Grave Digger is a German heavy metal band from Gladbeck. Formed in November 1980, the group was originally a trio consisting of vocalist and bassist Chris Boltendahl, guitarist Peter Masson, and drummer Lutz Schmelzer. Boltendahl remains the only constant member of the band, which currently also features bassist Jens Becker (since 1997), drummer and keyboardist Marcus "Gravey" Kniep (since 2014), and guitarist Tobias "Tobi" Kersting (since 2023).
History
1980–1991 Grave Digger was formed in November 1980. The original lineup included vocalist/bassist Chris Boltendahl, guitarist Peter Masson and drummer Lutz Schmelzer, although Schmelzer was replaced by Philip Seibel after roughly a year. The band recorded its first demo during 1982, which was followed by a second with Challenger members Willi Lackman on bass and Albert Eckardt on drums in early 1983. By August 1983, the group had disbanded and both Boltendahl and Masson had joined Challenger. Shortly thereafter, Noise Records offered the band a record deal, leading the four members to revert to the name Grave Digger and record their debut album, Heavy Metal Breakdown.
During touring in promotion of Heavy Metal Breakdown in the summer of 1984, Grave Digger parted ways with Lackman due to personal and musical differences, with Boltendahl playing bass on the EP Shoot Her Down before René "T. Bone" Teichgräber took over for shows at the end of the year. After recording two tracks for the next album Witch Hunter, Teichgräber was also dismissed, with Boltendahl and Masson completing bass parts. After the album was finished, the band brought in Christian "C. F." Brank as its new bassist. The new lineup released War Games at the beginning of 1986, before Masson left the band that spring due to musical disagreements, leaving Boltendahl the sole remaining original member. He was replaced in the summer by Uwe Lulis and the band shortened its name to Digger, releasing Stronger Than Ever before the end of the year.
After their sole album received poor reviews, Digger broke up in March 1987. Around December that year, Boltendahl and Lulis started touring under the name Grave Digger again, with Jochen Wiek on bass and Jochen "J. J." Börner on drums. Boltendahl and Lulis briefly worked with Brank again (plus drummer Ralf Maunert) in a group called Vivian, before reuniting with Börner and new bassist Rainer Bandzus in another new group, Hawaii, in January 1989. Hawaii recorded a single demo titled Bottles and Four Coconuts, the tracks from which were later featured on the Grave Digger compilation The Forgotten Years. Hawaii remained active until early 1991, when Boltendahl and Lulis reformed Grave Digger.
1991–2009
Grave Digger reformed in June 1991. With bassist Tomi Göttlich and drummer Peter Breitenbach alongside Boltendahl and Lulis, the band released the demo Return of the Reaper in 1991, followed by the EP For Promotion Only!! in 1992. Breitenbach was replaced by Jörg Michael in May 1993, who debuted on the band's first album since 1986, The Reaper, later that year. Michael was gone after a year, switching to Running Wild, with Frank Ullrich taking his place for 1995's Heart of Darkness; by September 1995, Ullrich had also left, with Stefan Arnold taking his place that December. After the release and touring of 1996's Tunes of War, Göttlich left Grave Digger and was replaced by former Running Wild bassist Jens Becker, who debuted on Knights of the Cross. 1999's Excalibur was the band's first album to credit keyboardist H. P. Katzenburg as an official band member.
In November 2000, long-time guitarist Uwe Lulis left Grave Digger, with former Rage guitarist Manni Schmidt taking his place the next month. Lulis subsequently formed a new group with former bandmate Tomi Göttlich, initially attempting to take over use of the name "Grave Digger", before settling on Rebellion. The lineup of Boltendahl, Schmidt, Becker, Arnold and Katzenburg became the most stable in Grave Digger's history, releasing studio albums The Grave Digger, Rheingold, The Last Supper and Liberty or Death between 2001 and 2007. In October 2007, the group announced the addition of former Running Wild guitarist Thilo Hermann, marking the first time in its history the band had featured two guitarists. Shortly after the release of Ballads of a Hangman, however, Hermann was dismissed in February 2009. Schmidt also left in October due to disagreements with Boltendahl.
