BiografieVictor Smolski, the son of Professor Dmitry Smolski, one of the leaders of the Russian composers of the present time, was born on 01.02.1969 in Minsk (Belarus). He was 6 years old when he began studying the piano and cello, the guitar followed and at the age of 11 years he was professional already. He played together with the Belarussian rock band "Pesniary" when he was 14 years old. "Pesniary" sold about 10 million(!) records, being a band, which can be compared with the German band "Scorpions".



For your information: It all took place before Glasnost and Perestroika. But stadium concerts were also known in Russia at that time, however, the band was called "Pesniary" and the guy on the guitar was just 14 years old. Smolski: "For about 9 months we were touring throughout the country".



Smolski awarded diplomas on playing rock and jazz guitar as well as on composing and arranging music. In his early days of life Victor studied everything possible for a musician.



1988 Victor Smolski founded the band "Inspector" and they came to Germany for concerts for the first time. During a concert Frank Bornemann (Eloy) was very interested in the band and offered a contract to "Inspector". Due to some visa problems a tour became complicated, but even than "Inspector" played lot´s of shows in Germany. In 1993 they released their CD "RUSSIAN PRAYER" (ARIS / ARIOLA).



1993 Victor Smolski deceided to stay in Germany. He worked as a studio musician and produced his EP "Destiny" in 1996.



In 1995 Victor Smolski joined the progmetal band "MIND ODYSSEY" being successful soon. Europe tours with "Vicious Rumors" and "Savatage" were played and their video was regularly shown on MTV and VIVA. On the successful "MIND ODYSSEY" album "Nailed To The Shade" and "Signs" most of the songs were composed by Victor Smolski. He played all the guitar, sitar and keyboard tracks. In arrangement of both CD´s Victor worked together with the "Symphonic Orchestra Belarus". In cooperation with Ingo "Charly" Czajkowski "Nailed To The Shade" and "Signs", as well as "Ghosts" and "Welcome To The Other Side" of "RAGE" were produced in VPS Studios / Hamm.



Victor Smolski is also working as a producer. For the Label B.MIND RECORDS he discovered and produced bands like GB ARTS or DELIRIOUS, for international musicians like the American vocalist DC Cooper (SILENT FORCE) Victor worked as a producer. Also for labels like BMG, GUN Records, Drakkar/Classic and Ariola Victor worked for.



His father Dmitry is convinced of his son´s work. Together they composed symphonies for electric guitar and classical orchestra, which they presented live during an European tour in 1999.



In June 1999 Victor Smolski became new guitarist of RAGE, presenting their new line up on the "Wacken Open Air" 1999 for the first time. An Europe tour and a Russian tour followed.



In the beginning of 2000 Victor Smolski composed and produced his first solo CD, which was recorded in co-operation with the Belarussian Orchestra and his colleagues from RAGE. This Symphonie, a perfect mixture of classic and metal, entitelt "The Heretic" deals with the time of burning witches. On this CD you cannot only find inspired guitarsolos like the 7 minutes long "Hex of the Six Strings" but also historical deliveries, which were narrated in three languages by Victor, Peavy and Mike. "The Heretic" was released on 19th of June 2000. Noticed by the international press parts of this exceptional "Metal meets Classic" album "The Heretic" were presented live during a few concerts together with the Belarussian Orchestra in the same year.



From August up to November 2000 the "RAGE" album "Welcome To The Other Side" was recorded in the VPS Studios in Hamm. Half of the songs were composed by Victor, who was also responsible for the production.



Due to his many-sided engagement, renowned companies like "Yamaha", "Siggi Guitars", "Peavey", "Thomastik-Infeld" and "Cordial" became attentive to Victor Smolski and sundry contracts were signed. On the "Winter NAMM Show", the largest music fair in America, the "Music Expo" in Dubai and on lot´s of other international music fairs, Victor showed his ability as a solist and also represented the companies, mentioned before.



His greatest success Victor Smolski registered in 2001, as the song "Straight To Hell", composed by Victor for the RAGE Album "Welcome To The Other Side" was used for the soundtrack of the most successful German movie production called "Der Schuh des Manitu". About 15 million spectators saw this movie up to now! In 2004 the same song was again used for another movie of Michael Bully Herbig called "Traumschiff Surprise". "Straight To Hell" was released on both soundtrack CD´s of the movies and on the "Best Of - All G.U.N. Years" CD, which contains a cross-section through the last 6 CD´s of the band RAGE.



In 2002 RAGE combined their long-term experience to produce their next album called "Unity". "Unity", a first-rate metal firework, is an impressive document of the high technical level, Victor Smolski (guitars, keyboards) and his two colleagues have achieved, while embedding their virtuoso instrumental abilities cleverly into a homogeneous corset of songs. A video clip to the song "Down", produced by director Yankovsky in Belarus capital Minsk, was shown at musicchannels like VIVA regulary. On concert journeys through Europe and Japan RAGE again gave a proof of being one of the best Metalbands.



The RAGE album "Soundchaser", released in October 2003 sounds more compact and is even more diverse than its predecessor. Beside hard-as-nails metal staples and another strong semi-ballad they continue up their orchestral past with "Secret In A Weird World". A guest appearance by Andi Deris (Helloween) on "Falling From Grace" lending particular appeal to this song. Beside lot´s of concerts on festivals all around the world RAGE was touring for months together with Helloween at the end of 2003.



In January 2004, on the occasion of the 20 years band jubilee of RAGE, the band played some concerts, presenting a accoustic set and a extensive "Best Of" program to their fans, which was recorded for producing the first Live CD and a DVD of RAGE. On 15th of November 2004 the recorded show from Bochum will be released in 3 different configurations at the market. Beside the double DVD there will be a double Live CD and a Limited Edition Box. On one DVD you´ll see the complete concert out of the Zeche, on the other DVD there is a 50 minutes long history movie. You can expect more then 5 hours running time totally!!!



On 22nd of November 2004 Victor Smolski´s new solo CD "Majesty & Passion" will be released by "Drakkar Classic" on the market. Victor has arranged songs of the "Old Master" Johan Sebastian Bach into some harder versions. Together with his band colleagues from RAGE, Peavy Wagner and Mike Terrana, lot´s of notable international musicians and the Inspector Symphony Orchestra they have recorded these songs. Twice, songs of this album were presented live. First at the "International Bach Festival" in Leipzig and also at the "Rock Meets Renaissance" festival at "Schloss Beck" in Bottrop, organized by Uli Jon Roth.
Quelle: http://www.victorsmolski.de/Discografie1993 - Inspector - "Russian Prayer"


1996 - Victor Smolski - "Destiny"


1998 - Mind Odyssey - "Nailed To The Shade"


1999 - Mind Odyssey - "Signs"


1999 - Rage - "Ghosts"


2000 - Victor Smolski - "The Heretic"


2001 - Rage - "Welcome To The Other Side"


2001 - Der Schuh des Manitu (Movie) - "Soundtrack"


2002 - Rage - "Unity"


2003 - Rage - "Soundchaser"


2004 - Siggi Braun Fine Young Guitars - "Perfect Passion"


2004 - Traumschiff Surprise (Movie) - "Soundtrack"


2004 - Rage - "From The Cradle To The Stage" - DVD


2004 - Victor Smolski - "Majesty & Passion"

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