Grave Digger
- Type: Band/Group
- Country: Germany
- Born: 1980 in Gladbeck, Germany
- Active: 1980–present
Biography
Grave Digger are a German heavy metal band formed in Gladbeck in 1980 by vocalist Chris Boltendahl, their only constant member. Early albums 'Heavy Metal Breakdown' (1984), 'Witch Hunter' (1985) and 'War Games' (1986) placed them alongside *Helloween* and *Running Wild* in the first wave of German metal. After a failed detour as Digger and a split, the band reformed in 1991 and rebuilt its reputation with historical concept albums such as 'Tunes of War' (1996), 'Knights of the Cross' (1998) and 'Excalibur' (1999), sustaining a prolific album cycle on #Napalm Records# into 'Bone Collector' (2025).
Genres
Grave Digger Discography
- Heavy Metal Breakdown (1984) - Album - rated 3.36/5
- Witch Hunter (1985) - Album - rated 2.86/5
- Heart of Darkness (1995) - Album
- Tunes of War (1996) - Album - rated 3.2/5
- Knights of the Cross (1998) - Album - rated 3.26/5
- Excalibur (1999) - Album - rated 3.17/5
- The Grave Digger (2001) - Album
- Tunes of Wacken - Live (2002) - Album - rated 3.53/5
- Masterpieces (2002) - Compilation - rated 3.83/5
- The Middle Ages Trilogy [Tunes of War / Knights of the Cross / Excalibur] (2002) - Compilation - rated 4.13/5
- The Last Supper (2005) - Album - rated 3.23/5
- Liberty or Death (2007) - Album
- Ballads of a Hangman (2009) - Album - rated 3.3/5
- The Clans Will Rise Again (2010) - Album - rated 3.43/5
Members
- Chris Boltendahl - Vocals, bass (1980–present)
- Peter Masson - Guitar (1980–1986)
- Albert Eckardt - Drums (1983–1987)
- C. F. Brank - Bass (1985–1987)
- Uwe Lulis - Guitar (1986–2000)
- Tomi Göttlich - Bass (1991–1997)
- Stefan Arnold - Drums (1995–2018)
- Hans Peter Katzenburg - Keyboards (1996–2014)
- Jens Becker - Bass (1997–present)
- Manni Schmidt - Guitar (2000–2009)
- Axel Ritt - Guitar (2009–2023)
- Marcus Kniep - Keyboards, drums (2014–present)