Ayreon

Ayreon is a musical project by Dutch songwriter, singer, musician and record producer Arjen Anthony Lucassen. Ayreon's music is described as progressive rock, progressive metal and power metal sometimes combined with genres such as folk, electronica, experimental and classical music. The majority of Ayreon's albums are dubbed "rock operas" (or "metal operas") because the albums contain complex storylines featuring a host of characters, usually with each one being represented by a unique vocalist. Each Ayreon album tells a different story, but all, with the exception of Actual Fantasy, The Theory of Everything, and Transitus, take place in the same fictional, science fiction universe; additionally, Lucassen's solo album Lost in the New Real is also set in the Ayreon universe. Ayreon's music is characterized by the use of traditional instruments in rock music (guitars, bass guitar, drums, analogue synthesizers, electric organs) mixed with instruments more native to folk and classical music (e.g. mandolins, violins, violas, celli, flutes, sitars and didgeridoos). Lucassen writes the music and the lyrics, sings and plays most of the instruments on all of the Ayreon albums, alongside many guest musicians. His most regular collaborator is drummer Ed Warby. Due to the project's particular nature, Ayreon live performances are rare.…

Ayreon is a musical project by Dutch songwriter, singer, musician and record producer Arjen Anthony Lucassen. Ayreon's music is described as progressive rock, progressive metal and power metal sometimes combined with genres such as folk, electronica, experimental and classical music. The majority of Ayreon's albums are dubbed "rock operas" (or "metal operas") because the albums contain complex storylines featuring a host of characters, usually with each one being represented by a unique vocalist. Each Ayreon album tells a different story, but all, with the exception of Actual Fantasy, The Theory of Everything, and Transitus, take place in the same fictional, science fiction universe; additionally, Lucassen's solo album Lost in the New Real is also set in the Ayreon universe. Ayreon's music is characterized by the use of traditional instruments in rock music (guitars, bass guitar, drums, analogue synthesizers, electric organs) mixed with instruments more native to folk and classical music (e.g. mandolins, violins, violas, celli, flutes, sitars and didgeridoos). Lucassen writes the music and the lyrics, sings and plays most of the instruments on all of the Ayreon albums, alongside many guest musicians. His most regular collaborator is drummer Ed Warby. Due to the project's particular nature, Ayreon live performances are rare. Several Ayreon songs were first included in two live albums by other Lucassen bands: Live on Earth by Star One (2003) and Live in the Real World by Stream of Passion (2006). ==Most regular collaborators== Ed Warby – drums, percussion (1998–present) Joost van den Broek – piano, synthesizer (2004–present) Jeroen Goossens – flutes (2004–present) Ben Mathot – violin (2007–present) Johan van Stratum – bass guitar (2015–present) (Live shows) For guest members, see List of Ayreon guest musicians. ===Music videos=== "The Stranger From Within" (1996) "Day Eleven: Love" (2004) "Loser" (2004) "Come Back to Me" (2004) "Beneath the Waves" (2008) "The Day That the World Breaks Down" (2017) "Get Out!" (2020) "This Human Equation" (2020) "Hopelessly Slipping Away" (2020) "Talk of the Town" (2020) "Daniel's Descent into Transitus Medley" ("Listen to My Story") (2020) Pictures of the release party of 01011001 at Stairwww.rockline.it/modules.php?name=Interviste&rop=view_int&id=264 Interview with Arjen Lucassen Interview with Lucassen on Lebmetal.com October 2009 Interview with Lucassen on Omega Tau published Feb 2014¹

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