Bonfire is a German heavy metal band from Ingolstadt. Formed in 1972 under the name Cacumen, the group's initial lineup after changing its name to Bonfire in 1986 consisted of lead vocalist Claus Lessmann, guitarists Hans Ziller and Horst Maier-Thorn, bassist Jörg Deisinger, and drummer Dominik Hülshorst. The band's current lineup includes Ziller, plus guitarist Frank Pané, bassist Ronnie Parkes (both of whom joined in 2015), drummer Fabio Alessandrini (since 2022), lead vocalist DYAN (since 2022).
History
1972–1994 Bonfire traces its roots back to Cacumen, a band formed by Hans Ziller in 1972 which released a single, two albums and an EP with various lineups. The band changed its name to Bonfire and released Don't Touch the Light, their debut album with the new moniker, in 1986. During the recording of its follow-up Fireworks the next year, Hülshorst left the band and Ken Mary stepped in temporarily as a session performer, before Tommy Wagner joined briefly for a few shows after its release. In December 1987, a full-time replacement for Hülshorst was found in Edgar Patrik, formerly of Sinner and Samson. During the subsequent tour, Maier-Thorn was forced to leave due to rheumatism and was replaced by Gerhard "Angel" Schleifer, also formerly of Sinner. The group recorded its fourth album Point Blank in 1989.
Shortly after recording Point Blank, Ziller left Bonfire in August 1989 due to "personal and musical differences". According to Deisinger, the guitarist was fired following disputes with the band's management over alleged commitment issues. After his dismissal, Ziller reportedly attempted to prevent the release of Point Blank, claiming he had not been "properly credited" on the album. The album was released in October, however, and the band continued as a four-piece. The new lineup released Knock Out in 1991 and recorded the group's first live album Live... the Best, before Lessmann also left in September 1992. Lessmann and Ziller subsequently reunited to release the EP Glaub Dran. In March 1993, Bonfire brought in Michael Bormann as their new frontman, with whom they toured until July 1994.
1996–2015 After a two-year hiatus, Claus Lessmann and Hans Ziller regained the rights to the Bonfire name and reformed the band in 1996 to release Feels Like Comin' Home, an English re-recording of Glaub Dran with additional tracks. The album featured contributions from a wide range of session musicians, as well as former drummer Dominik Hülshorst. Also featured was keyboardist and rhythm guitarist Chris Lausmann, who subsequently became an official member of the band alongside new bassist Uwe Köhler and drummer Jürgen "Bam Bam" Wiehler. The group issued Rebel Soul, Fuel to the Flames, and Strike Ten from 1998 to 2001.
Following the release of Live Over Europe in 2002, Lausmann left Bonfire for "personal reasons". The band continued as a four-piece (with Thomas Streck performing keyboards as a backup member). By early 2006, the group was a five-piece again with the addition of Chris "Yps" Limburg on second guitar, who had previously performed as a guest on 2005's One Acoustic Night. The new lineup released two studio albums – Double X and The Räuber – as well as the live album Double X Vision. In January 2009, Wiehler was replaced by the band's original drummer Dominik Hülshorst. He remained in the band's lineup for three years, releasing Branded, Fireworks Still Alive and Cry for Help, before being replaced by Harry Reischmann in April 2012.
Since 2015
After not releasing a new album since 2011, Bonfire announced at the beginning of 2015 that Lessmann, Limburg and Köhler had all left the band, replaced by David Reece (formerly of Accept), Frank Pané and Ronnie Parkes, respectively. The new lineup issued Glörious in April, before Reischmann was replaced by Tim Briedeband in December. Pearls followed in March 2016, before Reece left that July due to "irreconcilable personal and professional differences". The band's former vocalist Michael Bormann was originally slated to join as Reece's replacement, however he was unable to join until mid-October which led the group to bring in Alexx Stahl as a temporary stand-in for a short run of shows. Due to his performances, he was upgraded to an official member, instead of Bormann.
