Grave Digger Family Tree

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Metal Family Tree

This is a project aimed at making it easy to see who inspired the bands you love or even hate. For this I try not to use any influences that the band don’t claim themselves. There will be a focus on predecessors but successors will be added as they site the band. These trees become more and more interactive as new bands are added, allowing you to click any band that has a tree and jump to it.

We want our lists to be better. If you know something that belongs on this list, let us know. When in doubt we will leave it out, so we need reliable sources.

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Grave Digger are a German speed/heavy/power metal band. Vocalist Chris Boltendahl has been the only member to be in the band since the beginning. They’ve undergone several line up changes and even changed their name to Digger for a short time releasing one album under that name before a line up change and return as Grave Digger. Writing credits are normally credited to the entire band. For a lot of members I’ve had a hard time finding info. I think this list is pretty solid but maybe missing things that should be here. If anyone finds anything I’m missing I’m happy for the input, especially from any German speakers that might find things that I couldn’t.

Jeff Beck played in The Yardbirds after Eric Clapton and before Jimmy Page. He has put out a ton of influential albums and is one of Axel’s favorite guitarists.

Jeff Beck played in The Yardbirds after Eric Clapton and before Jimmy Page. He has put out a ton of influential albums and is one of Axel’s favorite guitarists.

Johnny winter is a blues/blues rock guitarist who started putting out albums in the late 60’s and after. Manni named him as one of his influences.

Johnny winter is a blues/blues rock guitarist who started putting out albums in the late 60’s and after. Manni named him as one of his influences.

Led Zeppelin are one of the most well known bands in the world. They mostly played a hard rock style with other influences particularly folk. Chris said they are the biggest influence on Grave Digger.

Led Zeppelin are one of the most well known bands in the world. They mostly played a hard rock style with other influences particularly folk. Chris said they are the biggest influence on Grave Digger.

The Fathers of metal, Black Sabbath. Chris said they are fans of Sabbath

The Fathers of metal, Black Sabbath. Chris said they are fans of Sabbath

Rory Gallagher was a blues rock player from Ireland. Manni named him as an influence.

Rory Gallagher was a blues rock player from Ireland. Manni named him as an influence.

The original German metal band and one of the earliest metal bands. Manni named both Uli and Michael Schenker as influences.

The original German metal band and one of the earliest metal bands. Manni named both Uli and Michael Schenker as influences.

Queen is a hugely influential rock band most often known for the voice of Freddie Mercury. Axel names Brian May as one of his biggest influences.

Queen is a hugely influential rock band most often known for the voice of Freddie Mercury. Axel names Brian May as one of his biggest influences.

The quintessential hard rock band, AC/DC has been named as an influence by several members of Grave Digger including Jens, Tom and Manni.

The quintessential hard rock band, AC/DC has been named as an influence by several members of Grave Digger including Jens, Tom and Manni.

Guitarist Gary Moore put out a ton of solo albums and worked in a few bands as well. He is Axel’s favorite guitarist.

Guitarist Gary Moore put out a ton of solo albums and worked in a few bands as well. He is Axel’s favorite guitarist.

Judas Priest are the metal gods. They really shaped metal in the 70’s and continued to do so through the decades. Chris said they were old heroes to them.

Judas Priest are the metal gods. They really shaped metal in the 70’s and continued to do so through the decades. Chris said they were old heroes to them.

The biggest band of the NWOBHM movement, Iron Maiden has been one of the most influential bands in metal. Chris said they are old heroes to Grave Digger.

The biggest band of the NWOBHM movement, Iron Maiden has been one of the most influential bands in metal. Chris said they are old heroes to Grave Digger.

Accept are one of the bands that really paved the way for metal band in Germany. Chris said he’s been a fan since their first album.

Accept are one of the bands that really paved the way for metal band in Germany. Chris said he’s been a fan since their first album.

After his time in Black Sabbath, Ozzy started his own band having many talented guitar players over the years. Chris said Ozzy was one of their influences.

After his time in Black Sabbath, Ozzy started his own band having many talented guitar players over the years. Chris said Ozzy was one of their influences.

The legendary Ronnie James Dio, formed his solo band after first singing in Rainbow and Black Sabbath. Chris said they are fans of Dio.

The legendary Ronnie James Dio, formed his solo band after first singing in Rainbow and Black Sabbath. Chris said they are fans of Dio.

Chris said the band is all fans of classical music and Richard Wagner inspired Rheingold. Axel said he is a big fan of Bach and Tchaikovsky.

Chris said in the 80’s David Lee Roth was his inspiration.

Axel "Ironfinger" Ritt has been guitarist since 2010 playing on 5 albums… 6 with the newest album.

Peter Masson was the guitarist for the first three (four if you count Stronger Than Ever) albums but I haven’t been able to find any of his influences.

Like Peter, I couldn’t find any info for any other early members of Grave Digger.

Guitarist Uwe and bassists Tom did three albums with Grave Digger together. Uwe did two more after Tom was out of the band. After this they formed Rebellion together. Both named Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and Accept as influences. Tom also named Ac/dc, Thin Lizzy, and Black Sabbath as important.

Guitarist Manni played on five Grave Digger albums. his early influences are Status Quo and Ac/dc. His main influences include the bands noted above. When he named Michael Schenker he didn’t specificly limit to Scorpions although he did say Uli from the Scorpions. It is possible that Schenker’s other bands (MSG, UFO) are also an influence. Possibly Uli’s as well.

Drummer Stefan Arnold is the only drummer to have a long term stent in Grave Digger after Albert who played on the first 3-4 albums. In an interview discussing his past band Grinder, he said Flotsam & Jetsam was a huge influence on him.

H.P. Katzenburg was keyboardist for a long time in the band playing on 11 albums. I have been unable to find his influences.

If you are a complete newb to Grave Digger check out our heavy metal intro to Grave Digger

Sources:

https://mindovermetal.wordpress.com/2010/11/18/interview-chris-boltendahl-grave-digger/
http://metalkings.com/reviews/grave-digger/grave-digger-eng.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=40&v=zSyIzpbd37k&feature=emb_logo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=32&v=E7H-UK0CaA8&feature=emb_logo
https://www.oocities.org/houseofnoizz/digger.html
https://www.metalblast.net/interviews/smiling-back-at-death-an-interview-with-grave-digger/
https://www.stormbringer.at/interviews/527/interview-rebellion.html
https://www.powerofmetal.dk/interviews/rebellion.htm
http://www.friday13thmetal.co.uk/Page%203%20-%20Interviews/Grave%20Digger/new_page_1.htm
http://www.maximummetal.com/interviews/intresults.asp?ID=jensbecker&idBand=54
http://pestwebzine.com/index/stefan_arnold_grinder/0-1502