Brazen Abbot
Encyclopedia
Brazen Abbot is a Finnish
rock band. Originally a studio project of Bulgaria
n guitarist, producer and song writer Nikolo Kotzev
, who is a Finnish resident, the band has since made several live performances.
One of the defining aspects of Brazen Abbot is the employment of multiple singers; every album features three or four singers, with Göran Edman
and Joe Lynn Turner
having appeared on most Brazen Abbot albums. Nikolo Kotzev originally intended to use only one singer; original singer Göran Edman could only commit to recording two songs for the first album due to contractual obligations. Glenn Hughes was then supposed to record the remaining songs; however contractual obligations hindered him from recording more than three songs, at which point Kotzev brought in Thomas Vikström
to record the remaining songs. Kotzev was so pleased with the end result that he decided to keep using multiple singers for future albums. When performing live, however, Joe Lynn Turner is typically the only singer.
Several of the band members have also appeared on Nikolo Kotzev's ambitious rock opera Nostradamus
(2001); Brazen Abbot was on hiatus during the time Kotzev was working on the rock opera (1998–2001).
Former members include Mic Michaeli
, John Levén
and Ian Haugland
, all members of the famous rock band Europe
.
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
rock band. Originally a studio project of Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n guitarist, producer and song writer Nikolo Kotzev
Nikolo Kotzev
Nikolo Kotzev is a Bulgarian guitarist, violinist, song writer and producer, perhaps most famous for his 2001 rock opera Nostradamus and his band Brazen Abbot.- Biography :...
, who is a Finnish resident, the band has since made several live performances.
One of the defining aspects of Brazen Abbot is the employment of multiple singers; every album features three or four singers, with Göran Edman
Göran Edman
Göran Edman is a Swedish vocalist. He is noted for his session work with many artists through the years but mainly for his early work with guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen...
and Joe Lynn Turner
Joe Lynn Turner
Joe Lynn Turner , is an American rock singer, known for his works with Rainbow, Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force, Deep Purple. From the late 1990s, he continued to perform in a large number of solo albums and other studio projects...
having appeared on most Brazen Abbot albums. Nikolo Kotzev originally intended to use only one singer; original singer Göran Edman could only commit to recording two songs for the first album due to contractual obligations. Glenn Hughes was then supposed to record the remaining songs; however contractual obligations hindered him from recording more than three songs, at which point Kotzev brought in Thomas Vikström
Thomas Vikström
Thomas Vikström is a Swedish vocalist best known for working with hard rock and heavy metal bands including doom metal legends Candlemass and power metallers Stormwind. He is the son of opera singer Sven-Erik Vikström...
to record the remaining songs. Kotzev was so pleased with the end result that he decided to keep using multiple singers for future albums. When performing live, however, Joe Lynn Turner is typically the only singer.
Several of the band members have also appeared on Nikolo Kotzev's ambitious rock opera Nostradamus
Nikolo Kotzev's Nostradamus
Nikolo Kotzev's Nostradamus is a rock opera in three acts written by Nikolo Kotzev about the life and times of Nostradamus. It was released in a 2-CD set in 2001; it has not been performed live, although it remains an ambition of Kotzev's to have the rock opera performed on stage...
(2001); Brazen Abbot was on hiatus during the time Kotzev was working on the rock opera (1998–2001).
Former members include Mic Michaeli
Mic Michaeli
Gunnar Mathias "Mic" Michaeli is the keyboardist in the Swedish rock band Europe. Like many of the other Europe members he grew up in Stockholm suburb Upplands Väsby...
, John Levén
John Levén
John Gunnar Levén is the bassist in the Swedish rock band Europe. Levén and vocalist Joey Tempest are the only band members who have performed on all of Europe's studio albums....
and Ian Haugland
Ian Haugland
Håkan Jan "Ian" Haugland is the drummer in the Swedish rock band Europe. When he was eight months old, he and his family moved to the Swedish suburb Märsta. He joined Europe in the summer of 1984, replacing Tony Reno. Previously Haugland had played in a number of bands, including Trilogy, where...
, all members of the famous rock band Europe
Europe (band)
Europe is a Swedish rock band formed in Upplands Väsby in 1979 under the name Force by vocalist Joey Tempest, guitarist John Norum and drummer Tony Reno. Although widely associated with glam metal, the band's sound incorporates heavy metal and hard rock elements...
.
Current members
- Nikolo KotzevNikolo KotzevNikolo Kotzev is a Bulgarian guitarist, violinist, song writer and producer, perhaps most famous for his 2001 rock opera Nostradamus and his band Brazen Abbot.- Biography :...
- guitars, violin, production, mixing - Göran EdmanGöran EdmanGöran Edman is a Swedish vocalist. He is noted for his session work with many artists through the years but mainly for his early work with guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen...
- vocals - Joe Lynn TurnerJoe Lynn TurnerJoe Lynn Turner , is an American rock singer, known for his works with Rainbow, Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force, Deep Purple. From the late 1990s, he continued to perform in a large number of solo albums and other studio projects...
- vocals (1996- ) - Tony HarnellTony HarnellAntony "Tony" Harnell is an American hard rock singer, best known for his work with the Norwegian hard rock band TNT....
- vocals (2005- ) - Erik Mårtensson - vocals (2005- )
- Nelko KolarovNelko KolarovNelko Kolarov is a Bulgarian composer, conductor and musician. Outside of Bulgaria, Kolarov is perhaps best known for his collaborations with Nikolo Kotzev and his solo album Day of wrath.- Biography :Nelko Kolarov was born in Varna...
- organs (2005- ) - Wayne Banks - bass (2004- )
- Mattias Knutas - drums (2005- )
Former members
- Glenn Hughes - vocals (1995)
- Thomas VikströmThomas VikströmThomas Vikström is a Swedish vocalist best known for working with hard rock and heavy metal bands including doom metal legends Candlemass and power metallers Stormwind. He is the son of opera singer Sven-Erik Vikström...
- vocals (1995–1997) - Jørn LandeJørn LandeJørn Lande is a Norwegian hard rock and heavy metal singer who has sold over 2 million records worldwide. He is probably best known for being the lead singer of the power metal band Masterplan.-Biography:...
- vocals (2003) - Mic MichaeliMic MichaeliGunnar Mathias "Mic" Michaeli is the keyboardist in the Swedish rock band Europe. Like many of the other Europe members he grew up in Stockholm suburb Upplands Väsby...
- keyboards (1995–2003) - Lars Pollack - keyboards (2004)
- Svante HenrysonSvante HenrysonSvante Henryson is a composer, cellist, electric bassist and double bassist, active within jazz, classical music, and hard rock.-Childhood & Studies:Svante Henryson grew up in Umeå in northern Sweden...
- bass (1995) - John LevénJohn LevénJohn Gunnar Levén is the bassist in the Swedish rock band Europe. Levén and vocalist Joey Tempest are the only band members who have performed on all of Europe's studio albums....
- bass (1996–2003) - Ian HauglandIan HauglandHåkan Jan "Ian" Haugland is the drummer in the Swedish rock band Europe. When he was eight months old, he and his family moved to the Swedish suburb Märsta. He joined Europe in the summer of 1984, replacing Tony Reno. Previously Haugland had played in a number of bands, including Trilogy, where...
- drums (1995–2003) - Thomas Broman - drums (2004)
Discography
- Live and Learn (1995)
- Eye of the Storm (1996)
- Bad Religion (1997)
- Guilty as Sin (2003)
- A Decade of Brazen Abbot (live) (2004)
- My Resurrection (2005)