summer of 2004, along with the official fan anthem of the Swiss national football team for the European
Football Championships in 2008, plus a series of sell-out concerts, including the Zürich Hallenstadion and the celebrated German Tour with DEEP PURPLE, where they played to audiences of more than 75,000. These are some of the high points up to now of the most successful Swiss group to date.
«NEED TO BELIEVE»
Rock history at its best. Of course it is not only the statistics which cause GOTTHARD to stand out. They have loads of charm, style and timeless authenticity; this is what makes them so original worldwide. With lead singer Steve Lee they front one of the best voices of all time. His characteristic voice which gets deep under your skin charms both the public and his fellow musicians. No surprise then that he has worked with great names in music: an orchestral project with the well-known Jon Lord (DEEP PURPLE) and an impressive duet with operatic diva Monserrat Caballe («One Life, One Soul»).
GOTTHARD have managed, even in times of recession and falling CD sales,
to forge ahead. They have continued to win over the public and increase
their recognition factor.
"Gotthard, as a credible rock band, shows that consistency is exciting people again. This is also obvious to the TV industry" says RTL editor Christian Sorgnit. His colleagues from print and radio have reached the same verdict.
"Their ambition is shown by the fact that their albums are now successful
worldwide"
- Andy Kletzin, Jolie
"The high standard of this Swiss band, their persistence and their sympathetic
relationship with the fans gives expectations for a big international
career" – Arno Frank Eser, music editor of the Abendzeitung München
"A voice unafraid of heights – but with Mega-power"
- Till Hofmeister, Musikchef HR3
"GOTTHARD – they are really a massive boulder in the rock terrain! And
still not even a small chunk splinters off"
- Tom Glas, Bayern 3
"Gotthard have proved that Lugano can also be a little L.A. – And Swiss
rock music has no need to hide behind the US competition"
- Lukas Rüttimann, Blick Schweiz
"Gotthard are one of those bands where you can just let yourself go and
need not worry about the future of rock music"
- Oliver Lippert, monstersandcritics.de
"The Swiss hard rockers have held their ground in the European scene for
years because of the amazing voice of Steve Lee"
- Matthias Haehl, Migros Magazin, Schweiz
"With eight studio albums which have sold more than 2 million copies,
Gotthard is the most successful rock band that Switzerland has ever produced. In Germany, too, the band is one of the most popular live acts and
is filling even larger halls"
- Christian Fischer, Piranha Medien
STEVE LEE (R.I.P.) MARC LYNN LEO LEONI HENA HABEGGER FREDDY SCHERER
In particular, the release of the 2005 album «Lipservice» enabled Gotthard
to achieve their biggest breakthrough. Successful shows throughout Europe
were followed by frenetically celebrated gigs in faraway countries such as Japan, Russia and Brazil.
One of the reasons for their success is the unchanging line-up. The original
quartet: Marc Lynn (bass), Hena Habegger (drums), Leo Leoni (guitar)
and the extraordinary singer Steve Lee, are still together. A few years ago,
Freddy Scherer arrived to strengthen the team with a second guitarist and
completed the group so well that you can't now imagine them without him.
Unlike most other bands, GOTTHARD embodies pure delight in performing
and is at the same time highly professional and ambitious. These are
qualities which are underlined by the new album «Need to Believe», to
be released on 4th September. In cooperation with the well-known producer
Rich Chycki (Aerosmith), a musical creation has evolved which combines
emotional rock with haunting mainstream melodies. An album which
sounds raw and playful as well as experienced, mature and relaxed.
Many of the tracks on «Need to Believe» are clear statements that
GOTTHARD is a rock band with no compromise. Numbers like the dazzling
«Shangri-la» or the anthem-like «Need to Believe» demonstrate the massive
contribution GOTTHARD makes to the music scene. And with emotional
ballads like «Tears to Cry», they show their sensitive side once more, which has been their strength from the very beginning.
The album title «Need to Believe» was a deliberate choice. As Steve Lee
explained: "We wanted to give encouragement, particularly now in this time
of crisis it is important to believe in something. It isn't just coincidence
that the saying "Faith can move Mountains" exists. If you think positive
and don't give up, you'll win in the end. That always was the motto of
GOTTHARD".
In short: this is an album whose title becomes a motto: GOTTHARD represents the next rock generation, who want to do their own thing without
outside influence and thus have been able to establish themselves and to
enrich the music world.
And not only that: in April 2010, the film «Max Schmeling» will mark the first
international film premiere with a GOTTHARD song on the soundtrack!
So there it is – whether in the musical sense or the geographic one – the
biggest and best embodiment of Switzerland – «GOTTHARD».
