Victory

Biography

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Victory (1984-1994, 1996-present): a Hard Rock band from Hanover, Germany, Germany.

he story of Victorybegan in late 1984 when guitarist Tommy Newton and bassist Peter Knorn were preparing for a new album for their new band Fargo with fellow members John Lockton (guitar) and Bernie Van Der Graaf (drums). Impressed by the compelling material, Scorpions drummer Herman Rarebell took charge and advanced them the studio costs then hired an American producer. Two days later, internationally renowned vocalist, Charlie Huhn, joined the group. The results of the studio sessions were dispatched directly to David Krebs' American management company (who had Aerosmith and Scorpions, among other big names on their books), triggering an invitation to the US.

The band name was then changed from Fargo to Victory and the group was presented to all major record companies, eventually signing with 'CBS'. Victory then moved to Los Angeles to have their material mixed by Michael Wagener. Their debut album, Victory, saw the light of day in 1985, and a tour of the US followed later that same year, playing 60 shows in America. That album, however, was not without controversy due to the cover art featuring a scantily-dressed woman lying on her back with her legs spread, forming a 'V'; the hype worked and the album made the charts.

Following a restructuring process, as a result of which Herman Frank (formerly of Accept and Sinner) was enlisted as guitarist, replacing John Lockton, the band entered their most famous period. Victory, now consisting of Huhn, Newton, Frank, Randow and Knorn, returned to Germany and signed with 'Metronome'.

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Their Don't Get Mad... Get Even (1986) follow-up, with the hit single Check's In The Mail, gave them a radio hit in the USA. Don't Get Mad... Get Even was superseded by the Hungry Hearts release one year later. Following another tour of the US and Europe, the most successful chapter in the history of Victory came to an end with their live cut, That's Live (1988). Charlie Huhn subsequently returned to America, accepting a lucrative offer by rock giants, Humble Pie.

In the course of an extensive search, a suitable new frontman was found in Fernando Garcia. Culture Killed The Native (1989) allowed the band to enter the European and American charts again. A third US tour followed, plus a European tour alongside Gary Moore.

After the Temples of Gold (1989), You Bought It - You Name It (1992), and a "Best of..." Best of Victory (1992) releases, Victory played a farewell gig in their home-town of Hanover, which was released on the double album Liveline (1994). The band, it appears, had split.

Victory would return to the scene in 1996 with the Voiceprint and Instinct (1996), albums completed by a new line-up, albeit unable to take up where they had left off in their heyday with Huhn, Randow and Frank. Particularly Charlie Huhn's (referred to as "Chicken Charlie" by his friends) blues-oriented vocals appeared impossible to compensate in terms of compositions.

In 2002 the band desired to return to what they once had, so when all the musicians involved indicated their interest in a reunion, the Hanover label 'Steamhammer/SPV' were fast to act, securing themselves the rights to the scheduled one-time reunion album, Instinct (2003), featuring the original line-up, a line-up that was re-debuted at the Wacken Open Air festival.

The next two albums, Fuel to the Fire (2006) was a compilation of re-recordings of older songs, while the new studio album came in the form of 2011 Don´t Talk Science, an album that was recorded back in 2009, would finally get released.

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