Rock Hard Forever: March 2009

Fair Warning is a German hard rock band founded in 1991 by former V2 vocalist Tommy Heart and former Zeno bassist Ule W. Ritgen. The band was rounded out by guitarists Helge Engelke, Andy Malecek and drummer Jurgen 'C.C.' Behrens.

Featuring ex-ZENO bassist Ule Winsome-Ritgen and erstwhile V2 vocalist Tommy Heart, Hannover Melodic Rockers FAIR WARNING are extremely popular in Japan where they are quite easily able to sell out large venues and would be voted 'Newcomers Of The Year' in 1993. Part of this success could be attributed to the cult following fostered previously by ZENO. Guitarist Andy Malacek's previous career had notably tracked through such acts as BALLANTINEZ and S.A.D.O..
The band's debut album, issued in 1991, was produced by Rafe McKenna and FAIR WARNING promptly toured in Germany with GIANT and also played several festival shows across Europe. Such was the band's impact in the Far East that the Japanese immediately launched a concert recording, 'Live In Japan' featuring ZENO numbers, during 1993. That same year Malecek put in a session on JOAL's album, 'Who's Got The Feeling'.
During 1994 Heart teamed up with German guitar guru ULI JON ROTH for dates in Europe in a vocal quartet that also included JOHN PARR, ZENO vocalist Michael Flexig and former TRAPEZE and RAINBOW frontman Pete Goalby.
The follow up FAIR WARNING record was a distinctly self produced affair, although the group ensured that they kept to the same Melodic Rock that had brought them cult status with the first album. The 1995 'Live At Home' album comprised acoustic live material and remixes.
In 1997 FAIR WARNING signed to G.U.N. Records for their third studio album 'Go'. As with 'Rainmaker' the new record was produced by the band themselves. Shortly after hitting the stores it sold over 100'000 copies in Japan alone emulating the gold status of its predecessor. In the summer of the same year FAIR WARNING undertook a sell out tour of Japan. In August of 1997 the band was honoured by their home city of Hannover in recognition of their achievements as musical ambassadors. FAIR WARNING ended a rollercoaster year by having leading Japanese Rock magazine 'Burrn!' voting 'Go' album of the year.
Following Japanese dates promoting the 'Four' album. Heart quit to concentrate on his new act SOUL DOCTOR. The band included ex-BONFIRE bassist Joerg Deisinger, guitarist Chris Lyne and drummer Zacky. In 2000 Malecek decamped to join Country Rockers TENNESSEE STEAMBOAT. The band drafted the veteran Kai Reuter in his stead, a man with experience with JANE and VIVA.
During the summer of 2001 ex members Helge Engelke and C.C. Behrens announced the formation of their new project DREAMTIME in union with vocalist Olaf Senkbeil, keyboard player Torsten Luederwaldt and bass player Ole Hempelmann. During November Tommy Heart could be found lending vocals to a tribute album in homage to Japanese Rock veterans LOUDNESS entitled 'Rock n' Roll Crazy Nights'. Malacek returned to the fore in 2003 with the high profile AOR act LAST AUTUMN'S DREAM, a union with the EUROPE triumvirate of bassist John Leven, drummer Ian Haughland and keyboard player Michael Michaeli with vocalist MIKAEL ERLANDSSON. This unit cut an eponymous album for Japanese release.
FAIR WARNING, comprising Tommy Heart, Helge Engelke, Ule Winsome-Ritgen and C.C. Behrens, reformed during 2005. Signing to Italian label Frontiers Records the group announced an album title of 'Brother's Keeper' for 2006 issue. The same label also re-ssued 'Fair Warning', 'Rainmaker' and the DVD set 'The Call Of The East - Live In Japan'.
The band announced they had signed with the AOR Heaven label in June 2008 for their sixth studio album.