Heavenly (French band)

Heavenly is a French power metal band based in Marseille that was formed in 1993 in Paris by vocalist Benjamin Sotto and drummer Max Pilo, originally as a cover band under the name of Satan's Lawyer. In 1994, they changed their name to "Heavenly" and evolved into a full-fledged Helloween-influenced power metal outfit. In 1998, they released a three-track demo with new guitarist Anthony Parker. However, Parker's time with the band was to be short lived, leaving before a record deal with Noise Records was clinched. Heavenly then found a replacement in Chris Savourey and completed their lineup with bassist Laurent Jean.

The band was signed on Noise Records in 1999.<ref name=Allmusic>AllMusic biography by James Christopher Monger</ref> In 2000, Heavenly released their debut album Coming from the Sky. Although it was largely shunned by the media, the album proved a hit with metal fans and its success helped Heavenly land an appearance at the French Hard Rock Festival. With the arrival of a keyboardist, Frédéric Leclercq, and the replacement of departed bassist Laurent Jean with Piere-Emmanuel Pelisson, Heavenly underwent another lineup change shortly before they supported Stratovarius on their 'Infinite' tour. Chris Savourey left soon afterwards, and Frédéric Leclercq took on his role as the band's guitarist.

Heavenly released their second album Sign of the Winner in 2001, and received positive feedback from both fans and media alike. For their following support slot on Edguy's European tour, Charley Corbiaux joined as a second guitarist, and has since become a permanent addition to Heavenly's ranks.

After appearing at Wacken Open Air (the world's biggest metal festival) in 2002, Heavenly set to work recording their third album, Dust to Dust, which was eventually released in early 2004.

In 2006, Heavenly released their fourth album, titled Virus. It is a departure from previous efforts, incorporating less double-bass drumming and expanding Sotto's vocal range.

They opened for Scorpions during their 2007 French tour.

In December 2009, they released their fifth album Carpe Diem.

In April 2020, they announced on their Facebook page that they were working on a new album. In October 2022, they performed a setlist including a new track, "Be United, Be the One", at a festival in Vouziers.

Band members

File:Heavenly french band 2.jpg

Heavenly performing in 2008

Current members

• Benjamin Sotto – vocals (1994–present), keyboards (1994–2011)
• Frédéric Geai-Schmitt – bass (2011–present)
• Nico Marco – keyboards (2011–present)
• Olivier Lapauze – guitar (2004–present)
• Piwee Desfray – drums (2009–present)

Former members

• Anthony Parker – guitar (1998–1999)
• Chris Savourey – guitar (1999–2001)
• Frédéric Leclercq – guitar, backing vocals (2000–2004)
• Charley Corbiaux – guitar (2001–2011), backing vocals (2004–2011)
• Laurent Jean – bass (1998–2000)
• P.E. Pelisson – bass (2001–2004)
• Matthieu Plana – bass (2004–2011)
• Max Pilo – drums (1994–2004)
• Thomas Das Neves – drums (2004–2009)

Timeline

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 id:bvocals     value:pink         legend:Backing_vocals
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 id:bass        value:blue         legend:Bass
 id:keys        value:purple       legend:Keyboard
 id:drums       value:orange       legend:Drums
 id:studio      value:black        legend:Studio_album
 id:other       value:gray(0.6)    legend:Demo
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at:05/25/2000
at:09/24/2001
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at:09/21/2006
at:12/18/2009

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color:other
at:06/01/1998

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bar:Ben       text:"Benjamin Sotto"
bar:Ant       text:"Anthony Parker"
bar:Chris     text:"Chris Savourey"
bar:Frederic  text:"Frédéric Leclercq"
bar:Charley   text:"Charley Corbiaux"
bar:Olivier   text:"Olivier Lapauze"
bar:Laurent   text:"Laurent Jean"
bar:PE        text:"P.E. Pelisson"
bar:Matthieu  text:"Matthieu Plana"
bar:Frederic2 text:"Frédéric Geai-Schmitt"
bar:Nico      text:"Nico Marco"
bar:Max       text:"Max Pilo"
bar:Thomas    text:"Thomas Das Neves"
bar:Piwee     text:"Piwee Desfray"

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bar:Ben       from:01/01/1994 till:end        color:vocals
bar:Ben       from:01/01/1994 till:03/01/2011 color:keys    width:3
bar:Ant       from:02/01/1998 till:06/01/1999 color:guitar
bar:Chris     from:06/01/1999 till:03/01/2001 color:guitar
bar:Charley   from:03/01/2001 till:06/01/2011 color:guitar
bar:Charley   from:05/01/2004 till:06/01/2011 color:bvocals width:3
bar:Frederic  from:09/01/2000 till:05/01/2004 color:guitar
bar:Frederic  from:09/01/2000 till:05/01/2004 color:bvocals width:3
bar:Olivier   from:05/01/2004 till:end        color:guitar
bar:Laurent   from:02/01/1998 till:12/01/2000 color:bass
bar:PE        from:02/01/2001 till:05/01/2004 color:bass
bar:Matthieu  from:05/01/2004 till:06/01/2011 color:bass
bar:Frederic2 from:06/01/2011 till:end        color:bass
bar:Nico      from:03/01/2011 till:end        color:keys
bar:Max       from:01/01/1994 till:05/01/2004 color:drums
bar:Thomas    from:05/01/2004 till:03/01/2009 color:drums
bar:Piwee     from:03/01/2009 till:end        color:drums
</timeline>

Discography

• Coming from the Sky (2000)
• Sign of the Winner (2001)
• Dust to Dust (2004)
• Virus (2006)
• Carpe Diem (2009)

Awards

• 2001 Best French Band Award – Hard Rock Magazine
• 2001 Best French Band Award – Rock Hard Magazine

References

General sources

https://www.rockhard.de/band/heavenly_59993.html

External links

• Heavenly Facebook
• Template:Allmusic