Freedom Call

Chris Bay and drummer Dan Zimmermann started Freedom Call in 1998, at a time when Zimmermann’s main band, Gamma Ray, was taking a break. The first line-up was completed by bassist Ilker Ersin and guitarist Sascha Gerstner. Bay, who sings, plays guitar and keyboards and writes the songs, has led the band ever since, and Nuremberg has remained its home base, with the band’s own studio nearby.

The debut Stairway to Fairyland came out in 1999, followed by Crystal Empire (2001) and Eternity (2002). Gerstner left in 2001 and Swiss guitarist Cédric “Cede” Dupont took over. Dupont and Ersin both departed in 2005, around the release of The Circle of Life, and Lars Rettkowitz became the band’s guitarist. Dimensions followed in 2007 and kept the same melodic, keyboard-rich approach.

Zimmermann left in 2010 because of Gamma Ray commitments, which made Bay the only founding member. Legend of the Shadowking (2010) and Land of the Crimson Dawn (2012) were followed by the 15th-anniversary release Ages of Light (2013). Ersin returned on bass and Ramy Ali took over the drums for Beyond (2014), and Master of Light came out in 2016. M.E.T.A.L. followed in 2019, the year Francesco Ferraro joined on bass.

On 10 May 2024 Freedom Call released Silver Romance through Steamhammer/SPV; Bay called the 25th-anniversary album the band’s “silver wedding anniversary”. Ramy Ali, back on drums after a private break, played on it alongside Bay, Rettkowitz and Ferraro. The singles were the title track, “In Quest of Love”, “High Above” and “Supernova”. In 2025 the band renewed its contract with Steamhammer/SPV, and Rettkowitz has now been Bay’s guitar partner for two decades.

Current line-up: Chris Bay (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Lars Rettkowitz (guitar), Francesco Ferraro (bass), Ramy Ali (drums)