Wolfgang Hierl- the creative mastermind and responsible for most of High Wheel's music and lyrics studied classical guitar and flute at the Richard Strauß Konservatorium in Munich. Born in 1971, he and Erich Kogler (studied double-bass and piano (both classical), at the Richard Strauß Konservatorium in Munich), in 1988 decided to quit a local progressive-trash-metal band called "The Hammers." They were looking for something with more melody. After Hierl's six week trip to America (armed only with a backpack, a copy of "The Lord Of The Rings" and one of Däniken´s new editions about UFOs in old India), the impression of his visit as well as the interesting theories of Erich v. Däniken inspired the writing process for the song- "High Wheel in the sky" (part one as it was called later).
Back in Germany the "New H. Project" was founded and rehearsed on Wolfgang's new ideas, but the sound didn't happen until drummer-Uli Jenne (studied modern drum set at the "drummer's focus" in Munich) came onboard. Uli, along with his talent has supplies the rehearsal locations and sundries. Knowing each other for several years the three discovered a common sense of music, humor and life in general - and the idea to form "High Wheel" came in 1989. Within a few weeks a full two hour set was composed, arranged and rehearsed - and presented live on stage.
To properly play live, the group enlisted Andreas `Lobi' Lobinger, who studied electrical engineering at the Technical University in Munich, was a friend from high school and accordion-player. During 1991 and after a few rehearsals and a free keyboard (bought by the band), Lobi eased into the groups sessions and a band was born.
In 1993, the group released- `1910'- a Paleo-SETI story about an extraterrestrial civilization visiting the Earth in ancient ages.
Fans of creative music began to take notice in High Wheel with their 1996 release of `There,' which was on many prog-listeners top 10 lists. It is mature work, quite metaphysical.
`Back from the Void,' released in 2002 contains an album of very powerful progressive rock incorporating exquisite acoustic (even metal), with even symphonic extracts. The Void "describes the emptiness rising around us and even in us, and the the efforts to put some sense and "life" into our existence." The band began recording it as early as 1999.
In June, 2003, High Wheel opened up the Nearfest 2003 festival in Trenton, NJ.
High Wheel Discography:
- 1993 1910
- 1994 Remember The Colours
- 1996 There
- 2002 Back From The Void
