German guitar hero Axel Rudi Pell, born in Wattenscheid, learnt his chops in the Bochum, North Rhine-Westphalia based outfit he originally founded as SINNER in 1980, namely STEELER. Having quit the group in November 1988 due to his frustration with the band's direction, SPV Records took up their option on him as a solo artist. The label boss, Manfred Schultz had been so impressed with a three track demo recorded by Pell, featuring the tracks 'Broken Heart', 'Cold As Ice' and 'Promised Dreams', recorded with one-time STEELER vocalist Karl Holthaus, that he had no hesitation in offering the guitarist a deal.

In recording his first solo foray, 'Wild Obsession' released in December 1989 and produced by Ulrich Pösselt, Axel chose to work with ex-VICTORY vocalist Charlie Huhn alongside bassists Bodo Smuszinsky, BONFIRE's Jörg Deisinger and Pell's erstwhile STEELER colleague Volker Krawczak, with former AVENGER, RAGE and MEKONG DELTA drummer Jörg Michael rounding things out.

Follow up effort May 1991's 'Nasty Reputation' featured ex-JOSHUA, M.A.R.S. and DRIVER vocalist ROB ROCK and included a reputable cover of the DEEP PURPLE ballad 'When A Blind Man Cries'. Jörg Michael once again handled drum duties whilst bass parts were supplied by Volker Krawczak and keyboards delegated to Kai Raglewski of THE DUNE.

With dates lined up in Europe as part of a 'Metal Hammer' sponsored tour, Bob Rock dropped a bombshell when he announced he had prior commitments to IMPELLITERRI. Pell sought 'Aardschok' magazine editor Metal Mike regarding a replacement and JEFF SCOTT SOTO was duly suggested. The former YNGWIE MALMSTEEN man stepped into the breach to fulfill the tour dates.

'Eternal Prisoner', issued in October 1992, debuted Soto and once more included Volker Krawczak, Jörg Michael and Kai Raglewski. 'The Ballads' album followed in June 1993, the record being a compilation of Pell's lighter career moments to date including a Karl Holterhaus version of 'Broken Heart'. This album, the first of a series, sold well and highlighted Pell's appeal to the female market.

May 1994's 'Between The Walls' found Pell's band line-up of Krawczak, Michael and Soto stable with new keyboard player Julie Greaux, previously a member of BILLY IDOL's band. This set included a cover version of FREE's 'Wishing Well'. Pell's debut live effort 'Live In Germany', hosting a rendition of DEEP PURPLE's 'Mistreated', continued the upward sales trend in May 1995. These tracks had been recorded at the Markthalle in Hamburg on 4th Feburary 4th 1995 and at the Zeche in Bochum on 5th February 1995.

Soto also sang on the subsequent releases 'Black Moon Pyramid', in March 1996, and 'Magic', in May 1997, despite his other commitments to numerous band projects including TAKARA and TALISMAN. Soto was also earning a crust fronting Las Vegas 70's covers act BOOGIE NIGHTS! 'Black Moon Pyramid' caught RAGE's Peavey Wagner sessioning on bass whilst Christian Wolff was newly installed as keyboard player for 'Magic'.

September 1998's 'Oceans Of Time' found Pell, Krawczak and Michael joined by former KILLERHIT, BRUNETTE and HARDLINE vocalist Johnny Gioeli and ROUGH SILK keyboard player Ferdy Doernberg. A second ballads collection was issued in March 1999, this set hosting four brand new tracks, included an acoustic version of 'The Clown Is Dead', and a cover of the JIMI HENDRIX staple 'Hey Joe' only previously before released in Japan. A March 2000 studio set, 'The Masquerade Ball', closed with a take on URIAH HEEP's 'July Morning'. His band for this outing numbered vocalist Johnny Gioeli, bassist Volker Krawczak, keyboard player Ferdy Doernberg and drummer Mike Terrana. The latter, a permanent member of RAGE, also boasts terms with YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, METALIUM and ARTENSION.

The 2000 "best of" album 'The Wizard's Chosen Few' included two new numbers 'Ghosthunter' and 'Broken Dreams' plus a take on RAINBOW's 'Still I'm Sad' from the 'Holy Dio' tribute album. Another highlight was a live medley of DEEP PURPLE's 'Burn', JIMI HENDRIX's 'Purple Haze' and STEELER's 'Call Her Princess'. Also onboard was 'Total Eclipse', originally a Japanese bonus track for the 'Black Moon Pyramid' album which was highlighted by a guitar duel between Pell and HELLOWEEN's Roland Grapow. Between bouts of working with Pell drummer Jörg Michael has also racked up credits with HEADHUNTER, LAOS, GLENMORE, GRAVE DIGGER, STRATOVARIUS and RUNNING WILD.

