Following on from the critical acclaim of last year’s A Day in the Life of a Universal Wanderer LP, UK’s Progressive Rock wizards Gandalf’s Fist have added two new permanent faces to their line-up: Drummer Stefan Hepe and bassist Christopher Ewen. Gandalf’s Fist creative head and founding member Dean Marsh shares the following:
“Gandalf’s Fist are excited to announce the recent line-up change – We feel it’s important for any band to grow and develop and we’ve always seen expanding the scope of the band beyond mine and Luke’s creative vision as a key part of this.
We are pleased to announce that Stefan Hepe will be taking up the position as our new drummer whilst also ing on bass is our long-time er and drinking companion Chris Ewen. Both epitomize Gandalf’s Fist’s ambition and determination, as well as a common eccentricity which gives this band the potential to grow creatively. Their performance with us last year at Planet Rockstock only cemented our belief that we’d hit on a fruitful musical chemistry with these guys and filled us with tremendous excitement for where we can go as a fully-formed unit.
Thank you to all of our fans for your thus far – we’re excited to now bring you a bigger, bolder Gandalf’s Fist experience this year! Prog out with your log out!”
Upon ing the band full-time, following a successful Live performance at last year’s Planet Rockstock, Bassist Chris Ewen remarked:
“Having sampled the various musical delights of Gandalf’s Fist from the early days, when they were just a musing in the mad mind of Dean Marsh, I knew that there was plenty of talent on show. It was an honour to be a part of Gandalf’s Fist first festival appearance. Now it’s a case of onwards and upwards, and a chance to be a part of the Gandalf’s Fist musical revolution. With Deano Marsh’s creative genius, Luke’s cryptic lyrics, Stefan’s thunderous drums and now my booming bass lines, the world should be prepared for a good Fisting!”
The original two-piece collaboration now hangs its collective hat far further than the shores of Maryport, Cumbria, with German drummer Sefan Hepe adding:
I got in direct with the band last April – I was a fan, and I owned every release so far! I look at it as an opportunity to play great music and experience something new. If I wasn’t going to be The Fist’s Drummer, somebody else would have played. Somebody else, who might not as much love the music as much as I do!
As a four-piece, Gandalf’s Fist are currently writing and recording new material for their, as yet, untitled fifth full-length release due for release later in the year. With a number of high-profile guest musicians already jumping on board the project, 2014 surely is the year of the Fist.
