Artist: AXEL RUDI PELL
Album: BEST OF - ANNIVERSARY EDIT. (CD)

Year: 2009
Media type: CD

Pell’s career began in 1980 with the band, Steeler, who sold over 30,000 copies of their commercially most successful release, Strike Back, and brought out their fourth and final album, Undercover Animal, in 1988. In November of that same year, Pell formed his own group together with Jцrg Deisinger (ex-Bonfire), drummer Jцrg Michael, bassist Thomas Smuszynski (ex-U.D.O.) and the American vocalist, Charlie Huhn (Ted Nugent, Gary Moore, Victory). Their debut album, Wild Obsessions, arrived at the stores one year later, followed by Nasty Reputation, for whom Pell enlisted the American frontman, Rob Rock (M.A.R.S, Impellitteri), who was replaced during the subsequent German tour by former Malmsteen vocalist, Jeff Scott Soto. With Soto as a new member, the third album, Eternal Prisoner (1992), was undeniable proof that the band had found their own, unmistakable style from the beginning. One year later, Pell brought out The Ballads, an album featuring his most accomplished rock ballads. With Between The Walls (1994) and the live recording, Made In Germany, the guitarist from Bochum held on to his typical style even in the post-grunge era. The subsequent Black Moon Pyramid (1996) was the second Pell album in succession to make the German album charts. 1997 saw the arrival of Pell’s eighth offering, Magic, featuring a thematically consistent concept about supernatural stories. Magic also entered the charts, followed by Oceans Of Time, the commercially most successful album at that time by the Axel Rudi Pell band, and the continuation of Pell’s ballad concept (The Ballads II, 1999). Following the departure of Jeff Scott Soto, Pell enlisted American vocalist Johnny Gioeli (ex-Hardline) for the production of Oceans Of Time, The Ballads III and his 2000 release, Masquerade Ball. His characteristic voice also enhanced the subsequent releases, Shadow Zone (2002) and Kings & Queens (2004). Mystica, another exceptional recording, saw the band come full circle in summer 2006, and the double DVD Live Over Europe was the cherry on the cake in a long series of outstanding releases. In 2007 Pell recored also the cover album "Diamonds Unlocked" and in 2008 "Tales Of The Crown" was released followed by a successful nearly soldout tour through Europe.

TRACKLIST:

1) EDGE OF THE WORLD
2) CAROUSEL
3) STRONG AS A ROCK
4) BEAUTIFUL DAY
5) MYSTICA
6) FOREVER ANGEL (ACOUSTIC)
7) THE MASQUERADE BALL
8) ROCK THE NATION
9) OCEANS OF TIME
10) TEAR DOWN THE WALLS
11) AIN'T GONNA WIN
12) IN THE AIR TONIGHT

LINE-UP:

JOHNNY GIOELI - Lead and Backing Vocals
AXEL RUDI PELL - Lead-, Rhythm- and Acoustic Guitars
FERDY DOERNBERG - Keyboards
VOLKER KRAWCZAK - Bass
MIKE TERRANA - Drums and Percussion