Pell made a 2002 return to action with the April 'Shadow Zone' album. Promoting 'Shadow Zone', Pell geared up for headline European dates taking out on the road female backing singers, comprising Gudrun Laos of LAOS repute and Katja Kutz, as part of his band and support act SOUL DOCTOR. A live album culled from these dates, billed as 'Knights Live', would be scheduled for October the same year. This release would be accompanied by a DVD release 'Knight Treasures (Live & More)' which included backstage footage, the promotional video for 'The Cry Of The Gypsy' plus the archive STEELER video 'The Deeper The Night'.

In early 2003 Pell contributed a guest solo to the ROB ROCK album 'Eyes Of Eternity'. A brand new album from Pell, entitled 'Kings & Queens' and co-produced, mixed and engineered by Charlie Bauerfeind, would be laid down during the Autumn, the guitarist once more making use of vocalist Johnny Gioeli, bassist Volker Krawczak, keyboard player Ferdy Doernberg and drummer Mike Terrana. With 'Kings And Queens' emerging in March of 2004, AXEL RUDI PELL scheduled a German headline tour for April. Support came from Finnish act THUNDERSTONE and fellow Germans PUMP. The album charted at no. 40 in Germany and 75 in Sweden.

The band entered the studio in August to cut three new tracks for the third installment of their 'Ballads' series. Included would be a rendition of RAINBOW's 'Temple Of The King'. Tour plans would go awry though when an intended full tour was replaced by a series of acoustic shows. As it transpired these gigs too would be cancelled. The guitarist re-scheduled festival dates for the Summer, including the Milan 'Tradate Iron Fest', Belgium's 'Graspop Metal Meeting' and Germany's 'Wacken Open Air'. In addition, Pell and bassist Volker Krawczak would perform at the 'Rock Classic Allstars' show at the Bochum Zeche Bochum on 22nd April as part of a celebrity band comprising "Star Search" winner Martin Kesici, the SWEET credited Jeff Brown, the WARLOCK pairing of Niko Arvanitis and Peter Szigeti, Kai Hoffmann from SECRET DISCOVERY and soccer star Holger Aden.

AXEL RUDI PELL set 'Mystica' as the title of his 2006 album. The guitarist's UK live debut came with an appearance at the Derby 'Bloodstock' festival in September as part of a full-blown European tour. Mainland dates saw Dutch reformed Rockers VENGEANCE as support. February 2007 European shows had MAD MAX as opening band. However, the final set of five shows was cancelled when Pell was hospitalized with a "serious illness". The guitarist subsequently confirmed he had suffered a breakdown caused by "total exhaustion combined with a virus".

In March Pell revealed his intentions to record an album comprising solely of cover versions billed 'Diamonds Unlocked'. Opened up with the original composition 'The Diamond Overture' the running list included versions of RIOT's 'Warrior', U2's 'Beautiful Day', CHRIS REA's 'Stone', KISS' 'Love Gun', MICHAEL BOLTON's 'Fools Game', FREE's 'Heartbreaker', MONTROSE's 'Rock The Nation', PHIL COLLINS' 'In The Air Tonight', THE MISSION's 'Like A Child Again' and THE WHO's 'Won't Get Fooled Again'. The album entered the German charts at no. 60.

On 22nd December 2007  Axel performed three songs with an orchestra at the "Rockclassic Allstars in Symphony" Show at the Zeche Bochum, including 'Lady In Black' and 'Sympathy' with URIAH HEEP singer John Lawton and 'Smoke On The Water' with singer Holger Auer.

The three hour concert DVD 'Live Over Europe' hit the national German charts at no. 4 and the Swedish charts at no. 5 in March 2008. This DVD boasted footage filmed at the 'Rock Hard' festival, an "official bootleg" concert plus tracks recorded at the 'Sweden Rock' festival,  the 2005 'Bang Your Head' festival, the 2006 'Bloodstock' event in the UK, Bochum's Zeche and the Z7 venue in Pratteln, Switzerland.

The album 'Tales Of The Crown' arrived in October 2008, this set having been crafted at Gelsenkirchen’s Redhouse Studios with Charly Bauerfeind behind the desk again. As the album entered the national German charts at no. 41, the "Skull Crown" tour was conducted across Germany in January and February 2009 supported by MAD MAX. AXEL RUDI PELL opened for HEAVEN AND HELL in Germany during June.

The band played the THIN LIZZY, SAXON, UFO, MOTÖRHEAD and HEAVEN AND HELL headlined August 2009 'Wacken Open Air' festival in Germany. 

Garry Sharpe-Young