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Ulysses is a German progressive rock band from the early 1990s with an international line-up. They were part of a colourful scene of new bands, labels and magazines that emerged in Germany at that time.[1] Musically, they were less influenced by the German "Krautrock" phenomenon but initially oriented strongly towards the second generation of British progressive rock bands[1] (E.g. Marillion, IQ, Pendragon). Hegarty & Halliwell would have classified them as part of third wave of progressive rock bands, who can also be described as a second generation of neo-progressive bands.[2] So one might not wonder that most reviewers heard similarities to Marillion, Galahad and Änglagård in their music which is characterised by a strong emphasis on melodies and the integration of folkloristic elements, abrupt changes of moods (mostly melancholic and sombre) and partly complex and ever changing arrangements often moving towards a climax.

History

Ulysses was established in 1990 in Wiesbaden by bassist Ender Kilic, guitarist Mirko Rudnik and keyboarder Thomas Diehl.[3] Their name refers both to the ancient Greek hero Οδυσσέας and to James Joyce's best-known work Ulysses.[4]

Joined by Dane drummer Jasper Stannow and Australian singer Gerard P. Hynes, Ulysses recorded their first studio demos in December 1991.[5][6] After Stannow left the band, Ulysses found their permanent drummer in Robert Zoom. With this line-up they recorded their debut album "Neronia" produced by renowned British musicians Clive Nolan (Arena, Pendragon, Shadowland) and Karl Groom (Threshold) in 1993.[7] Guest vocalist on two tracks was Tracy Hitchings (Quasar, Strangers On A Train, Landmarq).[7]

Ulysses' "Neronia" CD was released on Michael Schmitz's and Thomas Waber's renowned Inside Out Music label. A cassette edition was licensed to Metal Mind Production/Massacre Records.

With their new singer, Marc Jost, Ulysses promoted the Neronia album throughout Europe,[8] playing shows and festivals in Poland,[9] Germany and the Netherlands, and opening for Pendragon on their "The Window of Life" European tour in 1994.[10]

In 1995 Ulysses played in the final of Germany's oldest and best-known rock festival for young talent, the 1822-Rock Festival.[11]

Due to a looming naming rights dispute, Ulysses changed their band name to Neronia in 1995[12] and after many line-up changes released their second album "Nerotica" in 2004.

At the end of 2011, the Ulysses album Neronia was voted into Germany's Prog Top 40 by the German rock magazine Eclipsed.[13]

In 2021, Ulysses reunited with most of the original line-up named Ulysses Resurrection Project.

A remastered and expanded 2CD set of the band's debut album was released in October 2023 on the Polish label GAD Records/chickadisc to mark the 30th anniversary of the first release.[14]

Discography

Studio albums

Compilations

Music videos

Members

Original members

Current members

Former members

External links

References

  1. ^ a b Borrink, Mike (2011-12-20). "Die Geschichte des Progressive Rock, Teil 6 Deutschland (II)" [The History of Progressive Rock, Part 6 Germany (II)]. Eclipsed (in German). 136. Aschaffenburg (DE): Sysyphus Verlags GmbH: 50–53.
  2. ^ Hegarty, Paul; Halliwell, Martin (2011). Beyond and Before: Progressive Rock Since the 1960s. New York: The Continuum International Publishing Group. p. 199. ISBN 978-0-8264-2332-0.
  3. ^ ULYSSESinfo 6/94 (Ulysses press kit)
  4. ^ Schaefer, Wolfgang (1994-06-14). "Typisch britische Teutonen" [Typical British Teutons]. Rock Hard (in German). 85. Dortmund: Holger Stratmann: 104–105.
  5. ^ Pyramusic Promotions: ULYSSESbio, 1994-06
  6. ^ PYRAMUSIC Promotions: ULYSSES promo sheet, 1992-02
  7. ^ a b Schäfer, Wolfgang (March 1994). "Ulysses Neronia (Pyra Music/SPV)". Rock Hard. 82. Holger Stratmann: 88.
  8. ^ Schäfer, Wolfgang (June 1994). ""Typisch britische Teutonen", Prog - Die Progressiv- Kolumne in Rock Hard" ["Typically British Teutons", Prog - The Progressive column in Rock Hard]. Rock Hard (in German). 85. Dortmund: Holger Stratmann: 104–105.
  9. ^ Grzesiek Kszczotek inTyklo Rock, 1994-07
  10. ^ Habusta, Chris (August 1994). "Progressiv - Ulysses stehen für Progrock" [Progressive - Ulysses stand for Progrock]. Soundcheck (in German). 9. Bergkirchen: PPV Presse Project Verlags GmbH: 189.
  11. ^ Spindler, Wolfgang (1995-03-07). "Raum & Klang - ein Dissens" [Space & Sound - A Dissent]. Frankfurter Rundschau (in German). 56. Frankfurt am Main: 21.
  12. ^ "NERONIA - Ulysses: Neronia (1993)".
  13. ^ Borrink, Mike (December 2011). "Die Geschichte des Progressive Rock, Teil 6" [The History of Progressive Rock, Part 6]. Eclipsed (in German). 136. Aschaffenburg: Sysyphus Verlags GmbH: 50–53.
  14. ^ "Ulysses -Neronia (2CD)".
  15. ^ "Ulysses - Neronia (2CD)".
  16. ^ "Neronia 30th Anniversary Remaster 2CD - set".
  17. ^ Wolff, Stefan (1994-11-10). "Auf Kuba die Heavy-Charts gestürmt. Die "Progressive Rock"-Band Ulysses bastelt konsequent an der Karriereleiter" [Storming the heavy charts in Cuba. The "progressive rock" band Ulysses is consistently tinkering with the career ladder.]. Wiesbadener Kurier (in German). Wiesbaden: VRM.
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