Since 2009 After Schmidt's departure, Grave Digger played their last shows of 2009 with substitute guitarist Axel "Ironfinger" Ritt. In a statement published in January 2010, the band confirmed that Ritt was now a full-time member. The Clans Will Rise Again (2010), Clash of the Gods (2012) and Return of the Reaper (2014) followed, before Katzenburg was replaced by Marcus "Gravey" Kniep in November 2014. The new lineup recorded two albums — Healed by Metal and The Living Dead — before Arnold left the band in June and Kniep switched primarily to drums. Back to a four-piece, Grave Digger released Fields of Blood in 2020 and Symbol of Eternity in 2022, before Ritt left in September 2023. He was replaced a month later by Tobias "Tobi" Kersting.
Members Current ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsChris Boltendahlall Grave Digger releasesJens Becker1997–presentbassall Grave Digger releases from Knights of the Cross (1998) onwardsMarcus "Gravey" Kniep2014–presentall Grave Digger releases from Healed by Metal (2017) onwardsTobias "Tobi" Kersting2023–presentguitarall Grave Digger releases from "The Grave Is Yours" (2024) onwards
Former ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsPeter "Speedfinger" Masson1980–1986all Grave Digger releases from the 1982 demo to War Games (1986)Lutz Schmelzer1980–1981drumsnonePhilip Seibel1981–19831982 demoAlbert Eckardt1983–1987all Grave Digger releases from the Born Again demo (1983) to Stronger Than Ever (1986)Willi Lackman1983–1984bassRené "T. Bone" Teichgräber1984–1985Witch Hunter (1985) — two tracks onlyChristian "C. F." Brank1985–1987Uwe Lulisall Grave Digger releases from Stronger Than Ever (1986) to Excalibur (1999)Jochen "J. J." BörnerdrumsBottles and Four Coconuts demo (1989)Jochen Wiek1987–1988bassnoneRainer Bandzus1989–1991Bottle and Four Coconuts demo (1989)Tomi Göttlich1991–1997all Grave Digger releases from the Return of the Reaper demo (1991) to The Dark of the Sun (1997)Peter Breitenbach1991–1993drumsJörg Michael1993–1994Frank Ullrich1994–1995Heart of Darkness (1995)Stefan Arnold1995–2018all Grave Digger releases from Tunes of War (1996) to The Living Dead (2018)Hans Peter "H. P." Katzenburg1996–2014 keyboardsManni Schmidt2000–2009all Grave Digger releases from The Grave Digger (2001) to Ballads of a Hangman (2009)Thilo Hermann2007–2009Axel "Ironfinger" Ritt2009–2023guitarall Grave Digger releases from The Clans Will Rise Again (2010) to Symbol of Eternity (2022)
Timeline
Lineups PeriodMembersReleasesNovember 1980–November 1981Chris Boltendahl — lead vocals, bass Peter Masson — guitar, backing vocals Lutz Schmelzer — drumsNovember 1981–August 1983Chris Boltendahl — lead vocals, bass Peter Masson — guitar, backing vocals Philip Seibel — drumsuntitled 1982 demoEarly 1983Chris Boltendahl — lead vocals Peter Masson — guitar, backing vocals Willi Lackman — bass Albert Eckhardt — drums Born Again demo (1983)Band inactive August–late 1983October 1983–summer 1984Chris Boltendahl — lead vocals Peter Masson — guitar, backing vocals Willi Lackman — bass Albert Eckhardt — drumsRock from Hell sampler (1983) Heavy Metal Breakdown (1984)Summer–fall 1984Chris Boltendahl — lead vocals, bass Peter Masson — guitar, backing vocals Albert Eckhardt — drumsShoot Her Down (1984)Late 1984–January 1985Chris Boltendahl — lead vocals Peter Masson — guitar, backing vocals René T. Bone — bass Albert Eckhardt — drumsWitch Hunter (1985) January–February 1985Chris Boltendahl — lead vocals, bass