Bonfire is a German heavy metal band, founded by Hans Ziller in Ingolstadt in 1972. In 1986, based on the advice of the record company and the management, the band changed its name to Bonfire. Original founder Ziller is still in the band and is the only one who has the rights to the Bonfire name.
Cacumen is the first full-length album by the hard rock band Cacumen. It was released in 1981 on the independent label Rockport Records. The album came out after their single, Riding Away, was released two years prior and features a new version of that song. Cacumen would rename themselves Bonfire in 1986. In 2002/2003, Claus Lessmann and Hans Ziller purchased the rights to the Cacumen material and re-release the collection under the Bonfire name individually as well as a box set called The Early Days.
Fireworks is the second album by the hard rock band Bonfire. It was released in 1987 on the label BMG International with two different covers, the worldwide one had a patterned similar to a decorated vault door while the North American version was simply four pictures of each band member in each corner of the cover. This album was recorded with a guest drummer, Ken Mary from Fifth Angel, because the band's drummer was fired during the writing sessions. A new drummer was hired just before the band toured in support of Fireworks. In 2003, the album was certified a Gold seller. Originally the band had recorded 25 songs, settling on 11 tracks.
Glaub Dran is the only album by the duo known as Lessmann/Ziller. It was released in 1993 on the label BMG International and featured the reunion of Claus Lessmann and Hans Ziller in musical partnership. The entire album is performed in German. In 2002/2003, Claus Lessmann and Hans Ziller purchased the rights to this material and re-released it under the Bonfire name individually as well as a box set called The Early Days.
Feels Like Comin’ Home is the "comeback" album by the band Bonfire. It is the band's fifth album, released in 1996 on the independent label LZ Records, and featured the reunion of Bonfire. The album contains mostly English versions of the Glaub Dran album by Lessmann/Ziller, and a German version of the album, Freudenfeuer, was released as well. Ex-Bonfire drummer Dominik Hülshorst contributed to the drums on the album.
Rebel Soul is the sixth album by the German hard rock band Bonfire. It is the first to feature a complete band membership since the reunion in 1996. It was released in 1997 and then later in 1998 on the independent label Saraya Recordings.
Fuel to the Flames is the seventh album by the German hard rock band Bonfire. Released in 1999 by BMG International, it marks the return of the signature rock sound that the band had been known for.
Strike Ten is the eighth album by the band known as Bonfire, but is the tenth album release, hence the name. It was released in 2001 by BMG International and features a bonus song that was cut from the Fireworks album called Angel in White, which was also a B-side to the single, "Sleeping All Alone".
The Early Days is the fourth compilation by the band Bonfire. It was released in 2004 by LZ Records and is a five-part CD set that was initially sold individually and then released as a box set. The set is a re-release of all the Cacumen material including the "Riding Away" single, the albums Cacumen and Bad Widow, and the Longing for You EP; the EZ Livin' album, After the Fire; and the Lessmann/Ziller album, Glaub dran. All tracks have been digitally remastered and feature previously unreleased songs.
One Acoustic Night is the third album live by the German hard rock band Bonfire. It was released in 2005 by E-M-S Music and is a two-disc album that is a live acoustic performance in Germany. It also features a studio song dedicated to the victims of the tsunami disaster in Thailand, recorded in English, German and Spanish. Chris Limburg and Thomas Streck were guest musicians that helped with the live performance, which is all in German. A DVD was released at the same time of the acoustic performance.
Double X is the tenth album by the German hard rock band Bonfire. It was released in 2006 by BMG International. It celebrates 20 years of Bonfire music.
The Räuber is the eleventh album by the German hard rock band Bonfire. It was released in 2008 by LZ Records. The band collaborated with P.W. Politz to create a rock opera called The Räuber that debuted in Ingolstadt, Germany, in March 2008. The opera itself featured the band performing all the songs and went sold out for several weeks. A DVD was released in August 2008 that contained the opera performance as well as a full length concert by the band. The album features music in both English and German.