Between 2017 and 2018, Bonfire released three studio albums with Stahl: Byte the Bullet, Temple of Lies and Legends. In February 2019, drummer Briedeband was replaced by André Hilgers, another former member of Sinner. Fistful of Fire and Roots followed in 2020 and 2021, respectively.
Members Current ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsHans Zillerall Bonfire releases, except "Sword and Stone" (1989), Knock Out (1991) and Live... the Best (1993)Frank Pané2015–presentall Bonfire releases from Glörious (2015) onwardsRonnie ParkesFabio Alessandrini2022–presentall Bonfire releases from Freedom Is My Belief (MMXXIII Version) (2022) onwardsDYANall Bonfire releases from Fantasy (MMXXIII Version) (2022) onwards
Former ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsClaus Lessmannall Bonfire releases from Don't Touch the Light (1986) to Live in Wacken (2013)Jörg Deisinger1986–1994all Bonfire releases from Don't Touch the Light (1986) to Live... the Best (1993)Horst Maier-Thorn1972–1988 Dominik HülshorstKen Mary1987 drumsFirework (1987)Tommy Wagner1987 noneEdgar Patrik1987–1994Gerhard "Angel" Schleifer1988–1994Michael BormannnoneUwe Köhler1996–2015all Bonfire releases from Rebel Soul (1997) to Live in Wacken (2013)Jürgen "Bam Bam" Wiehler1996–2009Chris Lausmann1996–2002Chris "Yps" Limburg2006–2015all Bonfire releases from One Acoustic Night (2005) to "Treueband" (2012)Harry Reischmann2012–2015drumsDavid Reece2015–2016lead vocalsTim Breideband2015–2019all Bonfire releases from Pearls (2016) to Live on Holy Ground: Wacken 2018 (2019)Alexx Stahl2016–2022lead vocalsall Bonfire releases from Byte the Bullet (2017) to Freedom Is My Belief (MMXXIII Version) (2022)André Hilgers2019–2022all Bonfire releases from Live on Holy Ground: Wacken 2018 (2019) to Roots (2021)
Timeline
Lineups PeriodMembersReleasesBand known as Cacumen prior to May 1986May 1986 – May 1987Claus Lessmann – lead vocals Hans Ziller – guitar, backing vocals Horst Maier-Thorn – guitar, backing vocals Jörg Deisinger – bass, backing vocals Dominik Hülshorst – drums, backing vocalsDon't Touch the Light (1986)Summer 1987Claus Lessmann – lead vocals Hans Ziller – guitar, backing vocals Horst Maier-Thorn – guitar, backing vocals Jörg Deisinger – bass, backing vocals Ken Mary – drums Fireworks (1987)Late 1987Claus Lessmann – lead vocals Hans Ziller – guitar, backing vocals Horst Maier-Thorn – guitar, backing vocals Jörg Deisinger – bass, backing vocals Tommy Wagner – drums December 1987 – July 1988Claus Lessmann – lead vocals Hans Ziller – guitar, backing vocals Horst Maier-Thorn – guitar, backing vocals Jörg Deisinger – bass, backing vocals Edgar Patrik – drums, backing vocalsAugust 1988 – August 1989Claus Lessmann – lead vocals, guitar Hans Ziller – guitar, backing vocals Angel Schleifer – guitar, backing vocals Jörg Deisinger – bass, backing vocals Edgar Patrik – drums, backing vocalsPoint Blank (1989)August 1989 – September 1992Claus Lessmann – lead vocals, guitar Angel Schleifer – guitar, backing vocals Jörg Deisinger – bass, backing vocals Edgar Patrik – drums, backing vocals"Sword and Stone" (1989) Knock Out (1991) Live... the Best (1993) Live at Wacken (2013)March 1993 – July 1994Michael Bormann – lead vocals, guitar Angel Schleifer – guitar, backing vocals Jörg Deisinger – bass, backing vocals Edgar Patrik – drums, backing vocalsBand inactive August 1994 – June 1996Summer – late 1996Claus Lessmann – lead vocals, guitar, bass Hans Ziller – guitar, backing vocalsFeels Like Comin' Home (1996)Late 1996 – late 2002Claus Lessmann – lead vocals, guitar Hans Ziller – guitar, backing vocals Chris Lausmann – guitar, keys, vocals Uwe Köhler – bass, backing vocals Jürgen Wiehler – drums, backing vocalsRebel Soul (1997) "Because It's Christmas" (1997) Fuel to the Flames (1999) Strike Ten (2001) Live Over Europe (2002)Late 2002 – early 2006Claus Lessmann – lead vocals, guitar Hans Ziller – guitar, backing vocals Uwe Köhler – bass, backing vocals Jürgen Wiehler – drums, backing vocals"Tell Me What U Know" (2003) Free (2003) "Schanzer Herz" (2004) One Acoustic Night (2005)Early 2006 – January 2009Claus Lessmann – lead vocals, guitar Hans Ziller – guitar, backing vocals Chris Limburg – guitar, backing vocals Uwe Köhler – bass, backing vocals Jürgen Wiehler – drums, backing vocalsDouble X (2006) Double X Vision (2007) The Räuber (2008)January 2009 – April 2012Claus Lessmann – lead vocals, rhythm guitar Hans Ziller – guitar, backing vocals Chris Limburg – guitar, backing vocals Uwe Köhler – bass, backing vocals Dominik Hülshorst – drums, backing vocals"Deutsche Nationalhymne" (2010) Branded (2011) Fireworks Still Alive (2011) Cry for Help (2012)April 2012 – January 2015Claus Lessmann – lead vocals, rhythm guitar Hans Ziller – guitar, backing vocals Chris Limburg – guitar, backing vocals Uwe Köhler – bass, backing vocals Harry Reischmann – drums"Treueband" (2012)January – December 2015David Reece – lead vocals Hans Ziller – guitar, backing vocals Frank Pané – guitar, backing vocals Ronnie Parkes – bass, backing vocals Harry Reischmann – drumsGlörious (2015)December 2015 – July 2016David Reece – lead vocals Hans Ziller – guitar, backing vocals Frank Pané – guitar, backing vocals Ronnie Parkes – bass, backing vocals Tim Breideband – drums, backing vocalsPearls (2016)July – August 2016Michael Bormann – lead vocals Hans Ziller – guitar, backing vocals Frank Pané – guitar, backing vocals Ronnie Parkes – bass, backing vocals Tim Breideband – drums, backing vocalsAugust 2016 – February 2019Alexx Stahl – lead vocals Hans Ziller – guitar, backing vocals Frank Pané – guitar, backing vocals Ronnie Parkes – bass, backing vocals Tim Breideband – drums, backing vocalsByte the Bullet (2017) Temple of Lies (2018) Legends (2018) Live on Holy Ground: Wacken 2018 (2019)February 2019 – May 2022Alexx Stahl – lead vocals Hans Ziller – guitar, backing vocals Frank Pané – guitar, backing vocals Ronnie Parkes – bass, backing vocals André Hilgers – drums, percussionFistful of Fire (2020) Roots (2021)May 2022 - October 2022Alexx Stahl – lead vocals Hans Ziller – guitar, backing vocals Frank Pané – guitar, backing vocals Ronnie Parkes – bass, backing vocals Fabio Alessandrini – drums, percussionFreedom Is My Belief (MMXXIII Version) (2022)October 2022 - December 2022Hans Ziller – guitar, backing vocals Frank Pané – guitar, backing vocals Ronnie Parkes – bass, backing vocals Fabio Alessandrini – drums, percussionDecember 2022 - presentDYAN - lead vocals Hans Ziller – guitar, backing vocals Frank Pané – guitar, backing vocals Ronnie Parkes – bass, backing vocals Fabio Alessandrini – drums, percussionFantasy (MMXXIII Version) (2022) Don’t Touch The Light (MMXXIII Version) (2023) Fireworks (MMXXIII Version) (2023) Point Plank (MMXXIII Version) (2023)
Footnotes
References
External links Bonfire official website