Additional information
From Ralf Hollmer (15.02.2009):
In the mid of the '80s there was a active Metal-scene here in Ulm/Germany. Most bands were by GAMA under contract: e.g. Tyrant, Gravestone, Stormwitch, etc. And also we VAMPYR: (we was the first with spikes instead of rivets!!!)
We recorded in 1985 one LP, 'Cry out for Metal'. Also, despite the miserable Cover, has sold it quite well. Unfortunately, we can't agree with Gama what the song selection is good for the next LP. They only wanted speed/trash - we wanted our (like Judas Priest-mix). A few faster, harder songs and a few mid-tempo songs.
The chapter VAMPYR was completed in 1987, and now we have just a great joy that we were newly published in Oct.2008 (only 1000 pieces, but very loving and redesigned cover, booklet...)
For example, the videos on the CD were classified for over 20 years as lost... We have heard the album more often, and each member of former VAMPYR likes (mostly) the songs even today. It is solid honest Metal, the vocals and lead guitar are also to recognize as such (at the time was not all bands above), and the song mixture is OK. The vinyl edition appeared in the last 15 years, every now and again, and was also mostly sympathetic discussed.
As I said, we just enjoy ourselves, nostalgic feelings, also know, however, that the disc by today's standards (playing and production technology) is no longer able to keep up...
There gives still the (good) songs that's for 2nd Album was planned, on 4-track, and StormSpell would like to publish it.
Now we have VAMPYR after many many years, once again completely taken, and after a few beers did we really think about to record it new... (it would be cool after 25 years!!!)
Enjoy the journey into the year 1985!
From Ralf Hollmer (24.11.2008):
We founded VAMPYR in 1983 and breaked 1988, but we have still contact together...
We've had the same lineup all the time:
vocals: Wolfgang Schwarz - had after VAMPYR two bands: 'Brandon Wolfe' - Country Rock, 'Cry Wolfe' - Pop Rock, and he is a producer now;
drums: Roman Sterzik - lives in Teneriffa/Spain and has a few restaurants;
guitar: Lubosch 'Ironhead' Sterzik - played after VAMPYR a few months with Tyrant, and owns also restaurants;
bass: Markus 'Nil Conan' Maier - works and lives in Tokyo (for Daimler);
guitar: Ralf Hollmer - I founded (together with `King Carl' Tomaschko) Tyrant in 1980/1981, then I changed to the Sterzik-brothers in 1983 and we founded VAMPYR... I'm still playing guitar in a Classicrock-Coverband named JAM (www.jam-rock.de). Only just for fun...!!!
In the studio we've had one guest musician: Andre Kurzel - drums (he played later with 'Stranger')
The shame was in 1987 that we had excellent songs for a new album completed, but we couldn't agree with GAMA about the song collection. They required only Speed, and we would add 2 or 3 midtempo songs on the album - at last: so exists only one VAMPYR album... (and a few Samplers: Speed Metal Vol.1, Speedmetal Vol.2, Giants of Metal etc.)