Peter Masson — guitar, bass, backing vocals Albert Eckhardt — drumsWitch Hunter (1985) Metal Attack, Vol. 1 (1985)March 1985–spring 1986Chris Boltendahl — lead vocals Peter Masson — guitar, backing vocals C. F. Brank — bass, backing vocals Albert Eckhardt — drumsWar Games (1986)Summer 1986–March 1987Chris Boltendahl — lead vocals Uwe Lulis — guitar, backing vocals C. F. Brank — bass, backing vocals Albert Eckhardt — drumsStronger Than Ever (1986)Band inactive March–December 1987December 1987–early 1988Chris Boltendahl — lead vocals Uwe Lulis — guitar, backing vocals Jochen Wiek — bass J. J. Börner — drumsBand inactive early 1988–January 1989January 1989–early 1991Chris Boltendahl — lead vocals Uwe Lulis — guitar, backing vocals Rainer Bandzus — bass Jochen Börner — drumsBottles and Four Coconuts demo (1989)June 1991–May 1993Chris Boltendahl — lead vocals Uwe Lulis — guitar, backing vocals Tomi Gottlich — bass, backing vocals Peter Breitenbach — drumsReturn of the Reaper demo (1991) For Promotion Only!! (1992)May 1993–May 1994Chris Boltendahl — lead vocals Uwe Lulis — guitar, backing vocals Tomi Gottlich — bass, backing vocals Jörg Michael — drumsThe Reaper (1993) Symphony of Death (1994)May 1994–September 1995Chris Boltendahl — lead vocals Uwe Lulis — guitar, backing vocals Tomi Gottlich — bass, backing vocals Frank Ullrich — drumsHeart of Darkness (1995)December 1995–late 1997Chris Boltendahl — lead vocals Uwe Lulis — guitar, backing vocals Tomi Gottlich — bass, backing vocals Stefan Arnold — drums H. P. Katzenburg — keyboards Tunes of War (1996) The Dark of the Sun (1997)Late 1997–November 2000Chris Boltendahl — lead vocals Uwe Lulis — guitar, backing vocals Jens Becker — bass Stefan Arnold — drums H. P. Katzenburg — keyboardsKnights of the Cross (1998) Excalibur (1999)December 2000–October 2007Chris Boltendahl — lead vocals Manni Schmidt — guitar, backing vocals Jens Becker — bass Stefan Arnold — drums H. P. Katzenburg — keyboardsThe Grave Digger (2001) Tunes of Wacken (2002) Rheingold (2003) The Last Supper (2005) 25 to Live (2005) Yesterday (2006) Liberty or Death (2007)October 2007–February 2009Chris Boltendahl — lead vocals Manni Schmidt — guitar, backing vocals Thilo Hermann — guitar, backing vocals Jens Becker — bass Stefan Arnold — drums H. P. Katzenburg — keyboardsPray (2008) Ballads of a Hangman (2009)February–October 2009Chris Boltendahl — lead vocals Manni Schmidt — guitar, backing vocals Jens Becker — bass Stefan Arnold — drums H. P. Katzenburg — keyboardsNovember 2009–November 2014Chris Boltendahl — vocals Axel Ritt — guitar Jens Becker — bass Stefan Arnold — drums H. P. Katzenburg — keyboardsThe Clans Will Rise Again (2010) The Ballad of Mary (2011) The Clans Are Still Marching (2011) Wacken Hymne (2011) Home at Last (2012) Clash of the Gods (2012) Return of the Reaper (2014)November 2014–June 2018Chris Boltendahl — vocals Axel Ritt — guitar Jens Becker — bass Stefan Arnold — drums Marcus Kniep — keyboardsHealed by Metal (2017) The Living Dead (2018)June 2018–September 2023Chris Boltendahl — vocals Axel Ritt — guitar Jens Becker — bass Marcus Kniep — drums, keyboardsFields of Blood (2020) Symbol of Eternity (2022)October 2023–presentChris Boltendahl — vocals Tobias Kersting — guitar Jens Becker — bass Marcus Kniep — drums, keyboards"The Grave Is Yours" (2024) "Hell Is My Purgatory" (2024) Bone Collector (2025) "Hellfire Crusade" (2025) "Bark to Hell" (2025)
References
External links Grave Digger official website