"Riding Away" is the first single released by the German hard rock band Cacumen which would evolve into Bonfire. This is also the band's first release. In 2002/2003, Claus Lessmann and Hans Ziller purchased the rights to the Cacumen material and re-released the collection under the Bonfire name individually as well as a box set called The Early Days. This single was featured on Part 1 of the collection, added to the Cacumen self-titled album.
Longing For You EP is and EP released by the hard rock band Cacumen. It was released in 1985 on the independent label Boom Records. It was because of this recording that the band would finally be signed to a major recording label in 1986 and rename themselves Bonfire. In 2002/2003, Claus Lessmann and Hans Ziller purchased the rights to the Cacumen material and re-released the collection under the Bonfire name individually as well as a box set called The Early Days. This recording was Part 3 of the collection, renamed to Down To Hell and featured 6 previously unreleased recordings.
Free is the ninth album by German band Bonfire. It was released in 2003 by Sony/BMG/LZ Records and features music that leans more towards the once popular alternative sound. The album had two covers, one for German outlet and another for worldwide distribution. The German cover had a brown wall background while the other one was white. The band was highly criticized by their loyal fans as well as several critics for the material. Reaction overall from fans was less than favourable. The song "September On My Mind" is about the 9-11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York City. The reason Friends has such a long time frame is due to a large space after the song that was followed by band members Claus Lessmann and Hans Ziller making recordings of the album's songs. The Album hits the Official German Media Control Top 100 Album Charts.
"Schanzer Herz" is a single released by the German hard rock band Bonfire that had not appeared on a previously released album. It was released in 2004 by LZ Records. The single was only available in Germany and was dedicated to the Ingolstadt football team, named FC Ingolstadt 04, becoming the team's theme song. Two previously unreleased versions of I Need You and Southern Winds from the album Strike Ten are also featured. The female backing vocalist on I Need You is not credited.
Charade is the first album by a new group from formerly members of the band Bonfire. It was released in 1998 by Bareknuckle. The album was originally recorded in 1993 by the group when they were known as Bonfire. When Claus Lessmann left the band, Michael Bormann joined and recorded this album. It was shelved by the band's record company and the group went their separate ways. After Claus Lessmann and Hans Ziller purchased the rights to the name of Bonfire and music from 1986–1991, Michael Bormann and Angel Schleifer decided to give the previously shelved album a chance. It was picked up by a Japanese record company and under a new name it was released. Jörg Deisinger and Edgar Patrik provide the bass and drums to the album but declined to be included in the line-up. This album has become a hot item for Bonfire fans, especially since in 2004 it was re-released with Charade's second album. In addition to the music, there is a file encoded on the disc that brings up Avex Incorporated's web site.
Branded is the twelfth album by the German hard rock band Bonfire. It was released in 2011 by LZ Records and Sony Music. This is the first full album to be released with Bonfire's original drummer, Dominik Huelshorst, back behind the drum kit for the band. Two extra tracks were included, acoustic versions of "I Need You" and "Rivers Of Glory" that were recorded in 2011 with Claus Lessmann and Hans Ziller playing acoustic guitars and Chiara Ziller on piano.
Fireworks Still Alive is the fifth live album by the German hard rock band Bonfire. It was released in 2011 by LZ Records and Sony Music. All the live performances on the album were recorded at various venues/concerts by Bonfire throughout Europe. The concept was to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the release of the band's studio album, Fireworks, and the entire album is presented on the live edition. In addition, the band included live performances of a song from their last studio album as well as a cover song from Gotthard. One studio song was included, an edited version of Let It Grow from Branded.
Cry for Help is an EP by German hard rock band Bonfire. It was released in 2012 as a charity to prevent animal abuse. It was supported by PETA and specifically combated the Ukrainian government's policy to reward people for killing stray street dogs. The track "Cry for Help" was originally part of the album Double X, but has been re-recorded for this release. The band donated €1 to PETA for each sale made of the EP. Although Dominik Huelshorst was the one whom performed on this release, the band's new drummer, Harry Reischmann, is shown in the music video to the song.
